PLEASE TAKE NOTE! There are now exciting new additions for WINNER prizes! You may now choose what you want from the following list:
** $50.00 gift certificate from Inspector Outlet
** Seventeen Custom Branded Videos value $50.00 ~ your choice! https://certifiedmasterinspector.org/video-contest
** Case of books "Now That You’ve had A Home Inspection"
** A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR COMMITTEE OFFICER MARCEL CYR AND MARC GOLDENBERG! THEY WORKED HARD TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN & WE OWE THEM MUCH THANKS! ~ THANK YOU MARCEL AND MARC!
**** Welcome to another round of Questions of The Week!
Please read the Introduction and requirements, changes may have been made.
A member of the Awards Committee will post questions, at a random day/time.
Eligible members may make one post per question thread to answer the questions, and the eligible member’s winning entry must have all parts of the questions answered completely in that one post. Editing your one answer post allowed will result in disqualification.
Any disregard to the above and divulging the correct answers or giving hints/references will cause a disqualification.
First correct answers (as judged by the Awards Committee or Poster of the Questions) wins. The extra credit question can be used as a tie breaker between the first two that answer all of the first five questions correctly before I am back to declare a winner. The WINNER can now choose from any of the prizes listed above!
Request your choice by emailing fastreply@nachi.org and submit your Mailing address for shipping.
Questions
Are gutters always necessary? Also explain the rational behind your answer.
What is the best way to prevent creaking floors/stairs in a new build?
Does a Dishwasher require a Air Gap? Explain your Yes/No answer.
Should step risers be the same height ?
Can an electric service panel be installed horizontally?
Extra Credit Question
What one source provided all of the answers to the questions above?
1 No . In some situations it would be advisable to install gutters… If your building is located where it rains or where there is snow-melt, your building probably needs a roof drainage system to carry water away from the building in order to prevent leaks into the building, especially if the building includes below-ground areas such as a basement or crawl area.
2 Creaky floorboards or stair treads are caused by movement of the floor board over the subflooring or over floor joist surfaces, particularly when someone walks across the loose flooring.
Typical repair methods involve using screws, possibly glue, and stiffening plates affixed to the floor from below. If the floor is bouncy additional framing support may be required.
3 Yes and No!
Some areas require an air gap in the waste line to avoid a cross-connection or siphoning. This is typically a chrome device projecting above the counter at the rear of the kitchen sink. Other jurisdictions consider the solenoid valve to be adequate protection.
4- Preferably yes!
However, The rises should not vary in height by more than 3/8" total.
5 Yes
The NEC does allow an electric panel to be mounted horizontally , but only if vertical mounting is not possible due to space limitations.
Not always necessary if/when:
• the landscaping around your home slopes downwards, especially when other factors are present.
• your home is surrounded by concrete, be it sidewalks, driveway, or patio. In this case, the concrete already provides your foundation with a protective barrier from water.
• you live in an arid location where there is little annual rainfall.
• your roof has an extension or long overhang which allows water to run off a safe distance from the foundation.
Subfloor adhesive and screws
No. An alternative to installing a high loop is to install an air gap at the kitchen sink.
Yes, but cannot have a height variation of more than 3/8 inch
Gutters are not always necessary. If, you live in an area where there is very little rain, or where the landscaping slopes downward away from your home or your property is surrounded by sidewalks or concrete which provides your foundation with a prtective barrior.
The best way to prevent creaky floors and stairs in a new build is to use dry lumber. Make sure joist size and spacing and subfloor meets or exceeds specifications to prevent deflecting. Use glue - nailed construction using proper sized nails or screws.
Yes. Section 807.4 of the Uniform Plumbing Code states:“No domestic dishwashing machine shall be directly connected to a drainage system or food waste disposer without the use of an approved dishwasher airgap fitting on the discharge side of the dishwashing machine.
Ideally yes but cannot vary more than 3/8 of an inch.
NEC 240.33 states that an electrical panel can be mounted horizontally but only if there is no room to mount it vertically oris otherwise is impractical.
I am pretty sure this is all covered in the Internachi Home Inspections standards of practice course
Depends on location. Areas with higher rainfall or sites with a negative grade should have gutters installed with downspouts properly discharged away from the structure.
Screwing and possibly gluing the subfloor. (Side note, if anyone watches Mike Holmes, this is his biggest pet peeve)
No, a high loop is acceptable
Yes, but can vary up to 3/8”
Yes, as long as their is no room to mount the panel vertically
Larry Kage, of course! But I guess InterNACHI would be an acceptable answer
I’m going to go against the grain here and say YES they’re always recommended BUT not always installed. Because of the slope of the roof or even the style of roof (large overhang) gutters aren’t installed because the over hang has sufficient distance for water runoff. Even though there is suffficenct runoff (in that instance) it is still good practice to distribute the rain water as far away from the homes foundation (soil or concrete) as possible. Better safe than sorry.
proper joist spacing, proper subfloor material and thickness, proper hardware i.e. nails-screws-hangers is the best way in a NEW build.
Yes, prevents drain water from the sink from backing up into the dishwasher, possibly contaminating dishes.
Yes, within the allowable variation distance of 3/8" as a safe building practice to prevent trips and slips.
Yes, but only if vertical mounting is not possible due to space limitations or otherwise impractical per the NEC.
Four-inch gutters are good for relatively small roof areas; however, five-inch gutters are preferred because of their additional capacity. Five-inch gutters are also less likely to allow water to overshoot the gutters when the water is draining off a steeply pitched roof.* However more importantly Roof drip the foremost of which is to assist water in leaving the roof edge with minimum damage to other building components by directing the water off of the roof and into the gutter.
Squeaky wood floors are caused by movement in one or more boards that rub together as you walk over them or as building temperatures and moisture level change. If the floor structure itself is bouncy you may want to do more than just secure loose floor boards, adding cross-bridging between joists, adding sister joists or adding an intermediate girder or beam below.
Yes and No. Some areas require an air gap in the waste line to avoid a cross-connection or siphoning. Other jurisdictions consider the solenoid valve to be adequate protection.
Yes. Most if not all municipalities town code official will call it out. “Slip, Trip and Fall Hazard”.
WOW! Y’all went way above and beyond and lots of great answers!! This was a tough one to call. Both William Forrest and Ryan Rzany answered all 6 questions.
DRUM ROLL PLEASE…
The winner for this week though is Ryan Rzany with a little more detail on question 5.
William you do get a consolation prize though and it can be found about 10 - 15 miles SE of you and it looks like THIS . I believe there may be a few left on lawns out there in Parma but don’t get caught!
The following are the questions and answers for this week’s QOTW. BTW the answers this week from all members display how many talented people we have here!!
