Photographs need to be clear and visible so that another person viewing the pictures and information regarding them is able to come to the same conclusion when viewing them. Blurry photos can result in reports not being accepted and re-inspections.
What I learned- When performing an inspection it is important when possible to speak to the homeowner or neighbors regarding property or neighborhood history.
When specific components are not available to be seen this information can be valuable to include as notes on the inspection report.
I read the article on “roof photography”. It was interesting to learn the difference between “optical and digital cameras” zoom lens capabilities. I have a digital camera and after seeing the difference in clarity of the zoom lens I will probably invest in a good optical camera to be able to enlarge to mice type on appliance labels.
In this photo, you will see multiple missed nails that should have been hammered or drilled into the trusses or rafters. When spotting 4 missed nails or “shiners” in truss/rafter it should be noted in your inspection. Also taking your hands and applying pressure to the boards to see if they are lose or move is a good indication of missed nails or having too many “shiners”.
Home has a hip style roof with architectural asphalt shingles, no issues found. All windows of home are single Payne glass and are not impact resistant or protected by shutters. Doors of home are none rated and are not protected by shutters.
Home has a hip style roof with architectural asphalt shingles, no issues found. All windows of home are single Payne glass and are not impact resistant or protected by shutters. Doors of home are none rated and are not protected by shutters.
I read the article on wind mitigation to further my general knowledge of the field, through my readings of the article I realized that wind mitigation not only benefits homeowners, but also insurers, and all levels of government. Wind mitigation helps protect the home from damages, even if a home is insured. Damages done to your house are both expensive for homeowners and their insurers and take months to complete. Lenders of Florida REQUIRE homeowners to carry windstorm insurance in order to be approved for a mortgage! In summary wind mitigation is to help prevent your house from being damaged, and can qualify you for discounts depending on your inspection.
I had a recent run in with single strand aluminum the other day so I chose this article. Aluminum was introduced because of the incline in price for copper. They soon found out that aluminum is 55 percent more likely to have a fire hazard than copper. That’s why they do not accept single strand anymore.
when performing a wind mitigation inspection is is of most importance to document with a good picture to be attached in the report what kidn of windows the property has, in this case we can prove by the stamp on the window that the house has impact resistance windows.
In some states, homeowners can benefit from reduced insurance premiums. The Gulf Coast states, which are most prone to windstorm damage from hurricanes, have each considered mandating incentives to mitigate damage due to wind. Having a home inspecto do the inspection will provide proof to the insurance company the discounts available to the home owner.
I used this picture to show that this structure had an approved single strap with two nails on one side and one nail on the back side. I confirmed this with checking in four different locations to establish uniformity throughout the roof system
Wind Mitigation: I found this article to be very helpful in understanding why wind inspections are done and what impact they have to your insurance premiums. It’s amazing to see the difference in percentages that each region has for different elements of the weather.
This is a picture of a single wrap roof to wall connection. Although the minimum required nails on the front side is two, this roof to wall connection has three nails on the front side. This roof to wall connection is attached to the bond beam.
The article that I had chosen was “Farther” vs. “Further” in Inspection Reports, by Nick Gromicko (https://www.nachi.org/fartherfurther.htm). I had learned from reading this article that there is a difference between farther and further, how and when to use farther and further,and a trick to help knowing which one to use.
This home has a small gable on the front and the whole back of the house has a gable. If the roof is a hip it will qualify for a large insurance discount. To determine if it is hip you measure the whole perimeter and divide that by the gable lengths. If the gable lengths are 10% or less it is a hip roof.
Contaminated Chinese drywall cannot be repaired. Affected homeowners are being forced to either suffer bad health and failing appliances due to wire corrosion or replace the drywall entirely, a procedure which can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This contamination further reduces home values in a real estate environment already plagued by crisis. Some insurance companies are refusing to pay for drywall replacement and many of their clients are facing financial ruin. Class-action lawsuits have been filed against homebuilders, suppliers, and importers of contaminated Chinese drywall. Some large manufacturers named in these lawsuits are Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin, Knauf Gips, and Taishan Gypsum.
I read the wind mitigation article by Nick. Basically not a lot of homeowners are aware there are insurance discounts for having a high wind rated roof. An inspector licensed in Wind Mitigation must evaluate the home and adhere to the specific requirements. They will use a uniform report that is based on opening protection, roof to wall attachment, roof coverin attachment, roof shape, roof coverings, and secondary water resistance. Lots of pictures are the key to a good home inspection. A home with high hurricane/wind resistance will result in maximum discounts from Florida insurance companies.
This is my current rental house. The total roof area is 230ft. The gable end is 123ft. That’s 53% and considered a non-hip roof. I do have a question though. Am I supposed to measure the small roof in front of the house that is on top of the gable on the right side of the home? (Looking at the house from the front)
Much of the damage that can occur during a hurricane is the result of the home’s structure being compromised with an impact fracture such as a broken window or a failed door. Impact resistant windows and doors with laminated glass reduce the likelihood of an impact fracture during a high windstorm keeping air pressure out and your home safe.
Generally, a wind mitigation inspection is needed to determine which credits apply to a home. During a wind mitigation inspection, a certified inspector looks for key features and add-ons that reduce the amount of damage your home may suffer in the event of a hurricane or strong windstorm.