Home Inspection Diploma Program Outline
Module 2 – Framing, Roofing, and Interior and Exterior Finishes
Framing
While a crack in the wall of a house can be a telltale sign of structural weakness, it might also be no cause for alarm at all. To be successful, home inspectors have to know the difference. This lesson helps you learn to recognize trouble spots in the framing of a home. You study the components of house framing – sills, floor joists, subfloors, studding, wall openings, roof framing, stair framing, and landings. You learn about load requirements for each and how to inspect for defects.
Ceilings
Sometimes it starts with just a small stain. Then a little bubble. Then, somehow, one more big rain turns an innocent-looking sag into a gaping hole. Ceilings, while often taken for granted, are actually one of the most common problem areas in a home. Here you learn how to check ceilings for proper finish, for waves, and for sagging or out-of-level conditions caused by water damage; problems with walls and floors; cracks; attic deficiencies; and structural failure.
Interior Finishes
Now you move back inside the house for a discussion of interior finishes such as drywall, plaster, and wallpaper. You also learn how to inspect different kinds of floors – from wood block and plastic to concrete – plus you find out how to evaluate the condition of a home’s windows and doors from the inside out. Wrapping up, you cover lighting fixtures for hallways, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and family rooms.
Trim Work
Here you learn the difference between what’s decorative and what’s functional…plus how the relationship between things like loose baseboard or gapped molding can provide clues to the structural integrity of a home. You find out how to evaluate the condition of all kinds of interior trim work, including baseboards, shoe molds, crown molds, door trims, stairway finishes, carpeting, cabinetry, locks, and latches.
Chimneys and Flues
Here you learn how to determine the condition of a chimney. You find out how to examine chimney flues and their linings...look for cracked or deteriorated masonry...spot stains and discolorations caused by leakage of soot and flue gases. In the process you study chimney design and operation – examining sizing, connections, construction, insulation, and more.
Roofing
There’s a lot more to a roof than what meets the eye! First you find out how to observe and report on types of roof-covering components – from shingle, wood shake, and tin to metal, tile, and more. Moving on, you study roofing support systems and the materials they’re made of, including plywood, chipboard, and planks. You learn why, for example, a flat roof requires different care than a steep-sloped roof and you find out how to determine when and if a roof should be replaced. Also includes information on fire resistance ratings for roofing.
Exterior Finishes
While ivy-covered brick walls may look great, there could be trouble lurking beneath all that beautiful green. This lesson gives you guidelines for inspecting the outside of a house. From siding, wood, vinyl, and brick to shingle, shake, paint, and plaster, you find out to spot problems in a home’s exterior finish. You also learn what to watch out for when you’re checking window finishes, exterior doors, soffits, fascias, overhangs, guttering, vents, porches, and stoops.
Termites, Radon, and Decay
Many a house is home to more than just people! Being able to warn a home buyer or seller about the presence of unwanted intruders such as insects, radioactive gas, or decaying wood is an important part of the home inspection process. You learn how to look for and identify evidence of termite infestation, radon, and wood rot in a home, assess the potential for damage if left uncontrolled, and alert your clients to steps they can take to eliminate the condition.
Environmental Hazards
Homeowners' growing concern over the proliferation of toxic substances has made “environmental screening” one of today’s hottest new business opportunities for home inspectors. This lab exercise helps you understand how to spot clues for hazards that could be lurking in your clients’ homes – using the radon gas detector, lead testing swabs, flashlight, and telescopic mirror. Step-by-step exercises show you how to perform your own test for radon, which you can later send out to a lab for results, how to check for lead in paint, water, and the solder used pipes together; how to spot likely sources of asbestos; and how to recognize conditions causing carbon monoxide leaks from gas-fired appliances.
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