Jerry Simon

The couple thousand exposed nail heads on this one year old house look like crap. I don't ever recall seeing so many exposed nails. Anything technically wrong with this? (If they had been counter-sunk and puttied, would that have been okay?) Image Insert: 153.2 KB

Builder warranty inspection... Plumber told client that if the tub water level is above the whirlpool switch, it will naturally leak (and it is). I don't think it should leak. Told the client to contact the tub manufacturer Image Insert: 131.98 KB, but does anyone here know for sure. Does anyone know a *fix*. Thanks much.

Fire-retardant plywood. And, yes, it was used for roof decking. As I recall, a bunch of defective FRT was found in Florida years back. http://www.housemaster.com/pdf/guide28.pdf

Brandon... Rechargeable Mag is 40-some thousand candle-power. Ultra-Stinger is 70-some thousand, at about a third the weight.

I can't believe I lugged that seems-like-seven-pound mag light on my belt loop for almost ten years. My back hasn't hurt in years since I switched to the brighter, and so very much lighter, ultra-stinger.

Kurt...Right or wrong, I think I've flagged this as a problem twice, maybe three times ever. And, I'm guessing you asked the initial question in this post because it's the first time or so you've ever seen a *missing* hearth extension. This may be a stretch, but since I've hardly ever seen missing hearth extensions, why do they bother to ever put one in at all? Aesthetics only, as one mentioned? Or perhaps a real radiant heat problem? I really don't know, I guess. I know people have posted here that they often don't see extensions, but I don't, and again, I'm guessing you (Kurt) haven't either, thus your question. Apology to Mike & Chris for any slight...my daughters aren't home this week...I have to be a jerk to someone.

Uhm, he investigates fires for a living, and teaches fire-safety courses for a living. Just my opinion, but I think his observations/opinions might hold more weight than ours. A shitload more. That being said, your observations may certainly be correct.

When I took Dale's class, I was very surprised that, according to Dale, anyway, the main purpose of a hearth extension is the protection of combustibles from radiant heat. I always though it was for embers or logs, as Kurt mentioned. Perhaps he is wrong, and all your field experience *not seeing* problems is more definitive. Uh, I think I'll stick with Dale versus you all not seeing problems. By the way, Dale told dozens of war stories about fireplace-related house fires. Some were radiant-heat related. Truly amazing, this fire-safety voodoo he preaches. Kurt, I didn't mean you with the truly-respect part...that was for Mike, who on one hand says he respects Dale, but then takes a 180 position from Dale. Again, just 'cause Mike ain't seen a problem doesn't negate Dale's teaching, in my mind anyway. Has anyone else taken Dale's course? Dale is an expert's expert. I'll stick with him 'till proven otherwise, and not just proven by "ain't seen a problem". Now, I will admit, it was an early morning class, and this all could have been a dream sequence. Dumbshit (Graduated from the purple sack up to Bookers)

I'll stick with Dale (who I truly respect), and his explanation of the long-term effect of small amounts of heat oxidizing the combustibles, lowering their kindling temperatures. I believe your thoughts are kinda like looking at a furnace B-vent touching a wood roof deck in an attic and saying it's not a problem since there's no fire. Chris...just what, exactly, does heat-affected carpet or wood floor look like? Thanks.

The radiant heat can't reach the manuals under the fireplace, just as the radiant heat from a gas oven flame can't get beyond the drip/burner pan. Think "radiation". Radiant energy travels in straight lines from the source of heat (the flames, in these instances), and is absorbed by any surface it encounters. It's this radiant heat that poses the problem.

They are different from an oven. The flames in a gas oven are protected under the drip/burner pan, and they don't emit much of any, if any at all, radiant heat out of the oven. At least I thunks so.

According to Dale Feb, the main purpose of a hearth extension is to protect combustible materials in front of the fireplace from radiant heat; such heat can lower the kindling temperature of the combustible material (pyrolysis), posing a fire hazard. Again, according to Dale, hearth extensions are mainly for this purpose, not as commonly thought to protect against logs rolling out of or embers popping out of the firebox. I've been flagging the lack of a hearth extension for gas logs 'cause of this.

How it works??? I always thought we sort of knew how it *behaved*, and we sort of know how to control it, but I didn't think anyone, yet, knows how electricity *works*. But could be the third or fourth time today I'm wrong about something (my daughters are home today).

If you/he mean the drop down lists where one, for example, chooses a 3 0 - 40 - 50 - 75 gallon water heater to fill-in (the "IRBOXES.INI") , I actually think there is, as I copy off my one computer and move to my laptop every now & then. I simpy open them up as if I was going to edit then, copy and paste to a notepad, then move them via a CD or a usb memory stick. I have to change fonts to match (they change for some reason), then I open up the ones on the laptop, and then delete them and paste the new ones and save the changes. I keep backup copies, too, just in case.

I more-than-gently rap on them. Soft substrate *sounds* different.

I still see it in new houses out in the boonies...will probably last forever, as it did/is in the *old* houses we see.

They ain't gonna be happy with six figures? Sons of bitches.

McHenry, Woodstock, Bull Valley, Grayslake, and lots of far south places (Channahon, Peotone, etc.) Got's to go to the boonies.

Dorothy doors.

Kurt, Alles Gute zum Geburtstag!

Under-pinning.

Hey guys... You've been a tremendous help. I spent a couple hours revising so I'm less offensive, less verbose, less dark, less third-grade, etc. My site ain't no where near perfect, or maybe not even good, but thanks to your help, it certainly is better. My sincere thanks. Jerry

Hey, I don't take any of this personally (except maybe from that Mitenbuler guy). I know the site needs help, and I'm getting some wonderful suggestions. Yeah, I'm a bit full of myself, so I'll have to think of how to brag without being offensive. Sorry if I am offensive...don't mean to be.

By the by, if anyone does think my reports look and sound okay, I should credit Mark Cramer. It's his software.