Foreclosure Home Inspection - Attic Inspection
Inspection of headroom in attic
Attics should have more than 36 inches of headroom for safe entry and should not have obstructing elements such as ducts, insulation, and other items that may make movement dangerous.
Inspection of attic insulation material
Is it made of approximately 9-12 inches of fiberglass placed between the floor joists? -- Yes -- No. Sprayed or blow-in insulation material may contain asbestos especially if the house is 30 or more years old. Removing asbestos can only be carried out by specialists.
See how attic insulation was done in a hurry. One of the insulation material was placed wrong. The side carrying the manufacturer’s name should have been facing the floor.
Attic insulation: -- Mineral wood -- Cellulose -- Vermiculite -- Batt
Does attic have a light? -- Yes -- No –-> Consider installing one.
Inspection of attic ventilation
Is attic properly ventilated? -- Yes -- No Adequate attic ventilation is provided by a combination of eave, dormer, turbine, power vent, a gable vent. Do you see any or combination of them?
Does it have a fan? -- No -- Yes. Keep away from the fan that may start operating any time. Never operate the fan while in the attic!
Does fan have a protective cover? -- Yes -- No --> This is a safety issue.
Any sign of water penetration or moisture on the floor and wooden parts (ridge beam, joists, trusses) under the roof?
-- No -- Yes --> Address the problem.
Any sagging of ridge beam (at the top of the roof)? -- No -- Yes --> This is serious structural concern --> Contact a structural engineer or a licensed roofing contractor for further evaluation.
Metal connectors securing wood roof structure.
Any alteration or unnecessary cuts? -- No -- Yes --> Holes drilled through the wood support material weaken the roof structure.
Any disconnected or leaking pipe or pipe terminating in the attic? -- No -- Yes --> This is a major health concern and must be eliminated.
Are insulation vapor barriers touching the floor, facing the heated area under the attic? -- Yes -- No --> Insulation will not be effective and condensation will occur.
Here’s a closer view of the insulation material placed wrong.
Any insulation material obstructing or clogging the vents in the attic? -- Yes -- No
Are air conditioning and furnace venting pipes insulated properly? -- Yes -- No --> Install.
This heating and air conditioning system is well connected and taped (silver-colored) to prevent any leak. Notice that large pipe (which is subject to condensation) is insulated while the small-diameter pipe is not.
Additional support of roof material in attic
Metal roof support in attic
Final roof checks to remember
Try to see if there is any missing, cracked or damaged shingle and ridge. Observe the gutters for any clogging or draining problem. Look at the sections below the gutters for any signs of water damage.
Skylights and other components mounted on the roof are potential locations for water penetration. Other components include chimneys, plumbing vents, bathroom vents, and antennas.
Don’t forget to check inside the attic to see if daylight is coming through from locations where there are serious damages on the shingles.