hausdok

Hi, Sure you aren't thinking "fiberoptic"?

What difference does that make? OT - OF!!! M.

Hi, Trying to start off cold is going to be rough - and tough for someone your age without experience in the business. If you want to work in Virginia, contact US Inspect. They're the biggest individual employer in the business. They have a 4 week training course for new inspectors and a good support network, so you'll be paired up with an experienced fellow until you're up to speed. Their pay will be pretty decent, given the benefits, but probably not on a par with what you make on an oil rig. However, they've got benefits up the ying-yang, medical,dental, 401K, tuition assistance, etc., etc., and are looking for folks in the Richmond area. Learn the business before you decide to go out on your own. Who knows, you might like that outfit so much you retire there. Go here and tell Pete Cook I sent you to him. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hmmm, Well, PVC, CPVC, Copper, Steel or PEX. Whether to the outside could depend on your local code, but all that is really required is within six to 24 inches of the floor. Other than that, there isn't any restraint strapping installed on the tank (which seismic zone are you in?); the connectors are kinked, reducing their diameter (it says right in the installers' manuals that you may not reduce the diameter of the pipes into the water heater.); there aren't any heat traps and the connectors weren't configured with heat trap loops; and they've used romex where it's not allowed (has to be secured within 12 inches of the connection). Is there a disconnect within sight of that water heater? If not, that's bad ju-ju too. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

You are asking tongue in cheek aren't you? OT - OF!!! M.

Um, Urban inspector myth? OT - OF!!! M.

Damner low-ball pricer! See, I don't get anything less than $20,000 for that. You low-ballers are preventing the rest of us from charging what it's truly worth. Go suck a turnip! OT - OF!!! M.

Shrink-tube covered splice? ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Tampa Florida/June 23, 2005 Governor Jeb Bush of Florida. In a letter to the Florida Secretary of State the governor stated that the state was not prepared to limit the current practices for the mold inspectors practicing mold investigations. The Mycological Institute for Fungal Mold in Human Habitations supports the Governor's position that the Florida legislature bill can be considered worse than nothing since it causes more problems than it solves. In quoting the Institute's medical mycologist and aerobiologist Professor Josef Doumanov "Clearly standards must be set out in detail but rushing out licensing and regulations in what is clearly a professional practice without a complete training and standards program outling the same is unacceptable". In asking what should be the minimum standards for a mold inspectors the Professor went on to say "Mold is not a nail or brick. It is a living breathing reproducing potentially pathogenic toxic biological entity and must be studied as such. If you have a health or high value property concern it requires nothing less than full and definitive scientific inquiry. The state of Florida I believe in time will develope an appropriate program in concert with the building and insurance industry with guidance from associations such as the American Industrial Hygienist Association and the Indoor Air Quality Association since theses association clearly are at the front of addressing the education and training requirements for professionals in this area of human concern." Letter of Veto to the Florida Secretary of State June 22, 2005 Ms. Glenda E. Hood Secretary of State Department of State R.A. Gray Building 500 South Bronough Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250 Dear Secretary Hood: By the authority vested in me as Governor of Florida, under the provisions of Article III, Section 8, of the Constitution of Florida, I do hereby withhold my approval of and transmit to you with my objections, House Bill 315, enacted during the 107 th Session of the Legislature of Florida since statehood in 1845, during the Regular Session of 2005, and entitled: An act relating to building assessment and remediation . . . This bill seeks to provide public protection against the possibility of fraudulent practices in the unregulated fields of home inspection, mold assessment, and mold remediation. It provides education requirements and requires liability insurance for home inspectors, mold assessors, and mold remediators, prohibits certain acts which could lead to fraudulent practices, and provides penalties for those acts. I support efforts to protect the public from unscrupulous business practices and I believe providing strict standards for home inspectors, mold assessors, and mold remediators is warranted. However, I am concerned that this bill will have unintended consequences, including putting some legitimate and responsible employees out of business.......... Because I agree with the bill's sponsors that additional consumer protection is warranted in these fields. For the reasons enunciated, I withhold my support for House Bill 315, and do hereby veto the same. Sincerely, Jeb Bush

I've had the 17ft. Cosco knockoff made in Korea. It wasn't bad, but it can't hold a candle to the Guerilla Ladders, which are Chinese-made LGk knockoffs sold by HD. I have two - a 21ft. model and a 13ft. model. I purchased the two of them for under $280 before taxes. They're rated for 300 pounds and sturdy as hell (Kind of heavy too). The nest very nicely in the back of my Baja, so I can park anywhere I want without worrying about ladders on the roof striking anything. I recently had a chance to see the new 17ft. Costco knockoff made by Werner. It was a lot lighter than either of the Guerilla ladders, so I'm guessing it is rated for 225 or 250 lbs, but its action was lighter and easier to use than the Guerilla ladders. I'm thinking about picking one up. I used to have a 22ft. extension ladder and used it in combination with a fiberglass step ladder to get up onto everything. Since going over to that LG configuration, I'll never go back. These things are so much more stabile and flex so much less than an extension ladder that now it's scary to think about how high I used to go on those extension ladders. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Sounds like blown fiberglass to me. I crawl through about a mile and half of that stuff every week. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi again, Since I use a Protimeter SM I'm afraid I couldn't tell you whether you're getting anomalous readings or not. Have you got the ability to tape a piece of plastic on the wall with some mastic tape and leave it for a few hours to see if moisture appears on the backside? If there is excessive moisture in the wall, it's sure to show up using that method. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Well, around here, that tank would be called for lack of proper seismic restraint. We wouldn't call the flexible connector. In fact, around here flexible connectors are preferred at both the gas and the water lines to the tank, because of seismic events. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, The Protimeter only gives percentages when used in pin mode. I don't use the pin mode on concrete or tile. I only use the radio mode for those and it is a matter of practice and getting used to what materials read high vs. low when in some locations. If drywall scans damp I'll pin-probe it. If it doesn't scan damp I don't bother. If I probe it and it is over about 17 to 20% moisture I'll report it as damp and begin looking for the cause. Wood that scans wet I probe to confirm and if it reads above 20% I begin looking for the cause and report it as wet, because that is enough moisture to support rot spore or mold growth. Works well for me. As far as I know, I've only missed the mark about 3 times in the past 5 years with the SM. I trained my wife Yung to scan and probe with the SM about 2 years ago. She's gotten pretty good at it and I always check and confirm her findings. She's not always right, but that is mostly because she doesn't always understand the issues that are causing the readings that she encounters. That's why I have to confirm every one of her findings. She's getting better though. A couple of more years and she'll be better at it than I am. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, I use a Protimeter and generally find between 6 and 10% in drywall on main floors and 10 to 14% in typical basement walls. I consider this to be okay, so I suppose I agree with the owner. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, Yeah, it could. How big was the garage? Was there a fresh air source into it for that water heater? OT - OF!!! M.

Hi, I'd like to see the vent configuration to confirm my suspicions, but it looks like that sucker is backdrafting and you've got acid-laden exhaust reacting with the zinc in the galvanizing on that stand. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

D@#&*d Do-It-Yourselfers! [:-magnify Click To Enlarge Think this meets the definition of "Done in a workmanlike manner"?

Seattle, WA TIJ's mission is to offer free information and assistance to all home inspectors, regardless of professional affiliation or time in the business. Most visitors think of TIJ is only an inspectors' forum site when there are many more features than just the forums. We have a constantly growing links directory, there's a live chat board, calender of events and book reviews, to name a few. One of the most under-used areas of this site is the downloads area. We spend a lot of time on the internet searching various sites for data and information that inspectors can use to become better inspectors and enlarge their personal reference library. Today, TIJ is proud to offer the first in a series of U.S. Army engineering publications. These are public domain documents that deal with carpentry, masonry, utilities, electricity, plumbing, soils engineering, etc., and can be downloaded directly from TIJ's downloads archives. The first, FM 5-426 (Carpentry) is available now. To download your own copy of this extensive basic guide to wood frame construction, click here. To download future offerings as we add them to the downloads library, go to the Resources button at the top of TIJ's home page, click on downloads, scroll to the document that you want and then open or save the file to your computer. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike O'Handley, Editor

Atlanta, GA Sto Guard, a fluid-applied waterproofing/air barrier from Sto Corp., is now offering an online course entitled Fluid Applied Waterproof/Air Barriers for Moisture Control and Mold Prevention in Wall Construction. The one-hour course provides one learning unit for AIA members. AIA membership is not required to take the course as it may fulfill other continuing education needs. The course is available through the Sto Corp. web site, http://www.stocorp.com. To take the course, simply go to the web site, click on services and go into the Sto Institute/AIA. There is a link on the left side of the page for the course.

Hi, I did to the studs remodel yesterday where the electrician had, for reasons unknown, installed a sub-panel next to the new service panel and every circuit in that sub-panel had AFCI protection. My theory is that those are K & T circuits that were left in place, but I couldn't prove it. Anyway, no excessive heat at that panel and it had ten AFCI's in it, five to a bank and all one on top of another. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, I had the same thing with a new construction about six weeks ago. I never did hear what it is they found, but when the client has me back for a reinspection they were all fine. OT - OF!!! M.

Uh, Scott, it looks to me like that picture is turned on it's side. Unless debris has figured out how to defy gravity that is. OT - OF!!! M.

June 6, 2005/WASHINGTON – FHA's new streamline 203(k) Home Repair program will make FHA-insured loans even more attractive by allowing sellers to market their property in "as-is" condition and sell homes to FHA borrowers without making any repairs to their property—provided that less than $15,000 in repairs are needed. In the past, some sellers and realtors have not encouraged prospective borrowers to utilize FHA financing because of concerns about FHA's pre-sale repair requirements. The Streamline(K) Limited Repair program, which became effective today, will help alleviate those concerns by permitting the borrower to add $5,000 to $15,000 to the loan amount and make the required repairs after loan closing. The new product can also be used for other repairs that the new homeowner wants to accomplish without the need for an additional loan. "The Department is committed to making FHA better, more modern, and more streamlined," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "This new mortgage product will help achieve that goal by enabling FHA borrowers to roll into the mortgage both the cost of the home and limited repairs." FHA's Streamline(k) is intended to assist homeowners with basic repairs and was developed in response to the call for a purchase-rehabilitation loan alternative which is easier to administer, provides shorter processing time frames, and expedites cost estimates and approval. HUD's original Section 203(k) home rehabilitation program is FHA's primary tool for the repair of single-family properties. Because the 203(k) program has seen success in helping homeowners rehabilitate their homes, the Department has developed a streamline version to help even more Americans. The Streamline(K) option does not replace the standard 203(k) program, but, delivers an alternative for those homeowners who seek to make the type of uncomplicated repairs which may be accomplished successfully without paid consultants, engineers or plan reviewers. Repairs under the Streamline(K) program do not require documentation from the borrower other than written estimates from appropriate licensed contractors. To ensure repairs under this program are expedited, Streamline(K) repairs are restricted to those repair categories such as: roof replacement, heating system replacement, exterior painting, and other such repairs which do not require professional assistance to evaluate the need, feasibility or quality of work. In addition, since FHA encourages borrowers to obtain a home inspection, the Streamline(K) will permit borrowers whose inspectors identify property conditions in need of repair to obtain financing to undertake the work needed. Borrowers may contact any participating FHA lender for a loan application and additional information on the Streamline(K) can be found on the HUD website at: www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kslrp.cfm HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing homeownership, particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities, and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. HUD No. 05-081 Lemar Wooley (202) 708-0685 http://www.hud.gov/news/index.cfm

Hi Chad, Yeah, what Kurt said. Douglas and Jerry Peck used to go round and round and round and round about this issue on the ASHI board time and again. Bottom line, I think Douglas said that it is okay to use a panel as a gutter, as long as you don't exceed 40% of the fill. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike