johnmcda

This is the service feed from the meter. There is a 125 Amp main in the panel. Image Insert: 156.72 KB

Had a ground wire cut at the entrance to the panel on a 4 wire service. The panel did have a separate #6 copper ground. Should I be concerned? Image Insert: 180.48 KB

If there was that much air being pulled through, it sounds as if they used a panned joist bay as the return air duct. If so, that's been a no no for several years. M1601.1.1, (6). - Jim Katen, Oregon Jim, I believe M1601.1.1 prohibits only supply ducts in joist bays. Returns are allowed.

Yes, I recommended a repair replacing the untreated cripple wall with boxed beams made from 2 X 6's treated for burial. This way he could jack a section, remove the cripple wall and insert the beam then move to the next section. Obviously, the builder of this house did not build to code. Wood foundations are fine if the designed correctly and the proper material is used. All studs on the front of the house had to be replaced - total repair cost estimated at $100K. I also recommended re-grading the property to remove the soil against the wood foundation.

No minimal height requirement. I often find shower heads between 4 and 5 feet high in showers designed for handicapped people.

Yes - did one in February. There was a cripple wall on a poured foundtaion wall with back fill over the cripple wall. This was undoubdtedly the most termite infested structure I have ever seen. Client bought it anyway - go figure! Image Insert: 1639.98 KB

1" - 2" - Jim Katen, Oregon The field cut ends of the siding should also be sealed.

Could be an EFIS product such as http://www.stocorp.com/allweb.nsf/creativbrick Could also be a cement fiberboard panel product such as http://www.nichiha.com/prod_nano.htm

Ever wonder what an idiot looks like? Image Insert: 66.21 KB

My bad - I should have qualified the statement to depend on the location of the furnace. Depends on where the unit is located. If it is in an unconditioned space such as a basement that is not heated or an attic, then it should be insulated

That return duct should be insulated

...unless your neighbor burns his house. Image Insert: 107.24 KB

In Georgia, guard rails on retainer walls have been required by the GA Code since January of 2006. Anything built before 2006 is grandfathered. Even though, I still put the lack of a guard rail on a retainer wall in the report if it poses a safety hazard.

R311.5.6.2 Continuity. Handrails for stairways shall be continuous for the full length of the flight, from a point directly above the top riser of the flight to a point directly above the lowest riser of the flight. Handrail ends shall be returned or shall terminate in newel posts or safety terminals. Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space of not less than 1½ inch (38 mm) between the wall and the handrails. Exceptions: 1. Handrails shall be permitted to be interrupted by a newel post at the turn. 2. The use of a volute, turnout, starting easing or starting newel shall be allowed over the lowest tread. In other words, the handrail is OK

I guess so. The word "sub-panel" doesn't exist in the NEC. It's really a slang term. Sure. You aren't allowed to reground the neutral after the service disconnecting means per 250.24(A)(5). If you don't do it, then every grounded surface that's connected to those two panels will be energized at a level that's equal to the voltage drop in the 50-foot feeder. That could be dangerous. Keep in mind that getting electrocuted can also be miserable and costly. - Jim Katen, Oregon

House built in 1974 being remodeled which required the service meter to be relocated. The main disconnect is in the panel. The local AHJ required a new disconnect to be installed at the meter which is 50 feet away from the existing panel. Does this not make the original panel a sub-panel? Are the grounds and neutrals now required to be separated? There are 42 circuits in this 200 amp ITE panel and a sub panel a foot away with 10 circuits. If the grounds and neutrals now have to be separated on the original panel, the repair is going to be miserable and costly.

That's not a knee wall. Those are purlins and wind bracing and absolutely not constructed properly. The purlins should be the same size as the rafters (2X6) and installed vertical to the rafter (not flat). The wind braces look like they are t0o long for a single 2X4 - they need to be doubled. You should also check to see the wind bracing is supported by a load bearing wall and that the studs are doubled beneath each wind brace.

Yes - those are used condums in the attached photo. Found in a side attic of a foreclosure. Yes - they are still there undisturbed! Download Attachment: IMG_6315.JPG 142.03 KB

Problem I am seeing here in Atlanta is loan officers telling clients that they do not need an inspection - new homes and resales. Most of the realtors recommend inspections on resales - about 50% on new homes.

I have inspected a number of KB homes in your area. I generally find the quality depends on the local site supervisor - the quality varies widely. Make sure you get a qualified inspector.

Anybody have any information or links to inspecting lake walls or sea walls? I have a client who also wants an inspection on their lake wall.

Interesting photos, Jim. PB Leak02.jpg would not be covered under the class action suit due to the type of valve used - only the clamp type fittings, metal or plastic are covered. The second photo with the metal clamp fittings would be covered only if is in a concealed place - since it is visible, it most likely would not be covered either.

Sam's club also offers a merchant account that I have used for a couple of years. About the same as Costco. AMEX hits you in the shorts.

In my area PB failure has been a big and expensive issue. Service entrance usually fails first and more frequently. Low pressure service entrance has been upgraded to 180 psi and this has all but cured the service problem. The original PSI that caused so many failures was 150 PSI for service entrance. As for interior branch water lines the joints have been up graded 3 times from plastic to copper and plastic to copper only pressure fittings. This has dramatically fixed the branch line problems. I have done several homes this year that have had PB replaced with copper. Fact is did one yesterday. Problems are dramatically less now than 10 years past because of upgrades metioned above. PB is not used anymore in my area except for service entrance and it is the higher pressure rating. CPVC, PEX and copper is used for branch lines. Paul B. Metro Atlanta, Ga. Ditto - what Paul said. My son's PB line (13 years old) failed at the basement wall and flooded the recently finished basement. He could not file under the class action suit since it was a yard line and past the age limit - not within 10 years of installation.