Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Part I The Philosophy 7
1 Learning to See 9
Learning how to have the right expectations and how to distinguish repair concerns
2 Guiding Principles 19
Guiding principles for homebuyers and for understanding and managing house problems
3 Gehrig Starred 27
Strategies for looking at houses
Part II The Nuts and Bolts of Systems 35
4 Core Systems I 37
Rooflines, location, orientation, site preparation, and drainage
5 Core Systems II 55
Foundations, framing, access, and floor plans
6 Entrenched Systems I: Siding and Chimneys 75
The "EXTERIOR envelope"
7 Entrenched Systems II: In the Walls 99
Branch wiring, hearing and cooling distribution, water piping systems, windows, insulation, and ventilation
8 Disposable Systems 127
Water heaters, central healing and cooling equipment, gutters and downspouls, exposed decks, and so much more
Part III Using Alternative Sorting Methods 145
9 Sorting Homes by Age 147
Decade-by-decade breakdown of building trends
10 Sorting Homes by Home Owner 169
From the grandma house to the foreclosure
11 Sorting Homes by Type 183
From the cabin to the townhouse
12 Sorting Homes by Architectural Style 199
From the craftsman to the A-frame
Part IV In the Field 209
13 Getting the Most tram Your Home Inspection 211
Why to get a home inspection and how to select a home inspector
14 Wood Destroying Organisms and Other Pests 219
Red flogs to look for with pests
15 The Bones of Comfort 227
Thermostats, fuel choices, and much more
16 House Safety, Building Codes, and Liability 239
Stairs decks, windows, egress and safety glass, indoor air quality, MOLD, radon, and A few common liability concerns
17 Cheat Sheet: Common Problems and House Trends 257
Sorting red flags by location, age, and designs
Index 265
About Dylan Chalk 273
