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Walking in attics ???

How many of you walk in attics?

Do you go in only if something grabs your attention?

Do you hunt for the bathroom vents if they are covered by insulation and not visible?

Wouldn't it be great if builders started adding walk ways that are high enough up to allow for proper insulation so that homeowners and inspectors could access easily?

I've walked across many of joists hunting for them in the insulation. Many times finding something I would not have seen unless I did get in there. Is the possibilty of stepping through a ceiling worth it?

Just curious

Posted by Rick Harrington Specialist--Infrared Residential on 08/28/2009 01:06 PM

Comments (9)

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9 Comments on Walking in attics ???

AUG

I normally don't walk many attics, but I do crawl all of them ( you must have them nice, new, bigger houses down your way :). I've never came close to falling through a ceiling. I guess keeping in shape and being a former plumber & electrician all helps. I couldn't imagine not inspecting an attic by making a lame excuse. As far as bath vents, yes I may dig a little, but if I find myself getting frustrated or taking to much time, then I'll just report that vents weren't visible. Many times, I'll turn on the bath vents before entering the attic- makes it much easier.

In the meantime, hope all is well down your way, Rick, and I hope this finds you happy & healthy.

Hi Rick. I, like Josh, don't walk attics very often. I do crawl them, did one today that showed me the bath vents didn't really go through the roof and that they ran out of insulation or money or both when doing the attic.

AUG

I always say there are 2 types of inspectors, Ones that have stepped through ceilings and ones that are going to.

I have been fortunate enough to have taller attics in most of the homes.

Do you try to redistribute the insulation when retreating from the attic?

I get into almost every attic and make my way around, unless I feel it could somehow be unsafe. Just like a roof. I get on 95% of those and traverse each one to inspect it. Like you said, how much could we miss if we don't look throughout the attic. Just part of being a home inspector to me. But, I do know plenty of home inspectors that don't, but I use that to my advantage.

I try to make it look like I wasn't there.

If it's accessible I walk, or crawl, every attic. Although this Summer I asked myself more than once what the heck I was doing up in this blazing attic.

SEP

I walk or crawl through every attic I possibly can. The only attics that I don't crawl through are the ones with low sloped roofs in old ramblers where there is one to two feet of loose fill insulation. I won't crawl through that.

I always turn on all of the bath fans at the beginning of my inspection, and I check to make sure there is a corrsponding damper at the exterior for every one, and that air is coming out. This saves digging around through the insulation.

SEP

I feel for you in the summer but am happy you make the trek.

SEP

I remember trying to check for termite damage in the interior of the eave where there was visible fungi damage on the outside. You know it gets tight near the eave. Well, I barely bumped my head on an exposed nail but by the time got out of the attic I had blood all over my face and the home owner was waiting for me below, haha. I warned him, be not afraid, it is only a flesh wound!

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