mgbinspect

Marc That was useful. I don't think there's any type of protective mat under the CMUs, which are about 12 x 12 x probably 2" Kurt (or anyone else), any thoughts? I'll probably call for a roofer to bless the installation. I'm sure it's fine for now - no leaking and the material I can see looks great - like new. But the way some of the pavers rock suggest that maybe the roof sheathing should have been thicker or doubled.

Thanks, Chad! Am I right to assume it may have flashing soldered to the pipe under the roofing, or is it simpy depending on sealant? It is a one piece lead flashing that is not dependent on sealant, the lead is simply folded down inside the top of the stack and lapped properly under the shingles for a proper installation. NO SEALANT is needed except maybe a dab on exposed nail heads on the down hill side unless they are covered by shingles. Thanks, Jim! Based upon the look of it, that makes sense. I'm comfortable with that.

I agree with you, Chad, as long as there is a soldered flange on there so the sealant isn't the Achilles heel of the affair.

I think you're probably right - looking at photos of EPDM, that looks to be the animal. It has the look and feel of a rubber compound - thick material, of course with an apparent mesh reinforcement in it that slightly telegraphs through the material surface.

It' the master bedroom balcony that is also the roof over the monstrous eat-in kitchen. As I said, in general, I'm fine with it. I mostly want to hear of any precautions or bad experiences with the setup.

Thanks, Chad! Am I right to assume it may have flashing soldered to the pipe under the roofing, or is it simpy depending on sealant?

Definitely not selvedge (aggregate), Kurt. I could only see about 2" around the perimeter, but it appears to be what I've always thought of as a modified rubber membrane - the look/finish/feel of an automobile inner tube - heavier of course. Built in 2006.

The waviness of this pipe has me thinking it's copper and may actually have flashing soldered right to the pipe under the roofing. Anyone seen that?

Greetings brethren, Workin' on a very large bay front property inspection. Click to Enlarge 69.07 KB I've seen this roof setup a number of times before, and I've always been fine with it. But, I thought it might be prudent to poll the TIJ brain-trust to see if anyone has had bad experiences or is aware of any problems with this marriage. It's CMU patio stones over a membrane roof. I've always thought it was fine. Some of the stones rock a bit, which causes me to wonder if they can't cause some materials chaffing. Any thoughts or concerns? Click to Enlarge 58.65 KB Click to Enlarge 28.82 KB Thanks in advance for all insights. Mike

Greetings earthlings. Got a question for the TIJ brain-trust: Did a beauty of a home on the the Chesapeake Bay today Click to Enlarge 50.89 KB with a priceless master bedroom balcony view: Click to Enlarge 47.68 KB But, the roofing shingles completely surrounded the plumbing vent collar. Usually I write this up as amateur work. In this case, however, I find myself wondering if this isn't a deliberate practice in hurricane prone coastal areas. Anyone familiar with this setup? Click to Enlarge 41.58 KB I'd prefer not to write it up if it's actually a good thing. I'll be working on this one for a while. All insights welcome and appreciated. Got another to post regarding the roof as well.

Definitely the first chimney I've ever seen with spoilers.

Jeez, whoever did the flashing is gravity challenged. Start over. Looks like possibly a split faced brick (CMU) - notoriously porous and in need of some point-up too. As far as the pipe - Mm.. an exhaust for a high efficiency water heater or furnace?

Seeing that it's EIFS on concrete block, I wouldn't either, but I suppose I'd need to see more before I was completely comfortable discounting it.

I do, as well.

To date, the oldest home I've inspected was a French Huguenot estate home out in Powhatan County, Virginia, the estimated date of construction was 1798 (200 years old at the time of the inspection, making it 212 years old today.) It was large and spacious, but like these homes, quite simple in design. Not particularly ornate. The cellar was like being in a catacomb - all brick foundation and piers.

You may actually raised a good point, Tom. What if, and I truly mean no disrespect at all, for the sake of authenticity, handicap access rules were not made applicable? Shouldn't everyone experience things as they would have truly been? (Not to mention what it would do for the economy, a minimum of two stout persons to lift folks up to the porch or assist them up stairs. We're talkin' a reduction in unemployment here. It all seems particularly fitting, timely and politically correct. [^])

Just found another one today, that's three this month alone. Newbys, if you see a black plastic draft inducing blower, scrutinize the heck out of it, because it's most likely cracked. Todays had little tiny almost invisible cracks only tipped off by a rusty residue of escaping moisture and minerals? This one is indeed a Windjammer. So far, about 25% to 33% of the ones I see are cracked, and it's about a $400.00 + replacement. Be careful! Click to Enlarge 38.62 KB

No doubt, Ben, you replaced all of the aggregate you displaced on that 10/12 with my now famous dilluted Elmer's Glue trick, right? []

Nagative. It's a living museum that closes at dark. And, with no heating and cooking fuel other than wood, I'm guessing the insurers would never allow it. Nice thought though.

My pleasure. I really wasn't sure whether folks would appreciate so many threads and photos, or find them annoying. It is insightful to be reminded of our humble beginnings. These homes reflect some of the best building techniques then available, limited budgets and a desperate will to be free and survive. It's history at it's finest. My family lines cross through two families that were on the Mayflower - the Edgertons and the Browns. Our family holds a leather bound journal - a brief account of their journey from Ohio to Washington State, where the Edgertons settled in Yakima to raise sheep and grow apples. All during my childhood, every year we'd recieve a huge crate of golden apples from thier farm. The Browns also established a college out there, the name of which escapes me now - there is one there and one in Boston. The account of the journal was pretty grim and a daily entry usually simply stated their progress (typically seven to twenty miles), the weather, conditions and who died. As I travel a lot by air, I have to endure shameful displays of customers blistering airline ticket folks over twenty minute delays, etc., I always think of how spoiled we have become. The journey to Washington State back then, if conditions were favorable, took about three months, and people died. Then, there were nightmare trips like the Donners, who were caught in the Rockies due to setting out a bit late and getting caught in blizzards, etc. Again, folks died and they had to resort to eating the dead to survive. Now, we do it in about three hours, nibbling a bag of nuts, sipping a coffee, watching a movie and oh yes, listening to someone demonstrate how truly ungrateful they are. Quality of life, when it comes right down to it, is a matter of perspective and little more. As Abraham Lincoln so eloquently put it, "Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be." Life is good...

I love that one myself, "Then I'm sure your contractor will have no problem offering that assurance in writing for the purchasers." ... NOT!... Yeah, I didn't think so. Similarly, I've had my clients tell me that the local power company said that a low main service entry was just fine. I tell them to send a certified letter confirming that they brought the matter to the attention of the power company. All of a sudden miraculously the power company decides that it needs to be raised after all. Sometimes ya just gotta go formal. [:-tophat]

Well, does the grassy top of the sod die and rot under the thatch or is it completely clipped away and the sod roots are merely a structure to hold the dirt together?

I'm REALLY looking forward to finally coming to meet you and hear you speak. You may recall that I put in an application for the Historical Building Inspectors Association around 2006, but apparently fell just a bit short of what the association was looking for.

Now this home's construction is very similar to the log home I lived in at Wheatland, VA., which was built in 1881. Click to Enlarge 74.91 KB I personally repaired all of the chinking in it, which took about a year in my spare time. It simply had a main floor with a field stone fireplace, which I repaired, and an upper level with a set of rough-cut steps to it - no partitions whatsoever. An addition was later added to the back side of the building that had a kitchen and bathroom. There was no central heat - just an Ashley wood stove and a kerosene free-standing heater, both of which worked overtime to keep the place warm. The addition was so poorly constructed that in the winter time the shower curtain would freeze solid to the metal shower stall floor. The home sat on a tall knoll with the addition facing the gap in the mountains that was Harper's Ferry, WV. The winds that came out of Harper's Ferry at that knoll were relentless and brutal. The roads could be plowed and would drift over again in fifteen minutes. One had to file in behind the snowplow to get into town and back home again. I was also re-pointing brickwork on several homes in Bluemont, VA., which was earning me calls from historical societies as far away as Washington, DC (Georgetown). That was in the mid 80's. Click to Enlarge 78.74 KB Click to Enlarge 58.44 KB Click to Enlarge 59.15 KB Click to Enlarge 53.97 KB Click to Enlarge 102.31 KB Click to Enlarge 61.64 KB

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