DonTx

Well, I generally agree with Mr. Goodman about snakes. This one didn't look menacing, so I let him live. My other inspector found this one about two weeks ago. Now this one I would have worried about. I couldn't tell if it was the agent or the builder...[:-eyebrow Download Attachment: MarksSnake2.JPG 88.15 KB

Well, for some reason I couldn't find the "Chit Chat" section under "All Forums", so I decided the next best place for this might be "Environmental Hazards". What kind is this? Download Attachment: DSC02783.JPG 130.72 KB

Some of the really good HVAC companies here do undersize the coil successfully to remove humidity. But very few! The entire system has to be installed properly and there aren't that many companies that will go to the trouble of doing it. About 2 years ago at a home show, I specifically asked one of these companies whether or not undersizing the coil would void the manufacturers warranty. He said not with the manufacturers he used (I believe it was Rheem/Ruud and Lennox). This same company also manufactured their own evaporator coils to their own specifications. Pretty intense systems if you ever saw one. However, when I do see mismatched equipment in a Spec home installed by one of the same ole companies I see doing it wrong all the time, I figure it's a goof up on their part and write it up. I mean geez, if you can't run the ducts properly, seal duct joints and the refrigerant lines at the evaporator coil housing, run the flex gas line through the furnace cabinet, not seal air leaks at the edges of the evaporator coil housing and have air leaks at the furnace/air handler connection, how in the world am I to believe they intentially undersized the evap coil and did it right?

Well Danny, I think you answered your own questions, yes the installation is wrong. However, I don't get excited about the control joints in the middle of the windows as long as there is one below the window as well. I'd LIKE to see them at the corners, but I know they won't always fall there. I also like them centered if they're going to be over/under a window. Betcha it didn't have sill pan flashing at the window sill did it?

If you're bored, have trouble falling to sleep or you're a real geeky kind of guy (or gal)and want to test your download speeds, try downloading "The Wood Handbook" from Uncle Sam. It's about 13 megs in size and comes out to roughly 486 pages. Guaranteed to cure what ails ya! http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgt ... gtr113.pdf You can also download idividual Chapters here: http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgt ... gtr113.htm

Is there a link to download the entire document instead of downloading individual fact sheets?

I use the LG17. Gets me to all roofs that I want to be on. If it isn't tall enough to get me to a roof, then I probably don't want to be on it. I've had mine since 2001 and love it. It's easy to work with and is smoooooth. I hate heights and flimsy ladders. I'm a pretty good sized ole boy and the LG is the only ladder I feel safe climbing on when I'm over 10 feet off the ground. However, I did pop my thumb out of socket recently (it happens several times a year, bad socket I guess) by pushing the ladder up instead of using my hand. I've never pinched or smashed my fingers/hands. One of my other inspectors has the LG knockoff. Cheap looking compared to the LG. It's also not as easy to use. You can definately tell the difference in quality.

2 x 2/0 + 1. I found that on this feeder yesterday. I assume that it means there are 2 #2/0 feeders and the ground feeder is a #1. The sizes looked to be a 2/0 and 1 (aluminum). Just wanted to double check before I wrote it up serving for serving a 200 amp main. Download Attachment: DSC02043.JPG 45.98 KB

I should have been more precise in my description. This is a monolithic slab on grade, no gravel/sand goes in the trenches....trenches = perimeter and interior beams. The area for the slab is escavated forms are put up and then Select Fill is brought in. After the Select Fill has been leveled out, the perimeter and interior beams are dug. Typically these trenches will be from 12 to 18 inches wide and from 24 to 36 inches deep, depending on what the foundation plans call for. Normally, we'll see a PVC drain running across a trench (beam) at the bottom. It will be covered with mastic. However, I've never seen one ran along the trench like this one. I had 2 major gripes about it, 1) You'll have to jack hammer the beam should you have a future plumbing problem, 2) Any movement (settlement) by the beam will likely damage this section of drain My other gripe was that someone should have checked the plans and measurements (designer/engineer, plumbing contractor and foundation contractor) and made sure this did not happen. (I found two other drains that were off the mark) Thanks for the replies, I'm searching my IRC now for some back up reference.

There's one spec home builder here that uses them on a regular basis. That is, the roofers install them on the roof, but do not use them. I guess some people think they look cool and make good conversational pieces during the walkthrough. Toe boards nailed through shingles rule!!

Found this on a pre-pour steel reinforced slab inspection today. Pipe runs about 9 feet down the middle of the trench. Builders said he knew it wasn't right, but thinks putting some mastic on it and wrapping it with poly will be fine. I disagree. Your thoughts? Download Attachment: pipeintrench.JPG 96.86 KB

Take a look at http://www.brochurebuilders.com This is where I have all my brochures and other marketing material made and printed. They have the greatest Customer Service of any design/prining company I've ever dealt with. Their quality is top notch. I'm told all the time that our brochures look better than the National Franchise brochures. The kicker is they only cost me about .12 or .13 cents per brochure when buying in bulk.

"A mans gotta know his limitations" - Dirty Harry

Try eBay or a box store for the guage and many other tools like you want. I also find what I want in the catalogs then go shopping on eBay or other places for deals. I must say though, I've had InspectorTools match or beat deals on new equipment that I've found.

My first vehicle was a 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 with a 350 and 4 speed tranny. I thought that beauty was a tank! It stayed mud colored most of the time I had it. You learn real quick where you can and can not go in a stock 4x4. I also learned the value of upgrading to after market accessories that helped me get out of places I shouldn't had a stock 4x4! My first new vehicle was a 1987 Jeep Comanche 4x4. My friends nick named it "The Sheep". It was silver & black and came without a radio and with a 2x6 rear bumper. It was probably the best stock 4x4 I ever owned (including two Fords, 4 Chevy's, 1 Isuzu and 1 Toy). Sadly, the Pugeot tranny crapped out at 150,000 miles. I had to let her sit a while before I found an acceptable replacement that could be modified to match up to the I-6. I Love my trucks...never been much of a car person....

Until recently, I never put pictures in the reports. I kept getting request for it and I started experimenting by putting them in more and more reports. Our testimonials soared after that. I now use pictures in every report. I take from 60 to 100 pics a house. Of course, only about 15 make it to the report. I might take 3 pictures of one defect (different angles) just to make sure I have one good one. I also take shots from the roof, of Whirlpool tubs running, of open panel boxes, filled rooms/garages, junked up attices, etc. I take many of these CYA photo's in case I need to reference them in the future. The Client never sees these. I'm camera poor. I have 2 Canons (soon to be 3)- the PowerShot S110 and S410, an Olympus C-740 and a Sony DSC-P10. By far, the Canon Digital Elphs were made for home inspecting! They're small and can be carried in a shirt pocket and take great pictures. Even in those hard to get places that you can't stick your head. I do love the 10X zoom on my Olympus, but I'll sacrifice it for the ease of use of the Canon's. You can pick up the Canon S110's on eBay for around $100. I just recently bought two for my inspectors. Which every camera you decide on, make sure it has a rechargeable battery. Don't waste money on buying alkalines every other day. If you buy a new one from a store like Best Buy or Ritz, make sure you buy the extended warranty. On average a camera will last me about 2 years of everyday use. Usually you have to get cranky with the folks at Best Buy, but they will send it back to be fixed or replaced of you have the extended warranty. I get upgraded about every two years this way. Good Luck!

I've had a 3 light tester glow dim on several occasions (just the middle light). When checked with a Sure-Test, I received a False Ground reading.

It doesn't do a lot for me. It kinda looks sinister in a way. It reminded me of those old dark, misty cobblestone streets at the Witching hour on the Sherlock Holmes movies. You know, just before someone got their head cut off. From my informal marketing training, I'd say, too much black. The more I look at it, the more I believe there is way too much black in the logo, it stands out more than anything. Bright colors, especially soft reds, whites and blues, relate good and happy feelings and stimulate positive thoughts from consumers....or at least that's what the marketing folks say. Did you get that one on GotLogos.com? They'll usually change one logo for you for $10 bucks when you bought their regular $25 logo. Or at least that is what they use to charge years ago. Greenlight Property Inspection doesn't work for me either. How about GIG = Gongre Inspection Group, Gongre Inspection Services, NWLIS = North West Lousianna Inspection Services, River City Inspections, Les Inspection Services....hmmm wait...scratch the last one... Don't be in a hurry to decide on a name, it will come to ya eventually. I think you can do better than Greenlight though...

Does FHA take into an account the age of an A/C? We have a friend who is selling their home and nobody told the A/C to stop working. It's old and still kicking, the Sellers will be giving the Buyers an A/C allowance. However, the Buyers are using an FHA loan both Sellers and Buyers are worried the deal may go south because of the old A/C. Thanks for the help,

I'm wondering if Uncle Sam has a Whistle Blower Protection Plan? That's something Scott should probably look into. I'd also hire the neighborhood punk to start my truck in the mornings..... I agree, most of the problem, about 99.9% IMHO, lies with the scum builders. Having said that, there is a part of me who blames the average consumer. You know the one, the one who will do more research on the latest car or digital camcorder before purchasing one, than they will on the house they buy. The one who doesn't get an inspection because 'The House is New, what could be wrong with it' or hires the cheapest inspector around because 'All Inspectors are the same, so why pay more'. The ones who uses the internet to soak up every stat of every ball team and player back to 1945 but can't tell you squat about finding comsumer information on their builders or the communities they'll be living in. The ones who think they're so nifty and smart by buying a brand new 4500 square ft home with 1 A/C in it for $200,000. The old saying "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is" should be bouncing around in their head. Today's inspection is a perfect example...buying is transferring here from NJ, bought the new home sight unseen and "has to close tomorrow". Home is still about 2 weeks from being finished, but he's still closing tomorrow! Arrrgggg....sorry for the hijack, I'm through ranting now...

There should be a continuous ridge, normally it's a 2x6 standing on end, covered with 2 layers of grade D felt paper then most will nail a batten strip on top after the paper is on. That picture looks like they took a few shortcuts. This might help you. Download Attachment: DSC01089.JPG 64.18 KB

How do you create either a text box or table in MS Word so it doesn't expand when you insert a picture? I've done it before and now can't remember how to do it. I have a few templates for specialty inspections and it drives me nuts everytime I insert a picture and it balloons to half a page. Thanks,

Well, you can't have our "One Tough Grandma", but I hear that Kathleen Blanco may be wanting to relocate!! [:-witch]

She's actually running for Governor here in Texas. Her motto is "One Tough Grandma" Since she blasted the TRCC the way she did, she just got my vote!

Artistic expression! I've seen a few of them done that way, normally it's a darker shade than the other shingles. Apprently it's suppose to be cool and trendy in some neighborhoods.