Steven Hockstein

If there is something on the site that I notice is dangerous, I feel an obligation to let my client know.

NJALPHI (New Jersey Association of Licensed Professional Home Inspectors) has annnounced that due to prudent spending and small profits from seminars, the Board of Directors has decided to keep the yearly dues at $85/year. Additionally, a credit of $50 has been issued to all 2007 paid members towards their 2008 dues. Renewal applications are being mailed and the newsletter also includes an application. 2007 paid members have to send in $35 for 2008 and all others can join at the low rate of $85 for 2008. For additional info, go to www.NJALPHI.com

From the description, the interior and exterior line is erased when the WALL is removed and it would then be an exterior room. Um, no. Opening a door doesn't make an interior space into an exterior space. My living room has large glass doors that I leave open throughout most of the summer. That doesn't make my living room an exterior space. - Jim Katen, Oregon You both debate this issue very well. Now I feel even more justified in my question.

You are right, the cost is not a problem (there is no budget restriction). My instinct says that they should be GFCI protected. I just was not sure of the exact requirement and what is considered "Exterior" space in the NEC. I was hoping that someone from areas where this situation is more common could tell me how the GFCI requirement is enforced.

We are designing a pool house for a client and the exterior glass walls of the rooms facing the pool will slide open to create a continuous space between the exterior and interior. The walls are located under large covered porches. Do the electric outlets in these rooms have to be GFCI protected? These rooms are more than 20 feet from the pool so this is not an issue. Is this a judgement call or covered somewhere in the NEC? Thanks in advance for any help.

After reading some of the old furnace product names, I had this wacky thought of a new super hero adventure. The "ELECTRIC-FURNACE-MAN" and his crime fighting partner "IRON FIREMAN" (living secretly as STEWART-WARNER) battle The WEATHERKING in a fight to control global warming. Can you tell I need a vacation?

So thats what "AL-CU LUG" means.

They wired our area for Fios a couple of months ago. I spoke to one of the techs and the problem is that they have not finished training them so the availablilty is delayed. I am glad that our local cable TV provider will finally be getting some competition. My cable TV costs are too expensive. The local cable monopoly must be sweating because they are now offering better deals. I hope Fios is as good as they say.

In addition to the above defects I also see: Stepped cracks and sags where lintels are undersized, corroded, or improperly installed. Deteriorated mortar joints. Wasps, bees, etc. entering through small .gaps and creating their homes.

You missed your chance to impregnate Anna Nicole. I hear Paris is still single [:-crazy] What about this one... I got a call from an old friend that I have not talked to in many years and he said that he knew I would be interested in an honest way to make a lot of easy money. It took him about 15 minutes of discussion before he admitted that it was a multi-level marketing program that required me to purchase samples to sell in order to get rich. I told him that I don't like to mix business with friendship. He told me that I don't have to be his friend. I Hung up. Next idea please

I also collect old code books and Architecture Handbooks. It is amazing how things have gotten so much more complicated as we are "Smarter" about buildings.

Ideally, there should be a single vapor barrier, DIRECTLY against the conditioned areas with ventilation provided in the unconditioned attic eaves. Additionally, there should be an air space above insulation installed on the underside of the roof sheathing to allow air to flow between the soffit vents and ridge vent. The vapor barrier as shown will trap moisture in the eave attic space. I would recommend removing all of the insulation and starting over!

Thanks

I have been asked for information on Spray applied polyurethane foam insulation. Can anyone share their experience-good-bad- or whatever please? Thanks

Bill, Thanks for the useful printout.

Like Mike, I have never seen this type of installation without a fixed glass panel. Are there any electronic controls that can be reached from the tub?

My dad tells the story of some kids dropping pieces of 2 x 4 into the vent pipes when the wall studs were not precut. The plumber that found the blockage told him it was a fairly common form of vandalism at the time.

It feels wrong when there is a fireplace with windows above it where the chimney should be, even if it is a gas fireplace that directly vents out of the wall and complies wih clearance requirements. Some modern designs are OK with this concept but traditional style houses that include this idea are weird.

We have been using Res Check instead. It allows for more options. We do some work near the shore but not too much. The local inspectors are a moving target when it comes to compliance and enforcement on many things. We have a State Building Code but it is enforced differently in every municipality. Sometimes I think it depends on which seminar they went to last. You are right, this coming year will be interesting. Regards, Steve

I get it, and no offense taken. Yes, I have warned consumers about "buckethead" and "suckup" HIs. Recently, with the newish TN HI law, I've referred often to the "army of cheap, dumb and compliant" HIs custom-made for the use of the HI lobby. For folks who aren't familiar with my work, I've written a column for Nashville's alternative newsweekly for about 12 years. The column, which is a general interest/humor column, often included info about homeowning, homebuying, building, renovation, life at my house, etc. The column also made my HI career very different from most. Over time, loyal column readers became a loyal upscale customer base for my HI company. This allowed me to see the HI biz from the perspective of an HI who could go straight to the customers, and bypass RE agents altogether. HI work looks like a whole different profession when you cut out the middleman and let go of the RE agent teat at the same time. About a year ago, I literally handed off my company to my good friend and co-inspector of 14 years. He does all the HI work now. These days, I'm working on a few book projects, and I do a little litigation support. Anybody who's interested in the column can just Google "Walter Jowers" and find way more stuff than anybody would want to read in one sitting. WJ Nice to see you participating here. I am looking forward to more. Hope you are enjoying your semi-retirement! Steve H.

Darren, The concept and engineering of the system are good but my experience is that the implementation history is not so good. I have seen lots of problems on the few that I inspected. It is a good product for pre-fabricated housing. For stick built, the system does not easily allow for any field changes. I still like CMU or concrete foundations better. On another subject regarding changes, NJ has updated the Perscriptive Energy Package requirements (NJ-U.C.C. FTO-07-02) and it seems R-19 (2 x 6) exterior walls are needed in most cases if you want to use these charts instead of Res-Check. Steve

What about uplift during a storm? The roof is a big sail.

I use the generic terms composite or plastic laminate countertop because (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia...) "Formica is a brand of composite materials manufactured by the Formica Corporation based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. In common use, the term refers to the company's classic product, a heat resistant, wipe-clean, plastic laminate of paper or fabric with melamine resin........ ........Arborite, a similar and also popular paper-melamine composite, was developed in Canada in the 1940s. A line of laminates similar to Formica is made by Wilsonart International. A line of laminates similar to Formica, but with top surface made of multilaminar veneer called Alpikord, is made by Alpi SpA."

Darren, Am I expecting too much for people to take some responsibility for their actions and stop blaming other people for their accidents and/or stupidity? In addition to telling them that there are missing railings, do I need to tell them to hold onto the railings when they go down the stairs? Where does it end???? I guess it will only stop when we really enforce penalties for frivilous litigation and/or make the losers of court cases pay for the winner's costs. Steve

I was once called as a material witness in a case in which the buyer was sueing the builder a few months after I did an inspection. The buyer fell through a the garage ceiling because he walked on the gypboard between the joists and fell to the concrete floor below. He was injured badly and claimed the builder should have informed him that the attic was not floored (duh). I was called because the buyer had given the builder my report and his lawyer knew that it stated that the attic was not floored. The builder used my report and testimoney (I was ordered by the judge to testify as a material witness) to have the case thrown out in summary judgement. I was lucky that I was a witness and not a defendant. Are we supposed to inform our clients not to be stupid?