InterNACHI 11th-Month Warranty Inspector flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

11th-month warranty inspection

A visual, non-invasive survey performed during the 11th month of a builder's one-year warranty so the owner can submit documented defects before the warranty period expires.

1-2-10 warranty structure

Common builder limited warranty layout: year one covers workmanship and materials, year two covers systems such as plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, and years three through ten cover major structural defects.

Substantial completion date

The date the home was sufficiently finished for its intended use, typically tied to the certificate of occupancy; it usually starts the warranty clock and sets the 11th-month inspection window.

Performance-based inspection

An inspection that judges how building components have performed over time, such as cracking, settlement, or moisture intrusion, rather than verifying code compliance or design intent.

Warranty claim submission

The owner's written notice to the builder listing defects and requesting repair, submitted before the warranty anniversary date with the inspection report attached as supporting evidence.

Seasonal cycle exposure

The first year of occupancy subjects the house to heating, cooling, wetting, drying, and settlement; the 11th-month inspection captures defects that only appear after that cycle.

Non-invasive inspection method

Observation and operation of accessible systems using normal controls, without dismantling equipment, opening finished surfaces, or moving stored items to reveal concealed conditions.

Warranty anniversary date

The date one year after the warranty start; it marks expiration of year-one coverage and is the deadline by which the owner's defect claim should be submitted.

Year-one workmanship coverage

Builder responsibility for defects in materials and installation during the first year, such as drywall cracks, trim separation, door misalignment, flooring gaps, and finish defects.

Year-two systems coverage

Coverage during the second year for specified systems, commonly plumbing, electrical, and HVAC distribution, when failures are not caused by owner misuse or lack of maintenance.

Ten-year structural coverage

Long-term coverage for load-bearing structural defects that materially affect safety or habitability, typically excluding shrinkage cracking, settlement within tolerance, and non-structural movement.

Warranty performance standards

Written tolerances in the warranty document defining when a condition is a defect, such as allowable drywall crack width or floor deflection limits; they govern claim acceptance.

Cosmetic exclusion

A warranty provision excluding minor appearance issues such as hairline shrinkage cracks, paint touch-ups, and normal settlement marks that do not affect performance or safety.

Maintenance condition precedent

A requirement that the owner maintain caulking, grading, drainage, filters, and humidity control; failure can void claims for damage that proper maintenance would have prevented.

Manufacturer warranty distinction

Equipment and material warranties from manufacturers (roofing, windows, appliances, HVAC) run separately from the builder's warranty and are claimed through the manufacturer or its agent.

Warranty transferability

A clause stating whether remaining warranty coverage passes to a subsequent buyer; terms vary, so the inspector should cite the clause rather than assume coverage continues.

Right-to-cure statute

A state law requiring the homeowner to give the builder written notice and an opportunity to repair before filing suit; legal in nature and outside the inspector's professional scope.

Implied warranty of habitability

A legal doctrine in many jurisdictions holding builders to a standard of fitness for habitation, independent of the written warranty; interpretation requires an attorney.

Standard of practice

The published document defining which systems an inspector examines, the visual non-invasive method used, and the exclusions; it should be cited in the inspection report.

Normal operating controls

Thermostats, switches, valves, and fixtures a homeowner uses daily; operating them tests performance without dismantling equipment or accessing concealed components.

Safety hazard classification

A priority category for report items posing risk of injury, such as missing GFCI protection, gas leaks, blocked flues, exposed conductors, or absent handrails.

Active water intrusion

Observed or measured moisture entry at the time of inspection, documented with a moisture meter or thermal image and reported as a high-priority warranty defect.

Defect versus maintenance

A defect is a failure of the building or its components; maintenance is routine upkeep. Deteriorated caulk is maintenance, but resulting rot or staining is a reportable defect.

Itemized defect report

A written list grouped by system and location, each entry giving the observation, its location, and why it constitutes a warranty concern, supported by labeled dated photographs.

Thermal imaging limitation

Infrared imaging reveals temperature differences that may indicate moisture or missing insulation, but results require confirmation with a moisture meter and are not definitive alone.

GFCI and AFCI testing

Operating test and reset buttons on ground-fault and arc-fault circuit interrupters to confirm they trip; a device that fails to trip or reset is reported as a safety defect.

Scope exclusion statement

Report language clarifying that the inspection is visual and non-invasive, is not a code compliance inspection or engineering analysis, and does not guarantee future performance.

Pre-inspection agreement

A signed contract stating scope, fee, exclusions, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution, executed before the inspection so client expectations are documented in writing.

Report delivery timeline

The interval between inspection and report delivery, ideally 24 to 48 hours, because the client must submit the warranty claim before the anniversary date.

Claim cover letter

A concise client letter accompanying the report that lists priority items, cites the warranty anniversary date, and requests written response and a repair schedule from the builder.

Referral to specialists

A written recommendation that the client consult a licensed engineer, roofer, electrician, mold assessor, or attorney for conditions beyond the inspector's scope or competence.

Reinspection report

A separate dated document issued after builder repairs, limited to verifying whether previously identified items were corrected, without re- inspecting the entire home.