I reviewed the Wind Mitigation article there are several mitigation improvements that home owners can make to qualify for discounts. One of the least known mitigation steps is the SWR (secondary water resistance). When a homeowner replaces their roof, a simple 6 inch strip of self-adhering modified bitumen underlayment, applied to all exterior joints will qualify for the discount. Keep records and/or pictures of the installation.
This is a wall to struss strap. After moving insulation away from wall i got a clear view of the strap. The strap meets the minimum nail requirement with no significant corrosion noted. The front had 5 nails as well.
Standards of Practice (SOP) by flowing this practice a home inspector is meeting the requirements of InterNachi. Some home inspectors can or will go over and beyond this standard. In some cases this could open a argument for a larger duty requirements.
This pictures is of a Double pane window in Orlando Florida witch is not in a High wind velocity zone so does not require any high wind opening protection such as shutters by insurance company but is still a good idea to have some kind of protection for flying debris
roof deck attachment consists of 8d common nails spaced every 4 inches in field, verified on three rafters.so the WEAKEST form of attachment would be marked C on page 1 section 3 of Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form where the weakest is ^’ in the field
I learned that aluminum solid wire has many bad inherent qualities such as being more prone to corrosion, it is less ductile and will internally break down at tight bends, has a higher electrical resistance… meaning larger conductors are needed compared to copper wire
As you see from the attached photo this garage door is made of steel with properly attached track brackets ( numbering 6 , of which one is continuously at the top). the achors are properly placed, there are horizontal reinforcement pieces from top to bottom as well as a vertical post for reinforcement which has hinges attached to the vertical post for each panel.the garage door has no windows nor any openings. Track brackets are secured to the wall.
House Numbers:
House numbers are important and need to be clearly visible from the street on which the residence is located. They should be at least 3"-6" in height and of a contrasting color or hue to where they are located.If possible they should also be reflective or illuminated so that they can be seen at night.Plant and landscaping that might obstructed the clear view of the house numbers need to be cut back and regularly maintained. House numbers are often the only way that first responders can verify and locate a residence when called upon.
This is an Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle gable roof that is been recently repaired, there is not evidence of significant wear or defects. Although is just two years old, it would get a bigger insurance discount if there was a hip roof instead.
The Statue of Liberty is the most famous case of galvanic corrosion. Contact between the wrought-iron support and the outer copper skin amidst rainwater exposure has allowed the structure to gradually corrode.
Piping commonly rust and corrodes, especially at joints. Dielectric unions may be installed to separate these metals to resist damaging corrosion in pipe connections.
I chose to write about the sections of wind mitigation parts that are imortant in tis esaay roof type, secondary water barrier, roof to wall connection,all openings, garage door type and nail spacing for roof decking attachment and any opening protections
This is a picture from an attic showing a large amount of ‘shiners’. These are actually 1-5/8" drywall screws that missed the mark. It was verified that the 7/16" sheathing was properly attached using the Zircon MT-6. This is one of the hazards of using screws in that it may not be obvious at the time of installation that the fastener did not hit the truss.
I chose the Tobacco Odor Removal article. New homeowners often ask me how to eliminate these odors. I did learn that just cleaning the light bulbs and possibly the trim rings may help. The oily nicotine residue on the bulbs may disperse the aroma as it gets hot. Another new remedy I learned about was using the ozone generator.
This is an example of a gable roof. It also has asphalt shingles. Asphalt shingles are rated for 10 to 25 years. Gable roofs are not the best hurricane protection. During a wind mitigation, it is important to specify these two things.
In 2006, Citizens Insurance, one of the largest property insurers in Florida, requested a 45% rate increase for wind insurance. Other insurers took similar actions.
In Florida, the portion of a homeowner’s premium covering wind damage can be up to 70% of the total, depending on location.
Wind mitigation benefits homeowners, private insurers, and all levels of government.
I took a pic of the only sticker on the garage door. It has a windload rating, but I cannot determine if its impact resistant. The house was built in 2002, in Jacksonville, Fl. Also, the owner installed a window along the top, replacing the original aluminum piece. Those windows are not impact rated. I would rate the door as X.
Having read the Writing Report Narratives, what sticks out to me is the transfer of liability. In the military, we write clear, concise sentences. This same approach works well with inspection narratives. Any fluff or ambiguity can leave a question as to whether something ‘should’ be repaired or ‘must’ be repaired. Safety first!!
Attached photo is from a hurricane shutter storm panel provided at a wind mitigation inspection. This is a 24 gauge galvanized steel panel, which meets the requirements of Florida Building code outside of Dade & Broward Counties and SSTD 12 (large missile- 4 lb. to 8 lb).
For this assignment, the article “Wind Mitigation” was read. This article provided a few facts and history related to the implementation of wind mitigation building techniques and insurance premium incentives. Extensive and expensive wind damage can be inflicted on a structure. The wind mitigation building techniques can increase the cost of building, but the dollars saved by insurance premium incentives offset the building costs.
This is the certification sticker I found on the new door I installed last year. It states the door is a fiberglass door and meets ASTM E330/TAS202-94 and ASTM E1886/E1996 specifications. It also states that it is Large Missile Impact rated. From the course I have learned that these ratings equate to on the OIR-B1-1802 Wind Mitigation verification Inspection, #7 Opening protection level chart an “A” under windows or entry doors. Stating “Verified cyclic pressure & large missile”.
