The Reminder windows of my Residential template contain links to inspector-only educational/technical information, but those links don't appear in the report unless you copy and paste them into a narrative.

These links provide:

  • Lists of inspection concerns;
  • Detailed explanations, typically with photos;
  • Resource websites like the Building Intelligence Center;
  • Manufacturer's manuals; and much more!

The large amount of information provided turns this template into something close to an inspection encyclopedia!

When you buy my template these links come installed, and are live!   Learn how to access them here.

Here are the content titles:

ROOF

  1. About Ladders ( (Link)
  2. Inspecting the Roof Structure (Link)
  3. Inspecting Underlayment (Link)
  4. Roof vent Identification (Link)
  5. White residue below vents (Link)
  6. Chimney: (Onboard info)
  7. Roof drainage: (Onboard info)
  8. Snow guards: (Onboard info)

Asphalt Shingles:

  1. Asphalt Shingle Checklist; (Link)
  2. Asphalt Shingle Bonding; (Link)
  3. Craze-cracking; (Link)
  4. Batch Problems; (Link)
  5. Blisters VS Hail Damage; (Link)
  6. Biological Growth; (Link)
  7. Uniform Granule Loss; (Link)
  8. Voiding the Manufacturer's Warranty (not what you think) (Link)
  9. Diagnosing Wind Damage (Link)
  10. Controlling Ice Dam Growth (Link)
  11. Asphalt Shingle Inspection Field Guide, $18.99, by Kenton Shepard
  12. Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer's Association

Concrete Roof Tile

  1. Tile Roofing Institute Installation guides (Link)
  2. Concrete Tile Checklist; (Link)
  3. Minimum Slope and Headlap; (Link)
  4. General Fastening Schedules; (Link)
  5. Walking Concrete Tile; (Link)
  6. Tile Industry Standards (Link)
  7. Aging Characteristics of Concrete Tile (Link)
  8. Historic Tile (Link)
  9. Tile Roof Inspection Field Guide PDF $18.99, by Kenton Shepard

Clay Roof Tile

  1. TRI Installation guides (Link)
  2. Walking Clay Tile Roofs; (Link)
  3. How Clay Tile Ages and Fails; (Link)
  4. Clay Tile Fastening; (Link)
  5. Clay Tile Flashing; (Link)
  6. Biological Growth; (Link)
  7. Historic Tile. (Link)
  8. Tile Roof Inspection Field Guide PDF $18.99, by Kenton Shepard

Metal Roofs

  • Inspecting Metal Roofs (Link)

Roll Roof

  • Inspecting Roll Roofing (Link)

Fiber-cement Roofing

  • About Fiber-cement Roofing (Link)

Wood Shake& Shingle Roofs

  1. Wood Shake & Shingle (separate) Concerns; (Link)
  2. Wood Shake & Shingle Inspection Field Guide PDF; $18.99, by Kenton Shepard
  3. Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau ;(Link)

Stone Slate

  1. Slate Roof Inspection; (Link)
  2. National slate association; (Link)
  3. Slate Inspection Field Guide PDF ($18.99, by Kenton Shepard)

Composite Slate

  • Inspecting Composite Slate (Link)

Built-up Roofs

  1. Inspecting Built-up Roofs (Link)
  2. About Built-up Roofs (Link)

EPDM

  • Inspecting EPDM (Link)

Modified Bitumen

  • Inspecting Modified Bitumen Roofs (Link)

TPO

  • Inspecting TPO Roofs (Link)

PVC

  • Inspecting PVC Roofs (Link)

Sprayed Polyurethane Foam

  • Inspecting Sprayed Polyurethane Foam Roofs (Link)

EXTERIOR

  1. Grounds (info and 2 links)
    1. Evidence of Buried Fuel Oil Tanks;
    2. Inspecting Residential Lawn Irrigation Systems;
  2. Visual Inspection of Driveways; (link)
  3. Visual Inspection of Walkways; (link)
  4. Exterior Wall Conditions; (5 links)
    1. Inspecting HardiePlank; (fiber-cement) Lap Siding
    2. Inspecting Composite; Siding lap Siding
    3. Inspecting Vinyl Siding; (link)
    4. Inspecting Manufactured Stone;
    5. Inspecting Brick Walls (Cladding and Structural;
  5. Chimney; (info)
  6. Parge Coat; (info)
  7. Brick Wall Failure; (Link)
  8. Inspecting Stucco/EIFS; (info)
  9. Inspecting Fiber-cement Siding ;(Link)
  10. Inspecting Composite Siding; (Link)
  11. Inspecting Vinyl Siding; (Link)
  12. Inspecting Wood Siding; (Link)
  13. Inspecting Manufactured Stone Veneer; (Link)
  14. Pests (link)

GARAGE

  1. Garage Inspection Concerns; (Link)
  2. Inspecting Overhead Garage Doors; (Link)
  3. Automatic Opener; (link)
  4. Floors, Walls, and Ceiling; (link)
  5. Stairs to Living Space; (link)
  6. Fire Separation Walls/Ceiling; (link)
  7. Garage Electrical; (link)

GENERAL STRUCTURE

  1. Foundation Walls(4 links);
    1. Reinforced Concrete Damage Ratings;
    2. Inspecting Adjustable Steel Posts; 
    3. View the standards for wood foundation construction; 
    4. Efflorescence in Foundation Walls; 
  2. Concrete Foundation Walls;
    1. Efflorescence in Concrete Foundation Walls; (link)
  3. Cone of Compression (info);
  4. Framed Floor Structure; (info and 2 links)
    1. Inspecting Floor Structures; 
    2. Notching and Boring Guides for sawn and engineered lumber, studs, joists, beams, and Glulams; 
  5. Slab-on-Grade; (info and link)
  6. Basement; (info and 3 link)
    1. Inspecting-Adjustable-Steel-Posts: by Arlene Puentes;
    2. USA IRC SECTION 407 (Look up requirements for your state);
    3. Canadian NBC standards for Adjustable Steel Posts;
  7. Crawlspace; (info)
  8. Crack Analysis; (Link)

ATTIC

  1. Attic Conditions; (info and link)
  2. Attic Access; (info)
  3. Attic Thermal Insulation; (link)
  4. Attic Electrical, Plumbing and HVAC; (link)
  5. Radiant Barrier:
    1. Radiant barrier sheathing Study 1
    2. Radiant Barrier sheathing study 2
  6. Atic Pests:
    1. Personal Protective Equipment;
    2. If You Encounter Bats;
  7. Chimney (info)

ROOF STRUCTURE

  1. Inspecting Conventional Roof Framing; (Link);
  2. Inspecting Roof Trusses; (Link)
  3. Roof Sheathing; (info and Link)
  4. Roof Framing Hardware & fasteners (Link)

INTERIOR

  1. Inspection of Floors: 
    1. Wood floor inspection; (2 links)
    2. Problems, Causes and Cures: (Link)
  2. Inspection of Window Interiors:
    1. Inspection of Window Interiors; (Link)
    2. Thermal Pane Window Failure; (Link)
  3. Inspection of Stairways;
    1. Stairway Inspection Concerns; (Link)
    2.  stairway provisions for your state here. (Link)
  4. Inspection of Laundry Room; (Link)
  5. Fire Safety (Link);
  6. Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings:
    1. Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings; (2 link)
    2. R310 Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings; (Link)
  7. Pests; (info)
  8. Thermal Imaging; (info)

KITCHEN

  1. Kitchen Inspection Concerns; (Link)
  2. Inspecting Gas and Electric Ranges; (link)
  3. Inspecting Gas and Electric Cooktops; (link)
  4. Refrigerator Inspection; (Link)

ELECTRICAL

SERVICE DROP

  1. Inspecting the Service Drop; (link and info)
  2. Electric Meter; (info)
  3. Service Entrance Cables (info)

Service Panel

  1. Service Panel Inspection;  (Link)
  2. Federal Pacific Stab-Lok Hazards; (Link)
  3. Square D QO model RECALL; (Plant 15 panels only) (Link)
  4. Zinsco Panel Hazards; (Link)
  5. Backfed Breakers; (Link)
  6. Neutral Conductor Concerns; (Link)
  7. Types of Panelboards; (Link)
  8. Electrical Grounding; (Link)
  9. Electrical Bonding; (Link)

Sub-panel

  1. Sub-panel Concerns
  2. Sub-Panel Grounding & Bonding:
    1. Floating Neutral Bus Bar; (Link)
    2. Outbuilding Grounding Requirements; (Link)

Branch Circuits

  1. Branch Wiring Inspection Concerns:
    1. GFCI Location History (when and where it was required); (Link)
    2. Testing GFCI Receptacles; (Link)
    3. Shunt Trip Receptacles; (Link)
    4. Bonding Bushings; (Link)
    5. Outbuilding Grounding Requirements; (Link)
    6. Floating Neutral Bus bar; (Link)
    7. Bootleg Grounds; (Link)
    8. Conductor Types; (Link)
  2. Crawlspace Electrical; (info)
  3. Basement Electrical; (info)
  4. Photovoltaic System; (info)

HVAC (Heating)

Furnace

  1. Gas Furnace Inspection Checklist; (Link)
  2. Building Intelligence Center (Link)
  3. Gas Furnace Operation; (Link)
  4. Calculating Adequate Combustion Air; (Link)
  5. Furnace Efficiency; (Link)
  6. Venting High-Efficiency Combustion Appliances Into Masonry Chimneys; (Link)
  7. By-Passing Unfamiliar Thermostats; (Link)
  8. Carbon Monoxide; (Link)
  9. Identifying A Cracked Heat Exchanger; (Link)
  10. 2015 IFGC (Link)

Underground Fuel Oil Storage Tanks

  • State-by-State Guide to Underground Storage Tank Regulations

Wood-burning Appliances

  • National Fireplace Institute (training and education)

HVAC (Cooling)

  1. Air-conditioning System Checklist; (Link)
  2. HVAC Mfg. Date Codes (find the date of manufacture); (Link)
  3. Temperature Stratification in Multi-story Homes; (Link)
  4. AC Warranty (Link)

PLUMBING

  1. Approved Distribution Pipe Material; (Link)
  2. Water Distribution Pipe maximum support intervals; (link)
  3. Waste pipe maximum support intervals; (link)

Water Heater

  1. Water Heater Inspection Concerns; (Link)
  2. Water Heater Mfg. Date Codes (find the date of manufacture) ;(Link)
  3. Temperature/Pressure Relief (TPR) Discharge Pipe Regulations; (Link)
  4. Water Heater Backdrafting; (Link)
  5. Why Water Tanks Leak; (Link)
  6. Discolored Hot water; (Link)
  7.  Rumbling, Cracking, Popping Sounds; (Link)
  8. Electric Water Heater ;(Link)

Gas System

  1. 2021 International Fuel Gas Code; (Link)
  2. 2020 LP Gas Code; (Link)
  3. Approved Gas Pipe Distribution Materials; (Link)
  4. Gas pipe maximum Support Intervals; (Link)
  5. Gas vent termination minimum height above the roof; (Link)
  6. Inspecting CSST (Link)

Private Water Wells

  • Inspecting Private Water Wells (Link)

Septic Systems

  • Link to training sources

LOG HOMES

  1. Log Home Inspection Concerns; (Link)
  2. InterNACHI's Log Home Inspection course; (I wrote it) (Link)
  3. International Log Builder's Association (Standards and tech info); (Link)
  4. Log Checking; (Link)
  5. About Wood Decay; (Link)

REPORT WRITING

  1. Report Compilation Time and Length; (Link)
  2. 3 functions of a Narrative; (Link)
  3. Including Photos and Videos. (Link)

Report Writing Guide, by Kenton Shepard, $19.99

BUILDING CODES

  • A link to building codes for each state and some major cities, including the primary ICC codes (International Residential Code (IRC) and the National Electric Code (NEC). Access is free and provisions can be copied and pasted.

Over 190 links in total

TESTIMONIALS

“These narratives give you a choice in how to say it, while working to protect you. This is the best narrative library available anywhere. Many thanks to Kenton for his years of work.”

-Nick Gromicko, Founder of InterNACHI and CCPIA

"I can say with certainty that Kenton’s library is a critical tool for preventing risk and providing excellent service to an inspector’s clients. We encourage our insured inspectors to use this product to help them eliminate client confusion and to better assist their clients in making purchasing decisions.”

-Joe Denneler, General Counsel and Chief Claims and Risk Management Officer for Elite MGA, LLC 

“I just finished my first report using the new narratives. I shaved about 2 hours off my report writing time. With the basic HG I had to develop a lot of my own narratives as I went. Now I just pick and click for the most part. If you are new to the business, like me, this is a bargain for all the time you will save developing your own narratives. Thanks Kenton!”

    -Frank Rotte, Certified Inspection Services, San Diego CA



”Kenton: I avoided buying your collection of report narratives simply because I didn’t like the price.  That was a big mistake.  I finally gave in and spent the money and wanted to let you know I think this collection of report narratives is a masterwork that is well worth every penny.  Not only is this an invaluable tool for report writing, it is also a complete lesson in how to perform a thorough home inspection.  As a home inspector, I want to avoid reinventing the wheel and get right down to business, doing exceptional inspections and writing exceptional reports.  This tool will help me do exactly that.
 
Thanks for the grand effort!”

-Mike Murphy
, Mike Murphy Inspections

“I just received it last week and for one starting out, I would highly recommend it. Save you a lot of time coming up with your own narratives. As usual, Kenton did a great job!”

-Marcel Cyr, Cyr Home and Commercial Property Inspections

"This template is worth every penny!! This template is overwhelming and full of rich information. This is exactly what I was looking for in a template for my inspections. Thank you so much for your hard work in providing this wonderful information. This will save me so much time and headache.  I am looking forward in using the template to its full potential."

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"Kenton was a massive help in helping me solve an issue I had.  He personally called and emailed me as soon as he received my cry for help. The customer service I received on his template was amazing. The problem ended up not being on his end, but rather on the reporting software cloud service side. I would, without a doubt, purchase from him again. I would give 5 out of 5 stars!"          

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"Wow... I should have done this months ago.  It is like night and day compared to what I built for myself in my other software.  The combination of your structure/narratives and Spectora's capabilities is incredible.  I'm going to reinspect my house tomorrow to get a good feel for this. Kenton, what a ton of value you have delivered to my business and future clients.  I feel guilty for not having purchased sooner."

- Dylan Morgan    Property Doc Inspections