Inspector Links

General:

Code Adoption by Jurisdiction Chart - PDF file of building codes adopted by different jurisdictions.

On-Line Defect Recognition - Learn clear descriptions of common defects for professional report writing.

On-Line Inspection Glossary - Can't remember the proper name for that particular item?  Look it up here.

On-Line Home Inspection Course - Help brush up for the state licensing exam.

On-Line Continuing Education Site - Over 100 on-line Home Inspection courses.  (NACHI members only).

Adult Tetanus Information - Home Inspectors are very prone to nick themselves on nails.  Here is some information you should know to protect yourself.

Electronic Library of Occupational Health and Safety - Index and library of various diseases and hazards, indexed by construction trade and specialty.  Also different jobsite hazards and translated to different languages.

Rob Fenwick Videos - Great videos showing a number of different defects and inspection techniques.

Structure:

General Structural Component Definitions - PDF document with definitions / diagram.

American Plywood Association - All about different types of engineered wood and joists.  See bottom of page.

City of Chicago, Building Dept. - Back Porch Information - A very good starting place for everything there is to know about City of Chicago specs and requirements for back porch construction.

OSB Guide - Everything you always wanted to know about Oriented Strand Board.

Deck Safety - Great details and examples about deck safety.  Very much a topic in Chicago.

Salt Lake Community College - Construction Diagrams - Framing / Brick / Footings / Walls

Civil Engineering News - Various interesting articles on Civil Engineering.

Log Home Articles and Links - Log home structure, maintenance and building tips.

Wood Span Calculator (American Wood Council) - Check out recommended spans for different types of joists and rafters.

Wood Truss Information - All types of technical and manufacturer specification sheets.

Engineered Wooden Trusses - Roof and joist truss information, many in downloadable PDF format booklets, including installation and repair manuals.

Concrete Slab Defect FAQ - All about different types of concrete slab defects.

ConcreteNetwork.com - Pretty much everything about concrete products and techniques.

American Wood Council - Understanding Loads and Using Span Tables.

Foundation Crack Inspection - A very useful guide and checklist for inspection of all types of foundations.

Slab on Grade Basics - Slab on Grade Foundation Primer.

Stone Foundations, Cause for Concern? - Nice, Home Inspector geared article about stone foundations.

Electrical:

Aluminum Wiring - Valuable information about aluminum wiring.

Manufactured / Modular Homes:

Manufactured Homes Information - A PDF file for valuable manufactured homes info, including market demographics and a checklist of common problems found in manufactured homes.

Manufactured Homes Foundation Guide - All about foundation systems for manufactured homes, with specifications and inspection points.

Environmental Issues with Manufactured Homes - A State of Illinois web site that describes some of the regulations and issues manufactured and modular homes.

Guidelines for Installing Manufactured Homes In Illinois - PDF with all the information about installing manufactured homes in Illinois, including foundations, electrical, plumbing and other considerations.

Plumbing:

Plumbing.com - A web site with a large amount of information on plumbing, links and articles.

NACHI Water Heater Age Calculator - Find out the age of any water heater.

HVAC:

Carrier HVAC Model Search - Search all Carrier products by model number.

Furnace Types and Comparison - Good web site for information about all furnace types and manufacturers.

Roofing:

Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer's Association - All sorts of information about asphalt roofing, including 'Ask The Experts' and hundreds of pictures of various types and styles asphalt roofs.

GAF roofing materials company - All sorts of information on roofing materials and attic ventilation.  Order a free 'Avoid Roofing Disasters' video.