Not being too knowledgeable of construction, during this course I have had difficulty with the chimney flashing. I read an article that seems to help me understand it more and more now. This article was speaking of cutting flashing, mark and cut the grooves in the chimney’s mortar joints to accept the cap flashing. Start at the front of the chimney and mark the third mortar joint up from the roof.
Inspection Essay:
While inspecting stairways during a home inspection, there are several components the inspector should inspect. Handrails are one major component of any stairway consisting of more than 4 risers. The handrail height should be between 34 and 38 inches, they should be continuous for the full length of the stairs, unless interrupted by a newel post, they should have proper termination into the wall or newel post, proper clearance from the wall and projection into the stairway, and the handrail should be graspable along the entire length of the stairway. The attached image shows a well-built stairway and handrail that appeared to be in satisfactory condition upon inspection.
Research Essay:
“Stairway Inspection” -
For the sake of supplemental knowledge, I read the above article on inspecting stairways. The article was insightful with facts regarding stairway injuries and causes. With accurate resources for awareness and correction, many stairway injuries can be avoided if appropriate precautions, and defect corrections, are made.
Hello, this is my essay on an image I uploaded. The Image shows a pad/landing just outside the rear entry door made of paver stones. There is evidence of a material defect where the pavers are getting washed out and becoming a trip hazard. Recommend repair/replacement by licensed contractor.
Hello, this is my essay on the image from this websites picture gallery image I chose is" deck-obstructing-emergency-exit-inspection.jpg." This image shows someone trapped in a basement bedroom, trying to get out the window with a fire in the room. Even if they can get out the window , they may still be trapped under the decking above. Thanks A. J. Brown
This is a gable roof with architectural shingles. The flashing around the chimney is rusted. Some moss appears on the roof. The rake edge flashing is properly installed.
The term egress means to exit or go away from. Egress doors should have a 3’ landing that is no less than 7 and 3/4" from the threshold and is at least 3 ft wide and 3 ft in the direction of travel.
Article: Inspecting underlayment on roofs. Most roof-covering materials are not waterproof, but water-resistant, and are designed to be installed over a waterproof or water-resistant membrane of some type. “Underlayment” is the general term used to describe these membranes. The more an inspector understands about a roof’s components, the better he can spot problems and deficiencies during an inspection.
Egress Essay
Egress window landing area is not large enough. Current building standards require landing area outside of egress window to be a minimum of 36” wide and 36” deep. Be sure to keep area clear around egress window well in case of an emergency exit is neededhttps://www.nachi.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=194068&stc=1&d=1494015568
Egress Essay
I chose a pic from the gallery of the minimum measurements of an egress window.
Understanding the minimum requirements in an egress window can help you explain to a client the importance and reasons why they are important. The safety of your client is paramount to you when inspecting their potential home. These minimums make a lot of send=se once I went through the egress course.
This is a picture of the main front door which is an egress door. This door provides easily access to the outside. It is readily openable from the inside without the use of a tool or key.
I have read this article regarding child-proofing windows and stairs. I have learned that the number one hazard for children is falls, which are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries in the U.S. for this age group. But with some foresight, a few clever and fairly inexpensive products, and proper adherence to building codes, the risk of injury from falling can be successfully minimized.
It’s recommend on the SOP that the inspector is not required to walk on a roof. Walking on a roof can be dangerous. Some inspectors do walk on roofs to preform inspections but its not recommended because of safety reasons.
I chose my subject for the essay from The Library of Inspection Articles “Mastering Roof Inspections: Tile Roofs, Part 1”. There are basically three distinctions in tile roofing. Low, Medium and High. In this article the need for proper covering for bird control. Medium and High design tile roofing requires some sort of bird covering. Some come from the manufacturer and some just form mortar in these areas.
The need to fully waterproof your basement, you should at least take steps to protect the foundation from water, like the installation of gutters and downspouts, and attach downspout extensions that direct rainfall away from the house. If the yard does not already slope away from the foundation at a minimum 2 percent grade, bring in topsoil to build up the level of the soil around the foundation.
Water that pools by the foundation is always problematic. If the soil that swells when wet, it can exert lateral pressure on the exterior foundation walls, increasing the risk of cracking and shifting. If you’re proactive in keeping water away from the foundation, you’ll have a better chance of keeping your basement, and the rest of your home, safe, and dry.
This is a picture of the main egress. In this case it is the front door. As seen in the photo, this door has thumb lock on the inside at time of inspection. It also met the minimum measurements.
Attic pull-down ladders:
Many times attic pulldown ladders are installed by homeowners, not professionals. There are several tell tale signs that will point to this. Check to see if proper fasteners were used ( 16d penny nails or 1/4"x3" lag screws). Lack of insulation or weather stripping is another common sign of DIY installation.
Changing the HVAC filter is too often overlooked by homeowners. Explaining the recommended changing schedule to the homeowners will better help them remember to change the filter. Also explaining to customers the potential ramifications of not changing the filter often enough may help them remember to keep their HVAC running as efficiently as possible.
Waliking a tile roof is somthing that concerns me. I read in InterNachi articles and watched the video describing the proper way to walk on tiles. I went to manufacturer and various installer sites where this was addresses. It can be done but there is a risk of damage to these tiles from footfalls. I’m a big guy and, according to what Ive read, it probably isnt somthing I should do. I’m not even confident its a great idea if i were smaller.