An Attached Garages Inspection is intended to ensure there are no fire hazards or other problems. When making attached garage plans, the first use that comes to mind is, naturally, car storage. However, along with car storage there is also the possibility of dripping oil and gasoline, which present a serious fire hazard. Because the attached garage is connected to the main structure, precautionary measures must be taken during construction to minimize the hazards. For this purpose, attached garages inspection are essential, so start by looking around the garage to see if there are any potential problems.
Attached Garages Inspection – Fire and Health Hazards
If there is an interior door between the garage and the house, here should be at least one step leading up to the door. In order to prevent toxic exhaust gases and gasoline vapors, which are heavier than air, from entering the house when the interior door is opened, the living area should be above the level of the garage. In addition, as a precautionary measure, the interior door should have a tight seal around the joints to prevent seepage, and it should be fire-resistant (metal-clad, solid wood, hollow core with a sheet-metal covering on the garage side). As an extra safety measure, the interior door should also be self-closing.
When it comes to the walls that separate the attached garage from the living area, they should not be exposed wood-frame members, because in this area this is considered a serious fire hazard. Exposed wood framing should be covered with a fire-resistant material such as plaster or stucco on lath or 5.8-inch plasterboard. Also, any guide to reduce energy costs will mention that this wall should be insulated to reduce heat loss. If there is a living area above the garage, the ceiling should be insulated as well, and have a fire-retardant covering. A proper garage insulation is essential.
Other homes have a garage at the basement level, with no partition walls separating the garage area from the basement area. Let alone the inefficiency from an energy-conservation point of view, but this is also a significant fire and health hazard. When the garage doors are opened, there will be a loss of warm air from in the winter and cool air in the summer.
Attached Garage Plumbing Inspection
Check the walls and ceiling of the garage and look for signs of plumbing leaks. Check the ceiling for water leakage stains, and if the garage has an overhead door make sure to close it and then look at the ceiling. The overhead door will block about 25 percent of the ceiling in the open position, and if there are leakage stains in that section you might not see them unless you close the door. Ceiling stains are generally caused by leakage from a bathroom above the area, so when you do the interior inspection of the house, all plumbing fixtures should be checked.
Depending on the location of the sewer or septic tank, the garage floor might have a pit covered with a metal plate, possibly containing a cleanout and trap for the house waste line. Sometimes, the water inlet pipe is located in this pit as well, so lift the cover and look inside the pit. The builder often neglects to remove the wood framing around the sides of the pit, and because of the dampness here a wood liner will eventually rot and might be infested by termites. If you find wood in the pit, remove it regardless of its condition.
Flood Risk
Except for very wet weather, the bottom of the pit should be relatively dry in all weathers. If the bottom contains water, it means that the water table (the level of the subsurface water) in the overall area of the home is high. This condition also involves a possibility that during rainy periods, the water level may rise and seep into the garage through the pit or through cracks in the floor slab. If you find cracks in the floor slab, they could be a result of shrinkage or differential settlement. They are usually not a concerning factor, but they should be sealed nonetheless, because they can allow water to seep into the garage. On the other hand, an extensively cracked or heaved floor slab is a matter of concern, because it may indicate a water problem. Heaving and extensive cracking are generally caused by water pressure being exerted on the underside of the floor slab. Have a professional evaluate this condition.
Electric Garage Door Inspection
During an attached garages inspection, the operation of the exterior door or doors must be checked as well. If the door(s) does not have automatic control, open and close each door to check whether it operates properly. The sectional overhead door is the most common type of door for an attached garage, because it does not take up usable space when open. Check for obvious deficiencies such as broken or missing springs and guide wheels, loose and misaligned tracks etc. Check the cable, as it is an important safety feature that prevents the spring from whipping around and injuring a person or damaging a car if the spring breaks. Use the lock mechanism when the door is closed, and check whether the lock bars need to be reset.
Some overhead doors are the one-piece, swing-up type instead of the sectional, roll-up type. Generally, these doors require more effort to open, particularly during periods of snow and wind. Attached garages may also have sliding and folding types of doors. Sliding doors usually hang from overhead tracks, but they take up valuable space when open. If you have garage storage ideas, this door will not leave much usable space. Also, small pieces of debris on the ground can interfere with their operation. As for fold-out doors, they often sag, have loose hinges and drag on the ground, making opening and closing more difficult. They typically require more maintenance than electric garage doors.
Attached Garage Plans – Things to Consider
If you have made plans to put up a garage attached to your home, take into account that there is more to it than just pouring out the concrete. First of all you need to get some proper attached garage plans, which will serve as your guide. Second, check if those plans are actually legal to follow, because there are certain laws which govern attached garage plans. These laws are made to preserve the safety of the people who are living in the house, so make sure your plans are in accordance.
Make sure your attached garage plans comply with all the safety codes necessary to proceed with the attached garage building. If they don’t, make all necessary corrections before you start building.