INSPECT ANY HOME INSIDE AND OUT--WITH HELP FROM AN EXPERT! Find out the real value of a house or condo using the tested techniques in this step-by-step guide. Written by a professional home inspector and fully updated throughout, The Complete Book of Home Inspection, Fourth Edition, shows you how to determine exactly what's behind, beneath, above, and around a house before you make an offer. If you're selling your home, you'll learn how to accurately evaluate its condition prior to setting a price. This comprehensive manual covers every aspect of exterior, interior, and electromechanical home inspection--and contains a new chapter on green home technology. Now with details on American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) requirements, this book serves as a valuable on-the-job tool as well as a basic layperson's guide. Plenty of useful photos, drawings, worksheets, and checklists are included in this practical resource. The Complete Book of Home Inspection, Fourth Edition, covers: Tools and procedures Roofs Roof-mounted structures and projections Paved areas around the structure Walls, windows, and doors Lot and landscaping Garage Wood-destroying insects and rot Attic Interior rooms Basement and crawl space Electrical system Plumbing Heating systems Domestic water heaters Air-conditioning Swimming pools Energy considerations Environmental concerns Green home technology
Author(s): Norman Becker
Edition: 4
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional
Year: 2010
Language: English
Pages: 382
Contents......Page 10
Acknowledgments......Page 18
Introduction......Page 20
Tools needed......Page 24
Exterior inspection......Page 25
Interior inspection......Page 26
Electromechanical systems......Page 27
Final inspection......Page 28
Pitched roofs......Page 29
Flat roofs......Page 39
Checkpoint summary......Page 43
Chimneys......Page 45
Vent stacks......Page 49
Roof vents......Page 50
TV antennas......Page 51
Gutters and downspouts......Page 52
Checkpoint summary......Page 57
Street-level/driveway-level steps......Page 59
Entry steps......Page 60
Patio......Page 61
Driveway......Page 62
Checkpoint summary......Page 64
5 Walls, windows, and doors......Page 65
Exterior walls......Page 66
Trim......Page 75
Windows......Page 76
Exterior doors......Page 79
Storm windows, screens, and storm doors......Page 81
Caulking......Page 82
Checkpoint summary......Page 83
Drainage......Page 85
Retaining walls......Page 93
Landscaping......Page 97
Decks......Page 99
Fences......Page 103
Checkpoint summary......Page 104
Attached garage......Page 107
Detached garage......Page 113
Checkpoint summary......Page 116
Termites......Page 118
Other wood-destroying insects......Page 129
Rot......Page 132
Checkpoint summary......Page 135
9 Attic......Page 137
Insulation......Page 138
Violations......Page 139
Fire hazards......Page 140
Ventilation......Page 141
Whole house fans......Page 143
Structural......Page 144
Checkpoint summary......Page 146
10 Interior rooms......Page 147
Walls and ceilings......Page 148
Floors......Page 151
Windows......Page 154
Electrical outlets......Page 155
Fireplace......Page 157
Bedrooms......Page 159
Bathrooms......Page 160
Kitchen......Page 164
Hallway and staircase......Page 165
Checkpoint summary......Page 166
Foundation......Page 170
Dampness......Page 177
Water seepage—causes and control......Page 178
Furnace room......Page 186
Crawl space......Page 188
Checkpoint summary......Page 191
Inlet electrical service......Page 193
Electrical capacity......Page 194
Fuses and circuit breakers......Page 197
Inlet service panel box......Page 198
Grounding......Page 200
Interior electrical inspection......Page 201
Checkpoint summary......Page 204
13 Plumbing......Page 206
Water supply and distribution......Page 207
Drainage system......Page 208
Waste-disposal system......Page 209
Exterior inspection......Page 214
Interior inspection......Page 216
Basement inspection......Page 220
Well-pumping systems......Page 225
General considerations......Page 229
Checkpoint summary......Page 230
14 Heating systems I......Page 232
Central heating systems......Page 233
Thermostat and master shutoff......Page 234
Warm-air systems......Page 235
Hot-water systems......Page 242
Steam heating systems......Page 250
Hybrid heating systems......Page 254
Oil-fired systems......Page 256
Gas-fired systems......Page 258
Area heaters......Page 259
Heating system inspection procedure......Page 260
Checkpoint summary......Page 267
16 Domestic water heaters......Page 270
Tank water heaters......Page 271
Tankless (coil) water heaters......Page 279
Tankless (wall-mounted) water heaters......Page 282
Indirect-fired storage water heaters......Page 283
Checkpoint summary......Page 284
17 Air-conditioning......Page 285
Air-conditioning capacity......Page 286
Air-conditioning systems......Page 287
Checkpoint summary......Page 296
Concrete pools......Page 298
Vinyl-lined pools......Page 299
Preformed fiberglass pools......Page 300
Pool equipment......Page 301
Inspection procedure......Page 303
Checkpoint summary......Page 305
Energy audit......Page 306
Insulation......Page 307
Attic ventilation......Page 310
Storm windows......Page 311
Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves......Page 312
Heating and air-conditioning systems......Page 313
Radon......Page 315
Asbestos......Page 318
Drinking water......Page 320
Lead......Page 321
Leaky oil tanks......Page 323
Electromagnetic fields......Page 324
Mold......Page 325
21 Green home technology......Page 327
Paved areas around the structure......Page 330
Windows......Page 331
Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)......Page 332
Water heating......Page 333
Home inspection limitations......Page 335
Real estate warranty program......Page 336
Contract......Page 337
Home inspector requirements......Page 339
Quiz based on The Complete Book of Home Inspection......Page 342
Quiz answers......Page 357
ASHI Standards of Practice......Page 358
ASHI Code of Ethics......Page 366
ASHI membership categories and requirements......Page 367
G......Page 368
S......Page 369
W......Page 370
Inspection worksheets......Page 371
C......Page 378
F......Page 379
L......Page 380
S......Page 381
Y......Page 382
