Background about this series of stories

The Old House Web is pleased to offer excerpts from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Residential Rehabilitation Inspection Guide. Over the course of 2001, we'll publish the entire book in installments.

First released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1984 as the Guideline on Residential Building Systems Inspection, the guide provides step-by-step technical information for evaluating a residential building's site, exterior, interior, and structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.

These guidelines have found widespread use and acceptance among architects, engineers, builders, realtors, and preservationists.

In February 2000, the guide book was updated and expanded to include current assessment techniques and standards, information about additional building materials, and a broader coverage of hazardous substances and the effects of earthquakes, wind, and floods.