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Rex Cauldwell's bio and book site

Inspecting A House

Inspecting A House has become the reference for inspectors, real estate agents, home owners and home sellers nationwide. It is commonly bought for schools who, in turn, cut the solid binder off to install a spiral binder as to have it lay open on a desk.

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Chapter 1

 THE INSPECTION PROCESS

            Professional Courtesy

                        Professional  Organizations

           

            The Rules of the Profession

 

            Creating a System of Inspection

                        A System of Inspection

                        The Inspection Form

 

            Tools of the Trade

                        Basic Tools

                        Electrical Testing Tools

                        Specialty Tools

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Chapter 2

THE SERVICE INSPECTION

            The Service Entrance

                        The Utility Service Cable

                        The Service-Entrance Cable

                        Service Drop Checklist

                        SEC Checklist

                        The Meter Base

                        Grounding System

                        The Right Meter Base for the Job

                        Meter Base and Grounding System Checklist

 

            The Service Panel

                        Panel Location

                        Minimum Clearance around the Panel

                        Service Panel Safety

                        Opening the Panel

                        Fuse Box or Circuit-Breaker Panel

                        Panel Amperage

                        Water Damage

                        Manufacturer Problems

                        Overloaded Panel

                        Excessive over Current Protection

                        Service Panel Checklist

                        Panel with Filler Plates Missing

                        Breaker Problems

                        Know your Breakers

                        The Right Tab for the Breaker

                        Circuit Breaker Checklist

                        Wiring Problems Within the Service Panel

                        Panel Wiring Checklist

                        Panel Grounding

                        Using a Multimeter to Check for "Hot" Pipes

                        Sub- Panels

                        Panel Grounding Checklist

                        Fuse Boxes

Chapter 3

SIDING, DOORS, AND WINDOWS

            Siding

                        Type of Siding  Checklist

                        Inspector Beware

                        Painted Wood

                        Lead Paint

                        Cedar Siding

                        Board-and-Batten Siding

                        Exterior Plywood Siding

                        Cedar Siding Checklist

                        Hardboard Composite Siding

                        Exterior Plywood Siding Checklist

                        Insect Damage

                        Hardboard Composite Siding Checklist

                        Asbestos-cement Siding

                        Fiber-cement Siding

                        Vinyl Siding

                        Vinyl Siding Checklist

                        Aluminum Siding

                        Block

                        Brick

                        Block and Brick Checklist

                        Stucco

                        Stucco Siding Checklist

                       

           

            Doors

                        Solid-wood Doors

                        Steel-Insulated Doors

                        Fiberglass Doors

                        Storm Doors

                        Door Checklist

                        Interior Doors

                       

 

            Windows

                        Insulated Windows

                        Fixed Windows

                        Double-Hung

                        Horizontal and Vertical Sliders

                        Casement Windows

                        Window Checklist

                        Leave-alone Window

                        Storm Windows and Screens

 

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Chapter 4

ROOFS, GUTTERS, AND GRADING

 

            Inspecting the Roof

                        The Walk-About Inspection

                        How to Inspect the Roof

                        Chimney Flashing

                        General Roof Checklist

                        Asphalt Shingles

                        Fly-Away Shingles

                        Wood Shingles and Shakes

                        Standing Seam

                        Slate

                        Tile Roofing

                        Inspecting the Attic

            Guttering

                        Checking the Down spots

                        Checking the Gutters

                        Gutter Checklist

            Grading

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Chapter 5   Foundations, Structural Supports, and Decks
 
  • Foundation checklist
  • Solid foundations
  • Piers and columns checklist
  • Low foundations
  • Porch columns
  • Wrought Iron Supports and Railings
  • Decks
  • Support posts and attachments
  • Deck Inspection checkpoints
  • Wood railings
  • Decking
  • Deck checklist

 

 

 

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Chapter 6   Garages, Driveways, and Walkways

 

  • Types of garages
  • Garages and fire safety
  • Garage type checklist
  • Inspecting the exterior
  • Grading and guttering
  • Grading and guttering checklist
  • The garage roof
  • Structural stability
  • Garage roof checklist
  • Garage floor
  • Garage doors
  • Garage door checklist
  • Carbon monoxide problems
  • Garage electrical checklist
  • Garage plumbing checklist
  • Driveway and walkways
  • Driveway and walkway checklist

Chapter 7   Basements and Crawl Spaces

  • Types of basements
  • Basement water damage
  • Basement wall and floor checklist
  • Basement stairs checklist
  • Basement lighting
  • Finished basement ceilings
  • Basement structural inspection
  • Basement electrical inspection
  • Basement plumbing inspections
  • Crawl spaces   
  • Crawl space checklist
  • Radon

Chapter 8

 

UTILITY ROOM APPLIANCES

 

            Water Heaters

                        The Standard Inspection

                        Gas Water Heaters

                        Water Heater Checklist

                        Gas Water Heater Inspection Checkpoints

                        The Down and Dirty on Dirt Legs

                        Electric Water Heaters

                        Electric Water Heater Inspection Checkpoints

                       

                       

 

            Dryers

                        The Appliance Hose Connection

                        Vent Piping

                        The Vent Exit

                        Clothes Dryer Checklist

                        Dryer Fire

                        Dryer Wiring

 

            Clothes Washers

                        Washer Hoses and Valves

                        Washer Drain

                        Clothes Washer Checklist

 

 

            Water Conditioners

                       

Chapter 9

HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

 

            General Inspection

                        Ductwork

                        Checking for "Hot" Duct work

                        Flue Pipe

                        Filters

                        Safety Switches

                        Back drafting

                        General Heating Checklist

                       

 

            Gas Burners

                        Gas Burner Checkpoints

                        Thermostat Bypass

                        Grounding Gas Lines

                        Gas Boilers

                        Vent-Pipe Problems

 

            Oil Burners

                        Buried Fuel Tanks

                        Oil Burner Checklist

 

            Electric Forced-Air Furnaces

                        Electric Forced-Air Furnace Checklist

 

            Electric Water Furnace

                        Electric Water Furnace Checklist

 

            Electric Baseboards

                        Receptacle Placement with Electric Baseboards

                        Electric Baseboard Checklist

 

            Wood-Burning Stoves and Fireplaces

                        Wood Burning Stoves

                        Fireplaces and Chimneys

                        Differences between a Chimney and a Flue

                        Chimney Fire Checkpoints

                        Gas Log Fireplaces

 

            Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

                        Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

                        Heat Pump Checkpoints (in Air-Conditioner Mode)

                        Heat Pump Checklist

                        Packaged Heat Pump Systems

 

            Geothermal Heating

                        Geothermal System Checklist

Chapter 10

THE KITCHEN, BATHROOM, AND OTHER ROOMS

 

            The Kitchen

                        The Kitchen Sink

                        Kitchen Faucet Checkpoints

                        Kitchen Faucet Checklist

                        Kitchen Drain Line Checkpoints

                        Kitchen Countertop

                        Valve Checkpoints

                        Kitchen Sink, Counter, and Cabinets Checklist

                        Kitchen Cabinets and Floor

                        Kitchen Electrical System

                        One GFCI for Kitchen and Bath

                        Kitchen and Dining Room Over current Protection

                        A GFCI Primer

                        Checking Three- and Four-Way Switching Circuits

                        Kitchen Appliances

                        Kitchen/Dining Room Electrical Checklist

 

            The Bathroom

                        Moisture Damage

                        Checking for tub/shower Leaks

                        Inspecting the Toilet

                        Toilet Checkpoints (Exterior)

                        The Problem with S-Traps

                        The Lavatory Sink

                        Bathroom Checklist

                        Spas and Whirlpools

 

            Bedrooms and Hallways

                        Bedrooms

                        Checking the Receptacles

                        Hallways

                        Bedroom and Hallway Checklist

Chapter 11

WATER SUPPLY AND SEPTIC

 

            The Water Source

                        Spring-Fed House

                        Water Source Checklist

                        Wells

                        Problems with Belowground Well Casings

                        Well Casing Checklist

                        Water Quantity

                        How Much Water's in the Well

                        Water-Pressure Test

                        Water Volume and Water Temperature Test

                        Water Pressure, Volume, and Temperature Checklist

                        Pump Types

                        Jet Pumps

                        Pump Checklist

                        Water-Pressure Tanks

                        Galvanized Water-Pressure Tank

                        Bladder Tank

                        Ultraviolet Filters

                        UV Filter Checklist

 

            Septic Tanks

                        Septic System

                        Effluent Tank System

                        Waste Disposal Checklist

 

Appendix

CROSS-CONNECTIONS

                        How the Water Supply Can Become Contaminated

 

            Common Cross-Connection Points

                        Heat pump/air-conditioner condensate lines

                        Freeze Warning with Through-the-wall Hydrants

                        Laundry tub faucet with Hose Bib

                        Bath Tubs with Fill Spout inside the Tub

                        Dog-Wash Stations

                        Water-Conditioning Systems

                        Spring-Fed Water source

                        Spring-Water Contamination

                        Well-Seal Problems

                        Hand-held Shower Sprayers

 

 

DONE BY BRENNA KATELYN WHITTINGTON!!!