Table of Contents
What should I inspect in attic?
Attic Inspection Checklist Ventilation. Signs of poor ventilation include, mold, rusted nails and condensation. Insulation. Your attic shouldn’t feel drafty, and insulation should be plentiful and complete. Leaks. Water stains, rot and mold point to leaks. Pests. Exhaust ducts and vent stacks.
How often should you check your attic?
Checking Your Attic As a general rule, it’s a good idea to check your attic once every 3 to 6 months. There are numerous reasons why checking your attic regularly is important, notably it’s the first place leaks will show themselves. If a leak occurs, there will be signs of it in your attic before anywhere else.
What does a home inspector look for in the attic?
Inspectors look for proper ventings such as turbines, soffit vents and ridge vents. Other issues, such as peeling soffit paint and mold, are clues to what you might find inside. If condensation and heat are and excessive inside the attic, they can easily make their way through to the home’s exterior.
What do you do if you have mold in your attic?
If you don’t correct the cause of the moisture-inducing environment mold will return. For attics, the key to correcting the cause is to hire a professional to design and install the proper attic ventilation plan. Continually moving the air through the attic will keep condensation – and mold growth – at bay.
Can my attic support my weight?
If you’re talking about the floor of an attic, then it may, or may not, support the weight of a person. If you’re talking about walking on the roof and therefore relying on the roof truss and attic to support you, it highly likely that the roof will support you. But it would be best if you still didn’t walk on it.
Should I see daylight in my attic?
The only light you should see should be at the vents and window. On a bright sunny day go into your attic with the light out and see what daylight you can see. At most there should be a glow of light at the eaves (end of rafters by floor) you should not be able to see your neighbor.
Is it safe to go into my attic?
Entering the attic can be dangerous. You may fall through a ceiling, damage finishes, get an electric shock, or irritate your lungs, eyes or skin with insulation materials. When the attic insulation completely covers the ceiling joists, we do not recommend that you walk through the attic.
What is usually in an attic?
Attics are the space between the roof and the ceiling of the highest floor of the house. They’re usually full of insulation, and sometimes heating or air conditioning equipment as well.
What do home appraisers look for in attic?
The Appraiser must observe the interiors of all attic spaces. If there is evidence of a deficient condition (such as a water-stained ceiling, insufficient ventilation, or smell of mold), the Appraiser must report this condition, and render the appraisal subject to inspection and repairs if necessary.
How can I tell if I have condensation in my attic?
How Do I Know if I Have Attic Condensation? Signs water has (or is) trickling down the walls. Musky, damp odor. Mold. Rust. Dark stains. Damp or wet insulation. Damp or wet wood. Water marks on the floor.
Does adding more insulation in the attic help?
According to the Department of Energy, properly insulating the attic can save 10 to 50 percent on a typical heating bill. For many homeowners, insulating the attic is the most effective method to save on energy costs.
Is mold in attic a deal breaker?
In general though, mold usually is a dealbreaker when buying a house. It puts a lot of people off from buying a property, since mold usually requires some remedial work that can sometimes be expensive. Not only that, but mold can cause a lot of health problems for people too.
How much does it cost to get rid of mold in attic?
Mold usually grows in your attic because of a moisture problem from a leaky roof, leaking AC unit, or condensation from poor attic insulation. Attic mold treatment costs $1,500 to $3,500 on average and can go as high as $6,000 to $10,000 if the leak is large or has gone undetected for a long time.
Can attic mold make you sick?
Unfortunately, mold in the attic is a serious hazard that can lead to serious illness or even death. Mold can lead to a variety of health problems, some of which include the following: Respiratory illness and/or infection. Itchy, watery eyes.
How much weight can attic joists support?
Attic Joists for Live Loads In many cases, ceiling joists for dead loads are designed to carry 10 pounds per square foot (psf), as opposed to the 40 or greater psf that live-load joists must carry. Span length is different for every room.
How much weight will a ceiling joist hold?
Simple – 9 lbs per square foot. If your chair does not weigh over 9 pounds—you can hang one on a joist for every foot of length. This is based on a attic floor which is designed by code to support 10 pounds per square foot and then subtracting 1 pound for ceiling weight. You should have no problem with this.
Can you walk on blown insulation?
Unless you can safely traverse the attic in the truss webbing or on boards suitable to crawl/walk on, its best to stay out. If you find blown in cellulose and can’t see all areas, say so and move on.
