Inspect and Scope a Residential Repair or Remodeling Project

A. Finished-Project Specification

Deliverable: one complete inspection package for one defined room or area, consisting of four documents — the existing-condition report, the risk register, the approved scope with repair limits and exclusions, and the signed repair-readiness checklist with a final classification of approved, conditionally approved, or rejected.

B. Deliverable Schedule

Document	Contents	Completed In	Signed By
Existing-Condition Report	Authorization, objectives, building history, interview notes, photographs, measurements, visible-condition findings	Sections E, F	Inspector
Risk Register	Every suspected concealed condition, hazard, structural or life-safety flag, and its required referral	Section G	Inspector
Approved Scope	Repair limits, finish limits, access limits, exclusions, required permits, required trades	Section H	Inspector and Owner
Repair-Readiness Checklist	Authorization, design, hazards, utilities, access, protection, materials, trades, permits, inspections, final classification	Section H, I	Inspector and Owner

C. Information and Records Takeoff

• Owner-supplied records: available plans, permits, prior inspection reports, repair records, product information, warranties, photographs, and prior contractor documentation for the property.
• Site information: building age, construction type, number of stories, and known prior alterations.
• Interview record: the occupant's account of leaks, odors, noise, movement, intermittent failures, previous repairs, seasonal conditions, and when the problem occurs.
• Do not select a repair product, fastener, or finish material during this chapter; Section H's materials research list identifies compatibility questions only, without selecting an unverified product.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Authorization and boundary	Owner authorization and inspection boundary recorded in writing before the physical inspection begins
Photographic record	Every proposed work area photographed before any content or finish is disturbed
Fact labeling	Every entry in the existing-condition report and risk register labeled as an observed fact, an owner-reported symptom, or a suspected concealed condition
Risk register completeness	Every suspected hazardous material, structural condition, and life-safety condition identified in Section G appears in the risk register with a required referral
Scope completeness	Approved scope states repair limits, finish limits, access limits, exclusions, required permits, and required qualified trades
Readiness classification	Project classified as approved, conditionally approved, or rejected, with the reason stated for any condition other than approved

E. Preparation — Authorization and Records Collection (Steps 1–4)

1. Obtain owner authorization, objectives, budget, occupancy requirements, desired completion condition, and known building history before entering the space. Record the authorized party's name, the stated budget range, any occupancy restriction on work hours or access, and the condition the owner wants at completion, directly on the existing-condition report.
2. Collect available plans, permits, inspection reports, repair records, product information, warranties, photographs, and prior contractor documentation. List each document collected and note any document the owner reports exists but cannot locate.
3. Define the inspection boundary and identify adjacent rooms, floors, ceilings, exterior surfaces, attics, crawlspaces, basements, garages, and utility areas that may affect the work. Record the boundary on the Reference and Boundary Record before proceeding to Step 5.
4. Record building age, construction type, finish materials, prior alterations, and visible evidence of unpermitted or incomplete work without assuming concealed compliance. Note any visible alteration that appears inconsistent with the building's age or the collected permit records as a suspected concealed condition on the risk register, not as a confirmed fact.

F. Interview, Photography, and Measurement (Steps 5–7)

1. Interview the owner or occupant about leaks, odors, noise, movement, intermittent failures, previous repairs, seasonal conditions, and when the problem occurs. Record each statement as an owner-reported symptom, including the approximate date, frequency, and conditions under which it occurs.
2. Photograph the room and each proposed work area before moving contents or disturbing finishes. Photograph from the same reference points established in the Reference Conventions, including wide views of each wall and close views of any visible damage.
3. Measure room dimensions, openings, fixture locations, floor elevations, wall planes, ceiling condition, and access constraints. Record every measurement on the existing-condition report using the reference points established before the walk-through began.

G. Condition and Concealed-Risk Investigation (Steps 8–15)

1. Identify the stated repair goal and distinguish restoration of a failed component from an elective change in layout, material, fixture, or appearance. Record each stated goal separately using the Repair vs. Elective Remodel definitions above.
2. Inspect walls, floors, ceilings, trim, doors, windows, cabinets, fixtures, finishes, and visible structure for damage, movement, wear, staining, corrosion, and poor attachment. Record each finding as an observed fact with its location and photograph reference.
3. Inspect for active or historic moisture using visual evidence, odor, approved moisture testing, and access to adjacent assemblies. Record the moisture-meter reading, location, and whether the condition appears active or historic.
4. Identify likely routes of plumbing, wiring, gas, ducts, vents, drains, and structural framing before any cutting or drilling is planned. Record each likely route as a suspected concealed condition on the risk register; do not confirm a route by cutting, drilling, or probing during this chapter.
5. Identify possible lead-containing coatings, asbestos-containing materials, mold, silica-producing materials, or other environmental hazards that require assessment before disturbance. Record each suspect material on the risk register with the required assessment method and the qualified professional who must perform it; do not sand, scrape, or sample the material.
6. Identify load-bearing, braced, shear, fire-rated, garage-separation, wet-area, egress, accessibility, and life-safety conditions. Record each condition on the risk register with the qualified professional or code reference required to resolve it.
7. Operate doors, drawers, latches, shutoffs, faucets, drains, toilets, lights, fans, and appliances only when safe and within the inspection scope. Record the observed operating condition of each item operated; do not operate any item that appears unsafe or that requires a qualified professional to access safely.
8. Separate observed facts from suspected concealed conditions and from owner-reported symptoms. Review every entry recorded in Steps 8 through 14 and confirm each is labeled correctly before proceeding to Section H.

H. Scope Definition and Readiness Preparation (Steps 16–21)

1. Define the approved repair limits, finish limits, access limits, and excluded work. State the exact boundary of approved work and list every condition, room, or component specifically excluded from this scope.
2. Identify permits, inspections, utility shutdowns, specialty testing, licensed trades, design professionals, and manufacturer consultation required before work. List each requirement identified from the risk register and the Section G findings.
3. Prepare a concealed-condition allowance and a stop-work list for conditions that cannot be resolved during the initial inspection. State the specific response required if each listed concealed condition is confirmed once demolition exposes it.
4. Prepare an ordered scope of demolition, investigation, repair, installation, finishing, testing, cleanup, and handoff. List the work in the order it must occur, without specifying construction methods that belong to a later chapter.
5. Prepare a materials and product-compatibility research list without selecting products whose suitability has not been verified. List the compatibility questions that must be answered before a product is selected in a later chapter.
6. Prepare a repair-readiness checklist covering authorization, design, hazards, utilities, access, protection, materials, trades, permits, and inspections. Complete every line of the checklist using the information gathered in Sections E through H.

I. Owner Review, Classification, and Filing (Steps 22–24)

1. Review the scope, exclusions, assumptions, change-control process, and expected disruption with the owner or responsible party. Confirm the owner's understanding and obtain a signature or documented verbal acceptance on the approved scope.
2. Classify the project as approved, conditionally approved, or rejected pending additional investigation. State the specific reason for any classification other than approved, and identify the exact condition that must be resolved before reclassification.
3. File the signed scope, photographs, measurements, risk register, prerequisites, and readiness decision. Store the complete package where it will be available to the learner performing Chapter 2 and every later chapter for this project.