Jim Morrison

I don't do anything beyond commenting if a system strikes me as grossly over or undersized. I can't believe you are going to write a check based on what you posted. There must be more to the story.

Nope. Don't ask just me, though. Ask other Mac users. The livin' is easy on this side. Jimmy

Nobody writes viruses for Macs. Who'd bother? We're just a tiny sliver of the population, hardly worth the bother. I have ZERO complaints about my Mac, and ZERO anti-virus software, despite my legendarily un-family-friendly surfing habits. Jimmy

You don't want to be on a roof like that if it's steep and there's still snow on it. Follow Katen's advice. I'd be surprised if the boot trapped it from above because you can always force it from the attic. If that doesn't work, well...blame Katen. That's what I'd do. Jimmy

I'm in. Let's all put $100 to keep it interesting. I'm 5'10, 395 lbs. I can hit 165 in 30 days. The Biggest Loser

It's only a matter of time before he has Hillary over for tea. Zheesh....

So where is the problem? In the theory? Or in the practice? Of course it isn't a problem most of the time. You could say that about any number of questionable building practices. Shoot, a house doesn't even need a roof covering, unless, of course, it rains....

One more thing; don't ask me questions you already know the answer to. It makes me feel like you're either: a) testing me (and I'm really not interested in taking your tests), or playing games with me (and I'm too busy for that). It's just not what this site is for.

John, I may be misinterpreting your post, but it sure sounds to me like you're killing time by trying to arbitrarily provoke a wide-open ended roofing discussion so you can eavesdrop and hopefully get a fast and free Complete General Roofing Education. I'm not interested in helping you out in that endeavor. If you really want to learn all there is to know about 'extreme weather effects on all types of roofing', I suggest that you start by Googling it. Better yet, Google 'Jerry Peck' and ask him. He'll keep you busy. If I'm wrong and you have a specific question, please ask it. I bet the helpful folks around TIJ will line up to answer it. They always do. I find that the more specific my questions are, the more plentiful and helpful the responses tend to be.

Hell yes I do, but what does that matter? I might be the worst home inspector in North America for all you know. Just because Mike gives me leash here doesn't mean I know anything. You'd have to hear me lecture or shadow me on inspections for a while before you'd know if I actually know anything worthwhile or not. Read Inspect-a-pedia, Certainteed, and whatever else you can get your hands on and judge it against what you've seen, heard, and done. That's where judgement is born.

Enter the (hopefully) helpful, plainspoken, blunt guy... John, You seem like a very genuine and good guy. Re-read your question. Maryland has just about every kind of weather and you tell us every kind of roofing, as well. You are asking for someone here to distill the effects of every kind of weather on every kind of roofing into a TIJ post. That's a book, not a post. Certainteed used to have a free course on roofing. They'd send you a book, you'd take a test and you could become a Certainteed Master Roofer. I still have the basebeall cap they sent me. Start there, and keep reading, but take care not to get lazy and ask these grizzled veterans to give you all of the knowledge they bled and sweated for. They couldn't do it if they wanted to anyway. Ali could tell me how he trained, but that wouldn't be enough to get me past Smokin' Joe Frazier (not even today). To get where he got, I'd have to do what he did. In short: Ask for book recommendations, not Cliff notes. Because books and courses will give you knowledge. Working will give you judgement. You're going to need lots of both, friend. That was sincerely meant to be helpful. I hope it was.

Well done, Aamir. It is truly amazinge how quickly those situations can go nuclear, and how a little smarts, a little listening, and a little effort turn them 180 degrees.

Common sense and safety.

John, Well, we aren't in direct conflict, but then, you're playing both sides of the fence, aren't you? First, you posted a link to a CPSC doc about GFCI's containing some NEC dates and say you use it in your reports. Later you say this practice is unnecessary, but go on to say baluster spacing is another similar and big issue. What does that mean? I don't have a conflict with you, and I don't mean to pick on you, but it does seem to me that you're having trouble forming an opinion and sticking to it.

No, baluster spacing is not a big one. It isn't even a medium-sized one. Reread Katen's comment. There is a strong and clear message there. Don't miss the forest for the trees, folks. It doesn't matter if they were constructed or repaired in 1609, 1709, 1809, 1909, or 2009, if the spacing is too wide, you tell your client, and get on with things. Similarly, if you think that upgrading a particular receptacle to a GFI would make things safer, tell your client! If someone argues, and you think you need a dated code reference to refute your position, then you know less about homebuying, home inspecting, houses and the people who live in them than you think you do.

Is it legal to have more than one main disconnect to a service? Do these jeans make my hips look big? Is there a decent test for AFCI's?

First off, I'd say: Don't. Because more often than not, it isn't done right and it results in damage. But if someone just has to: They shut off the water supply to the house. Then, open every fixture and drain all of the water of the pipes, water heater, and boiler. Next, pour anti-freeze in all of the traps and toilets.

Methinks Mr. Fabry has been working too hard lately. Chad, why don't you plan a trip to Boston soon? You need some R&R. (no Jackson rallies, I promise)

That is most wrongtious and should definitely be repaired.

Personally, I LOVE new technologies...-as long as my father and grandfather have used them without complaint. (NB: my grandfather died in 1974)

Oooomph! You guys are cold-blooded.[]

New Yorkers....-probably a Yankees fan, too...

New Yorkers....-probably a Yankees fan, too...

J

Windows 98 was very, very good. It was simple. I've had problems with every subsequent version and wouldn't buy Windows Anything.0 if it came with a free succubus. It just aint worth it. My conversion to the Mac world is made up of equal parts love for the Mac and disdain for Microsoft. No parallel operating systems for me, though. They make Office for Macs, and I'm just going to have to bit the bullet and buy it. I wish it were different, but i can live with that. Best of all, there are no ceremonies, no Sunday AM obligations, no tithing, and no circumcisions! Jimmy