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EXTERIORS of buildings

ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings

ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID

ASBESTOS ROOFING / SIDING DUST
ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE

BARK SIDE DOWN on DECKS, TRIM, STEPS
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE
BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged
BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES
BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS

CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
CATCH BASINS

DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION
DECK COLLAPSE Case Study
DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES
DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study
DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc
DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY
EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
  ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
  CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
  CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
  FIBER CEMENT SIDING
  FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
  FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
  FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
  FLASHING WALL DETAILS
  GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  LOG HOME GUIDE
  PAINT / STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES
  RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE
  SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide
  SIDING, ALUMINUM
  SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
  SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS
  SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
  SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
  SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
  SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
  SIDING HARDBOARD
  SIDING, LOG
  SIDING STEEL
  SIDING VINYL
  SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
  SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
  SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
  SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
  SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  STONE CLEANING METHODS
  STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
  STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
  TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION
  VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION
  WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  WOOD SIDING PRODUCT CHOICES
  WOOD SIDING INSTALLATION
  WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS
  WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR

FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS
FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
FLASHING SIDING DETAILS
FLASHING WALL DETAILS
FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB
FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRENCH DRAINS

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR
GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS
HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET

ICE DAM PREVENTION
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS

KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOG HOME GUIDE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION

MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE

ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE

PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES
PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PORCHES & Sunrooms
PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING

RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH
RAILINGS, STAIRWAY
RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE
RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS
ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
ROT, TIMBER FRAME

SEARS KIT HOUSES
SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SHEATHING, Gypsum board
SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board
SHEATHING, OSB
SHEATHING, Plywood
SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS
SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide
SIDING, ALUMINUM
SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS
SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
SIDING HARDBOARD
SIDING STEEL
SIDING VINYL
SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
SOUND CONTROL in buildings
STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG
STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE
STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE
STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
STONE CLEANING METHODS
STONE VENEER WALLS
STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
STUCCO PAINT FAILURES
SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE

TERMITES, ROT
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in buildings
TREES & SHRUBS, TRIM OFF BUILDING
TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION

VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings
  ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
  BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER
  CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
  CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER
  DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
  DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
  FELT 15# ROOFING, as HOUSEWRAP/VAPOR BARRIER
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
  MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
  RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE
  VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings
  VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
  VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
  WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR
  WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS
VENTILATION in buildings

WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in buildings
WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING
WINTERIZE A BUILDING

More Information

Asphalt sided home in Two Harbors MN (C) Daniel FriedmanAsphalt Siding Inspection, Defects, Diagnosis, Repair Advice
InspectAPedia®  -      

  • Types of asphalt building siding, history of asphalt siding materials.
  • Asphalt shingle and asphalt sheet siding photographs
  • Age, inspection, & defects found in asphalt building siding products
  • Need for moisture barrier behind asphalt siding?
  • Leaks and rot risk with asphalt building siding\
  • When was asphalt building siding used and what is probably underneath it?
  • Questions and answers about asphalt-based building siding products

This article provides photographs of asphalt-based siding products and discusses common defects observed in asphalt exterior building siding, such as buckling, splitting, cracks, odors, and questions about the need for a vapor barrier behind asphalt siding and over building sheathing. Included are comments from several recognized building inspection and construction authorities.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.

© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website.

Asphalt Siding Concerns, Defects, Vapor Barriers, Inspection, and Diagnosis

Our page top photo shows an asphalt shingle sided home located in Two Harbors, Minnesota. If you click to enlarge the picture you'll see that an apparent asphalt siding repair was made above the second floor windows.

Readers should see SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS, and also see Siding, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide.

Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel FriedmanAsphalt siding material was made in two common versions, one much like asphalt roof shingles but in larger sheets (right-side of the building photo at left) and the other was comprised of an asphalt coating laminated to hardboard siding material (the leftmost building wall in our photograph at left).

Commonly made to look like brick, asphalt building siding also appears in faux-stone versions (not to be mistaken for "perma stone" which has been sold since the 1960's as an exterior wall covering) and even in a wood-shingle lookalike, as well as a utilitarian covering that was unabashedly plain asphalt sheeting.

It would be rare to find asphalt-based exterior siding material as original wall cladding on a building; usually it was applied over wood clapboards which in turn were badly in need of paint or repair.

Asphalt building siding was a popular building renovation alternative to painting weathered or rotted wood clapboard or wood shingle siding as early as the 1930's and popular particularly in the 1940's and the 1950's in North America where it was used both for low-cost housing and for covering the deteriorated exterior walls of older homes.

The development of the aluminum siding industry (introduced in the 1940's) and later the vinyl siding industry after World War II meant that few buildings of that later era were covered with asphalt shingle or slab material.

Don't mistake mineral-granule-covered roll roofing that may have been nailed-up on a building wall for an asphalt siding product. Roofing products were not usually designed for use on a vertical surface and are likely to be found falling off unless extra nails were used. You can easily spot roll roofing on a building because of its length - you will find long horizontal runs, perhaps 15 feet or more (rarely vertical) without seams.

Here we provide identification photos of several types of asphalt-based building siding materials and a list of asphalt-sided building inspection, diagnosis, and repair suggestions.

Asphalt Sheet Siding

Asphalt building siding products are typically composed of asphalt shingle-like material: colored mineral granules bonded to an organic or wood-product base with asphalt. The asphalt building siding shown just below is based on a hardboard substrate and is quite rigid when installed.

PHOTO of asphalt siding on the Coolidge Hotel, White River Junction Vermont

The example of asphalt sheet siding shown in our photo (left) is from the Coolidge Hotel, White River Junction, VT.

Asphalt sheet siding products are typically constructed using colored mineral granules to form a desired pattern such as the faux-brick shown here. The colored granules are bonded by asphalt to a fiberboard base.

As we show in our Asphalt Siding Defect Checklist photographs (below), leaks into this exterior wall covering or mechanical damage to it can expose the hardboard or wood-product substrate to weathering and disintegration. But as our Coolidge Hotel photo shows (left) the material can also be quite durable if properly installed and weather protected.

Just below we provide photographs of a thin asphalt exterior wall covering found on a building in Hudson, NY. This asphalt wall shingle product appeared to have no mineral granule coating whatsoever. Notice that the stunning number of roofing nails used to affix this exterior asphalt cladding did not make much difference in how the wall covering endured.

Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman

Asphalt Siding Defect Checklist

The two asphalt sheet siding photographs (below) show two defects often found on older buildings: falling siding where nails have been removed or lost (below left) and mechanical damage or tears in the siding (below-right). The asphalt siding product shown at below right (produced on an all asphalt substrate similar to asphalt roof shingles) is different from the product at left (produced on a hardboard substrate). A closeup photograph of the hardboard substrate of this asphalt siding is shown at below-right.

Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman

Asphalt sheet siding - paper substrate is shown in the photographs just below. You can see that this material may lose its granule coating to expose the asphalt-impregnated felt or paper base.

Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman

Our photo at below-left shows that this hardboard-based asphalt building siding was installed over wood lath. We pose that the original building wall had been covered by stucco.

Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman

Damaged asphalt siding (C) Daniel Friedman

Asphalt Siding Repairs?

Asphalt sided home in Two Harbors MN (C) Daniel FriedmanLoose asphalt wall siding that is otherwise in acceptable condition can be repaired by re-nailing it to the building.

Do not leave openings in the building cladding that permit leaks and water entry (such as shown in our photographs above) as you will be inviting a rot, wood destroying insect, or mold problem in the structure.

If money is short, a stopgap repair can be made by patching over with roll roofing or even a few roof shingles (and extra nails) as someone appears to have done in our photograph (left).

If large areas of the asphalt building siding are worn-through, the proper repair is to completely remove the material from the structure, inspect for and repair any structural damage, followed by installation of a new exterior wall covering.

Questions and Answers About Asphalt Building Siding

Can I Still Buy Asphalt-Based Exterior Siding?

Question:

Can you tell me where to buy faux asphalt brick siding? I live in New York. - N. verizon.net

Reply:

We have not found any of the U.S. asphalt product manufacturers such as GAF, Certainteed, Oldcastle who currently produce asphalt-based building siding such as the brick-pattern you asked about.

The asphalt-based brick pattern exterior siding products found on some older buildings were generally produced by the same companies who produced asphalt-based roofing shingles.

Asphalt-based [roof shingle material on an organic (paper mat) or asphalt on hardboard] siding products were later supplanted by cement-asbestos siding-shingles, then aluminum siding and steel siding, then currently by vinyl siding.

We are doubtful you would find a current supplier of new asphalt siding products today, but I'll continue to look for such a source.

CONTACT us if you find a modern source, use, and building-code approval for asphalt-based faux-brick or similar pattern exterior siding.

Can I Use Roof Shingles for Exterior Siding?

We do not recommend using roof shingles for exterior siding, but if you are going to attempt that anyway, be sure that you follow the appropriate vertical and near-vertical nailing instructions for the roof shingles. Otherwise you'll find them falling off of the building. See SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS for details.

Does Old Asphalt Building Siding Contain Asbestos

I was just wondering if the Brick looking asphalt siding ever contained any asbestos or hazardous material. Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

I need to remove some of this product but will use a knife to cut it into pieces and bag it appropriately. Also i am having a room demo that is 20x38 and the drywall joint compound is suspected to have chrysotile asbestos contained. I have taken appropriate measures and have sealed of the area with 6mil poly and taped the joints. Should this upon removal be sprayed with water or are the asbestos crystals encapsulated in joint compound. Have you come across this situation. Thank-You. D.T., Canada

Reply: Maybe.

A competent onsite inspection by an expert might confirm the age and type of this particular asphalt-siding product, and also, based on the probable building age, it is certainly possible that other asbestos-containing materials are present. That said, here are some things to consider:

In general I think you are referring to an asphalt product that is made essentially of the same material as asphalt roof shingles, though some versions applied bituminous and asphalt and mineral granules to a hardboard base rather than a paper ("organic") base.

Some asphalt roof shingle products, and therefore quite possibly some asphalt siding products, did indeed contain asbestos fibers in their substrate or coating. Roof shingles, even if the material contained asbestos (which it might) are rarely the only nor even the principal source of problem-levels of asbestos fibers in a building and I suspect the same is true of asphalt-based building siding. That's because the asbestos fibers are encapsulated in asphalt or similar non-friable bases.

There might be a concern if building demolition is underway and the removal of old siding created dust - especially if power tools such as power saws or grinders were used.

Watch out: if that's going on with your building it would be prudent to use appropriate dust control measures and to minimize the break-up of the material, and especially, to avoid using power saws. And there may be provincial or local municipal regulations that govern the demolition and removal of these materials.

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EXTERIORS of buildings

AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine
ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS
ANIMAL ENTRY POINTS in buildings
ANIMAL ODORS IN buildings

ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID
  Architectural Styles - Illustrated Guide
  ARCHITECTURE, STYLE, & Building Age
  Architecture Dictionary of buildings, Components
  Building Age & Architectural Style
  Chimney Architectural Styles - Photo Guide
  KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others
  Mobile Homes, Modulars, Panelized, & Factory-Built
  Roofs & Architectural Styles - Photo Guide
  Roof Dormer Types - Photo Guide
  Siding, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide
  Window Types - Photo Guide

ASBESTOS ROOFING / SIDING DUST
ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE

BARK SIDE DOWN on DECKS, TRIM, STEPS
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING
BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE
BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged
BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES
BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS

CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR
CATCH BASINS

DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION
DECK COLLAPSE Case Study
DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES
DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study
DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc
DRYWELLS, FRENCH DRAINS for FLAT SITES

EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS
ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY
EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES
  ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
  CAULK GUN TYPES, CHOICES
  CAULKS & SEALANTS, EXTERIOR
  FIBER CEMENT SIDING
  FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
  FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
  FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
  FLASHING WALL DETAILS
  GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  LOG HOME GUIDE
  PAINT / STAIN SELECTION & PROCEDURES
  RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE
  SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide
  SIDING, ALUMINUM
  SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
  SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS
  SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
  SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
  SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
  SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
  SIDING HARDBOARD
  SIDING, LOG
  SIDING STEEL
  SIDING VINYL
  SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
  SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
  SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
  SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
  SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  STONE CLEANING METHODS
  STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
  STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
  TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION
  VINYL SIDING INSTALLATION
  WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
  WOOD SIDING PRODUCT CHOICES
  WOOD SIDING INSTALLATION
  WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS
  WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR

FLASHING MEMBRANES PEEL & STICK
FLASHING for METAL ROOFS
FLASHING ROOF WALL DETAILS
FLASHING ROOF-WALL SNAFU
FLASHING SIDING DETAILS
FLASHING WALL DETAILS
FLASHING WOOD ROOF DETAILS
FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP
FROST HEAVES, FOUNDATION, SLAB
FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS
FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING
FRENCH DRAINS

GALVANIC SCALE & METAL CORROSION
GLUES ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION
GRADING & SITE WORK, EXTERIOR
GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
HOUSE PARTS, DEFINITIONS
HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET

ICE DAM PREVENTION
INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS

KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others

LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE
LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE
LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION
LOG HOME GUIDE
LIGHTNING PROTECTION

MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE

ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE

PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES
PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR
PAINT FALURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION
PORCHES & Sunrooms
PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING

RAILINGS, DECK & PORCH
RAILINGS, STAIRWAY
RETAINING WALL DESIGNS, TYPES, DAMAGE
RETAINING WALL GUARD RAILINGS
ROOF ARCHITECTURAL STYLES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOF CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF COLOR RECOMMENDATIONS
ROOF DORMER TYPES - PHOTO GUIDE
ROOFING DIAGNOSIS INSPECTION & REPAIR
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES
ROT, TIMBER FRAME

SEARS KIT HOUSES
SEPTIC & CESSPOOL SAFETY
SEPTIC SYSTEM INSPECT DIAGNOSE REPAIR
SHEATHING, Gypsum board
SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board
SHEATHING, OSB
SHEATHING, Plywood
SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS
SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide
SIDING, ALUMINUM
SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT
SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET
SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK
SIDING EIFS & STUCCO
SIDING, FIBER CEMENT
SIDING HARDBOARD
SIDING STEEL
SIDING VINYL
SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES
SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION
SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD
SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS
SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION
SINKHOLES, WARNING SIGNS
SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
SOUND CONTROL in buildings
STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG
STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on ROOFS
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on STONE
STAINS on INDOOR SURFACES: PHOTO GUIDE
STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS
STONE CLEANING METHODS
STONE VENEER WALLS
STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER
STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION
STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION
STUCCO PAINT FAILURES
SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE

TERMITES, ROT
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in buildings
TREES & SHRUBS, TRIM OFF BUILDING
TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION

VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings
  ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
  BASEMENT CEILING VAPOR BARRIER
  CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS
  CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER
  DEW POINT CALCULATION for WALLS
  DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE
  FELT 15# ROOFING, as HOUSEWRAP/VAPOR BARRIER
  HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS
  HOUSEWRAP INSTALLATION DETAILS
  HOUSEWRAP PRODUCT CHOICES
  HOUSEWRAP at SILLS, SOLES, TOP PLATES
  HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET
  MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS
  RAIN SPLASH-UP SIDING DAMAGE
  VAPOR BARRIERS & AIR SEALING at BAND JOISTS
  VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in buildings
  VAPOR BARRIERS & HOUSEWRAP
  VAPOR CONDENSATION & BUILDING SHEATHING
  WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR
  WOOD SIDING FLASHING DETAILS
VENTILATION in buildings

WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING
WATER ENTRY in buildings
WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS
WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING
WINTERIZE A BUILDING
MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS
MYCOPHOBIA, STAINS MISTAKEN for MOLD
MYCOTOXIN EFFECTS of MOLD EXPOSURE

NOISE / SOUND DIAGNOSIS & CURE

ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE
ODOR DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

  • Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
  • "Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE
  • Masonite Woodruf® Roofing or Masonite OmniWood® Siding Lawsuit Settlement Notice - PDF file
  • Home Reference Book - Carson Dunlop The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  • GO TO Carson Dunlop's Home Study Course Information - How to Become a Home Inspector: Carson Dunlop's nationally recognized Home Study Course,
selected by ASHI the American Society of Home Inspectors and other professionals and associations.
This website author is a contributor to this course.Carson Dunlop's Home Study Course for Home Inspectors can be examined online at that company's website. More about home inspector education and other educational materials is organized at InspectAPedia.com at Home Inspector Education.
  • Certainteed Weatherboard fiber cement siding and trim products - see certainteed.com/ or see certainteed.com/resources/sidingandtrimspecsheet.pdf
  • "Weather-Resistive Barriers [copy on file as /interiors/Weather_Resistant_Barriers_DOE.pdf ] - ", how to select and install housewrap and other types of weather resistive barriers, U.S. DOE>
  • ...

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