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Roof structure, Buenos Aires (C) Daniel FriedmanRoof Structure Defects List & Home Inspection Education

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This article lists significant roof structure defects, definitions, and home inspection education topics.

This article series, beginning at BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS, provides lists of common building defects and basic defect knowledge that also outline recommended curriculum content for home inspector education.

The building defects and inspection points listed in these articles also guide homeowners and home buyers to building areas that merit careful attention and often point areas of safety concern or important maintenance and repair tasks.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

- Daniel Friedman, Publisher/Editor/Author - See WHO ARE WE?

Home Inspection Education Curriculum - Structure, Roof

Photograph of severe roof structure damage from an unattended roof valley leak in a historic home.2.4   Roof Framing Inspection Recommendations & Defects List

2.4.1 Knowledge Base for Roof Structure Inspections

1.    Describe the function of roof framing systems.

2.    Describe these common roof framing configurations: rafters, roof joists and ceiling joists; trusses.

3.    List the materials and components of each roof type (rafter, roof joist, ceiling joist, collar tie, knee wall, purlin, web, chord, wood I TJI?,Wood I-joist. or engineered truss joists  JDG sheathing, struts).

4.    Describe the features of  adequate installation and repair technique for each system.

5.    Define the following terms:

roof rafter spreading, dishing, sagging, end bearing, heel, toe, hip rafter, valley rafter, jack rafter, horizontal projection, ridge board, ridge beam, gable wall, gable overhang, cathedral roof, compression web in truss, span, truss uplift, FRT plywood.

6.    Identify the codes or standards which apply to roof framing systems in your area.


2.4.2 Inspection Skills for Roof Structure Inspections

1.    Describe the inspection procedure for roof framing systems.

2.    Identify the common defects listed on the next page.

3.    Describe the implication of each defect.

4.    Identify safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the home (falling through ceiling, electric shock, attack by pests, skin, lung or nasal irritation from insulation).

5.    Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective action where needed.


ROOF FRAMING TYPICAL DEFECTS List

Collapsing barn (C) Daniel FriedmanRAFTERS, Typical Defects List                  

• Bearing on ridge board                       

• Concentrated loads                           

• Endbearing not adequate                       

• Mechanical damage                            

• Rafter spread                                

• Ridge sag  - see ROOF FRAMING TIES & BEAMS

• Rot, insect or fire damage                   

• Sagging                                      

• Spliced                                      

• Split                                         

• Too small or overspanned

• Warped      

• Weak framing at openings

• Weak connections  

• Birdmouth cuts improper at top plate

 ROOF TRUSSESS, Typical Defects List   

• Buckled webs

• Endbearing

• Mechanical damage

• Missing webs

• Modified (improperly)

• Notches, holes in truss members or at wrong locatyion in webs

See details at CUTTING HOLES in WOOD I-JOIST WEBS, JOISTS, RAFTERS, STUDS

• Rot, insect or fire damage

• Sag

• Truss uplift

• Weak connections

See details at TRUSSES, FLOOR & ROOF

ROOF SHEATHINGS, Typical Defects List

• Buckled

• Delaminated

• FRT deterioration

• Mold (or mis-labeled as "mldew")

• Rot, insect or fire damage

• Sag

• Too thin (3/8" or 1/4")

See FIBERBOARD ROOF SHEATHING

See SHEATHING, OSB

See PLYWOOD Roof, Wall, Floor Decks & Sheathing

See DEFINITIONS, ENGINEERED WOOD HDF LDF LVL MDF MDO OSB

Roof COLLAR TIES, Typical Defects List                                                                        

• Buckling                                         

• Loose or poor connections                      

• Mechanical damage                             

• Missing

• Need lateral bracing                         

• Rot, insect or fire damage                                               

 ROOF I JOISTS, Typical Defects List   

• Birds’ mouths ?

• No ridge beams

• Notched or holes cut in wrong location (not at center)

See CUTTING HOLES in WOOD I-JOIST WEBS, JOISTS, RAFTERS, STUDS

• Rot, insect or fire damage

• Toe bearing or endbearing inadequate

• Weak connections

KNEE WALLS/PURLINS, Typical Defects List       

• Buckling                                     

• Mechanical damage                            

• Poor connections                              

• Purlins installed on side

• Purlins sagging

• Removed, needed

• Rot, insect or fire damage

• Single top plate, sag

• Purlin struts too small


Roof & Roof Structure Rehab & Repair Guides

 

Watch out: these inspection lists do not list all possible defects for the systems discussed, and not all home or building inspectors will examine all of the items listed here. CONTACT us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website.

These curriculae and building defect lists are based on smilar curriculum documents first prepared by Joe Scaduto, an ASHI member who prepared course material for Northeastern University's Building Inspection Certificate program in 1988, subsequently by DF, InspectApedia's editor, for New York University ca 1988 and later, with others, recommended to ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Other early contributors to home inspection education in the U.S. and Canada include Dr. Jess Aronstein, Alan Carson, Mike Casey, Mark Cramer, John Cox, Dwight Barnett, Douglas Hansen, Rick Heyl, Larry Hoytt, Bill Merrill, Kevin O'Malley, Dennis Robitalille, Keith Peddie, Pat Porzio, Roger Robinson.

List of ASHI U.S. Technical Reviewers & Contributors to these Home Inspection Education Curriculum Standards

Ben Hill, Clinton Anderson, Michael Brannstrom, Cliff Steele, David Swartz, Louis Bobrowsky, Roger Drosd, Gary Dulleck, Timothy P. Flaherty, Gordon Goldman, Tom Mitchell, Martin Morgan, Dean R. Price, Roger Robinson, Michael L. Sterling, Glenn W. Strong, Robert W. Knepshield, Tom Martin, Robert Addiss, Steve Gladstone, John Ghent, John Horrocks, Steve Matyasovsky, John Osterberg, Ron Passaro, Daniel Blum, Steve Acker, Daniel A. Braglin, Joey Caballero, Marty Cohen, Michael D. Conley, Michael Deeter, Tom Dykes IV, Kotton Dwyer, Kelvin L. Eder, Bruce Kimbro, Allen Koch, William Levy, Theodore J. Lemek, Neal Mahler, Brian R. Meurs, Tom Mullen, John Myskowski, Ralph G. Norman, Robert Powell, John Swain, Simon Swain, Bill Flaherty, Ron Fowler, Ron Golden, Rod Harrison, Jim Logan, Larry Peterson, John I. Warren, Chuck Cartwright, Larry Sloan, Ramzi B. Baydounv Rafeek J. Besheer, Richard Farb, Warren Foster, Ronald L. Gan, Les Glowacz, Frank Johnson, Tony Infelise, Stanley Kieca, Allen Satterfield, Dana Strumpher, John Greenwell, Gerald Rose, Steve Hodgden, Dave Stoffer, John Greenwell, Andrew Polmer, Angus Davison, Smokey Eule, Mark Evans, Bernie Lynch, Jeff May, Robert Mulloyv Barry Newmarkv Michael Quinn, Dean Serrentino, Don Boone, Wes Bousman, Dennis DiBello, John Kraus, Barry Nicolay, Gene Russin, L. Hampton Scott III, Claxton Walker, Matthew Bezanson, Rick Bowling, Dan Frechette, Paul J. Bugge, Ken Goewey, Burdell Oye, Martin Carpages Jr., Steve Freshwater, Steve Hodgden , Derek Sternaman, James L. Naylor, Robert Jarrell, Chris Dorsi, Don Duncan, Thomas Giesy, Thomas McKay, Frank Moore, Jon Supler, Vyto Vikouskas, John Turner P.E., David J. Woodburn, Ermel Arroyo, Thomas J. Chilton, Robert A. Fico, Bob Glaster, Michael Del Greco, David Goldstein, Jim Loughery, Richard Lukoff P.E., Andrew Marino P.E., Kenneth Salvo, David M. Sanford, K. Peter Wilden, Robert Davisv Dan Friedman, Mark Fulmer, John R. Haas R.A., Bob Hansen, Douglas Manzella, Donald Marlow, Jim Marlow, Tom Moorev M. Douglas Myersv Bob Van Stry Jr., Steve Vermilye, Albert Young, Ron Schumacherv Tom Capuano, Maury Drummey, Dennis J. Lynch, John R. Sebring, John Sender P.E., Al Tibbs, Craig Todd, Roderick VanGordon, Anthony Devine, Rod Fridley, Bill McKelvey, Joseph E. Molony, Roger J. Olson P.E.v Mike Stabinski, Fred Klein, Martin P. Baker Sr.v James R. Hanbackv Dexter Varnell P.E., John Wood, Mike Crow, Arthur Mandell P.E., Rudy Ringel, Don Robinson, Louis Jerome, Jim Oler, Bob Owens, Joe Rush, Kurt Salomon, Jamison Brown, Gregory Caudill, John M. Franklin, Stephen A. Giesen, David Lee, Dennis Pettigrew, Linda Pettigrew, Neil Kreeger, Ken Melton , Richard Lalancette PE, Donald A. Galt Jr., George Guttmann, Matthew Hummell, Kent P. Lambert, Paul Neis, Donn Anderson, Tom Mutsch, Robert B. Scheele

List of ASHI Canadian Technical Reviewers & Contributors to these Home Inspection Education Curriculum Standards

Brent Applegate, Michel Bourgeois, Doug MacDonald, Moe Madsen, Neil Mason, Darcy W. McGregor, Bob Pozniak, Les Rojek, Peter Salmon, Paul Tobolski, Bob Assaf, Vera Blackwell, Steve Boyce, Sandy Brown, Ian Carson, Wayne DeJong, Larry Hipperson, Stephen Yee, Bill Mann, Rose Marie C. Moore, Karl Neufeld, Bruce Riddick, Bjorn Rygg, Keith Smith, J. Kevin Watson, Tom van Leeuwen, Gary Driscoll, Michael A. Hébert, Charles Wood, Robert Brown, Brian Hutchinson, Brian Cooke, Charles Kyte, Glenn Blight, Joel Bouchard, Doug Carlaw, Ian Calman, Dan Canzaneze, Terry Carson, Ben Ferguson, Jeff Fisher, Gilbert Giavon, Alden E. Gibson, Jim Girard, Gary Howden, Carl Inglis, Joe Johnston, Ray Kornelson, Keith Leonard, John Lueck, Clark Noble, Andrew Radomski, Michelle Reichart, Jim Sangster, Rob Sheppard, Les Sones, Predrag Stegnajic, Gil Strachan, Marcel Tardif, RickVatri, Raoul C. Walker, Dave Wall, Pam Wall, Mike West, Germain Frechette, Gerry Hudon, Hal Krienke, Bob Schmidt, Dale A. Tremblay

...

Continue reading at ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ROOFING or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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ROOF STRUCTURE DEFECTS LIST at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING & HOME INSPECTION

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