Brad Manor

I have a couple Fenix lights that see quite a bit of action. Other than replacing the little rubber boot on the switch of the TK11, I have had zero issues with mine. I spend a fair amount of time crawling around in enclosed cargo holds of ships and my Fenix lights have never failed me. The TK11 fell about 20 feet to the tanktop of a ship and still works fine. Perhaps I'm lucky!! -B

I thought it was the side of a late 70s conversion van. -B

I just got back in this morning after being out of town for a couple days. In my waiting mail there was a flyer from ITM - they have the Testo 875-1 for $2395. Buy it and they'll give you a fibre optic scope and an anemometer/light meter. -B

That seems to make sense. A couple years ago when I was in the market for an imager, all the American distributors quoted ITAR as a reason for not shipping to me. A call to Customs & Border Patrol told me that I'd need documentation to cross the border with the imager in my posession or I'd risk prosecution. Chances are that the authorities are now realizing that home inspectors don't pose much threat! I have since crossed the border with the imager, but I hold a visa allowing me to work in the US as well as documentation explaining why I carry it. -B

I don't have any experience with the Testo, but I did go through something similar a few years ago. Because thermal imagers have the potential and capacity to be used for military use they fall under the International Trafficking in Arms (ITAR) Act. Because of this they can't be shipped across the border to the end user. I had to get documentation showing what I use the thing for just to be able to cross the border with it. FWIW I bought a Fluke from their Canadian distributor - ITM Instruments. -B

I was called to look at a split face block bldg this morning. To make things more interesting, the two storey windows and the surrounding blocks protruded about 2.5 inches from the face of the building. Water was bleeding from the holes in the window frames. -B

Betcha Magic could cover the inspectors' end. -B

Not that I'm advocating altering proprietary operating systems, but one can pretty easily turn a Barnes and Noble Nook into a full powered Android tablet. -B

Yeah, if no one here buys it I'll offer it up "outside the family". -B

I have a 2009 Minneapolis Blower Door with all the fixin's that I'm thinking about getting rid of. Anyone in the market for one? email me - brad (at) manorhome.ca or call 519.916.5298 if you want details. -Brad

My cure for stress in this business: barter. Every once in a while I'll do inspections for a form of payment other than money - keeps it fun and interesting. Yesterday's inspection netted a bottle of Grey Goose vodka the size of my 2 year old. -B

It reads like a home inspection report. -B

I just used the spare rubber boot that came with the light when I bought it - didn't need to get any replacement parts. -B

I have a TK11 and an LD20, the tailpieces are very similar. I have been remarkably un-delicate with both units and have had no trouble, other than replacing the rubber button cover on the TK11. -B

I've had my IR (Fluke TiR) for a little over two years now. It has generated more than enough revenue to justify the cost. If I were buying one today I wouldn't think twice about paying the extra to get the higher resolution and swappable batteries. -B

It looks like it would be great for inspectors that don't want to burden their clients with concise, comprehensive reports. -B

I carry a Panasonic Toughbook with me. It's big, heavy and obnoxious (just like me!) but it has daylight readable touchscreen, can take a fall to the pavement with no problem and doesn't mind getting rained on. I get about 5 hours use from the main battery but if I pop the dvd drive out and slide the auxiliary battery in it's place I get about 11 hours. I can leave it in the truck in the winter - the hard drive has a heater cable to warm it up. My wife has a netbook that she uses around the house; I had considered getting one but they just seem a bit delicate. They're plenty powerful, but I'm plenty clumsy. -B

Thanks, Chad! -B

It's called "metrage" here.[:-graduat My wife is a CRA auditor and as such I am compelled to stay on top of these things. -B

I have had 6 calls in the past 5 years asking if I could do a WETT inspection. Five of them were from insurance companies, the other was from a homeowner whose insurance company insisted he call. -B

I think the idea of a proper education for inspectors is great. That course however doesn't look like a terrific medium for growing inspectors. After two years of school students will have a very basic knowledge of construction trades, making them more qualified to be jobsite labourers than home inspectors. Nowhere in the course descriptions is the Ontario Building Code mentioned; I would have thought that a couple classes in semester one would be devoted to the OBC. I know that home inspections are not code inspections, but if we're going to be inspecting the condition and construction of houses we should have at least some understanding of the rules the builders should be playing by. As far as the Mike Holmes seal of approval: trading credibility for visibility will get more asses in more seats. -Brad

Ontario Building Code says a Bathroom/Water Closet Room/Shower Room door shall be at least 610mm (24") wide. Not sure what it has to be in Montreal. -B

Good point - a spare flashlight doesn't seem so inconvenient now. -Brad

I prefer being able to swap out batteries. I find it more convenient to keep a fully charged back up battery rather than needing a back up flashlight. -B

I have a TiR that I use quite a bit (they're awesome when used in conjunction with a blower door). The resolution on Kurt's is incredible. -Brad