hausdok Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Do you probe for deterioration in wood? If so, tell us what type of probe you use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Maybe you should add "I probe for rot using a custom tool". Personally I use my trusty "pointy stick", a quick action, heavy duty, telescoping painters pole, with a cut-off paint roller frame sharpened to a chisel point. Handle filled with expoxy to make it rock solid. Enables me to probe everything from higher eaves to rim-joists in crawls and doubles as a cobweb remover in the crawls. Might also be useful for fighting off racoons, but I've never had that "pleasure" yet. Mike...wassup with all the polls? You suffering from election withdrawal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phillip Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I probe for soft wood and rot with a thumb or finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inspectorjoe Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 If it's finished wood, I'll use my thumb like Phillip does. Otherwise, I use a screwdriver. When I was doing my tagalongs in 2000, I was with one inspector for most of them. He used a screwdriver for probing. I used to cringe watching him abuse the tool like that. Funny thing, I've been doing the same thing myself ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Originally posted by Richard Moore Maybe you should add "I probe for rot using a custom tool". Personally I use my trusty "pointy stick", a quick action, heavy duty, telescoping painters pole, with a cut-off paint roller frame sharpened to a chisel point. Handle filled with expoxy to make it rock solid. Enables me to probe everything from higher eaves to rim-joists in crawls and doubles as a cobweb remover in the crawls. Might also be useful for fighting off racoons, but I've never had that "pleasure" yet. Mike...wassup with all the polls? You suffering from election withdrawal? Richard improved on my design. He added Epoxy. Must have cut off a cheap roller frame. I used a Wooster. It's got a thicker rod, don't ya know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottpat Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I probe with my finger or small knife blade as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Hockstein Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I probe exposed framing in the basement with a large steel rod with a handle attached (custom welded). I pound on the sills and also listen. Sometimes you can hear if the sill plate is hollow. Sometimes the probe breaks through hollow areas that looked good. I gently probe finished surfaces with a screwdriver and/or my fingertip. If there are rotted and/or insect damaged areas I call them out and recommend that a damage assessment be performed and all damages be repaired. I further explain in my report that destructive investigation is recommended and that this is beyond the scope of my inspection. I warn my clients that there is no way to know the extent of damage without some destructive investigation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hausdok Posted December 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Originally posted by Richard Moore Maybe you should add "I probe for rot using a custom tool". Personally I use my trusty "pointy stick", a quick action, heavy duty, telescoping painters pole, with a cut-off paint roller frame sharpened to a chisel point. Handle filled with expoxy to make it rock solid. Enables me to probe everything from higher eaves to rim-joists in crawls and doubles as a cobweb remover in the crawls. Might also be useful for fighting off racoons, but I've never had that "pleasure" yet. Mike...wassup with all the polls? You suffering from election withdrawal? Hi Richard, Just trying to do a little research is all. Brandon, if you want a poll, send me an email with the topic and the questions. Only moderators and administrators can post polls here. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fqp25 Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 I use a "pointy stick" (without the epoxy) as well as a screwdriver. For a while I did have an awl in my bag, but I lost that. Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Ahern Posted December 5, 2008 Report Share Posted December 5, 2008 Mr. cheap modified a surplus closet pole. Drilled a pilot hole in the end and nailed a spike in to the hole. Cut off the nail(spike) head and put a point on it with a grinder. Works well in two and three deckers with 9/10 ceilings in my area. Poke the sill and other support beams. Get something soft, I get on a ladder for a closer look. Scares the stuff out of nosey Realtors.[:-banghea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lamb Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 My eyes and a utility knife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted December 6, 2008 Report Share Posted December 6, 2008 Originally posted by charlieb Originally posted by Richard Moore Maybe you should add "I probe for rot using a custom tool". Personally I use my trusty "pointy stick", a quick action, heavy duty, telescoping painters pole, with a cut-off paint roller frame sharpened to a chisel point. Handle filled with expoxy to make it rock solid. Enables me to probe everything from higher eaves to rim-joists in crawls and doubles as a cobweb remover in the crawls. Might also be useful for fighting off racoons, but I've never had that "pleasure" yet. Mike...wassup with all the polls? You suffering from election withdrawal? Richard improved on my design. He added Epoxy. Must have cut off a cheap roller frame. I used a Wooster. It's got a thicker rod, don't ya know. Would you custom tool builders care to share pictures of your creations? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Here ya go. This one extends another 4 feet. Image Insert: 61.79 KB Image Insert: 67.14 KB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Raymond Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Thanks Charlie. For some reason I kept thinking that the roller frame was cut off after the bend, but that would loose all its leverage at full extension and snag stuff on the back side of joists that you may not want to snag. I guess I was over thinking it. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlieb Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Originally posted by Tom Raymond Thanks Charlie. For some reason I kept thinking that the roller frame was cut off after the bend, but that would loose all its leverage at full extension and snag stuff on the back side of joists that you may not want to snag. I guess I was over thinking it. Tom I understand. I did cut this one after the bend. It was not hard to straighten it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 After hanging with you folks for several years, only now can I see the web-site links, signatures and quotes. All because of a check box I ignored when I joined TIJ. I wonder . . . out of the thousands of tasks/activities/hobbies in which I routinely participate, how many profile-like check boxes are merely resting peacefully, waiting to be enabled so they can enlighten me? I may not sleep for days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Sorry, Mike. When I was returned to the thread, I realized you removed the dialogue with Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Brown Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Originally posted by Bain Sorry, Mike. When I was returned to the thread, I realized you removed the dialogue with Michael. I moved the dialog here: https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... IC_ID=8588 Thanks for helping dig out the bug. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Originally posted by admin Originally posted by Bain Sorry, Mike. When I was returned to the thread, I realized you removed the dialogue with Michael. I moved the dialog here: https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... IC_ID=8588 Thanks for helping dig out the bug. Michael Of course, Michael. But you're being kind. There really wasn't a bug. At fault was a little due diligence on my end for not paying closer attention to the settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Brown Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Originally posted by Bain Originally posted by admin Originally posted by Bain Sorry, Mike. When I was returned to the thread, I realized you removed the dialogue with Michael. I moved the dialog here: https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... IC_ID=8588 Thanks for helping dig out the bug. Michael Of course, Michael. But you're being kind. There really wasn't a bug. At fault was a little due diligence on my end for not paying closer attention to the settings. Ya... there really was a bug. The Poll shouldn't have been inside the hiding signatures condition. I had to move an end if statement up. If you turn off the signatures now you will still see the polls. The bug is gone now. Thanks, Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 I sometimes wonder about this entire group of individuals. Why are we so polite and nice to each other and such maniacs in public? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Amaral Posted July 9, 2013 Report Share Posted July 9, 2013 only 'structure'.. (not finish).. Sears Pry bar. 'the biggest one'.. it's great for weird lids, problems and such.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erby Posted July 10, 2013 Report Share Posted July 10, 2013 Talk about digging stuff out of the heap of history! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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