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Recent Topics

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  The importance or not of efflorescence on brick.

  By Mike Lamb April 7

  This is from a 2018 three story condo building. The east had much efflorescence. The rest of the building was good. I found the efflorescence to be excessive. How important is this to the owners of the building to do something about it? My remarks below in the report are a little wishy-washy.  There is much efflorescence (white powder) at the east and back walls of the building. This is typically caused by excessive moisture coming into contact with the water soluble salts in the brick and/

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  Need some plumbing help.

  By Jerry Simon April 5

  I've got these tiny, pinhead size black specs/residue on my white acrylic bathtub surface after use.  When I wipe them off, they smear like tar.  I believe it's some sort of deteriorating rubber residue from a pipe or a faucet, or perhaps my water heater.  Bled my water heater, and no sign of residue.  Unless/until I get some other good advice, hopefully here, I'm going to replace the tub faucet cartridges where perhaps their deteriorating O-rings are the culprit. Having trouble, though, kn

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  Tub Tile Plentifully Bestrewn

  By Bill Kibbel March 23

  Folks often ask how long I've been doing this.  My reply is often followed by "you must've seen everything".  This immediately triggers a barrage of shit I've never seen before.  There was another one in the carriage house too.

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• Range element

  By John Dirks Jr March 22

  Hello gentlemen.  I was wondering if you had insight on cook range heat elements.   My father’s Samsung oven lower element burned open about a year ago.  It was easy to get a replacement part and install it so I did.   It’s now burnt open again.     The previous part we got was $50 from Amazon.  Is it a cheap part and that’s why it didn’t last?   If so, how can we make sure to get something that will last longer?  Are there other conditions that might make an element fail with a short lif

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  How to access non-screw outside plumbing access panel

  By Wolverine February 25

  I have received permission to open this panel- but haven't seen one of these without a flathead (or phillips)...this access point is flush like a nailhead. Any suggestions on how to open this? Plan to use a putty knife and hammer to unseal the years of outdoor paint.

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  Nate

  By Jerry Simon February 23

  Nate found out it was true; most new home inspectors don't last long in this biz.

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  Sub-surface control joints in concrete??

  By Mike Lamb February 21

  This basement floor had a bunch of relatively straight cracks at various locations. The builder told me that they were control joints and the method used is to lay a strip of metal – Or something like that –beneath the concrete surface and an intentional crack will develop there. I never heard of this and my research came up with nothing to corroborate. He said it was a relatively new thing. I don't think it's a problem but is the fellow full of malarkey? Thoughts?

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• How much does a building inspection cost?

  By jonny_drone February 20

  How do you price your inspection services? I just got my 107 to fly a drone commercially and want to get into inspections. I heard they are where the money is. I found this blog post that has drone inspection calculators. Are they pretty accurate or do you guys charge more?  

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