The Scope and Purpose

This is just my opinion and just for you

The contents of this report are for the sole use of the Sample Roof Consultation and no other person or party may rely on this report for any reason or purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of the author of the report. Any person or party who chooses to rely on this report for any reason or purpose whatsoever without my express written consent does so at their own risk and by doing so waives any claim of error or deficiency in this report.

Construction techniques and standards vary. There is no one way to build a house or install a system in a house. The observations in this report are my opinions based on my many years of construction training and experience. Other inspectors, consultants, and contractors are likely to have differing opinions. You are welcome and encouraged to seek opinions from other professionals in the context of doing your due diligence.

When the definitions of terms used in this report are not obvious through context, refer to the legal definitions used in modern building standards and/or manufacturer instructions.

While AI might be used for clarification and to check and clean up grammar, it is not used to generate technical information found in this report, which instead is based on applicable codes, manufacturer's instructions and other applicable standards.

The scope of this consultation

The consultation and report performed at 24 Big Street, Big Town, Washington on 2021-10-07 are intended to provide the client with information regarding the condition of the contracted components and nothing more. 

You are encouraged to obtain competitive estimates for any repairs needed. Safety and health issues should be addressed promptly. It is recommended that all corrective work, other than routine maintenance activities, be performed by qualified licensed contractors.

In this report, comments will be made as to the presence or absence of components or parts of components. This must not be construed to mean that these components or parts of components exist (or don't exist) in concealed areas or behind finished surfaces. For example: if foundation bolting was seen in one area, it does not mean that the bolting exists (or doesn't exist) in areas that are concealed. Also if an item was noted as "not being visible," that should not be construed to mean that none of whatever was "not visible" does not exist on the premises---it just means none was noted at the time of the consultation and should be seen as a "heads-up" that the concern or condition might be present but hidden, or that the conditions that would allow its presence to be known was not replicated at the time of the consultation.

❗In the report I may make recommendations as to possible repairs. These recommendations are not intended to be substitutes or construed to be more appropriate than the recommendations of the professionals making the repairs. Conflicts in recommendations should be resolved prior to repairs being made.

Who should make repairs and what should their qualifications be?

Worker qualifications: In the text of the report, in some instances, I recommend that work be done by a "qualified" persons or "qualified" parties. I consider qualified parties, in licensed trades, to be those individuals who hold the necessary licenses to legally work in their profession -- licensed electricians, licensed pest control applicators, licensed plumbers, licensed HVAC professionals, licensed engineers, licensed general contractors, etc. In instances where a task may not, typically, need to be done by a person with a professional license, my recommendation is to hire an individual to do the work who is, based on past training, experience or expertise, qualified to further evaluate the condition or problem listed in the report and to then make appropriate repairs.

For additional fees, I can perform invasive inspection of concealed areas if desired. All invasive investigation requires written approval from the client and additional fees, where necessary, will be agreed upon prior to such work. Minor probing of surfaces, whether by sharp instrument or moisture meter, will be allowed per initialing of the consulting contract. Repairs of all damage resulting from either minor invasive investigation or extensive intrusive investigation shall be the responsibility of the client.

☢️Environmental/Mold Exclusions

The reported or actual health effects of many potentially harmful, toxic or environmentally hazardous elements that may be found in building materials or in the air, soil, water in and/or around any house are varied, and, in some cases controversial. The consultation does not include the detection, identification or analysis of any such elements or related concerns such as, but not limited to, mold, allergens, legal/illegal drugs and other biological contaminants, radon, , bed bugs, cockroaches, fleas, lice, formaldehyde, asbestos, lead, electromagnetic fields, carbon monoxide, insecticides, Chinese drywall, refrigerants and fuel oils. Furthermore, no evaluations are performed to determine the effectiveness or appropriateness of any method or system (e.g., water filter, radon mitigation, etc.), designed to prevent or remove any hazardous or unwanted materials or elements. An environmental health specialist should be contacted for evaluation of any potential health or environmental concerns. The noting of the presence of materials commonly considered to contain asbestos, formaldehyde, lead, mold etc, should not be construed to mean the inspector is inspecting for these things but instead should be seen as a "heads-up" regarding these materials and further evaluation by qualified professionals may be warranted.

💧Moisture meters used

Throughout the report, reference may be made to moisture conditions and percentages of moisture content. These moisture readings are obtained by the use of a Protimeter, Surveymaster Moisture Meter or the Extech MO55 or the Tramex MEP. Generally, moisture meters are used "qualitatively" as opposed to "quantitatively." This means the amounts of moisture indicated by meters are meant to be indicative of "differences" as compared to likely dryer areas. False positives are common and not possible to eliminate entirely. They are used to provide guidance in investigations.

🌈Infrared

I routinely use infrared cameras where likely to be helpful but typically only qualitatively, so specific temperatures captured by the camera should not be seen as a quantitative analysis of surfaces but only used as a guide to thermal differences that would then be verified visually, by moisture meter or more invasive investigation.

Your participation is requested

Your presence is requested during this consultation. A written report will not substitute for all the possible information that can be conveyed verbally by a shared visual observation of the conditions of the property. If you were not present, you are urged to contact me for a verbal consultation. I am happy to do a zoom meetup to go through areas of concern in the report. If you choose not to be present or to contact me after, I cannot be responsible for misinterpretation of the report.

How to Read This Report

Getting the Information to You

The best way to get the layers of information that are presented in this report is to read your report online, which will allow you to expand your learning about your house. You will notice some words or series of words highlighted in blue and underlined – clicking on these will provide you with a link to additional information.

For the most reliable viewing experience, I recommend viewing the report on as large a screen as practical. Much detail can be lost on small devices like smart phones. For similar reasons, reports should only be printed in color to retain as much detail as possible and minimize misinterpretation.

This report can also be printed on paper or to a PDF document right from inside the report itself.

Observation Labels

All narrative observations are colored, numbered and labeled to help you find, refer to, and understand the severity of the observation. Observation colors and labels used in this report are as follows:

• Repair/Replace Item:
  Repair and maintenance items noted during inspection. Please note that some repair items can be expensive to correct such as re-finishing hardwood floors, but are considered simply repair items due to their cosmetic nature.
• 🚩:
  Detailed description of various aspects of the property with an aspect of safety present.
• Conducive Conditions:
  Detailed description of various aspects of the property related to wood destroying organisms and/or conducive conditions.
• 🐞:
  General information related to Wood Destroying Organisms or conducive conditions