Tom Raymond

I don't think I'd be shy about telling them they need an architect. There are so many issues with the original construction, and then toss the spot repairs on the pile... yuck. Someone needs to design appropriate repairs and provide oversight to ensure they get done, and that doesn't fit our job description. Tom If they don't get an architect, they might as well get a bulldozer.

Oh boy! Any chance of it being on pay-per-view? Tom

If I understand him correctly you leave it alone, unless there is another valid reason to remove and replace it, or cover it. The top three would be -Structural damage. -An occupant with hyper-sensativity. -Cosmetic. Tom

"It’s been my experience that builders aren’t exactly prone to installing extra things where they’re not needed." You mean like exterior trim? Tom

I'd report something like this... Although the dryer is in fair condition, it is equipped with a nifty vibration dampening device. Tom

How old is that? I see winders like that in 100+ year old houses alot. If that's new, it looks like the handrail pinches it to under the 30" width requirement, making the straight sections wrong too. Tom The black paint job makes them look really roomy though[:-banghea

I've got a Garmin Nuvi, just about the cheapest unit on the market. It's pretty accurate for the most part although there are some very rural areas around here where the roads don't match the maps, usually the same areas where my cell phone doesn't work. I have done the free upgrade once, and the maps are better. The biggest shortcoming is that I do not have nav support for Canada. The map data is there but I can't program a destination in Canada, and turn by turn directions only work on major routes (I don't always get a voice prompt on city streets). I can get turn by turn directions home from Toronto but not vice versa. If Canadian maps are important to you, the next model up includes them and it's cheaper than buying the map upgrade online. My only nasty experience with accuracy was while hauling my camper. The coordinates for the rural campground were off by nine miles, sending me to the opposite end of a less than optimum trailering road. That was a pretty big deal considering you can measure my proximity to maximum payload in 12 packs. Tom

"Hollywood Ugly Bad Guys" don't look nearly as tough when seated behind guardrails. Tom

I got a call on Friday from a former coworker who is in the middle of a refi. His appraiser has specified repairs to the block foundation of the detached garage (two detriorated block), and the bank is requiring an inspection to verify those repairs prior to closing. It seems that the banks are going to be much fussier than in the past. Tom

Richard is right. There was a thread a month or two ago about exactly the same thing. Tom

The Z flashing detail is wrong. It should be under the house wrap. Other than that it's a great picture. Edit: Most jurisdictions around here require something that looks like the first picture for new construction, regardless of what the wall covering is going to be. Tom

Uhm , why bother with a template? I made a master document for my reports that I simply open, save as, and start typing. As long as I let Word auto return and remember to use the arrow keys to navigate on the page it moves pretty fast and type sizes and styles remain intact. I sometimes take my reports to the day job to work on them, and that means multiple PCs and diffrent versions of Word. Templates get goofy because of differences in the formating macros between versions. The master document seems to transition (forward and backward) without the goofiness. I also prefer my older version of Word. There are fewer annoying features and they are easier to turn off. Tom

That type of foundation was really popular around here from 1900 to 1930. The concrete portion ends right at finish grade so that all you see from outside is the block. The only one I've seen that wasn't wet and spalling like the IP had so much water under the slab that anything placed on the floor would draw the water up through the slab. My neighbor replaced their foundation a few years ago, and the new one was built exactly like this, presumably so there would be room to remove all the steel and cribbing from under the house. irwinsc, you need to improve exterior drainage to keep the foundation dry, then have the block repaired, then go over the bad areas with a fiber reinforced patch and a bonding agent. Perhaps most important, document all your repairs and improvements. When you sell, the HI will notice the repairs and good documentation will help resolve any questions. Tom

Great, now I have to go shopping for mini mags and 16' tape measures with my logo on them. Thanks alot! Tom

"A fourth grader, after watching one episode of This Old House, could have done a better job of installing the ____________." While I was preparing pictures for my last report, my 7 year old son (second grader) was looking over my shoulder. He cocked his head at one picture, said "wow, that's messed up." Then he walked away, almost in disgust. I wish I could have taped his reaction, it would have saved me hours of typing. Tom

In 516 years Walter J will be more machine than man, NY still won't have a provision for cyborg inspectors on the books, and I won't be able to use his services. Damn! Good story Mike. Tom

There is a pin under that rose thingy in the center of the bell. The softer metal deforms at high temperatures and allows the pin to move activating the bell spring. They also fail from age and the bells are very loud, ask me how I know. I'm pretty sure thats why the house I grew up in had (almost all) the pins held in with pennies. It would have been cheaper to just let them all unwind[:-dev3] Tom

The digital camera I use will shoot up to 4 minutes of video, and the files are small enough to email. I never thought of video for an inspection before, I'll have to try it some time. Tom

Tom, What does "Booking" mean? I'm refering to the way they offset the shingles. First course is a full tab, next course is a half tab, next is full, and so on, the butt ends of alternating courses align and are very close to the butt ends of the courses between them. This is the way roofers get a job done quickly, and it is contrary to every shingle manufacturer's installation instructions that I'm aware of. "Booking" is what we called it when I was a roofer, probably 16 - 18 years ago now. Tom

That is definately intentional and I give them an A+ for holding that pattern, but they get an F for execution. "Booking" shingles like that violates every manufactuters installation instructions that I can think of. Tom

What Richard said, except maybe... "The springs of this garage door should have retention cables installed." ...you're calling out a safety issue so why not call them safety cables. Kinda beats the point home. Tom

I'll have to check my deductable, I just got a renewal amendment and adjustment letter that includes lots of changes so I don't know my deductables off hand. I have had my tools stolen twice and an employee's tools once so I understand the desire for coverage, but depending on what you carry it my be cheaper to just eat the difference. New tools are an operating expense anyhow. Tom

My GL includes $1000 in tool coverage, check yours before you buy another one. Tom

I vote that Jim K participate in the next code rewrite. 110.3(B) Listed or labelled gizmos have to be installed in accordance with their listing or labelling instructions. That is pretty damned hard to misinterpret. Tom

Guilty! I've never actually owned a pocket protector but I will confess to having been a gizmo freak and installing X-10 receptacles, switches, etc, all over our first house in the late 80's. For some reason, one that makes little sense now, it seemed like a good idea to be able to dim every light in the house from the bedroom! It was a phase I went through and somewhere in the basement of our current house there's a box full of the stuff gathering dust. Get that stuff on Ebay! There is a whole emerging group that loves to collect the geek stuff of yester year. Tom