Final Flashcards
List 3 components required in an interior inspection
1) Walls, Ceilings, Floors
2) Steps, Stairways, Railings
3) Doors, Windows
How many exterior doors should be operated as part of a standard inspection?
All exterior doors
How many interior doors should be operated?
At least one per each room
How many windows should be operated to meet common standards?
At least one window in each room
What are you required to do with central vacuum system?
Don’t have to be inspected
List 6 items NOT required for inspection on the interior section
1) Paint, wall paper, other finish treatment
2) Window treatments
3) Carpeting
4) Central vacuum system
5) Household appliances
6) Recreational facilities
List 3 limitations to an interior inspection
1) Interior finishes may conceal actual condition of walls, ceiling, and floors
2) Obstructed view by carpet, furniture, wall papers
3) Conditioned concealed by drapes, clothes, storages, pictures on wall, etc
Many inspectors make (insert number) passes through the interior part of the home during an inspection
Two
What might different in style baseboards, windows, and construction methods in one part of a house suggest?
Remodelling or renovations
Does an interior inspection include carpet and wallpaper?
No
Does an interior inspection include drapes and curtains?
No
Does an interior inspection include door hardware?
Yes
6 Common Flooring Materials?
Concrete
Wood
Carpet
Resilient
Ceramic/Porcelain/Quarry Tile
Stone/Marble
5 Common issues for all floors
Water damage
Trip hazard
Mechanical damage
Loose or missing pieces
Absorbent materials in wet areas
5 Common issues for Concrete floors
Cracked (most common)
Settled/Heaved
Water penetration/Efflorescence
Slope away from drain
Hollow below
6 Common issues for Wood floors
Rot
Warped
Buckled
Stained
Squeaks
Exposed tongues
4 Common issues for Carpet floors
Rot
Stains
Odor
Buckled
3 Common issues for Resilient floors
Split
Open seams
Lifted seams
5 Common issues for Ceramic/Tile floors
Loose
Grout missing
Cracked/Broken
Worn
Stains
What is a control joint on a concrete slab?
Cuts in the concrete slab to provide stress concentration point, so that if the slab cracks, it will crack there
Where is rot most likely to occur on a wood frame flooring system?
Around plumbing fixtures, especially toilets
Subfloor thickness may be determined by:
Lifting a floor register
3 Characteristics of good floors
Level
Smooth
Durable
5 Common Wall finish materials
Plaster/Drywall
Wood plank/Panelling
Masonry/Concrete
Fiber-cement panelling
Magnesium oxide wallboard
Bathroom walls should be have non-absorbent finishes from the floor level to a minimum of ______ high
6 Feet
What is a party wall? Location, Function, and Materials?
Located between attached dwelling units, act as a sound and fire separation. Masonry block and wood frame with drywall commonly used
4 Features of Drywall/Plaster
1) Durable
2) Chemically inert
3) Fire resistant
4) Inexpensive
4 Common issues with all walls
Water damage
Cracks
Mechanical damage
Inappropriate finishes in wet areas
5 Common issues with Plaster/Drywall on walls
1) Bulging, Loose or Missing
2) Shadow effect
3) Crumbling or Powdery
4) Nail Pops
5) Poor Joints
4 Common issues with Wood wall and ceiling finishes
1) Rot
2) Cracked, Split, Broken
3) Buckled
4) Loose
2 Common issues with Party walls
1) Not continuous
2) Ice dams
2 Common issues with Garage wall
1) Not fireproof
2) Not gas-fit
Implication for each wall problem
1. Water damage
2. Cracks
3. Mechanical damage
4. Inappropriate finish in wet area
5. Bulging, Loose, Missing
6. Shadow effect
7. Crumbling/Powdery
8. Nail Pops
9. Poor joints
10. Rot/Cracked/Split/Buckled wood
11. Not continuous party wall
12. Ice dams
13. Not gas tight
- cosmetic/ structural
- decorating issue/structural movement or settling
- minor repair/localized
- stain or deterioration on absorbent finish/mold and mildew growth
- cosmetic/safety issue
- cosmetic
- if ongoing problem investigate
- cosmetic
- cosmetic
- cosmetic/look for moisture damage
- fire spread
- moisture damage to roof structure
- exhaust fume enters from garage
2 inspection strategies for ceiling
1) Shine flashlight along ceiling
2) Lift tiles on suspended ceilings
4 common materials for ceiling finish
1) Plaster/Drywall
2) Wood/Hardboard/Plywood
3) Fiber-cement/Concrete
4) Acoustic/Suspended Tile
4 common issues with all Ceilings
1) Water damage
2) Cracked, Loose, Missing
3) Mechanical damage
4) Poor lighting
6 Common issues with Drywall ceiling
1) Shadow effect
2) Crumbling or Powdery
3) Nail Pops
4) Poor drywall joints
5) Sag
6) Textured ceilings in wet areas
1 common issue with metal ceiling
Rust
Implications for the following ceiling finish issues
1. Water damage
2. Cracked, loose, missing ceiling
3. Mechanical damage
4. Poor lighting
5. Shadow effect
6. Crumbling or Powdery
7. Nail Pops
8. Poor drywall joints
9. Sagging
10. Textured ceilings in wet area
11. Rust
- Cosmetic/Structural
- Cosmetic/Mechanical damage
- Minor repair/Localized
- Safety hazard
- Cosmetic
- If ongoing, needs investigation
- Cosmetic
- Cosmetic
- Structural damage
- Cosmetic
- Cosmetic/Safety hazard
What are some causes for sagging ceilings?
- Wide spacing of roof trusses
- Drywall too thin
- Winter construction (drywall absorbs condensation from the house being heated, but no insulation in the attic yet)
- Textured ceilings sprayed with too much moisture can appear to be uneven (sagging)
3 Functions of Ceilings
1) Decorative
2) Supports air/vapor barriers and insulation
3) Provide rigidity to the roof structure
Hallways and Stairs should have what kind of lighting system?
A Three-way lighting
A stairway with more than ____ threads or ______ risers should have light switches at both top and bottom
3
4
List 2 functions of Trims on the interior of homes
1) Cover joints at changes in materials and direction
2) Protect walls
7 components/kinds of trims
1) Baseboard
2) Quarter Rounds
3) Plate Rails
4) Chair Rails
5) Door Casing
6) Window Casing
7) Cornice Moldings
7 common materials for Countertop
1) Plastic laminate
2) Marble
3) Granite
4) Wood
5) Synthetic marble
6) Stainless steel
7) Ceramic tile
5 common issues with Interior Trim
1) Missing
2) Water damage, Stained
3) Rot
4) Loose/Poor fit
5) Mechanical damage, Cracked
8 common issues with Countertops
1) Top loose
2) Loose or missing pieces
3) Burnt, Cut, Worn
4) Mechanical damage
5) Stained
6) Metal rusted
7) Ceramic grout or tiles missing/loose
8) Substrate rotten
12 common issues with Cabinets
1) Water damage
2) Rot, Stained, Worn
3) Mechanical damage
4) Broken glass
5) Defective Hardware
6) Stiff or Inoperable
7) Not well secured to a wall
8) Door or drawers missing/loose
9) Other pieces missing/loose
10) Shelves not well supported
11) Rust
12) Insufficient combustible clearance (min 30 inches)
The width of the place your foot steps on is called:
Tread Width/Depth ( =run + nosing)
The Height between steps is called:
Rise
The horizontal offset between steps is called:
Run
The supports for the treads is called:
Stringer
A tread that tapers to a point is called:
Winder
A railing to prevent you falling into a stairwell or off an open stairway is called:
Guardrail
The vertical spindles on a guardrail/handrail are called:
Baluster
3 common materials for Stairs?
Wood
Metal
Concrete
** NEVER WAFERBOARD (합판) **
Stairwell Width should be:
34 - 36 inches
Stairwell Headroom should be:
6’6” - 6’8”
Tread width for curved stair should be:
9 inches
Maximum rise should be:
8 inches
Minimum stair tread width should be:
9.25 inches
Sets of winders per staircase should be:
1
Handrail height should be:
34 - 38 inches
Guardrail height should be:
36 inches
2 common issues for all stairs
1) Rot/Water damage
2) Mechanical damage
10 common issues for treads
1) Too thin
2) Excessive rise
3) Not uniform
4) Excessive nosing or back slope
5) Inadequate tread slope
6) Too many winders
7) Winder angle too big
8) Worn or damaged
9) Sloped
10) Loose or poorly supported
7 common issues for stringers
1) Too small
2) Excessive notching for treads
3) Too thin
4) Excessive span between stringers
5) Pulling away from wall or treads
6) Inadequately secured to header
7) Rot
3 common issues for landings
1) Headroom inadequate
2) Landing missing
3) Too small
4 common issues for handrails
1) Missing
2) Hard to grasp
3) Loose or damaged
4) Too low/high
2 common issues for guardrail
1) Missing
2) Too low
4 common issues for balusters
1) Too far apart
2) Easy to climb
3) Loose or damaged
4) Missing
Interior stairwell with more than ______ steps require a handrail
3
______ inches or higher fall potential needs a guardrail
24
4 functions of a window
1) Light
2) Ventilation
3) Architectural appeal
4) Egress
5 common materials for window frames
1) Wood
2) Vinyl
3) Aluminum
4) Fiberglass
5) Metal
5 common materials for sashes
1) Wood
2) Vinyl
3) Aluminum
4) Fiberglass
5) Metal
8 common types of windows
1) Single hung
2) Double hung
3) Slideres
4) Awning
5) Hopper
6) Casement
7) Fixed
8) Jalousie
5 components of windows
1) Sash
2) Muntin
3) Mullion
4) Frame
5) Thermal break
4 common materials for muntin are:
1) Wood
2) Vinyl
3) Brass
4) Lead
3 common window glazing materials are:
1) Conventional glass
2) Laminated glass
3) Tampered glass
Glazing material for skylights?
Acrylic
T or F
Low-E glass traps heat in the home in winter and keeps heat out in the summer
True
T of F
Gas-filled glass is more energy efficient than conventional double paned
True
2 common issues with all windows
1) Leaks (air/water)
2) Lintels sagging/missing
6 common issues with window frames
1) Rot
2) Rusted
3) Racked (structural movement)
4) Deformed (overfoaming)
5) Installed backwards
6) Drain holes blocked/missing
2 common issues with exterior drip caps
1) Missing
2) Ineffective
What is the implication of missing or ineffective exterior drip caps?
Water leakage into the wall and window system
10 common issues with exterior window trims
1) Missing
2) Rot
3) Rust
4) Damaged, Cracked, Loose
5) Sills with reversed slope
6) Sill projection inadequate
7) Drip edge missing
8) Glazing compound cracked, missing, loose, deteriorated
9) Caulking/Flashing missing, loose, rusted, incomplete
10) Paint or stain needed
8 common issues with sash
1) Rot
2) rust
3) Inoperable
4) Stiff
5) Sashes won’t stay open
6) Sash coming apart
7) Loose fit
8) Weather stripping missing or ineffective
6 common issues with interior window trim
1) Rot
2) Rust
3) Missing
4) Cracked
5) Loose
6) Poor fit
6 common issues with window glass
1) Broken
2) Cracked
3) Loose
4) Missing
5) Lost seal
6) Excess condensation
5 common issues with window hardware
1) Rust
2) Broken
3) Missing
4) Loose
5) Inoperable
Window sill should be at least _____ off the ground/stair landing
36 inches
Optimum air space between the window panes is __________
5/8 inches
Heat loss and condensation around the perimeter is called:
Edge effect
Requirements for an egress window
Minimum _______ either direction
Maximum sill height __________
Minimum total area of __________
15 inches
40 inches
3.8 sq ft
You find more air leaks at __________ windows and more condensation with _______ windows
Sashless sliders
Metal
What is a new term for “broken sash cord”?
Broken spring
5 functions of exterior doors
1) Entry and Exit
2) Security
3) Privacy
4) Weather-tight
5) Gas-proof if connected to garage
4 functions of interior doors
1) Passage between rooms
2) Privacy
3) Sound protection
4) Fire and Smoke protection
4 common materials for doors
1) Wood
2) Vinyl
3) Metal
4) Hardboard (indoor only)
4 common types of door surface
1) Flush
2) Paneled
3) Louvered
4) Glazed
4 common types of doors
1) Hinged
2) Sliding
3) Pocket
4) Bi-fold
R-value of the following
Wood door
Insulated metal door
R2
R14
5 common issues with garage doors
1) Not self-closing
2) Not fire-rated or exterior type
3) Not weather-stripped
4) Opens into bedroom
5) No 6” step down into the garage
T or F
An insulated door should have a storm door
False - too much heat between doors
T or F
An out of square door indicates a structural issue
False
2 sources of wet basement problems
1) Surface water
2) Ground water
3 contributing factors to ground water
1) Soil type
2) Depth of foundation
3) Height of water table
6 implications of wet basement
1) Nuisance
2) Odor, Molds
3) Damaged interior finishes and furnishing
4) Structural deterioration
5) Electrical shock/Fire hazard
6) Damaged insulation
Clues for wet basement/crawlspace
- Water or dampness on walls or floor
- Efflorescence on walls or floor
- Rot, stains or water marks on walls, doors, windows, basement stairs
- Rust at baseboard nails, carpet tack strips, columns, appliances
- Odors, mold, mildew
- Rot
- Loose floor tiles
- Damaged basement storage
- Storage off floor
- Wall patches
- Floor patches
- Trough or trench around floor perimeter
- Sump pumps operating continuously
- Full sump
- Two spare sump pumps
- Auxiliary electric supply for pump
- High water alarm on sump
- Crumbling plaster, drywall or masonry
- Peeling paint
- Wall cracks with stains
- Recent excavation
- Evidence of drainage membrane
- New damp-proofing
- Dehumidifier running constantly
4 corrective actions for wet basement
1) Control surface water
2) Patch cracks
3) Interior drainage system (sump pump)
4) Exterior excavation and damp-proofing
T or F
Foundational cracks are mostly found around windows
True
List 4 other water sources that can fool you
1) Leaking plumbing fixtures
2) Leaks from hot water heating system
3) Siding leaks
4) Sewer backup
T of F
You can predict the severity and frequency of wet basement
False
T of F
Truss Uplifting causes a significant structural damage
False - cosmetic
4 Features of Plaster/Drywall wall finish
1) Durable
2) Chemically inert
3) Inexpensive
4) Fire resistant
Areas to inspect during Interior inspection
- Walls, Ceiling, Floors
- Plumbing, Heating, Electrical
- Doors, Windows
- Steps, Stairs, Railings
- Counters, Cabinets
- Garage Walls
