Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This essay is on unconditioned crawlspaces. It used to be widely accepted to construct a home with unconditioned crawlspaces. Now it is becoming common to condition the crawlspaces because it helps prevent humidity from the air traveling underneath the home. When this humidity travels under the home, it can cause various issues with the moisture that accemelates.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I recently reviewed the article on basic waterproofing of a basement. I learned that there are two important factors when preventing water intrusion, the correct space from home for a downspout and proper grade away from home.
You should seal the walls with Sodium silicate before applying any paints, adhesives or tile flooring.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Crawlspaces can be a dangerous environment for home inspectors. Proper PPE is important and at a min. should include a respirator, kneepads, coveralls and gloves. Voltage ticker, multiple flashlights, moisture meter, probes and screwdrivers should be brought into the crawlspace with you. You must be aware of energized wires, metal ducts and pipes as well as animals, snakes and poisonous spiders. Moisture issues are prominent in crawlspaces. Crawlspaces require 6 mil plastic barriers with a 6 inch overlap on the ground and taped barrier rising a min. of 6 inches off of the ground. If you are working by yourself, you should notify someone when you are entering the crawlspace and if possible, have a sign at the crawlspace entrance notifying people that you are inside
Research & Writing Assignment:
Your marketing design and color choices are an important decision and will determine how well you will be able to communicate with your potential clients. Investing in professional marketing designers will be a much better investment of your time and money in the long run than doing it yourself. Your marketing should be relaxing to the client and be able to communicate clearly and quickly about your services
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Uneven Concrete Floors In Old House fixing uneven floors in old house, photograph, viewed Oct 21, 2018, <http://www.kavaint.com/feature/2018/04/Uneven-Concrete-Floors-In-Old-House.jpg>
This is a photograph of a crawlspace with an uneven floor that is ponding at the foundation wall. There is no 6 mil poly covering the floor. Both of which are deficiencies that should be noted by the inspector.
Research & Writing Assignment:
On crawlspace hazards and inspection, by Nick Gromicko <https://www.nachi.org/crawlspace-hazards-inspection.htm>
Inspectors should wear PPE to protect themselves from the many hazards present in crawlspaces.
Some hazards include:
Inspectors should do a thorough hazard assessment before entering crawlspaces and make sure they have the correc PPE, including coveralls, eye protection and lung protection.
It is important to have a flashlight with spare batteries so that you do not have to feel your way out in the dark should it fail.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The attached image shows the crawl space of the home with a few deficiencies. The support for the wood beam is inadequate; has a CMU unit laid horizontally, which is at it’s weakest point. It also has wood shims that are not securely in place and the beam doesn’t have any method of attachment to floor joist. In addition, the wood beam does not extend to perimeter wall. Suggest this condition gets further evaluation by structural engineer.
Research & Writing Assignment:
During the housing boom of the early 2000’s many contractors chose to use “Chinese Drywall” because it was cheap and readily available. To the surprise of everyone this turn out to be a costly mistake. The drywall was contaminated with a toxic substance “strontium sulfide”, which in hot and humid climates triggered the release of the toxic into the air. As a result, many homeowner began to get sick with symptoms like; sore throat, coughing, headaches and respiratory infections. Currently there are no Government standards for detecting or inspecting Chinese Drywall; however, it can be detected in a home by the smell of rotten eggs.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In the attached photo you can see that the joists are properly spaced about 16inches on center. The fiberglass insulation has its vapor barrier placed towards the homes heated surface which is a proper installation. There was slight moisture intrusion into the crawl space which allowed for some microbial growth on the joists lower edges.
Research & Writing Assignment:
In regards to microbial growth all roof protrusions should be looked at for signs of active growth. When cool air conditioned areas reach the superheated or under ventilated air gaps around these receptacles (vents can lights and others) it causes a dew point that promotes the growth of micro-organisms.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The attached photo shows the inside of a garage foundation with slab on grade construction. The garage floor is about 6 inches below the top-plate of the foundation with the exterior grade level about 8 inches below the top of the foundation sloping away. This allows for proper drainage and reduces the pooling of water which can lead to foundation damage.
Basements and crawl spaces that are below grade level are equipped with sump pumps to get rid of water penetration through or seeping under foundations.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The residence has a slab-on-grade foundation, so it does not have a crawl space or basement to inspect. The attached photo shows the unfinished slab floor of the detached garage and the block wall built onto the slab and footer.
Research & Writing Assignment:
The article I read was titled “Vapor Barriers.” The article first covered the function of a vapor barrier and the way that the effectiveness of a vapor barrier is measured, which is in “perms”. There was also a graphic in the article which showed the different regions of the country and where / how the vapor barrier is used in the different climates, which I found to be informative.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Unable to preform complete inspection on crawlspace. Many inspections restrictions noted. Including loos construction debris and hanging wires. Crawlspace is unvented, uninsulated. No moisture barrier observed. Signs of water damage to block wall. Efflorescence also noted indicating an ongoing water intrusion.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Crawlspaces are misunsetood by many industry professionals. It used to be a forgotten space used only for storage and repairs. Crawlspace health can have a huge impact on several factors that make a home livable. Staying on top of industry improvements is important for any home inspector.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Crawl spaces in the region that I am in are rarely seen. Some crawl spaces exist in manufactured hoes and areas that can be prone to flooding. Inspection of crawl spaces allows visual inspection of some of the houses plumbing and electrical. These areas can be damp and have root intrusion. The access must be within specific dimensions.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In the attached image we see a pretty clean crawlspace. It is covered with adequate vapor barrier that rises six inches around the edges. There are signs of efflorescence and rust that indicate moisture. This would best be checked with a moisture meter and, assuming no abnormal moisture reading, noted in the report as requiring ongoing monitoring to identify and correct any problems.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read “Crawlspace Hazards and Inspection”, which discuses various types of dangers that crawlspaces present. There are many physical and microbial dangers of which to be aware while working within a crawlspace, such as animals, pests, mold, fungus, hantavirus, and possible asbestos, to name a few.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
On this picture you can see wide and high windows and sliding door. House is old and doesn’t have enough insulation and and water is leaking through the connection between windows, doors and wall. All these causes a high energy loss in the house.
Research & Writing Assignment:
This picture show the clearance for foundation. In crawlspace pier it should be 18" from the ground to the floor, in column support only minimum 8" from the ground to the wood column. Clearance from exterior grade should be no less than 8".
