Inspecting an attic using the hall attic access hatch. An articulated ladder was used to access the attic with the bottom of the ladder adjacent to or against the 
wall to prevent sliding. The top of the ladder can be extended several feet into the attic for stability. I prefer this method to using a step ladder when accessing hall attic hatches. The ladder is far more stable and will not slide when positioned properly.
Ladder Safety Essay
It is important to know what type of ladder you are using, its capacity and how to use that particular type of
ladder as well as following the general ladder safety practices. Not leaving an open ladder in place at the
inspection site, transporting the ladder in closed position and making sure no one is using your ladder other than
you. Accessing or walking the roof may not be necessary. There are devices such as the Spectoscope that can
be used to observe and photograph the roof areas without actually climbing unto the roof. These would be a
much safer alternative especially when the weather is wet with snow and rain or wind.
I inspected a deck of a home, which was in the backyard overlooking a hill. It had a retaining wall holding the entire deck up standing on the hillside of the home. The railing around the deck may have had too much of a gap and it would be something that I would include in the report. It seemed to be a sturdy deck due to the fact that it was built with a retaining wall holding the entire deck up. The structure seemed to be built with correct codes and requirements, due to the fact that I looked at the blue prints that the owner showed me.
Ant Inspection
By Nick Gromicko
Ants can be a very big issue in not only homes but also anywhere that people go such as homes, restaurants, hospitals and offices. If a home has a ant infestations, home owners or business owners should be aware that ants have their own little world. Ants have tree main categories they are broken up into. Queens, Males, and Workers are the three types. A problem that many people have are distinguishing ants and termites and some ways to distinguish them are, the ants body is constricted, giving it the appearance of having a thin wing while the termite body is constricted. The ant’s hind winds are smaller than its front wings, while the termites front wings are about the same size. Ants nest in dry and moist wood. Nests are found in moist wood. Some ways to know if a building is ant infested are, long trails of ants, a few straggler ants whom are searching for food, cracks or holes in foundation, frass deposits which are fine saw dusts which is something to keep an eye out for. Inspectors should keep an eye out to make sure there are no structural defects in buildings.
The ladder used here is an extension ladder. I made sure it was level and secure. I did pay mind to using the 4 to 1 rule, as well as having it reach above the roof line properly.
I read yet another article offered on ladder safety. It touched on a lot of the same things already covered. In addition it labeled all the different portions of various ladders by name. It went over the proper use of the ladders once more. The article also touched on the spectascope available for purchase either for safety reasons or inclement weather.
Hello, today I took a picture of a bathroom sink. The bathroom sink is in working condition. The faucet and drain works well. There is a maintenance issue with the drain stop. The drain stop is missing and could use repair/maintenance.
AFCI testers
Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical receptacles (or outlets) and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring.
AFCI indicators are somewhat larger than GFCI indicators but they are operated in the same way. An inspector simply inserts one into a receptacle and navigates the menu in order to produce the desired electric current. The user will know that the circuit in question has been tripped if the AFCI device loses power. If this occurs following an AFCI test, the AFCI is functioning properly. The user should then go to the electrical panel to reset the AFCI breaker. If the test results in the failure of an AFCI breaker to open the circuit, then a qualified electrician should be contacted.
This hot water heater is in perfect working condition. The installation meets all current code requirements of ground height clearance and venting. Inspections are current.
I chose to research Chinese drywall, as I had not heard of this being an area of concern. I learned that this drywall uses “fly ash”, which is a coal residue found in smoke stacks and contains a toxic element found in fireworks called strontium sulfide. Although exposure is not believed to be life threatening, it can lead to numerous symptoms including: sore throat, sinus irritation, coughing, wheezing, headache, dry/burning eyes and respiratory infections. Because this is a recently occurring issue, there are no standards in place for inspecting contaminated drywall. There is also not scientific proof that this drywall is responsible for the allegations against it. But there does seem to be an effect on metal for homes that have used this product and there can be an odor of sulfur.
This is a small step ladder.
It is ideal for inspecting low lying components that may be just slightly out of reach from ground level.
It should not be left unattended in the open position when not in use.
AFCI testers are more correctly referred to as indicators, as they may not always trip an AFCI device.
They produce wave forms characteristic of an actual arc.
They should not be used as a substitute for the test button on an AFCI device.
Learning about ladder safety and ladder types. Attached is a photo of 3 common types of ladders. A steplader, an A-frame ladder, and a extension/articulating ladder. The A-frame ladder is a type II (225 lb) rated ladder, approved by OSHA. The extension/articulating ‘little giant’ type ladder is a Type I ladder. When this ladder is in use as a straight ladder, it must conform to the 1:4 rule.
For the research portion of the ladder safety course, I read about Chinese drywall. This drywall is particularly a problem in Florida between 2004 and 2007, partially due to the rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Katrina. Chinese drywall contains fly ash, which offgasses dangerous substances and also contributes to the preliminary corrosion in copper piping, fasteners, and other building materials.
This is a 20 ft extension ladder that I have used for years. I make sure to check and inspect before each use for safety. I was surprised to find out that it is no longer OSHA approved because the labels have worn off. I do not know if new labels can be ordered or not. I have always followed the 4:1 rule and have never had an incident on this ladder. I routinely tie off when using this ladder for safety.
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Since this is the Ladder Safety course, I decided to write my essay on something I learned about ladders. I was first stunned to know that we lead the world in Ladder deaths despite that it is a very very small percentage. To put this in perspective, nearly 20,000 people are killed annually by lawn mowers. What I did learn was about securing the base of a ladder. Over the years I have had people hold when necessary but now see that i can secure when by myself. An ah ha moment.
The garage attic stairs are in need of replacement, which should be a type, such as an 8’ - 10’, 375lb rated metal attic access ladder, see pictures below.
The structural cracks at the ladder’s hinge points, the reinforced garage attic flooring/structure and the numerous storage items itself indicate that heavy loads are a continued common occurrence.
The article “Attic Pull-Down Ladders”, by Nick Gromicko addresses a number of defects and concerns that a Home Inspector should be aware of in performing their visual inspection of an attic pull-down stairways. Most of these defects are the result of being improperly installed, reinforced and/or supported, typically the result of a DIY project.
Ladder Inspection
This appears to be a step ladder that is being used inappropriately. The step ladder is in a folded up and closed position and yet is set as a straight or extension ladder would be set in order to climb. Additionally the ladder is quite obviously too short for the task at hand. The top of the ladder is supported against a column in the middle of the top cap which will render the ladder unstable when it is being climbed. The feet of the ladder are not setting completely on the floor as it was not designed to be used in this manner. Finally the ladder needs cleaned as it is covered in paint from previous paint jobs that cold possibly obscure defects.
