Student Interactivity Thread for the "Pre-Drywall Inspection Course"

Task 1. Decay Protection Inspection

Newly constructed homes that aren’t inspected for decay and water intrusion have the ability to become compromised. Water can enter into the walls, causing mold growth, rot and structural issues at the worst. These issues can become very costly to those who live in the home, there can also be health related problems that may arise. Having a home inspection is very important in uncovering these possible issue before they become major problems.

While a home inspector is not expected to provide an engineering analysis, he or she should be alert to possible issues with the allowable spans and materials in a home. In some cases the inspector may notice sagging in the framing which could indicate an issue with materials and span. I inspected a new home with a very loud squeak in the flooring in the entryway, but there was no noticeable or visible sagging in the joists in the crawlspace. When we had a structural contractor check the framing with a laser level, we discovered that the floor joists had been placed 20 inches on center instead of 16 inches as called for in the plans. All new homes should be inspected before the expiration of the warranty period.

Pretty much every course is this way when an entire lesson within the course is a video. Any time you close the course and/or log out, the system will only track what lesson/page you were on, not where you were in the video. The video lessons in this course are pretty long, so just plan enough time to get through an entire video before stopping, otherwise you will have to keep doing what you are doing.

Remember, if you do finish a video lesson and want to call it quits for the day, be sure to click the “Next” tab at the bottom of the page. If you don’t, the system won’t know that you actually finished the video and will have you play the video again before it will let you move on.

Decay protection is a vital consideration when inspecting residential properties, as it directly impacts the structural integrity and longevity of a home. Without proper safeguards against moisture intrusion and decay, a home can quickly deteriorate, leading to significant repair costs and potential health hazards.
Neglecting inspections or conducting inadequate ones can have serious consequences. In a newly constructed home, failure to inspect for water intrusion can lead to structural decay before the homeowner even moves in. Moisture that enters the home through improperly sealed areas or damaged roofing can cause wood rot, mold, and mildew, which can go unnoticed in the early stages but result in costly repairs later on. Moreover, unaddressed decay can weaken the structure, compromising safety and creating a less energy-efficient living environment.

When framing a home, an important aspect to consider is that the framing members are properly sided and spaced for support of the barring weight. If compression and tension of the framing members are not taken into consideration, a live load of that area can cause a failure of the framing members.

Task 1: Decay protection inspection essay
When inspecting a new construction for Decay protection in Idaho it is imperative to remember the different seasons that we have. Snow in the winter is always an issue that then turns into water issues come spring when it melts. Ensuring that there is proper protection from the snow and melting snow from allowing moisture into the structure and supports is very important. If there is not proper separation from the ground to the siding for example there is going to be moisture introduced to the structural supports behind the insulation when snow is sitting next to the siding and melting. Also making sure the the drainage is correct around the property so that when the snow begins to melt is very important for making sure there is no moisture intrusion.

Allowable Spans and Material:

The pre-drywall inspection is the last time many of the elements can be seen prior to covering material such as drywall is installed. It is also the best time to make any corrections to the framing with the least amount of destruction and time delay to the building schedule. The investment made for a pre-drywall inspection can save the contractor time and money in possible future repairs and provide the buyer with a well built home.

If a home is not inspected for sufficient allowable span supports there can be major repercussions. The allowable span supports are there to ensure that the house has the correct support in all areas. Especially areas that have large spans that need increased supports like large doors or windows. If these areas are not supported correctly then damage can occur that can be very expensive to repair after the house is completed. If these can be inspected prior to drywall installation then they can be addressed before it becomes harder to do and more expensive.