		HomePro Systems, Inc.

HomePro
Systems, Inc.
2841 Hartland Rd
Suite 201
Falls Church, VA 22043
(703) 560-4663
(800) HOMEPRO (800) 966-4555

Home Pro Inspection
Systems Inc.
969 Eldon Road
Oakwood, Ontario
K0M-2M0
800-832-0519

Explanations to the Quiz

1. In times before houses utilized air conditioning the window placement was very important.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is Correct!

In fact, window placement still is important, especially if occupants want to be comfortable in hot/humid weather without using air conditioning, not to mention the simple aesthetics of having a good view. Bedrooms always had windows that would allow a cross draft. When a house has windows located properly for comfort, a home inspector should point this out to his clients.

Answer B is incorrect!

Air movement through houses was all people had to rely on for comfort prior to air conditioning. Bedrooms always had windows that would allow a cross draft. When a house has windows located properly for comfort, a home inspector should point this out to his clients.

2. Carports are often walled in and converted to enclosed garages. There is no special concern with this change.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Many carports are slabs that have only post footings. When carports are walled in there should be continuous perimeter footings. Amateur workmanship abounds and often leaves problems in its wake. Probe for continuous footings under the edges of the slab. In many cases of carport enclosures the installation of continuous footings is overlooked.

Answer B is correct!

When a walled construction exists there should be continuous perimeter footings under the walls for frost heave protection. Often converted carports have no such footings. Amateur workmanship abounds and often leaves problems in its wake. Probe for continuous footings under the edges of the slab. In many cases of carport enclosures the installation of continuous footings is overlooked.

3. Yellow, pink, and white fiberglass insulation materials are distinctively different.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Coatings are applied to fibers to prevent breakage and loss. Manufacturers use coatings to color their fibers and give a distinctive product look. However, in use, glass, rock, and slag fibers look and perform approximately the same. Some rock fibers may contain asbestos, especially if the original rocks that were used for production contained it.

Answer B is correct!

Color differences are generally associated with coatings applied to the fibers. Unless the basic fibers are different, the color of the material makes no significant difference. Manufacturers use coatings to color their fibers and give a distinctive product look. However, in use, glass, rock, and slag fibers look and perform approximately the same. Some rock fibers may contain asbestos, especially if the original rocks that were used for production contained it.

4. The home inspection begins when the home inspector sets foot on the lot.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Most home inspectors do a lot of mental work prior to arriving at the home. They usually know the location of the house and what soil types are likely to be encountered. Furthermore, they often know the age of the home, and consequently, the likely problems associated with that "time-period" house. Most will observe the neighborhood when driving to the site. They will look at roofs to see types and recent replacements, scan foundations for cracks, and get an idea of neighborhood maintenance, etc.

Answer B is correct!

Most professional home inspectors feel the inspection starts with the first information received about the house. They usually know the location of the house and what soil types are likely to be encountered. Furthermore, they often know the age of the home, and consequently, the likely problems associated with that "time-period" house. Most will observe the neighborhood when driving to the site. They will look at roofs to see types and recent replacements, scan foundations for cracks, and get an idea of neighborhood maintenance, etc.

5. You are examining the bathroom of an older home and notice that the tub appears to have had a "liner" installed. You notice no scratches of splits in it and feel safe that the lining installation is a good one.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Lining installations have been plagued with water seepage between the tub and the lining itself. When a lining gets water between it and the tub, it will feel squishy underfoot. The squishy feel can be unnerving to some people, but more importantly this condition can cause slips and falls.

Answer B is correct!

Many liners are installed with double-faced tape and are known to get water between the lining and the tub. When this occurs, the liner will feel squishy underfoot. The squishy feel can be unnerving to some people, but more importantly this condition can cause slips and falls.

6. Carpenter ants that destroy damp or wet wood in houses are usually small. They are rarely more than 1/8 inch long.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Most carpenter ants are black and about a ½ inch long. Carpenter ants carve out smooth galleries in wood and live there. They don't eat the wood; they remove it and drop it in piles of fine frass. Finding the frass is an indication of the presence of the ants, but does not pinpoint the location of their colony.

Answer B is correct!

7. Closets may be a good place to look for previous water damages in houses.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is correct!

Often stained ceilings are repaired and painted, but the closet ceiling will be ignored. While closets sometimes get repaired, they often are not repaired to the same standard as the rooms they attach to. Make sure you look at the ceiling and area above the door on the inside. This is where people tend to be pretty sloppy with repair.

Answer B is incorrect!

You might be surprised to find how frequently closet repairs get overlooked. While closets sometimes get repaired, they often are not repaired to the same standard as the rooms they attach to. Make sure you look at the ceiling and area above the door on the inside. This is where people tend to be pretty sloppy with repair.

8. Natural gas used for heating and cooking has an odor that makes it easy to detect.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Natural gas is odorless. The odor that is associated with natural gas is a chemical applied by the gas company to make leak detection easier. People differ in their sensitivities to odors. Some people can detect gas in trace quantities not even detectable by sensitive equipment. Home inspectors who "smell gas" should report this verbally and in writing.

Answer B is correct!

The gas itself does not have an odor. Chemicals are added to the gas so that it does have an odor and can therefore be detected. People differ in their sensitivities to odors. Some people can detect gas in trace quantities not even detectable by sensitive equipment. Home inspectors who "smell gas" should report this verbally and in writing.

9. When you get dripping from the faucet of a single lever hardware piece, it means the washers are bad?

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

Single lever faucets don't have washers. They have a cylinder surrounded by "O" rings. When these "O" rings dry out or get hard over time, leakage is likely to occur. Single lever faucets operate on a cylinder that is lifted up and down for volume control, and moved side to side for temperature control. Typically, replacing the "O" rings will fix a single lever faucet that drips.

Answer B is correct!

10. Asbestos insulants are readily identified visually.

A: True

B: False

Answer A is incorrect!

While many materials are known to contain asbestos, this material can not be identified visually. Asbestos containing materials may be powdery or fibrous, but it takes a laboratory examination to determine for sure. Given the potential health effects of asbestos containing materials (ACM) home inspectors have to be concerned with it. Warning clients of its potential presence is always wise.

Answer B is correct!

While many materials are known to contain asbestos, this material can not be identified visually. Asbestos containing materials may be powdery or fibrous, but it takes a laboratory examination to determine for sure. Given the potential health effects of asbestos containing materials (ACM), home inspectors have to be concerned with it. Warning clients of its potential presence is always wise.

HomePro Systems, Inc.

Explanations to the Quiz