Walls
The exterior enclosure of the building or structure. Materials for construction include concrete, masonry block, brick, stone, wood, glass block. Surface finish materials include metal, wood, vinyl, stucco.
Note: This does not include foundation walls.
This inspectable item can have the following deficiencies:
- Cracks/Gaps
- Damaged Chimneys
- Missing/Damaged Caulking/Mortar
- Missing Pieces/Holes/Spalling
- Stained/Peeling/Needs Paint
Comment:
Level 3: If you have any doubt of the severity of the condition, request an inspection by a structural engineer.
Cracks/Gaps
Deficiency: You see a split, separation, or gap in the exterior walls.
Note: If you see both cracks/gaps and missing pieces/holes/spalling, do not record both. If you see both deficiencies, record only 1 of the 2.
Level of Deficiency:
Level 1: N/A
Level 2: You see a crack or gap that is more than 1/8-inch-wide by 1/8-inch-deep by 6 inches long.
-OR You see pieces, for example, many bricks, that are separated from the wall.
Level 3: You see a large crack or gap that is more than 3/8-inch-wide or deep and 6 inches long, possibly a sign of a serious structural problem.
-OR You see a crack or gap that is the full depth of the wall, providing opportunity for water penetration.
-OR You see sections of the wall that are broken apart.
Damaged Chimneys
Deficiency: The chimney, including the part that extends above the roofline, has separated from the wall or has cracks, spalling, missing pieces or broken sections (including chimney caps).
Level of Deficiency:
Level 1: The chimney cap is either visibly loose or damaged.
Level 2: The surface of the chimney shows surface damage on more than 1 piece of wall, for example, a few bricks or a section of siding.
- OR The surface of the chimney has holes that affect an area larger than 4 inches by 4 inches.
Level 3: Part or all of the chimney has visibly separated from the adjacent wall.
- OR There are cracked or fallen pieces or sections.
- OR There is a risk that falling pieces could create a safety hazard.
Missing/Damaged Caulking/Mortar
Deficiency: Caulking designed to resist weather or mortar is missing or deteriorated.
Note: This does not include caulking relative to doors and windows; they are covered in other areas. Address all other caulking here.
Level of Deficiency:
Level 1: Mortar is missing around a single masonry unit.
- OR Deteriorated caulk is confined to less than 12 inches.
Level 2: Mortar is missing around more than 1 contiguous masonry unit.
- OR You see deteriorated caulking in an area longer than 12 inches.
Level 3: N/A
Missing Pieces/Holes/Spalling
Deficiency: You see deterioration of the exterior wall surface, including missing pieces, holes, or spalling. This may also be attributed to:
- Materials that are rotting.
- A concrete, stucco, or masonry wall that is flaking, chipping or crumbling.
Level of Deficiency:
Level 1: N/A
Level 2: You see that there is a missing piece, for example, a single brick or section of siding, or a hole larger than ½ inch in diameter.
- OR You see deterioration that affects an area up to 8½ inches by 11 inches.
Level 3: You see deterioration that exposes any reinforcing material (rebar).
- OR You see more than 1 missing piece, for example, a few bricks or a section of siding, or holes that affect an area larger than 8½ inches by 11 inches.
- OR You see a hole of any size that completely penetrates the exterior wall.
Stained/Peeling/Needs Paint
Deficiency: Paint is cracking, flaking, or otherwise deteriorated. Water damage or related problems have stained the paint.
Note: This does not include walls that are not intended to have paint, such as most brick walls, etc.
Level of Deficiency:
Level 1: You observe that less than 50% of a single building exterior wall is affected.
Level 2: You observe that more than 50% of a single building exterior wall is affected.
Level 3: N/A