Steven Hockstein

How about a window planter that does not need watering? https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608040 ... d=15.1&P=0 [:-dev3][:-eyebrow

We had a similar problem in my office a few years ago. The roof was replaced before the winter and when we turned-on the A/C the following summer there was a terrible solvent odor. We are on the second floor of a two-story building. The roof is a low pitched roof. The ceiling joists are the roof rafters. There is fiberglass batt insulation above the ceiling. After trial and error work we finally determined that there were two A/C ducts that ran through the space above the ceiling and that some of the roofing system chemicals leaked into the ducts. On a hot day the solvents vaporized and were blowing into the office. Our solution was to abandoned the two ducts and replace them with new ducts in a soffit. That solved the odor problem.

We have had two clients that had catastrophic failures of Pex piping installations in their homes. Both were due to fitting clamp problems at the joints. One of the homeowners made a product liability claim and the fitting manufacturer paid to make the repairs. I advise my clients that insist on using Pex (even though specs require copper) to minimize the number of fittings. I also learned that the installer is required to check and calibrate his fitting clamp tools regularly.

I have not paid anything to Angie's list but I have some good reviews. I have booked a half dozen inspection jobs and three architecture projects over the last year and people told me that they read about me on Angie's List. Now I get calls asking for payment to be on the top of the search but I don't think it will make a difference.

Nice. Was there an inspection approval sticker too?

Hire a home inspector for a pre-inspection.

Nice flashing job-NOT

I agree. Another way to be financial successful is to marry someone rich. I just read a funny quote that a friend posted. " I am going to retire and live off of my savings, What I'll do the second day I have no idea." Good luck with your new business.

Thanks. I tried that site. The style of the serial number is not listed.

My HVAC guide does not have this code. Anyone know the age? Thanks in advance. Click to Enlarge 45.58 KB I realized that the number may hard to read in my photo. The Serial #12902695 C .

Sorry about your fire. I suggest you ask the local fire department/investigator about the cause.

RE: A 60 Year old two-story house. I did an inspection a few weeks ago and my client was concerned that someone had smoked in the house at some time in the past. Based on the history of cigarette smoking in the country I can only assume that most houses have had occupants that smoked at sometime in the past. I suggested that he consider buying a brand new house. I told my client that I don't know anything about how to check for it and what the health concerns would be. I told him that he was the first one to ask me to test for this since I have been in business (over 30 years). He thanked me for my honesty and booked the inspection. When I meet him at the inspection he had a UPS box with some devices to test the house. He found a company to rent the pumps and perform the test. There were small vacuum pumps with little tubes that he connected to the pumps. He placed them in four different rooms and let them run for two hours while he accompanied me during the home inspection. He said that they will determine if someone had smoked in the house. Anyone else know about this type of testing? Is it legit?

Thanks! This document is pretty easy to understand. I like it! So, I'm glad I'm going to put it on its own switch (city said it didn't matter, but I like the idea and seems to be more compliant), and may take out the light since it is within 3' horizontally and install a light/fan combo instead. Which is too bad as the fixtures all match inside the bath and the adjacent room but I'm not sure it is damp location approved. Thank you again for finding this one! NJ has a statewide building code. Not sure if California is the same.

look at this- it may help. http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Portals/0/Sunny ... emodel.pdf

I agree that replacement is best except for certain situations. Also, unless there is a specific reason to keep the wood, when I see wood that is rotted due to where it has been installed (i.e. in contact with the ground), I recommend that an alternate material be used to avoid a repeat performance.

Hi Walter. Nice to see you are still lurking on this forum.

In addition to what is already mentioned and assuming that the outlet is in the attached garage, the added outlet is not GFCI protected. Nice fake paneling on the garage wall too! Is there 1/2" gyp. bd. behind the paneling?

Not a bad idea to have a standard form to give to the seller and listing agent. Could be used as a marketing tool if you solicit referrals from real estate office. Include requests like moving personal items out of the way for attic and crawlspace accesses, making sure all utilities are on, taking the pets out of your way, suggesting that the seller leave and not follow you around, etc...

Thomas Edison tried to develop a way to mass produce concrete houses but it did not work out and he abandoned the idea. Here is a link to some photos that I found of a development of his homes that were built not too far from me. I find it amusing what some of the owners have done to make their homes look unique (my nice way of saying ridiculous). http://www.flickr.com/photos/22202402@N06/2993350452/

Sawdust looks pretty clean. I noticed a new window on the exterior shot. Were there recent interior renovations performed? Could it be from construction?

"Thermostatically Controlled Energy Expense Limiter"

Just curious how my fellow inspectors report on a uniquely designed passive solar heating system. I inspected a house that was designed by an engineer around the use of a passive solar heating system. The epitome of form following function because the house was really ugly! Does anyone know of any inspection or design standards?

I'm convinced that the description of the crack in the rear wall that was pointed out in the report shows that the writer is clearly not stating what could be said much easier in a way that is more direct and could be better written. In addition, the way that the reasons for the structural problem were explained as well the additional contribution of the grading and water run-off problem may or may not be correct.

Can you live with the patio? If so, ask for a big discount and use the saved money for something else. You can both go your separate ways and move on to other worries.

I had the glimmer of hope that I could keep my policy but it was quickly squelched when I found out that the states could opt out of the ability to allow us to continue for another year. The wonderful State of NJ decided to opt out so I cannot keep my existing policy for another year.