I reviewed the life expentancy chart. This is a great resource when performing home inspections. I will be utilizing this chart frequently.
Scheduling information.
Important start of inspections is scheduling and information. Record date of request and date of inspection along with clients name and address, home size year built and known condition problems or paperwork i.e. Permits, window or door certifications anything that they have. Discuss animals or other occupants on property and access to property, who you will meet as well as any other directions or concerns of either party. Discuss utilities and fee and agree on, then have a contract signed.
Inspections are typically done in three days or less. Utilities are important if water is off, turning on water can start a leak or flood especially if no one is living there. Turning on electricity can start a H.W.H that might not have water in it. Makes a bad start of the inspection.
Bill Dietrich
Thanks you.
Here are a couple of pictures showing a metal clip with the nails, also a truss with marks showing 6 inch spacing a truss with a missed nail or shiner. I have been doing wind mitigation inspection since my safe Florida inspection.
This is a home built in 2006 in Ruskin Fl. The photo below shows clips with 7 nails that do not wrap over the truss. The home is a Block home with a 2x8 top plate.
This component qualifies for 4.B Clips: Metal connectors that do not wrap over the truss.
Limitations of a home inspector
Limitations of a home inspector, I believe is at least a two fold situation. The first is to know what your individual limitations are and if necessary take additional training in those areas so that you are comfortable with those components.
Since there are items that we cannot fully inspect for many reasons, ie: Lack of an access to an attic or stored personal belonging such as garage storage or furniture, there may be areas that we cannot inspect. Therefore the second situation is informing the client what we do and do not inspect. We need to educate the client that the inspection is a visual inspection and that we do not move furniture, cut into walls orf disassemble components. We may also limit our inspections to not include for example mold, Chinese drywall or some other items. That is why it is extremely important to educated the client.
The attached photos are of a true hip roof.
100 % Hip geometry
This roof was installed in 2004 using Owens Corning architectural shingles installed in a workmanlike manner.
This roof appears in good condition to very good condition.
Attached are photos of subject property showing a true hip roof.
This roof was installed in 2004 .Installation was done in a professional and workman like manner.
This roof is in good to very good condition.
Owens Corning Architectural 50 year dimensional shingles .
Hello everyone . I am doing my continuing ed. This has proved very useful for me as a refresher. This hurricane wind mitigation has been most worthwhile for me . When I first started this Hurricane Section I thought I had it down but I am Happy I took the refresher …Thank you to internachi and everyone there for your help through the years…Wow time flies by…Thank you all
In Florida home owners can benefit from a reduce in insurance premiums. In Florida the state has mandated incentives to mitigate damages due to wind, by having Wind Mitigation Inspections. Many Floridian do not know of this law to help reduce insurance cost on there homes.
Wind mitigations helps protect the home from damage. Even if the home is insured, it is always costly when a home is damage, both for the home owner and the insurance company. And this can take months to repair the home due to shortages of the materials.
This home has a 100% Hip roof geometry. It has Architectural shingles. It should conform to the current wind mitigation codes required for this central Florida area.
Reasons for Wind Mitigation:
Wind mitigation is meant to reduce the amount of damage to your home and reducing the amount of debris that may result in damage to other homes. Hurricanes often spawn tornadoes or generate gusts wind so strong that trees and other debris can cause damage regardless of mitigation efforts. Ideal is that after a hurricane there is minimal damage to your roof, there is minor water damage and it is manageable by placing a tarp on your roof. Beyond the insurance savings, the value of your home increases and there are cost savings when a disaster occurs.
Attached image shows that truss connection to the wall framing is made with a clip. The single strap does not meet the nailing requirements as there is no nail installed on the strap. It was also observed that there are two missed nails on the truss. They are 8d ring shank nails.
Just to clarify for others, this RTW connection shown above this post is called a Sanibel connector and is considered a Double Wrap selection on the 1802. Include photo of both sides and use the name Sanibel in your description for the underwriter.
Thanks for the clarification, Brad!
Greetings,
Jacob Mermin here is Lee County Florida on a recent wind mitigation inspection.
In the two pictures we can see that we have a single strap that goes from the concrete tie beam over the rafter and connects to the other side. In the picture you can see that the strap is attached with two nails on one side with one nail on the other. In Florida this is a proper connection and is documented correctly. I must say that this one was easy as many times a long section of PVC pipe or even a broom handle needs to be used to move insulation out of the way just to be able to see the straps.
Good luck,
Jacob Mermin
Greetings,
Jacob Mermin here is Lee County Florida on a recent wind mitigation inspection.
In the two pictures we can see that we have a single strap that goes from the concrete tie beam over the rafter and connects to the other side. In the pictures you can see that the strap is attached with two nails on one side with one nail on the other. In Florida this is a proper connection and is documented correctly. I must say that this one was easy as many times a long section of PVC pipe or even a broom handle needs to be used to move insulation out of the way just to be able to see the straps. It is also very important to clearly show the nail heads connecting the strap.
Good luck,
Jacob Mermin
Greetings,
This is Jacob with Jacob Mermin Inspections Inc. in Beautiful and very hot SW Florida right on the Gulf of Mexico between Tampa and Naples. In Cape Coral underwriters are very picky on the pictures that the home inspector turns in. These attribute pictures must be very clear and in focus. As you can see in these two pictures we have a single straps that starts on one side of the rafter tail and goes over the top and is connected to the other side of the rafter tail about half way down. It is very important that the picture show the number of nail heads very clearly. In these pictures we can see that there are two nails on one side of the rafter and one nail on the other. This will help your client qualify for discounts on their homeowner’s insurance policy. With the potential of hurricanes the wind mitigation program is very important to our clients in Florida.
Good luck
Jacob Mermin
Greetings fellow students,
In the library I was looking through the list of articles and found one on air testing for home inspectors. I decided that I would comment on this because in Florida home inspectors are no longer allowed by Florida law to do any type of mold testing. Along with being a Florida licensed home inspector i am also a Florida licensed mold assessor #MRSA684 valid til July 31st 2018. I think in Florida I would advise the home inspector to really keep an eye out for situations that could cause mold growth. Unfortunately the home seller does not always disclose that they have a mold issues. Many times there is a roof leak and because of the distinctive rainy season here in the summer and then a dry winter is is very easy to hide a previous roof leak and mold. Many times I have seen sellers paint over mold during the inspection and because there is no rain in the winter to leak into the house this may go unnoticed. When there is a major mold issue there is a definite musty odor. I would suggest looking under sinks and along base boards. If there are water stains on base boards directly under windows I would suggest using a moisture meter to determine if there could be a window leak. Remember mold needs two things to grow. A constant food and moisture source. Most people don’t realize that a consistent humidity moisture of 60% is plenty of moisture to satisfy a molds need for moisture. The molds need for food can be supplied with about anything including, drywall, wall paper, wood products etc. Remember that all molds are bad for someone. All molds will be unhealthy for babies, older folks, those with COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, and Allergies. When people talk about the bad black mold they are referring to Stachybotrys. We must remember there are thousands of different molds and many of them are black. The best thing is to make friends with a Florida licensed mold assessor so you have someone to call and ask for help. By bringing a licensed and insured mold assessor you will be a hero for your client and you will be following the law. Remember it is against Florida law to do a mold test, educated someone on mold, or even tell someone that a particular matter is mold. Most of the people who may work in an industry that is not licensed to talk about mold such as the air conditioning technician calls it Microbial Growth and refers them to a Florida Licensed mold assessor.
Good Luck
Jacob Mermin
Jacob Mermin Inspections Inc.
Cape Coral, Florida
Inspec-Pro 07/24/2016
Naples Fl
John White
HI 7473
Roof to Wall Connection
These particular photos are of a 2006 single family home in Lee County Florida.
The roof to wall connection shown appears to be correct. The nailing is over and beyond the standard for a three nail attachment required for a single strap attachment of two nails on one side and a third nail the other side (strap end side has three nails).
The spacing between the strap and bottom truss cord is less than half inch and vertically in line with the truss. The strap is free of visible severe corrosion and appears to be anchored well in the bond beam
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