mgbinspect

There is quite a bit of truth in this statement. I have over the years been curing myself of the CYA stuff, which was prevelant in the 90's. But, instruction and education is really a matter of perspective. Every year I usually rack up about three times the CEU's I need to stay certified. Every time I attend a seminar, I know I'm about mentally sift through a hay stack of crap for the sake of that needle sized revelation. I do feel that attending an academy opened my eyes a bit and probably saved me from myself - thinking I already had the goods... The most important truth is, as Les has said: The learning never ever stops. The more you learn, the more you understand there is to learn. And, that's why a forum like TIJ is a real gem - an oasis of knowledge and experience.

I bet it's light weight material - using something like perlite for an aggregate. Such mixes were being experimented a lot in the 80's. It might even have Calcium Aluminate Cement, which is known more for use in refractory applications, but due to it's fast setting time, is also used by such gangs as DOT for concrete pavement patching (or at least it used to be). Another benefit of this cement is it doesn't react with much, which may explain why the expanded metal mesh isn't rusted all to hell. The downside to perlite as an aggregate, though, is that the it's a pretty consistent granular size - no fines. So, there would be some unavoidable voids which could hold water. The setup would rely heavily on a good outer covering. That may explain why the edges look like they do - moisture intrusion and freeze / thaw cycles. I fooled around with the stuff myself back then. It goes to full strength in a matter of hours, so proper curing is critical.

I DEFINITELY don't regret doing HI school. At the time, I had 15 years of masonry, one year of light structural and ornamental steel detailing, three years of fire and water restoration contracting, and several years of Design/Build contracting all under my belt. Before I got into construction I studied architecture and took some engineering courses in college. All that had me really wondering if I would get much out of an HI school. The stuff I learned about hydronic and steam boilers alone was worth it. One of the instructors used to actually design and build heat pumps, when they were first breaking into the HVAC world. I LEARNED A LOT and I was eternally grateful that I went ahead and bit that financial bullet. Sometimes it's pretty easy to fool yourself into thinking you know "enough", but that course really filled in a lot of holes that I had not recognized or appreciated. I can't imagine ANYONE not benefiting from attending a home inspection academy. I went back and took another on the commercial side, even though probably 80% of my background was commercial construction, with the same revelations. DON'T PASS UP A GOOD HOME INSPECTION ACADEMY.

Darker colored doors facing the sun tend to suffer from this condtion the most - especially when behind a storm door, which causes the air space between the two doors to really heat up.

What's the difference between listening to a book or talk radio or music for that matter? Heck, I haven't been in an automobile accident since I was seveteen - forty-two years ago. It must be OK. Yet, Tom's right. I can drive, conduct business and still notice tfhe hawk way up in a tree all at the same time - input overflow...

For anyone that's interested. I've finally finished the memoirs of US Grant and am into the first of the three volumes of The Civil War: A Narrative, by Shelby Foote. Honestly, I love this thing. I get to listen to books on audio for about one half to one third of their cost on CD, and it plugs right into my automobile stereo with a cable. The narration is a bit robotic, but not bad at all. And, as long as you have a wifi signal, you can purchase and download almost any book in about fifteen seconds. Every time I start my vehicle, I'm enjoying US History at its best. I'm in heaven... The Kindle rocks.. well worth $139.00

It's been my habit, for years, to ask every client how they heard of me. Never once has anyone ever responded, "Because I saw your ad on a folder." So, that means out of the probably 20,000 folders I was on, the return was zero. Does that help?

Indeed, and when you lose a Realtor, because you told it like it was, be thankful they moved on. The pros will stick with ya. Regarding folders, I've probably been on about twenty of them over the years, mostly because I hated to let down a good agent. I already knew they aren't productive, and they're not. Face time remains the champion. When you'e in the field, SHINE...

It seems silly to think or believe that really good and professional Realtors wouldn't refer really good and professional home inspectors. Why can't professionals in one arena believe there are professionals in another? Isn't that the true pinnacle of professionalism - to recognize and appreciate professionals wherever they might be? I don't know, maybe I am blessed to live in a bubble, here in Richmond, and maybe it's just because I've been around long enough that I've hooked up with some fantastic Realtors and have thus become insulated from the bad ones. There are some really good upstanding southern gentleman and ladies here that are resigned to doing the right thing, even at the cost of the deal. I just had one of my regular agents let a buyer walk from a contract, that he honestly had no legal right to walk from, because he turned out to be a really evil guy all around. Everyone involved realized it was the best thing. Unfortunately, the guy will have a hard time writing another contract to purchase around here, though, because it's become obvious what he's all about - absolute plunder. He had one bid from one of his buddies to remove and replace the insulation in a crawlspace: $9000.00. I get referrals from agents, lenders and attorneys weekly. I'd like to think it's because they never get any negative feedback in doing so. At any rate, If you want to hook up with real pros in any arena, you can. They're out there... Frankly, I like hanging out here, because of the underlying promotion of home inspectors, as professionals, but when we collectively and publicly hammer another profession, isn't that, in and of itself, unprofessional?..

I always respond to the "Is it leaking" question the same way, right in front of my client: "If you were buying this house, there's no way you'd accept this roof." They're completely dumbfounded. What can they say to that, without really showing their colors. Plus, they know it's absolutely true. Lol... Busted!... [:-graduat

It seems that most cellars don't have a concrete slab floor - just dirt. But, then of course, there's the classic cellar, which is merely a place to throw the boiler, water heater and laundry tub, which does have a concrete slab floor and looks and feels more like a bomb shelter. [:-graduat

Great place for the central return, eh? [:-bigeyes Click to Enlarge 46.6 KB Jim Carey, would have to leave the entire house offering the warning, "DO NOT go in there...." [:-hspin]

I thought perhaps it started as a lintel over a door or window in some church, or such, and found its way to this lowly spot over a store fireplace. I do know this: having dressed stone by hand myself, that is a piece of work that took some sweet time to turn out.

I'd merely be guessing. Bill K's the man to ask. I doubt it would be slate in 1799 - more likely shakes? Bill?... I do believe that's the original roof framing though. Unless a building is in/near Peach Bottom in York County, PA there are no 18th century buildings that originally had slate. The earliest slate was commercially available was the mid 1840s. Shakes were also never used on 17th-18th century homes. Wood shingles were always dressed (shaved smooth with a draw knife), unless someone was building a temporary shelter. Shakes weren't used until the late 19th century, specifically for their rustic look. Thanks Bill, Then, wood shingles is what I meant. I wasn't' concentrating on the fact there was a difference between a shake and a shingle. I only deduced that, as Bill already stated, there probably was was no quarry to turn out slate roofing then. I figured the only alternatives would be wood or thatch, and thatch just didn't seem likely.

Yes, slate is the roofing material now, but I doubt it was 212 years ago. The slate is quite thin, and I wonder if that wasn't with purpose - (weight).

I'd merely be guessing. Bill K's the man to ask. I doubt it would be slate in 1799 - more likely shakes? Bill?... I do believe that's the original roof framing though.

The tavern wasn't as spectacular, in that it had a few renovations over the years that weren't within keeping with the period. But, here are some random pics. Click to Enlarge 66.91 KB Click to Enlarge 79.55 KB Click to Enlarge 51.34 KB Click to Enlarge 65.73 KB Click to Enlarge 34.62 KB Click to Enlarge 34.14 KB Click to Enlarge 30.86 KB Click to Enlarge 49.95 KB Click to Enlarge 50.45 KB Click to Enlarge 60.78 KB I believe this is one of the two original fireplaces that was in the kitchen (English basement) where the food for the guests was cooked and prepared.

This is the original store, post office and residence of Gravel Hill, VA circa 1799. Through a series of additions the structure went from probably 800 SF (in two stories) to about 2400 SF. So, much of what you'll see isn't from 1799. Hoping Bill K might throw in a few comments here and there - especially regarding the bench like tool I photographed in the basement. Click to Enlarge 42.09 KB Above is a document from the Postmaster General of the Confederate States of America declaring the store and tavern at Gravel Hill, Virginia as a Post Office overseen by the fella at the top. It was issued in March of 1864. Click to Enlarge 85.48 KB This photograph of the front elevation is misleading, in that the front porch, shed to the left and the entire right half of the building (incuding the dormer) are not original. One can see the outline of the original building in the siding of the left elevation. Also, all of the field stone chimneys were added later. Click to Enlarge 30.19 KB Click to Enlarge 26.68 KB Click to Enlarge 72.11 KB Click to Enlarge 71.92 KB Click to Enlarge 43.91 KB Hopping Bill can identify this tool. Click to Enlarge 39.7 KB The bottle says HINDS something ALMOND Click to Enlarge 55.89 KB The beam in the background has a tenon, which isn't set in a mortise. There were a series of them down the length of the front porch. At first I thought maybe the outer sill with the mortise had rotted away, but since there was no remnant of a sill with any mortise the whole length of the porch I finally concluded the timbers were recycled from another building nearby. Click to Enlarge 55.63 KB This fireplace serves the original store (1799), but I don't think it's the original fireplace. The lintel stone is one dressed piece of stone. I don't think it was originally made for this fireplace. I feel it also was recycled from another property during the mid 1800's. Any thoughts Bill? Click to Enlarge 49.76 KB Click to Enlarge 36.84 KB Click to Enlarge 28.81 KB This is the floor of the store. The closer half is original. The far half is an addition which transitions from a brick foundation to field stone. The field stone foundation mortar was barely more than mud and over the years has dried up and fallen out, due to two centuries of foot traffic (vibration). Consequently, the far field stone foundation has, over time, lost 2.5" in height, as can be seen in the floor. Click to Enlarge 31.54 KB Click to Enlarge 37.87 KB Here's that drop off in the floor. The stone foundation needs to be repointed pronto. It's not much more than rubble and relies on the building to hold it in place. Click to Enlarge 29.57 KB Click to Enlarge 29.34 KB Click to Enlarge 19.21 KB Click to Enlarge 49.08 KB Click to Enlarge 45.44 KB Above: Open Mortise and Tenon at the roof peak. No ridge board. This is original - 1799

I typically term that gray area between a crawlspace and a basement as a cellar. (I always explain, partially in jest, that the real foundation of any home is actually and ultimately the earth...)

Shocking info. I never cared for split faced block, in my masonry days. They were hard to handle (super heavy and lopsided), and they have no symmetry. I always found myself taking an extra few moments to dress them, like a stone, before installing them. I worked with them, now and then, on commercial jobs and schools in the late seventies and early eighties. I never imagined they'd be such a problem. On the positive side - most of the work I was involved in went through so many inspections by so many entities that we tended to install things pretty close to perfect (full head and bed joints - properly struck). The government and school systems were pretty tough on quality workmanship. A red or yellow crayon mark by any inspector, was all it took to have you chiseling and re-pointing, if not removing and doing again, which was just fine with me. I always hated doing things badly. Also, in most government applications (schools, military, prisons, etc), the block was the finish inside and out. The inside surface had to be nicely struck. A hand striker wasn't permitted, because it conformed to every imperfection in the blocks. Instead, a runner had to be used, which was about a foot long, like a sled runner. It made the joint appear quite uniform. Then, the entire wall surface was ground down a bit with a polishing stone to make the surface smooth enough that folks could brush up against it without abrasion. Next, the surface was primed with a special paint that filled a lot of the pores of the block to make it even smoother. Lastly, the finish coat of paint was applied. I imagine the average person has no idea that exposed interior blockwork in schools goes through so many steps to become a finish, and I suppose all that makes a difference regarding their performance.

I've had clients start a jetted tub when the jets weren't submerged enough. What a mess. A lot of what we do is judgement calls, based upon our experience. I used to flood shower pans with the old rubber ring and test 'em. Then one time, I did it on a vacant house. The stain didn't show up in the ceiling until we were all long gone. So, when my clients moved in, they immediately wanted to know how I missed the stain in the ceiling and the failed shower pan. Fortunately, I was able to remind them that I tested it and we did not observe a stain. Apparently, the shower pan was in the infancy stages of failure and I magnified everything by flooding the shower. That was the last time I ever tested a shower pan with a rubber ring.

They've gotta be kidding. Ya ever read the instructions for owners to test their garage doors? Simply because there is such a thing as infinity, we can rest assured that somewhere in North America there is a person that religiously follows those instructions - right after he straightens all the tassles on his Persian rug...

I'm glad they're not vogue any longer. I hardly ever see them in new homes - not even really nice homes. Now the deal is showers that look more like a high-tech car wash. [:-tophat] As a matter of fact, I saw an amazing thing the other day in a 5500 SF home: I peered into the shower and noticed it was a H U G E two person shower with a shower head on each of two surfaces forming a corner. Then, I noticed another glass door at the end of the shower - into another bathroom. Like an idiot, I started thinking, wait a minute.. a shower attached to two bathrooms?.. who wants that?.. Then I rounded the corner to realize the master bedroom suite had "His" and "Hers" bathrooms connected by that huge shower. That was a first for me. I kinda liked the idea. A PLAY GROUND!!.. [:-thumbu]

I don't even fill them. I run the water to make certain they drain properly and I hit the button for a split second to make certain the motor's working. That's it. If they're leaking, there will be signs somewhere to that affect. I've never had a call-back regarding a jetted tub to this day resulting from this cursory inspection. Sometimes, when I explain my method, the buyer insists upon a more thorough test. I always say, "Be my guest. I'm going to continue to inspect the rest of the home." The client's never discovered anything I wasn't able to figure out by another means. I'm not a jetted tub fan either - wouldn't own one. By the time you fill one of them the water is already getting cool.

Just a little reminder and reinforcement: Click to Enlarge 63.65 KB Click to Enlarge 42.62 KB As you can see, the main breaker is overheating at the bottom - in the very place that it is in Bill's photo above. Apparently the bus is getting hot enough to affect breakers below, which also show signs of over-heating: cracked and melted jackets. A thread on MikeHolt.com addresses this breaker. It reveals that most electricians find it necessary to replace the entire panel, because the bus is too damaged to install a new main breaker. The only alternative they discuss is to remove and flip the entire bus, but they clearly document the measure, as a temporary fix, on the cover of the panel. Don't under report the presence of this main breaker!