This article lists significant site drainanage and landscaping 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?
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. ASHI did not adopt this material though currently that association as well as others offer extensive HOME INSPECTOR EDUCATION material
The curriculum and lists of defects are informed by additional analysis of the process of home inspection that was developed beginning Calgary, AB for Canadian and U.S. home inspector education and certification examinations in 1997. 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. Also see GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS and see FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP. Also STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
1. Describe the importance of surface water control and how landscaping may affect homes.
2. Describe these types of roof drainage systems: gutters and downspouts, scuppers, interior drains.
3. Describe the materials/components of gutter and downspout systems, window wells, walkways, patios and driveways, retaining walls.
4. Describe the features of adequate installation and repair technique for lot grading, gutters, downspouts, window wells, walkways, driveways and grounds, and retaining walls.
5. Define the following terms:
Swale, catchbasin, foundation drainage layer, gutter, trough, eavestrough, downspout, leader, conductor pipe, ice damming, integral gutter, Yankee gutter, splashblock, scupper, ponding, birdcage, retaining wall (gravity, cantilever, tile, shoring, tie-back, deadman, weephole)
6. Identify the codes or standards which apply to surface water control and landscaping systems in your area.
1. Describe the inspection procedure for lot grading, roof drainage, window wells, walks and driveways, grounds, patios, retaining walls.
2. Identify the common defects listed on the next page.
3. Describe the implications of each defect .
4. Identify safety issues for the inspector and occupant of the house (fall hazard, trip hazard, slip hazard).
5. Communicate findings to client verbally and in writing, recommending corrective action where needed.
OTHER EXTERIOR COMPONENTS
BASEMENT STAIRWELLS DEFECTS WINDOW WELLS DEFECTS
• Cover inoperable • Damaged
• Door threshold missing, • Drains –
too low, not watertight
• Drains missing, clogged or undersized – Missing
• Frost damage – Not connected
• Guard and handrail problems – Broken
• Insect damage – Obstructed
• Leaking • Missing
• Paint or stain needed • Rot or wood/soil contact
• Rot • Rust
• Rust
• Step and landing problems WALKS AND DRIVEWAYS DEFECTS
• Walls cracking, leaning, bowing or
spalling • Cracked or damaged surfaces
• Improper slope or drainage
LOT GRADING DEFECTS • Uneven (trip hazard)
• Clogged catch basins GROUNDS DEFECTS
• Improper slope
• Porous material • Disturbed ground
• Soil erosion • Trees or shrubs too close to house
GUTTERS DEFECTS PATIOS DEFECTS
• Improper slope • Retaining walls –
• Leaking or clogged – Cracks
• Loose or damaged – Bulging
• Missing – Bowing
• Rusted – Drainage system missing
• Undersized – Leaning
– Deteriorated mortar
DOWNSPOUTS – Spalling
– Settlement or shifting
• Clogged – Rot or insect damage
• Damaged • Slip hazards
• Downspouts discharging onto roofs • Slope towards house
• Downspouts discharging onto the ground • Trip hazards
• Downspouts discharging below grade
• Leaking GUARDRAILS AND HANDRAILS DEFECTS
• Missing
• Too few • Damage at bottom
• Undersized • Missing or ineffective
• low slope JDG • Missing
ROOF DRAINS DEFECTS • Rust
• Too low
• Clogged • Weak
• Drains not at low spots
• Leaking RETAINING WALLS DEFECTS
• Scuppers missing
• Too few drains • Bowing
• Undersized • Cracking
• Drainage system missing
COLUMNS DEFECTS • Leaning
• Mortar – deteriorated, missing
• Cracking • Rot or insect damage
• Heaving • Rusting
• Leaning • Settling or shifting
• Rusting • Spalling
• Settling
• Spalling
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.
...
Continue reading at ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING MOISTURE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.
Or see these
DEFECTS LIST - SITE DRAINAGE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.
Or see this
Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia
Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.
Search the InspectApedia website
Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.
Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca
In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.