Research & Writing Assignment:
The article that I read was in regards to the structural connection methods used for attaching various structural components together. All of the weight of the structure is being supported by the ground at some point and all of the structural members and the connecctions are directing those forces and weight to the ground.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
6x6 Exterior Pressure Treated Post
Exterior PT post is supporting the first floor sunroom. It is resting on an 8 diameter concrete tube. The footing connection appears solid. There is zero moisture or rot damage at the bottom of the post. The post is slightly off center of the concrete tube so the homeowner should keep an eye on any further movement. The top of the post supports the end of 6x8 beam and the connection appears solid. There are zero signs of moisture or rot damage at the top connection.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Course: Structural Issues for Home Inspectors
Article: Crawlspace Hazards and Inspection
Inspectors should be aware of the many hazards that may be present in crawlspaces. These hazards may be harmful to the house and the inspector as the cool, dark environment of a crawlspace can promote dangerous conditions, undesirable pests, and other immediate safety concerns. Inspectors should not enter a crawlspace if the house is structurally unstable, if mold or asbestos are present, or if wiring is loose. Proper personal protective equipment should always be worn in a crawlspace.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
At the time of inspection , Two vertical cracks were noticed in the living room area of the home. Neither of the cracks were greater than 1\8 of an inch which may indicate settling which is not a serious structural issue. The inspector recommends keeping an eye on them and if they continue to grow have a licensed professional engineer evaluate the structure
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
While inspecting a garage on a rural property I noticed a structural issue. The garage is built on a wooden grade beam directly on the ground. The garage is located in a low lying area of the property and has grading problems around the garage. Water on the property drains towards the garage and is causing the garage to heave.
On approach to the person entry door you can see that the building has definite signs of movement. The door frame is completely out of square and the metal siding is showing signs of stress and is buckling. The metal flashing around the brick moulding is also showing signs that the wall is also twisting.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Structural-Foundation ; observed cracking in the brick veneer front left ] . Also observed previously repaired mortar joint repairs rear left ]. the cracks did not appear to go all the way through to the inside of the foundation wall. These cracks look to be cosmetic. But recommend keeping an eye on any further movement. Then recommend to have licensed structural engineer and assess
Research & Writing Assignment:
When inspecting the exterior of the home it is the inspector’s duty to notice any cracks in the foundation or walls. When you come across these they need to be called out and identified as a vertical, diagonal, v-shaped, horizontal, or still active. Each angle of crack could potentially signify a different issue with the home or structure.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Crawl space hazards & Inspections ; Recommend educating a home owner the basic function of a crawl space. explaining some basic things that a home owner can to do to maintain their homes integrity… Keeping gutters & downspouts clean. And extended away from the foundation. This also prevents moisture from entering the space but helps control soil movement around the foundation Installing automatic foundation vents that works with a metal coil and the outside temperature
Research & Writing Assignment:
Ground slope is very important. The ground slope should be about 5 degrees away from the wall. If the grade is flat or sloping towards the home theres a possibility of water intrusion and the possibility for mold groth or efflorescense
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a picture of the grading situation. This is called negative grading. I would tell the homeowner that they would need to pull back The Rock and add dirt so the slope is away from the house. It’s not fix it could lead to water intrusion or efflorescense in the basement.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Inspecting Residential Lot Drainage in Areas with Expansive Soils
This article is very well written and covers some very good information on potential issues to be aware of. In a lot of cases lot drainage is taken for granted, especially when purchasing a city lot with an existing house. New subdivisions can easily have drainage issues due to soil setting from construction. Older subdivisions also have issues due to home owners changing or personalizing the landscaping. On large rural lots this can also be a concern. Larger lots create the need to control a higher volume of water drainage. If the drainage is not properly taken care of the buildings on the property can be severely damaged.
Standing water and soil saturation can lead to heaving and drifting of soils and foundations. When inspecting a home many issues with the structure are often be caused by foundation movement due to soil instability. Lack of compaction and improper grading can often be the root cause of the instability.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
There are minor cracks in the back patio, driveway, and on the front steps, which are common in concrete flatwork. There is no significant movement or damage apparent at the time of inspection. Recommend sealing cracks to prevent any possible future foundation issues.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Nick and Ben Gromicko describe in their article, ‘Structural Design Basics of Residential Construction for the Home Inspector’ how housing in the United States has changed ever rapidly. However these changes have been made while taking current conventional construction into consideration. Many of these changes to codes have taken place due to natural disaster areas and how certain construction practices change for safety concerns. Engineered homes sometimes offer the most safe building practices in certain regions.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Heres a picture of a gutter drainage spout that exits to close to the house. This is causing a water intrusion on the corner of the foundation. I recommend a downspout extension be installed by a qualified gutter installer to fix this problem.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The joist component of the structure can easily be the most important. It is the beginning of your subfloor and should be carefully inspected to ensure the integrity of the structure. Inspectors should take every precaution when examining especially in older homes.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Attic Pulldown Ladders:
This article stresses the importance of having the attic pulldown ladder installed professionally. What most homeowners don’t know is that incorrect installation of the ladder can weaken the overall integrity of the structure. This will make the home dangerous and bring the overall value down until corrected.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This photo shows a negative grade issue next to a foundation. The asphalt driveway has settled next to the house and has cracked and separated allowing water to pool near the foundation wall. Attempts to correct the problem as can be seen have failed, concrete was added to fill the area but was not done correctly.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article I read was on crawlspace hazards. Crawlspaces are known to obtain several hazards. When entering any crawlspace you must be aware of several things, there may be health hazards that include disease carrying animal waste, mold and fungus and dangerous insects or pests. It is necessary to take caution and wear proper PPE when inspecting a crawlspace for your personal safety.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is an image of a very steep and sloped block foundation with crawl space and deck attached. Upon inspection of the grade and exterior I took note of several important things. First, the deck posts were properly placed inside the cast concrete footings with no visual signs of movement. The block foundation showed no signs of movement with such a steep grade. I observed no vertical or horizontal cracks or anything defective that would be of any major concern.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
As you can see from the picture listed above, I was unable to give a adequate inspection analysis of the foundation walls and components due to restricted access to the surrounding areas. I cannot give a proper thorough inspection on components and systems that cannot be accessed.
