Lay over me… or not- Cle Elum Home inspection- Roofs

So you need a new roof what should I do, and what is right?

We all know that one layer of roofing material is best, right? This should always be the standard answer in my book, no exceptions but hey I do always get to write the rules.

And it is very obvious that most think the code says we can add a second layer of roofing, right?

Well hold on there buckaroo, the answer has a qualifier… The code actually states something that many overlook.

                             

So let’s take a peak what the code actually states:


From the IRC (international residential code)-  

R907.3 Re-covering versus replacement.

New roof coverings shall not be installed without first removing existing roof coverings where any of the following conditions occur:

1.      Where the existing roof or roof covering is water-soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing.

2.      Where the existing roof covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile.

3.      Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering.

4.      For asphalt shingles, when the building is located in an area subject to moderate or severe hail exposure according to Figure R903.5.

Exceptions:
1. Complete and separate roofing systems, such as standing-seam metal roof systems, that are designed to transmit the roof loads directly to the building’s structural system and that do not rely on existing roofs and roof coverings for support, shall not require the removal of existing roof coverings.
2. Installation of metal panel, metal shingle, and concrete and clay tile roof coverings over existing wood shake roofs shall be permitted when the application is in accordance with Section R907.4.
3. The application of new protective coating over existing spray polyurethane foam roofing systems shall be permitted without tear-off of existing roof coverings.

So there you have it, the answer is maybe if certain condition can be met.

Or the simpler answer, which is what this Wenatchee Home Inspector always advises, is do not do it and just remove the exiting roof and do it right.

This way your roof decking is inspected and the job can be completed more professionally, your home will love you for it!

Make me happy and hire a true professional roofer.

                                                       

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more… 
   

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com

The Cracked Crown... Chimney Issues

The Cracked Crown- Cle Elum and Chelan Home Inspection

When performing a home inspection if the home has a masonry chimney it is very important that the home inspector evaluates the condition of the chimney crown.

The chimney crown is the area that is around the top of the chimney. This is not to be confused with the chimney cap. A chimney cap is an attachment that is added to the top of the flue pipe.

                                                

The chimney crown tops the masonry walls of the chimney and is best if it is wider than the masonry area. The crown is a solid covering that stops moisture from filtering down through the brick or stone work in your chimney. It protects the mortar that holds everything together.

You want to ensure that the chimney crown is in good shape and is not allowing moisture to seep into the chimney structure below.


There are chimney crown sealants that can be able applied to a chimney crown that still has structural integrity, but just needs to be waterproofed.

Here are a few examples of crown cracks that will need to be sealed.

                         

If the crown has larger cracks they will need to be filled prior to applying a chimney crown sealants. The sealant s will form a waterproof membrane from the elements such as rain, snow and ice that can cause structural damage to the chimney.

A cracked crown that just need a sealant applied may cost a few hundred dollars. But if the problem lingers it can cause masonry damage and a cracked flue which the repair cost may be in the thousands.

Here are a few examples of crown failure that is cause of structural loss of the brick and masonry materials. 

    

    

If the flue happens to become cracked or damaged, along with the additional repair costs involved this can become a very serious fire hazard.

If your chimney crown is showing its age, it may be time to be replaced before it becomes too late.  

These structures usually do not get inspected as often as they should and hiring a professional home inspector or mason to inspect the chimney periodically can save you money and ensure safe operation of your fireplace or other fuel appliances.

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur..."

Red Adair

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…      

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

www.ncwhomeinspections.com

Issues with Deck attachment

Home Remedies… Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspector

Home Remedies… Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspector

We do get to see some fun things out there in the world of Real Estate and property inspections. You all know what I mean.

Well as a home Inspector one of the great privileges I have is to be able to document some very inventive people’s contraptions.

Too bad most of the inventions are downright dangerous.

Here we have an example of some cool work. This is a window unit Air Conditioner that just did not have a a proper connection and needed a fix.
             




But what if you do not have an outlet readily available? No problem we can fix that, and here is the fix.
                               


Now here is the full view.

                                      
                                           ( at least there is not outlet over the baseboard heater)


I informed my client that I think this needs further evaluation by a licensed Electrician. Do you think that was good advice?

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur..."

Red Adair

“Inspecting the World-One Home at a time”

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…                             
NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572

Professional Home Inspection in Chelan County

Electrical Wiring Issues- Wenatchee Home Inspector

Electrical Wiring Issues- Wenatchee Home Inspector

Electrical Wiring issues are some of the most common defects found during a home inspection will be improper wiring. Many people think they understand the basic principle of residential wiring and don't or just do not understand the risk that they are subjecting themselves and their families to.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International "Wiring hazards including damaged and exposed wiring and household wiring together accounted for 20 percent of electrocutions."
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there are over 30,000 home fires annually associated with electrical distribution systems (wiring), resulting in over 200 deaths, nearly 1,000 injuries and over $600 million in property damage.
Here are a few examples of some wiring that makes you wonder how someone did not get hurt.
     

       
     

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more...                             
NCW Home Inspections, LLC-509-670-9572                                         www.ncwhomeinspections.com

Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspection-Insulation in the home

Wenatchee and Leavenworth Hom Inspection- Insulations in a home.

This is a follow up to my blog on The Scientific Basics of an Insulator.
There are many ways to insulate a home. Fiberglass is the most common but you may want to consider other options. They all have their plusses and minuses.
I am not a big fan of fiberglass for many reasons but it is the industry standard. So here is a list with some information of all the major insulators in no particular order.
The R-value for an insulator is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building and construction industry.


Insulation Comparison









Cellulose insulation (R-values- 3.0-3.7 + total fill) is made of ground-up, recycled newsprint treated with borate as a fire and pest retardant. Cellulose can be damp- or dry-blown into walls and dry-blown into attics.

 

Fiberglass insulation (2.2-4.0) has been the industry standard, is made from spun glass fibers, and is available in faced or unfaced batts or loose-fill. Precautions should be taken during installation to avoid contact with skin or inhalation of airborne glass fibers. Traditionally, formaldehyde has been used to bind these glass fibers. Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can off-gas potentially irritating or harmful chemicals into a home. Recycled-content and "no added formaldehyde" products are readily available at comparable costs. Listed by National Toxicology Program, Department of Health and Human Services as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcino­gen.

Cotton insulation (3.0-3.7) is available in faced or unfaced batts. It is manufactured from postindustrial recycled content fibers of the textile industry (primarily blue jean factories), with some polyester fiber for strength and "loft." Unlike fiberglass and mineral wool, cotton insulation is not irritating or potentially dangerous to handle. It should be torn, not cut, to fit. Cork and wool insulation are options made from rapidly renewable, natural sources and now available.

Foam board typically has a higher R-value per inch than batt and loose-fill products (e.g., expanded polystyrene, 3.8; extruded polystyrene, 5.0; polyisocyanurate, 5.8-7.0). Well-installed foam board (taped at the seams) creates an improved air barrier. Look for products that use water or pentane as the blowing or foaming agent instead of HCFC, which contributes to ozone layer destruction.







Spray-in place foams (3.9-4.3 + total fill) have excellent air-sealing properties, high R-values, and most of them can easily be installed anywhere, including overhead. They are a particularly effective choice for "cathedralized" attics (insulation is installed at the rafters, so the attic is within the thermal envelope. This is a good approach if ductwork is placed in the attic). Most of these foams are low-density, open-cell polyurethane or polyicynene. HCFC-free foam is available, as is soy-based foam. Spray foams are newer in the market, so installers may be hard to find and costs may be high.













Mineral wool (2.8-3.7) is produced as batts or loose-fill made from rock wool (from natural rock) or slag wool (an iron ore blast furnace waste product).











Structural insulated panels (SIPs) (4.0 + total fill) consist of rigid expanded polystyrene foam sandwiched between panels of oriented strand board (OSB). SIPs are fabricated off-site, come in thicknesses from 4 to 12 inches, and are fairly interchangeable with wood frame construction if incorporated early in a project's design phase. SIPs advantages include a very high effective Rvalue, excellent soundproofing performance, and rapid on-site installation. Note that mechanical ventilation is typically required when using SIPs due to the resulting airtight nature of such construction. As with foam board and spray foams, look for products fabricated with and from more environmentally friendly foam materials.





Radiant Barrier-(little or no R-value) Radiant barrier insulation systems reflect radiant heat energy instead of trying to absorb it. Radiant barriers come in a variety of forms, including reflective foil, reflective metal roof shingles, reflective laminated roof sheathing, and even reflective chips, which can be applied over loose-fill insulation. The reflective material, usually aluminum, is applied to one or both sides of a number of substrate materials. Substrate materials include kraft paper, plastic films, cardboard, oriented strand board, and air infiltration barrier material. Some products are fiber-reinforced to increase the durability and ease of handling.

Radiant barriers-which don't provide a significant amount of thermal insulation-can be combined with many types of insulation materials. These combinations are called reflective insulation systems. In these combinations, radiant barriers can also act as the insulation's facing material.

Recycled Content (environmental comparisons)

Insulation materials vary in their recycled content.  Which insulation offers the environmental benefits of resource conservation and reduced waste? The typical recycled content of various insulations is as follows:

Fiberglass: 0-30%, mostly post-industrial, some post-consumer

Cellulose: 75-95%, mostly newspapers

Mineral wool: 0-90%, rock wool - 0%, slag - 90%

Cotton: 75-95%, post-industrial fabric trimmings

Foam board: 0-50%, post-industrial foam

Spray foam: 0-15%, post-industrial chemicals

Radiant Barriers: 0-100%, mostly recycled aluminum

Wenatchee and Leavenworth Hom Inspection- Insulations in a home.

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more...                           

NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572

Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection- The Basics of an Insulator

Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection- The Basics of an Insulator

The basic principle of any insulator/insulative material is its ability to limit the transfer of heat energy.
Heat is the energy exchange between two thermodynamic systems which differ in temperature. Like the Sun to the earth or your bare body to snow. The transfer of thermal energy will always go from the system of higher temperature to the colder system. When the two systems have reached a thermodynamic equilibrium (same temperature) they will cease to exchange thermal energy.

                                                             

Heat energy moves by three basic ways: conduction, convection, and radiation. The first two mechanisms need an intervening medium to work and this is where insulation plays its major role. Insulators can be any material or means by which any or all of the three heat transfer mechanisms can be interrupted.





Conduction

Heat energy is stored in molecules as vibrations. The more the molecules vibrate the higher temperature. In some materials, it is easy for one molecule to make its neighbors start to vibrate. The neighbor molecule then makes more molecules vibrate. Before long all the molecules are vibrating (is a party!). Now the whole object has a higher temperature. This is heat conduction. Metals are very good at this as well as many liquids.






Convection

Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids (i.e. liquids, gases) and rheids (a solid material that deforms by viscous flow like lava).
For convection, warmed atoms and/or molecules which are free to move about like those in a gas or liquid circulate through the medium in a rather predictable route. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids

















Radiation

In radiation is heat energy that is transmitted via electromagnetic waves. The radioactive process requires no medium. In other words, radiation (for example, light and heat) can move through empty space (like between my ears ;  ).



How Insulators Work

For conduction the best insulator is a vacuum, completely empty space. If there are no molecules, there can be no vibrations. A very good insulator is air. Gasses such as air do no transfer heat very well because the molecules are so far apart from each other.
With convection heat we want to use a poor heat conductor with as many dead air spaces we can create. Things like cellulose, fiberglass and foam board insulation work well because they interfere with the convective flow essential to that mechanism. The tiny air (or gas) filled spaces in the insulator limit heat flow because they greatly extend the time necessary for convective and conductive flow to occur.
For heat to move through these materials each cell, which there are millions, must relay the heat across it. The longer it takes, the slower the heat flow.
In the case of radiation we want heat radiation to be bounced off a substance rather than being absorbed by it. This is how a thermos bottle works or those shiny emergency heat blankets work. The shiny mirrored surface reflects heat (electromagnetic waves) back toward the source. Hot things in a thermos stay hot because heat is reflected back toward the hot contents and cool things stay cool because the heat from the outside is reflected away from the contents.

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more...                            
NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572