Chris Bernhardt

I did an inspection for a hydrologist who also did EW work a few years back. He told me about a case he worked on where he demonstrated the huge difference in effectiveness between a french drain with only drain rock and one with perf pipe. He also laughed at using filter fabric (He was an old fart) . Oh well, personally I like the stuff. Chris, Oregon

Do you have a source for that? I thought the purpose was to prevent someone from accidently throwing the breaker from off to on not from on to off. Chris, Oregon

Hmm, fix, repair, correct ... Interesting. The meaning of these words as I think of them are probably not the same as my clients. If "fix" conveys something more to Bonnie then "repair" maybe I need to rethink my definitions and go do what Walter said and go ask 8th graders and little old ladies what these words really mean and revise my lexicon? My definition of repair might be to have the best qualified contractor that you can afford to hire, fix the problem and alert the master (hopefully it's the buyer and not the seller) if any other significant defects are discovered. But I doubt that is what "repair" means to my clients. I know that it doesn't mean that to the sellers. Chris, Oregon

For you EW's has an inspector ever got into trouble for recommending a repair but not being clear or correct about the qualifications of the one who should do the repair? I have also wondered if in a complicated problem requiring the skills of multiple trades if an inspector might get hung because he either didn't recommend the correct trade or didn't go far enough in alerting the client that multiple trades were most probably going to be needed? What I am thinking is lets say you recommend a carpenter, and the client negotiates with the seller consideration of a repair based on a carpenter, later after the deal has closed the client finds out that the repair will require not just a carpenter but a roofer, electrician and a plumber and a lot more money would the client have a case against the inspector for making an improper recommendation? Another question this leads into is the case where the HI recommends a repair to rot damage at a window , but says nothing about investigating for the source and correcting it and addressing all the adjacent damage beyond whats exposed to view. Could the HI get hung for failing to recommend repairing the source and adjacent damage? Some examples: The whatzit is damaged. Have the whatzit repaired. or The whatzit is damaged. Have the whatzit repaired including its cause/s and any other problems found while repairing the whatzit. or Hire a qualified contractor to repair the whatzit. Which one is more likely to keep the HI out of trouble, if any? Chris, Oregon

OK, so it's a vain imagination that adding proper to repair means something to anybody else but the HI who thinks it does. But by your responses you seem to be indicating that we should indicate someone who should be qualified to make a proper repair are you not? Is it our duty to do so? Chris, Oregon

Is there any real difference between using the word "repair" and the phrase "proper repair"? I feel inclined to throw in "proper" to mean "to code, to mfg's installation instructions and to any applicable industry standards, etc." But am I just imagining that it really means anything to anybody but me? Does the HI have an obligation to indicate that the quality of the repair should at least meet some standard or are we Ok just to say fix it, repair it and not worry about a bum reading into our statement that since we didn't indicate that the repair had to be to code yada yada yada that we are therefore indicating that it's OK to use bondo and bubble gum? Chris, Oregon

Wow, how thick was the gravel bed? The mushrooms live off of decaying organic matter. I had those dam pesky lawn mushrooms all thru my front yard. I went and picked them out of the lawn morning noon and night. I think they gave up and only a few dare try lately. But for a while there I was wondering who was going to win, them or me. My understanding is that you got to get rid of the organic matter or wait until they get rid of it. Treating is temporary. Chris, Oregon

If the scratch coat extends up under the casing then the casing is effectively counter flashing the scratch coat. Right? There might be a concern only if the scratch coat terminates at the transition don't you think? Chris, Oregon

Image Insert: 79.05 KB Shouldn't this stone veneer be flashed between it and the casing? This is brand new construction. Chris, Oregon Image Insert: 72.81 KB

Thanks Richard. I suspected it might be that way but still seems odd. For example lets say it hasn't tripped internally and its an emergency and you go and try and throw the breaker. You can't with out lifting the lock off out the way right? Chris, Oregon

I enjoy getting chopped up by a Hausdok, Jim Katen or W.J. I learn more and am glad they do it that way. As far as I am concerned I count my self extremely lucky if I can get any of the old farts to comment on one of my posts. I don't mean to leave out Kurt M., Les, Brian, Chad, ScottPat or Jim M. If I see any of them answering a post I would be sure to listen to what they said no matter the method or manner. Without their help I would still be just a dumb ass. I am still a dumb ass compared to these great brethren but because of their help I am both less dumb and less of an ass. Chris, Oregon

Image Insert: 80.66 KB Will Square D breakers still trip properly if the breaker lock off devices are set like this? When they are set like this I can't throw the breaker unless I move the lock-off off of the breaker. Was this intentional? I find the lock off apparently locking the breakers on a lot. This can't be right. Right? Chris, Oregon

Where did "appears to be" come from? Hausdok did you ever use that phrase in your law enforcement career? I have done inspections for several officers of the law and we have joked about this having to call things like cocaine "a white powdery substance that appears to be cocaine" . So its not just HI's who do it. I use to use the phrase all of the time because I thought that was how you were suppose to do things but I only use it sparingly now only when I am unsure and its use tells the story better. I can't remember if W.J. or Jim K. advocate its complete elimination in our report writing? Chris, Oregon

I can't remember the last time I visited over there. TIJ is home to me. Why don't more of the Oregon HI's even any of the ones in our ASHI chapter hang out here? I was pondering - we write up unprotected runs of NM cable day in and day out as if it's the most dangerous of hazards and yet zip cord from our lamps sit vulnerable on the floor waiting to be eaten by our vaccum cleaners. Chris, Oregon

Are there any contraventions of the electrical code that you would consider benign enough that you wouldn't report them? If there is no such thing as a benign contravention then is every contravention of the electrical code a hazardous condition in need of immediate repair? Do you express in every case what could go wrong because a contravention exists? Chris, Oregon

Same with me I put one in the shop every year or two. I always buy the Frys 5 year warranty and get my money back every time. Chris, Oregon

W.J. said that if lived to 300 years he wouldn't say "poses a hazard" in a report. Is there any difference between poses or presents a hazard? Whats the suggested language in reporting safety hazards? When would you suggest trying to avoid the use of expresions containing the word hazard and instead simply describe the danger that will befall someone? For example in my guardrail narrative post, W.J. didn't use the "hazard" word and reminded us that the guardrail keeps us from falling off of the deck. Chris, Oregon

Thanks Jim! Chris, Oregon

Oops, never mind. Dam thing suppose to be grounded, so the answer should be no, its wrong. I should get some sleep. Chris, Oregon

Is there zip cord rated for exterior use and is it an approved wiring method for exterior mounted light fixtures? Image Insert: 49.08 KB Chris, Oregon

Do you know any carpenters that know about the VT study? I sure as hell don't and what they are likely to do around here is just throw some bigger screws in there and call it good. Image Insert: 50.42 KB In this case where the proper way to do something is just starting to get out there it seemed reasonable to me alert the carpenter or the hairdresser ,as W.J puts it, to a source to guide them in what's now likely to become the proper way to make post rail connections. Jim Morrison pointed out that there is no way for us to know every best way to repair something. Haven't you guys every been tempted to throw in a source when you believe they are going to do it wrong. (Again I hear Jim M. telling me "Chris we only think we know who is going to make the repairs"). Ok, so lets say the hairdresser throws in some larger screws. You get called back to reinspect it and it wobbles a little less but you know if you lean on it its going to give. So you write up again and they ask you to tell them what the hell you want them to do and then you tell about the VT study and respond now why didn't you tell us in the first place? Ok, Ok I'm ducking for cover. Just tell them to have a carpenter fix it so no bodies are going over the edge! I got it. Chris, Oregon

A Simpson Tie rep recently spoke at our ASHI chapter meeting and commented that the muni's are starting to take notice of the weak post rail connections in light of the Virginia Tech testing a couple of years ago and that as I understood it they a promugating the tie down approach. In the above quoted narrative the house was built in 2005 and it's likely they will dispute any need to improve the design of the post rail connection other then to tighten the screws they used on their overnotched posts. What do you think? Should I leave out the virginia tech goblygook? Chris, Oregon

I have run into the same problem with the Suretest as Steven T has. It appears to be an issue with the Suretest and not mis-wiring of the outlet. I am thinking that the Suretest test is probably accurate and precise and that the production GFCI outlets are tripping just outside of this. Chris, Oregon

Do you write a recommendation to address every minor item you bring up or note them as in need of attention? What deserves a full blown recommendation and what doesn't? Chris, Oregon

If you can balance plates at the end of stick supported on your nose while going pee with the toilet seat down... then you might have the qualities of a H.I. [] Chris, Oregon