Richard Moore

I generally refer to that stuff as "TPO" (Thermoplastic polyolefin), but I believe it is interchangable with "PVC". I've sometimes found printing along the sheet edges on newer stuff. Click to Enlarge 29.04 KB It does look like you have some (relatively minor?) ponding issues in that 2nd photo.

Can't say I've ever seen them...on any home around here. It does look like similar construction to the Pabco Horizon with pieces stuck on top of three-tab shingles but I doubt they are actually Pabco. In any event, I'd say the damage is beyond cosmetic. Maybe they won't leak yet, but the cracks are not normal and could develop into a serious problem soon for all I know. If it was my own house, I would probably risk a few more years. But, as an HI, and without having some very good info that would suggest otherwise, I would have to tell a buyer that the 16 year old roofing is failing and is in need of replacement.

I had one a few months back where the agent showed me the FHA/Hud inspection calling the roof "servicable" or words to that effect. I don't know if that "inspection" was before or after the two, very obvious, blue tarps had been crudely stapled and weighted to the roof, covering damage down to the sheathing.

"American Water Heater" uses YYWW. I dont know if the companies are related but, if I hadn't seen Chad's post, I would have guessed November (47th week), 1983. Why not go with "at least 26 years old" and leave it at that.

I don't see any posts under that balcony so I doubt it is very deep, and I suspect that with the extended roof section there you might actually be beyond vertical. I'd do the porch roof. I feel quite safe when I can get the legs of the ladder straddling the ridge, and it looks like you would then be stepping on and off the low slope section of the main roof. It would be nice if that tall window opens so you don't have to haul the ladder up there. Of course, I don't have a bum foot. What happened there Brandon?

Well, Google isn't going to help much... Click to Enlarge 34.49 KB The last time I saw a stamped data plate like that on a water heater I was never able to find anything on it either. Some other weird brand. In that case I "surmised" it was the same age as the house...38 years. It also had a real funky looking TPR valve. The fact that yours felt the need to boast of being "automatic", presumably meaning it has one of those new-fangled thermostat thingies, would seem to date it even more. How old was the place, what did the TPR valve look like, and do you have a photo of the whole thing?

Ah...I thought you were taking about front cover openings (missing breakers, etc). I'm still not sure that temporary "fixing" of the hole would be a good idea, even if you do report it. Temporary fixes tend to become permanent until something bad happens. We might want to split this off and discuss it elsewhere. Sorry.

Toolbelt. Moisture meter in pocket under 3-light tester. I have levels in the car but my I-phone has a rather amazing level app that I use most times. I carry my camera in a pant pocket for protection. Click to Enlarge 87.98 KB Thread drift... I report those as a serious safety concern in need of prompt repair but, to me, they are an indication of home-owner wiring and I wouldn't feel right about filling them in and calling them good.

It's a Hurricane Trap. Designed to work if the house ever gets blown over, 90°, onto it's side. Around here we only have earthquakes, so we install traps with a little extra flexibilty... Click to Enlarge 63.63 KB []

Tip: If you are going to make a finger or thumbnail the star of your show, pick one you haven't recently whacked with a hammer! As for the content....EEEEK! The second guy seems about as organized as his shelving, which is appropriate as he has the personality of a wood plank. I'll bet he's a real hoot at a party. [:-yawn] The internet is both an amazing tool and a place where tools are amazing.

That does seem to be the overwhelming consensus (YYWW). The ANS date would likely be closer than the ASHRAE, but still a few years behind. Maybe it was just dirty or dusty?

I had the gas meter (and the regulator vent) right next to the openable section of a finished basement window today. This is an original window in a '67 home. I will be recommending the vent gets piped to terminate at least 3' away. The one question I have is whether this could be done by the HVAC guy (needs new furnace), or a plumber, or would this typically be the utility company's responsibilty? Anyhoooo...With the caveat that clearances may vary in your particular area, Puget Sound Energy has a very nice PDF with diagrams for required clearances. I thought some of you might like it. http://www.pse.com/SiteCollectionDocume ... s/3885.pdf

Ahhhh! Got it. LOL!

70's homes around here often have a GFCI receptacle in the garage that controls the bathrooms and exterior. And, of course, in garages they often get buried. BTW...who or what is an Adam Henry?

I’m glad this is anonymous because the only word I can think of to describe this report is “horrific.â€

I don't know Jim. The Seattle DPD guy made it sound like the June 8th was a solid deadline for the city, but we have so many other jurisdictions around here I wouldn't know where to start looking. I don't do phase inspections so my curiosity is probably a little less than if I did. Mike, or others might know more.

I just got off the phone with a Tim Porter (Electrical Plans Examiner) at Seattle DPD. Seattle is adopting the NEC 2008 requirement for AFCIs on all 120-volt circuits. This didn't go into effect until June 8th, this year, and will only apply to permits pulled after that date. So...it seems it will still be a few months before we actually start seeing panels full of AFCIs in the city of Seattle, but they are coming.

Jim, if you are still there... How is it being handled or amended in your area?

Yep...I think I already knew that.

(Perhaps this should be in the WA section?) OK, a few more questions regarding AFCIs for all 120-volt circuits as required by the 2008 NEC. First: Has anyone seen a panel full of AFCIs yet? Moving on to a more local, related issue: Bellevue has this regarding AFCIs: http://www.bellevuewa.gov/pdf/developme ... _AFCIs.pdf . It's pretty clear with the first paragraph: However, the State of Washington has decided to stick with the previous requirement of bedrooms only: Here's where it gets sticky and I'm confused at the moment. From the Seattle Code Amendments effective June 5th, 2009 There is no amendment to 210.12 in these. So, this raises the question of whether the Seattle amendments apply to the NEC as already amended by the state, or to the original NEC. In other words, does Seattle require AFCIs everywhere or not?

Kyle is, of course, correct when he states that the physical diameter might differ from one 4/0 to the next. However, compressed or not, the mm2 figure would remain the same as it represents the total cross-sectional area of the conducting material, and does not include the gaps between strands.

In that photo, the 2/0 is 67.4 mm2. You can just see the last digit of the other conductors ends in a 7...so we know it's different. If you google 4/0 4/0 2/0 cable you get all sorts of hits. I get nothing for 3/0 3/0 2/0. The 7 is probably 107 mm2 (see American wire guage - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge ) and my money is therefore on 4/0 for the the others.

Niceness (thanks.)

That one was really throwing me. It looks almost like a cleanly sliced WDO "example" with frass packed galleries, etc, etc. you might find in a classroom...or a glass fronted ant (termite?) farm. The "sheet metal or something" is a good, possible explanation. You would have to expect the damage goes a lot deeper and that the small shrooms are almost a byproduct of the insect damage.

Nowadays, I would definitely have taken a photo to share with the brethren but, regretfully, no photo of the the deceased. I was probably too consumed with trying to lift the float without touching the "icky" thing. For some reason (forgotten now due to age), when I first started I used to only take photos that I thought I might actually use in the report. I only have 57 photos total in that folder on a house I would likely take well over 200 shots of now. This place was only my 14th paid inspection and the first real POS. A real eye-opener...stuff they just can't train you for. The small home was occupied by an elderly lady who had lived there for 45+ years. As you entered the front door there was a narrow path through unbelievable junk leading to the kitchen, with a branch to the bedrooms. 95% of the flooring was covered with boxes, magazines and other "collected" junk. That would also have been a good photo, but I didn't take one.