11/23/2012
居家小常識 註册驗屋師 牛夢麟 Bruce Niu
What is in your attic? 你家閣樓裡有何玄機?
There are basically two types of attic: full and crawl.
A full attic is one in which a person can easily walk around. Usually there is a floor in this type of attic, although the walls and ceilings are unfinished. There might be partition walls forming finished rooms with sloping or horizontal ceilings. Access to a full attic is usually through a
finished staircase.
In a crawl attic, which is completely unfinished, the roof is sufficiently close to the floor so that to get around it is necessary to crawl or stoop over. The crawl attic usually does not have a structural floor. The ceiling joists from the level below are expected. When getting around in this type of attic, be careful to walk only on the exposed joists.
Inspecting an attic can reveal problems of which most homeowners are not aware, some of which might be potentially dangerous or costly to repair. It is not uncommon for a homeowner to say that he has lived in his house for over twenty years and he never gone into the attic. Incidentally, if the homeowner does say this, you can be sure that at the very least, the attic is inadequately insulated by current energy standards.
Insulation and roof leakage are probably the only items most people consider when thinking about the attic. However,there are other items of importance and ventilation and its associated problems, fire hazards, electrical and plumbing violations, improperly discharging vents, and open duct joints.
1, Insulation—R value should be between 40~50 (R=3inches)
隔熱保温棉----- R値應在40~50 之間 (每R約為三吋厚)所以建議厚度應為13~17吋始能發揮其正當功能(如果材質為Fiberglass).
2, V***r barrier—a v***r barrier is a aluminum foil, a plastic sheet, or an asphalt-impregnated from the heated portion of the house into the unfinished attic area. If the v***r barrier is incorrectly positioned, condensation problems can develop during cool weather,
水氣隔絕層----是一層材質可為鋁泊,塑膠布或瀝青紙等物品但重點是一定要安装在靠近溫暖部份,否則到了冬天閣樓內會產生潮氣,木材較易腐爛損害結構安全.
3, Ventilation---Ventilation in an attic is very important. It allows moisture that accumulates in the area to dissipate and also helps to reduce the heat buildup that normally develops during the summer months, if the area is inadequately ventilated, this moisture can eventually cause problems such as delaminating roof sheathing, water streaks on interior walls, peeling and flaking paint,
通風--- 閣樓內通風非常重要,它有山牆通風(gable vent)簷隙通風(soffit vent) 閣樓風扇强制通風(attic fan forced vent),以及屋脊通風(ridge vent)等等,它能驅散聚集其中的潮氣霉味,夏天時降低溫度使人們居住舒適,一般屋頂通風口面積大約為整個屋頂面積比例300:1
4, Insects infestation --- Carpenter Ants, Powder-post beetles, Dry-wood
Termites,
Most often termites enter a house by eating their way through untreated wood members that are in direct contact with the ground.
Some of the more common points of entry are garage door frames, basement windowsills, wooden steps and supports, wood sills, and headers and studs on foundation walls that located at or below grade.
As you walk around the outside of the house, probe the attached wood trim, posts, and framing members that are on or close to the ground, specifically probe garage door frames, basement or lower-level window frames, step stringers, deck posts and the entry-door riser.
A number of states have regulations requiring a termite inspection by a professional prior to, or as a condition of, the purchase agreement. The cost of this inspection is almost always paid by the seller.
蟲害---- 木工蟻,蛀虫,白蟻等等, 在美國南方州分氣候溫暖潮濕較易滋生此類害虫,部份州政府亦有明文規定將此列入房屋買賣條件之一,亦即買方有權力要求賣方提供此類虫害檢查報告.本國尚未有此規定.
*如有任何疑問歡迎致電:
畢安專業驗屋 BN HOME INSPECTION SERVICES
註册驗屋師 牛夢麟 Bruce Niu
Cell: 604-779-7350
Email: [email protected]
Member of CAHPI (BC) CPBC #56133
