Mark P

I've been doing more then my typical number of historic houses this year. This one was built in 1877. Anyone want to take a stab at discribing this architectural style? Click to Enlarge 60.53 KB Click to Enlarge 115.57 KB Click to Enlarge 75.05 KB Click to Enlarge 111.81 KB

First time ever seeing a lead water line was yesterday. House was built in 1877. It is just the bit you see in the pic, everything else in the house was copper. Other then pointing the clients to the CDC web page on the subject I'm not sure what to tell them. Do you folks who run into this on a regular basis have some verbage you'd like to share. Click to Enlarge 67.35 KB

There is a product called "Molecular Modifier" made by Bane-Clene that pro carpet cleaners use. You can order it off the internet.

Just a curiosity question, not that it mattered for the inspection much. The guy buying the house brought a contractor to the inspection who is going to do a lot of the repairs. The contractor said the holes were proof the house had flooded, I just said I had never seen or heard of that before, but I had no better explanation.

This is a bank owned house and a real fixer upper. Along the top of the kitchen wall there are holes drilled between each cavity. Would this have been done to dry out the wall after flooding? There is aslo a very large hole cut in the center of the ceiling, but I think this was done to get the coon / critters out of the attic. Click to Enlarge 38.14?KB

Thanks for the link to the Historic Buildings. I really need to sit down and learn the different architectural styles. Any other sources any one have? Regarding the box gutters, the ones on this house looked to be copper. The seams are just caulked. From the ground I found what looked like water damage to the soffitt at the highest point on the house. No attic in that look-out to see inside. Would it just be a matter of someone sealing (caulking ) the gutter seam at the suspected leak location?

Thanks Gentelmen!

House in Troy, IL built in 1870 and on the National Register of Historic Places. Really cool and enjoyable inspection. The car is 1939 - orginal owner. What is this "style" of home? The gutters are all copper and not visible from the ground they are sort of built into the edge of the roof. Is there a term for this type of guttering system? Download Attachment: 004.jpg 135.92 KB Click to Enlarge 60.74 KB Click to Enlarge 57.65 KB Click to Enlarge 62.92 KB Click to Enlarge 72.87 KB Click to Enlarge 49.3 KB Click to Enlarge 62.88 KB Click to Enlarge 78.28 KB

Damn Mike, I'm sorry for the nasty problems, glad your on the mend. I was sick like that once about 15 years ago, and I can't say I've really been sick since. So don't worry about it, it won't strick twice; but if it does can I have you work?

I've never heard of an online report writing program. I think you'll find almost everyone has their own copy of whatever program they choose on their PC and then edit the template to meet their wants.

Yes up through the attic would be just fine and is how I would have it done.

Do not vent into the attic, have the pipe pass through the attic and vent outside above the roof line.

I lived in Japan for 13 years and traveled just about everywhere in Asia. In college I minored in Asian studies and earned a Masters in International Relations. I've lived more of my adult life overseas then I have in America. I love Asia and now that I'm stuck in the Midwest I envy Kurt. I was in China in 1990 or 91, it was incredible, I could tell stories. Here I am in 1984 in a village outside Tokyo. Download Attachment: Pic.jpg.jpg 85.41 KB

Damn

Found this in a large workshop / garage. Not sure how it worked, it seems to be a wood burning stove but also used fuel oil... Click to Enlarge 43.02 KB Click to Enlarge 78.82 KB Click to Enlarge 50.84 KB

Yea I understood Erby - I just got a kick out of the words they used to describe it. I've never heard the term "soakaways" but I understand what it is - I think.

"Foul drainage is to septic tank, external drainage is to soakaways."

Thanks Bill

I'm not having any luck in deciding if this unit was manufactured in 2008 or 2001 Frigidare (Nordyne) model FT5BD-030K Serial - FTA080100752 Thanks

That is funny - but true!

Yea - it was surely creapy; we joked about the bodies and the drug lab stuff... They are looking to buy the house as an investment. This is what I put in the report: "FYI: There is a large cistern under the front right bedroom; the cistern is as large as the bedroom and deeper. Cisterns were used to collect rain water and the water was mainly used for washing. It looks to have about 3 feet of water in it. There may have been a pump in the basement at one time, but there is nothing now. All I can tell you is having it under the house is very unusual (in my experience - only the 2nd one I?ve seen in 8 years); that I have no expertise with this situation and can offer no useful advice on it on what to do about it. Obviously if this is going to be a rental property or if kids are every going to be in the house the access needs to be sealed up tight."

Yes there is a basement of sorts, dirt floor, 5 foot ceiling...

This house was built around 1940 and has a very large cisten under one of the bedrooms. The top of the cisten is cement, same as the walls, except for a small access panel in the bedroom floor. I told my clients that other then just being creepy I can offer no meaningfull advice on it. So does any one have any useful advice on this situation...? Click to Enlarge 50.81 KB Click to Enlarge 26.83 KB

Thread Drift... A guy I know recently lost his $1800 bicycle and its carrier when it fell off on the interstate. He said he was in a hurry and probably did not attach the carrrier properly. He said the insurance would cover the carrier but not the bike...?

I think John is right - the old supplly line. Thanks