During the home inspection process, the home inspector will do an examination of the attic in the home. Here are five areas of the attic that will be inspected.
1. Access To Attic – The home inspector will document where the access to the attic is located. In addition, the home inspector will document the condition of the attic door or access panel. If an attic ladder is present, the home inspector will document if it rests squarely on the floor and is safe to climb on.
2. Insulation – The home inspector will enter the inside of the attic and report on the type, depth and condition of the insulation. Most homes have either roll fiberglass or blown insulation. If the attic floor is covered, the inspector will make a comment that the insulation under the floored section of the attic is “not visible”.
Ventilation – Most attics will have a two ventilation points. The types of ventilation points are soffit, gable, ridge, and roof vents. Below is an explanation of the vent types.
Soffit vents are found under the eaves of the home. These vents should be free of insulation to prevent blockage. Baffles should be installed to maintain the free space between the vent and the insulation.
Gable vents are found below the corners made by a gable roof. Gable vents are slated vents with a screen backing that helps keep birds and bats out of the attic.
Ridge vents are located across the top of the roof above the ridge beam. These are usually found on hip style roofs where no gable is present.
Roof vents or fans are put in the roof sheathing in holes cut between the rafters. These vents are often installed on the rear of the house for cosmetic purposes.
The two sources of ventilation should be from two different sources. For example, a gable roof will likely have both gable and soffit vents. A hip roof will likely have ridge and soffit vents. Complicated roof configurations will likely have multiple vent sources.
4. Structure – The home inspector will analyze the framework and roof underlayment to make certain they’re installed right and have no broken, cut or missing framework.
5. Leaks – While inspecting the roof sheathing, the home inspector will be looking for signs of leaks around all chimneys, roof penetrations, and vents.
The home inspector doesn’t have to inspect any attic spaces where the head room is less than three feet high. The home inspector doesn’t have to inspect any attic spaces where hazardous material is present like mold.