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Overview:
An attic survey involves gathering photos and measurements from the accessible and if necessary, inaccessible attics in the home. Please perform this survey on all roof sections where the rafters are accessible. This includes roofs with regular attic hatches, as well as garages or porches that have exposed rafters.
What to gather:
Photos of the attic entrance
360° overlapping photos of the attic interior
Rafter size measurement
Rafter spacing measurement
Location of access hatch on the roof map
Why do we need it?
The data is used by the structural engineer to determine if the roof can withstand the load of the solar panels. This is included in the permit package which is sent for approval by the local permit office. Sometimes a homeowner changes their mind about what roof they want their solar panels on, so please complete this survey on all accessible roofs.
Truss Types & Terminology
Truss Types & Terminology
Before we dive into the survey instructions, let's get familiar with some common terminology about the types of attic structures you will see on site. Roofs are constructed using two main methods: manufactured truss and stick frame.
What are Manufactured Trusses?
What are Manufactured Trusses?
A manufactured truss is assembled in a manufacturing facility and then fitted onto the roof on site. It uses metal plates to connect the wooden members.
Manufactured Truss Terminology
Manufactured Truss Terminology
Above you can find the terminology for the manufactured trusses, so you can better identify these items while on-site.
Attic Survey: 360° Photos and Rafters Measurements
Attic Survey: 360° Photos and Rafters Measurements
attic survey.mp4Attic Measurements Examples
Attic Measurements Examples
Once you've entered the attic hatch, use your measuring tape to gather measurements of the size and spacing of the rafters, and record the measurements in the Survey Checklist.
Rafters Size
Rafters Size
Size of the rafters. Usually goes by 2x4, 2x6, or 2x8. Can be higher as well but it rarely happens in residential homes.
Rafters Spacing
Rafters Spacing
Space between one rafter to another. Usually goes by 14", 18", 20", 22", or 24".
Recording Measurements
Recording Measurements
Please record all the accessible attics or exposed rafters. You can write it down similar to the example on the left.
Member Sizes: Standard Nominal Conversions:
Member Sizes: Standard Nominal Conversions:
Wood members are often referred to by their "nominal" measurement, which is slightly larger than their "actual" measurement. So, if you measure 1-1/2 " x 3-1/2 ", we would call that a 2 x 4.
For our surveys, you can record the nominal measurement, but if you are unsure, it is always safer to write down the actual measurement.
Inaccessible Attics - Non-Invasive Methods.
Inaccessible Attics - Non-Invasive Methods.
For most surveys (~90%+), we will simply collect photos in the inaccessible space for inaccessible attics, with the occasional need for a floor plan.
However, certain City or permit requirements (< ~10% of surveys, varies depending on the region), are more strict and are likely to require other methods of access (including invasive) which we will cover in the following slides.
If after completing this course, you still have doubts about how many surveys requiring this you would get, kindly reach out to your recruiter, and she/he will provide more insight into the frequency of these requests in your region.
General Strategy for Inaccessible Attic Structure:
When you find an inaccessible attic on-site, we will try some of our non-invasive procedures to get as much information as possible. Below is a list of procedures you can follow:
Ask for Blueprints
Ask for Blueprints
The best way to work around inaccessible attics is if the homeowners have a copy of their blueprints. Some will have them, some not. If they happen to have them physically, take photos of them and upload them into the Internal Structural Data section in SiteCapture. If the homeowner has them in a digital format, you can ask them to email those to you and then forward them to us. Or, you can have them email us directly at fieldops@exactusenergy.com.The main takeaway for the information to be passable is:
The plans must at least show the rafter member size (2x4, 2x6, 2x8, etc.) and their spacing (24” O/C, 16” O/C, etc.) for each sealed roof section.
Soffit Pull
Soffit Pull
Remove a soffit from underneath the eaves trough for the roof in question.
Tools required:
Zip Tool
Trim removal kit (optional)
Clip removal tool (optional)
Procedure
First, if present, remove the nails close to the soffit panel you selected to remove. If staples are placed on the panel, remove them as well.
Pull back the facia and release the front edge of the soffit, then the panel can be slid out.
Take photos and measurements of the attic space above.
The panels are connected to each other, so need to be put back in place the same way.
Light Fixture Removal
Light Fixture Removal
Look out for recessed lighting or other light fixtures under that roof. If one of those is easy to remove, we will remove it to access the rafters with a measuring tape and a camera. We will take photos of the space above the fixture. If the junction box is blocking access to the space above, then we use a narrow wire to measure the bottom chord.
Procedure
Search for a light fixture or a recessed light that can be removed to obtain access to the rafters and then take photos and measurements of the attic space above.
Take the light fixture off and put the wires aside so you have enough space to take the measurements and photos.
Once confirmed the data has been collected. The light fixture needs to be back in place.
Inaccessible Attics - Poke Test
Inaccessible Attics - Poke Test
Out of all of the invasive methods, the Poke Test is the least invasive one, which is beneficial for Engineers and homeowners. Below you can find a detailed explanation of how to perform a poke test when there's an inaccessible attic on-site.
Usually, the roof structures without Attic access are Flat Roofs, Vaulted Ceilings, Raised Ceilings, and Live-In homes. Below you can see an explanation video.
Poke Test Training.mp4Marking the Roof Map Sketch
Marking the Roof Map Sketch
After locating the access points to the attic, it is important to draw them on the roof map.
Please label the roof access point/hatch using the legend provided. If there is more than one access point, label A1 for Attic 1 and A2 for Attic 2. It helps to also draw in the ridge lines to indicate where the roof peak is located.
Roof Map Sketch 1
Roof Map Sketch 1
We recommend taking a screenshot of the satellite imagery of the project layout to mark the locations as shown below. If you take the screenshot from Google Maps, it's easier for you to complete this before leaving the Site!
Roof Map Sketch 2
Roof Map Sketch 2
Or, you can use our traditional way which would be drawing a basic roof sketch while on-site:
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