25 Things Every Home Inspector Should Know

Question 1

What are five common issues to look for when performing a gutter inspection?

Answer 1

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?

Question 2

What items should an inspector check downspouts for?

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

Underground terminations usually connect to one of three system types. Name the 3 types of systems:

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What are the most common failure issues with underground drain piping systems?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

The proper slope for guttering is ____ per 5 to 10 feet.

1/2-inch:
1/2-inch
1/16-inch
1/4-inch

Answer 5

1/4 - INCH

Question 6

Gutters should be installed by screwing or spiking them _________.
into the soffit
through the fascia and into the rafter tails
into the fascia

Answer 6

THROUGH THE FASCIA AND INTO THE RAFTER TAILS

Question 7

T/F: All homes are required to have gutters installed.
True
False

Answer 7

FALSE

Question 8

T/F: Rusting steel gutters are a cosmetic issue and need not be reported.
True
False

Answer 8

FALSE

Question 9

Which of the following is not a guttering material?
 steel
 plastic
 copper
 aluminum
 brass

Answer 9

BRASS

Question 10

T/F: The inspector should report on any debris buildup in the gutters.
True
False

Answer 10

True

Question 11

T/F: The inspector should inspect all visible downspout terminations.
True
False

Answer 11

True

Question 12

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

Answer 12

1/16-inch

Question 13

Measuring the amount of the gutter slope is _______________.
required
not required

Answer 13

NOT-REQUIRED

Question 14

Many roof problems are caused by?

Answer 14

issues with the framing and sheathing

Question 15

Name 3 areas Roof issues emanate from:

Answer 15

Ridge, Rafter and Sheathing.

Question 16

Explain the term generally called “saddle” or “swayback.”

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

List 4 potential causes for Saddle or Swayback on a roof ridge.

Answer 17

a rotten or broken ridge beam;

an overloaded roof surface;

undersized framing members

a lack of collar ties.

Question 18

Define rafter Bowing:

Answer 18

Rafters being pushed down in the center.

Question 19

Rafter Bowing may be caused by?

Answer 19

undersized rafters;

roof loads too high;

a lack of purlins or knee walls;

poorly modified ceiling joists; and/or

improperly modified roof trusses.

Question 20

What causes a Roof to have a wavy appearance?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Why should an inspector also pay close attention to the wall structures when inspecting the roof structure from outside:

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Define Rafter Spread?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

The horizontal board enclosing the ends of the rafter projections (or tails) is normally referred to as the _____ board.
fascia
cornice
soffit

Answer 23

FASCIA

Question 24

Roof sheathing should be installed ___________ to the rafters.
vertical
parallel
perpendicular

Answer 24

PERPENDICULAR

Question 25

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

Answer 25

1 TO 2 INCHES

Question 26

A soffit that is attached directly to the underside of the rafter tails is called a(n) _______ soffit. open box enclosed

Answer 26

ENCLOSED.

Question 27

The clips that are required between many sheathing panels are called ___-clips. L H T

Answer 27

H

Question 28

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

Answer 28

over the roofing paper/felt along the rake edge

Question 29

If a gap exists between the wall and soffit, it may indicate __________. moisture in the soffit rafter sag or spread blocked gutters

Answer 29

RAFTER SAG OR SPREAD

Question 30

Name the different types of roof coverings?

Answer 30

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).

Question 31

What is a Gable Style Roof?

Answer 31

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.”

Question 32

How many Hip Style Roofs are there?

Answer 32

There are two types of hip roofs; Basic and Full.

Question 33

What is a Basic Hip Roof?

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

What is a FULL Hip Roof?

Answer 34

Full hip roofs have no real ridge. The hip rafters all meet to form a point at the peak of the roof.

Question 35

Name other less common Roofs?

Answer 35

Clerestory, Cupola, Conical Roofs, Bonnet, Butterfly, Flat, Gambrel, Mansard, Shed,

Question 36

What is a Dormer?

Answer 36

Dormers are projections built into the slope of a roof. Inspection concerns are valleys, headwall and sidewall flashing.

Question 37

Regardless of roofing materials used, What variables are all roofs susceptible too?

Answer 37

``` weather; impact damage; environmental conditions; orientation; ventilation; insulation; structural issues; and installation defects. ```

Question 38

What are some of the factors which can influence the Life expectancy of a Roof?

Answer 38

local weather conditions, building and design, material quality, and adequate maintenance. Hot climates drastically reduce asphalt shingle life.

Question 39

Gable roofs have _______ slope(s). one two three

Answer 39

TWO

Question 40

T/F: A certain amount of vertical rise over the entire span, or pitch, is represented by a fraction. False True

Answer 40

TRUE

Question 41

_____ 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

Answer 41

SLOPE

Question 42

T/F: Asphalt shingles should be used only on roof slopes of 2:12 or greater. True False

Answer 42

TRUE

Question 43

_______ can be expressed either by a ratio or by inches per foot. Span Rise Slope Pitch

Answer 43

SLOPE

Question 44

T/F: Most asphalt shingles may be used on roof slopes from 4:12 to 21:12, using standard application methods. True False

Answer 44

TRUE

Question 45

_______ can be expressed either by a ratio or by inches per foot. Span Rise Slope Pitch

Answer 45

SLOPE

Question 46

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

Answer 46

4

Question 47

A 4-in-12 _________ can be expressed as the ratio of 4:12. span slope rise pitch

Answer 47

SLOPE

Question 48

In roof framing, the base of the triangle is called the _____. ``` run slope pitch rise span ```

Answer 48

RUN

Question 49

_____ 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

Answer 49

SLOPE