palmettoinspect

Kurt, very well explained and I agree. I'm going to share your blog post about mold in the future. We need some "like" buttons on this forum.

Great point! LOL!

Thanks Marc!

Single family detached.

I need some reassurance on an issue. I did a reinspect on a new construction home with the main disconnect located at the meter. The main distribution panel wired as a sub panel with a 4 wire feeder and ground and neutral separated. The bonding screw was removed from the neutral bar, but missing at the ground bar. The electrician is stating if he bonds the ground bar to the panel that the AFCI breakers will trip and he can't do that?!? Am I missing something here? Thanks, Kiel Click to Enlarge 44.93 KB

Check your bathroom GFCI outlets also. Sometimes the exterior and garage circuits are shared with the bathroom circuit. Particularly the 1/2 bath outlet if you have one.

There're other trees, it's not just that one! [:-crazy] Click to Enlarge 58.63 KB Click to Enlarge 56.98 KB

Yep! Although, I wouldn't be surprised if they cut the house and not the tree on this one!

I take it it's not a variable speed system? I wouldn't trust a zoned system even with bypasses to recycle/dump the unused air to help this situation. It sounds like a variable speed system or multiple system set up with thermostats for auto settings that can maintain a constant temperature by running either heat or cool is needed. One system for the first and second floors and a separate system for the basement would work best. Set the basement thermostat to auto setting to the desired temperature and leave it.

Hmm, no idea on the grade. Is there anyway to find that out?

Agreed! Do you feel as bad as the staining is that the copper is okay? I'm just worried the staining will hurt the copper?

Haha Marc! That's my concern. The stains are so bad in areas. It's definitely copper. 16 year old roof/home. Here's a better picture. Click to Enlarge 63.12 KB

I wanted to get some opinions on brown staining on copper roof sheets caused from tannic acid from oak trees and leaves. Is it something to be worried about, or just a visual effect and normal characteristics of a copper roof? If it's something to be worried about would it be best to strip the patina and seal the copper? I recently looked at a copper roof on a home built where the home owner and home itself are real tree huggers! Lol, see picture below! This homeowner built the home around the natural landscape and wants to disturb the trees as little as possible. So cutting the limbs back away from the home is not an option. There're a lot of tree limbs over the copper roof and lots of valleys that are plugged with leaves leaving a lot of brown staining. Also, I got these pictures with my new Phantom 4. I'm still testing it out, but and presently surprised every time I use this thing! It takes incredible photos, videos and is pretty easy to fly. I plan to do a better review on it soon. Click to Enlarge 73.48 KB Click to Enlarge 83.22 KB

Often the repair is a coat of paint from the underside which I doubt does much. I also wonder what if any affect PT wood in contact with the steel has on the corrosion? A lot of times PT pine louvers are butted to these rusted and deteriorating lintels. Click to Enlarge 50.23 KB

Thanks Kurt!

I often run into steel lintels under with CMU foundation walls under decks. After a few years the steel is obviously deteriorated. Is there a proper detail for this? Is it as simple as isolating the steel from the CMUs with some type of membrane flashing or just a bad idea altogether? Click to Enlarge 39.41 KB

Yes sir! Coming from using two different meters, one invasive and the other non-invasive, it's really nice to have both in one unit! Click to Enlarge 21.56 KB

I lucked out and picked it up slightly used for $300 off eBay. I figured I test my luck before dropping $600 for a new one.

I picked up GE's new Survey Master. I've been using the GE MMS for years now inside the home and recently lost my GE mini for crawlspaces. I don't like taking my GE MMS into crawlspaces so I was going to pick up another mini. Decided to go with the new generation Survey Master. Both the old generation mini and MMS never really showed up well in pictures. The new Survey master has a blue backlit screen and shows up great in pictures! The lanyard on the cap is genius! Click to Enlarge 43.54 KB Click to Enlarge 43.7 KB

My thoughts exactly, and they may not have gone down far enough. The whole thing looks mushy. Also, that crown is pathetic; calling it a crown is granting legitimacy....it's a mortar pile on top of shitty brick. Man! That crown actually looks good for around here lol! Check out the side of the home with the brick over the roof line and the lovely flashing! Click to Enlarge 57.39 KB Click to Enlarge 48.02 KB Click to Enlarge 69.33 KB Click to Enlarge 47.9 KB

Thank you all for the replies. If I'm understanding you correctly you all wouldn't make a big deal of it given its age? Jim,what you're seeing are two different roof lines that look like one in the picture.

What do ya'll comment about when inspecting older homes with wood burning masonry chimneys that do not comply with the 10-2-3 rule? Does anyone know exactly when the 10-2-3 rule came in affect? I've got a 1966 home where the chimney is about 12-18" out the peak of the roof. Thanks, Kiel Click to Enlarge 72.35 KB

From what I could tell looking behind the perimeter band board at the bottom edge there was. I could also see the blue colored OSB wall sheathing edge and it was in good shape. I could not determine the brand of the WRB. This appeared to be a pretty good install. It's a Pulte/Centex home and they tend to build decent houses around here. I'd be very surprised if they forgot the WRB, but I guess anything is possible.

Yes, they all do. The stains are clearer in person and do not show up as well in the pictures. I was kidding. Haha! Had me fooled!

Yes, they all do. The stains are clearer in person and do not show up as well in the pictures.