25 Things Every Home Inspector Should Know Flashcards
Master the 25
What are five common issues to look for when performing a gutter inspection?
Improper Downward Gutter slope. Proper is(1/16/ft or 1/4 inch/5 ft)
Are down spouts present? Is the number adequate?
Guttering securely fastened to the building?
Missing brackets?
Gutter spikes backing out?
Signs of leaking from the joints?
Missing or damaged gutters?
Gutters blocked by debris or rooted vegetation?
What items should an inspector check downspouts for?
the connection between the downspout and the gutter;
proper attachment of the downspout to the structure;
leakage in joints
impact damage from car doors, etc.;
downspouts that terminate onto another roof surface,
Is the termination is directing water away from the foundation.
Is the gutter system directing roof water run-off straight down into the foundation.
Underground terminations usually connect to one of three system types. Name the 3 types of systems:
On-site drainage: The gutters connect to subterranean piping that simply takes the run-off to a low area on the property, well away from the foundation. and discharges it to the ground,
Connection to foundation drains: In these systems downspouts connect via vertical drains to the home’s foundation or drain tile system.
French drains and dry-wells: A pit or channel is dug and lined with a membrane, and normally filled with crushed stone.
What are the most common failure issues with underground drain piping systems?
piping ‘silting up’
blockages from leaves and other debris.
root systems infiltrating and choking off the pipes;
Collapsed pipes from vehicles driving over the ground above them.
The proper slope for guttering is ____ per 5 to 10 feet.
1/2-inch:
1/2-inch
1/16-inch
1/4-inch
1/4 - INCH
Gutters should be installed by screwing or spiking them _________.
into the soffit
through the fascia and into the rafter tails
into the fascia
THROUGH THE FASCIA AND INTO THE RAFTER TAILS
T/F: All homes are required to have gutters installed.
True
False
FALSE
T/F: Rusting steel gutters are a cosmetic issue and need not be reported.
True
False
FALSE
Which of the following is not a guttering material? steel plastic copper aluminum brass
BRASS
T/F: The inspector should report on any debris buildup in the gutters.
True
False
True
T/F: The inspector should inspect all visible downspout terminations.
True
False
True
Roofing gutters should slope down toward the downspout at the rate of _____ per foot, or 1/4-inch per
5 to 10 feet.
3/10-inch
1/12-inch
1/16-inch
1/16-inch
Measuring the amount of the gutter slope is _______________.
required
not required
NOT-REQUIRED
Many roof problems are caused by?
issues with the framing and sheathing
Name 3 areas Roof issues emanate from:
Ridge, Rafter and Sheathing.
Explain the term generally called “saddle” or “swayback.”
When the ridge beam has settled down toward the center of the roof.
One of the more common things to see, especially on older homes.
List 4 potential causes for Saddle or Swayback on a roof ridge.
a rotten or broken ridge beam;
an overloaded roof surface;
undersized framing members
a lack of collar ties.
Define rafter Bowing:
Rafters being pushed down in the center.
Rafter Bowing may be caused by?
undersized rafters;
roof loads too high;
a lack of purlins or knee walls;
poorly modified ceiling joists; and/or
improperly modified roof trusses.
What causes a Roof to have a wavy appearance?
rafters or trusses set too far apart;
roof sheathing that’s too thin;
moisture-damaged sheathing;
sheathing that’s fitted too closely together; and/or
sheathing that’s missing H-clips.
Why should an inspector also pay close attention to the wall structures when inspecting the roof structure from outside:
The inspector may possibly observe signs of the walls bowing out, or the soffits pulling away from the tops of the walls. A condition called rafter spread.
Define Rafter Spread?
A condition where the weight of the roof has pushed the roof rafters outward. This results in a separation of the roof structure from the walls, and pushing the top of the walls outward
The horizontal board enclosing the ends of the rafter projections (or tails) is normally referred to as the _____ board.
fascia
cornice
soffit
FASCIA
Roof sheathing should be installed ___________ to the rafters.
vertical
parallel
perpendicular
PERPENDICULAR
The distance that should separate the siding from the roof’s surface is __________.
less than 1 inch
2 to 4 inches
1 to 2 inches
1 TO 2 INCHES
A soffit that is attached directly to the underside of the rafter tails is called a(n) _______ soffit.
open
box
enclosed
ENCLOSED.
The clips that are required between many sheathing panels are called ___-clips.
L
H
T
H
Drip edge flashing should be installed ____________.
over the roofing paper/felt along the eave edge
under the roofing paper/felt along the rake edge
over the roofing paper/felt along the rake edge
over the roofing paper/felt along the rake edge
If a gap exists between the wall and soffit, it may indicate __________.
moisture in the soffit
rafter sag or spread
blocked gutters
RAFTER SAG OR SPREAD
Name the different types of roof coverings?
asphalt shingle;
tile, slate; clay tile; concrete tile; & asbestos cement tile.
wood and shake shingle
roll roofing;
built-up roofing;
membrane roofing;
metal roofing systems,
standing seam systems; and
metal oddities (shingle, sheet, corrugated).
What is a Gable Style Roof?
They have two slopes and the ridge extends the length of the home. The lower, level edges of the roof are called the “eaves,” and the sloped edges are called the “gables” or “rakes.”
How many Hip Style Roofs are there?
There are two types of hip roofs; Basic and Full.
What is a Basic Hip Roof?
The basic hip roof has a level ridge that doesn’t extend all the way to the exterior walls. Instead, hip rafters slope diagonally down to each corner.
What is a FULL Hip Roof?
Full hip roofs have no real ridge. The hip rafters all meet to form a point at the peak of the roof.
Name other less common Roofs?
Clerestory, Cupola, Conical Roofs, Bonnet, Butterfly, Flat, Gambrel, Mansard, Shed,
What is a Dormer?
Dormers are projections built into the slope of a roof. Inspection concerns are valleys, headwall and sidewall flashing.
Regardless of roofing materials used, What variables are all roofs susceptible too?
weather; impact damage; environmental conditions; orientation; ventilation; insulation; structural issues; and installation defects.
What are some of the factors which can influence the Life expectancy of a Roof?
local weather conditions, building and design, material quality, and adequate maintenance. Hot climates drastically reduce asphalt shingle life.
Gable roofs have _______ slope(s).
one
two
three
TWO
T/F: A certain amount of vertical rise over the entire span, or pitch, is represented by a fraction.
False
True
TRUE
_____ is the incline of the roof expressed as a ratio of the vertical rise to the horizontal run, where the run is some portion of the span.
Span
Slope
Run
Pitch
SLOPE
T/F: Asphalt shingles should be used only on roof slopes of 2:12 or greater.
True
False
TRUE
_______ can be expressed either by a ratio or by inches per foot.
Span
Rise
Slope
Pitch
SLOPE
T/F: Most asphalt shingles may be used on roof slopes from 4:12 to 21:12, using standard application methods.
True
False
TRUE
_______ can be expressed either by a ratio or by inches per foot.
Span
Rise
Slope
Pitch
SLOPE
A roof that rises _____ inches for every 1 foot or 12 inches of run is said to have a “4 in 12” slope.
2
6
4
10
4
A 4-in-12 _________ can be expressed as the ratio of 4:12.
span
slope
rise
pitch
SLOPE
In roof framing, the base of the triangle is called the _____.
run slope pitch rise span
RUN
_____ is the incline of the roof expressed as a ratio of the vertical rise to the horizontal run, where the run is some portion of the span.
Span
Slope
Run
Pitch
SLOPE
