Brian G

I had a background in carpentry and electrical, and I wasn't sure I was going to get anything useful from HI training. WRONG. I got a lot out of it, but.... 1. I went to the best school I could find, which was 2 states away. 2. I didn't go outside to smoke every 10 minutes. Others did. 3. I shut off my cell phone on the way in, I participated a lot in class, and I went back to my room at night and studied. Others did not. If the school is any good and you go at it in a serious way, it'll help a lot, but you'll still need a ton more from a place like this. And I have to echo the "This is a terrible time to go HI" sentiment, though your area may be doing somewhat better than some others (find out). Brian G. Good Luck, You'll Need It [:-wiltel]

Jeez, a cement/concrete roof. I ain't never hear'd tell of such. All I can think is to be very frank about how unusual and unpredictable this roof is, and how bad things could get if it goes horribly wrong while they own it. Can you imagine what it might cost to remove that sucker and replace it with something normal? I would also say something like "It's far more likely to leak than to not leak, now, later, or sometime". Brian G. Bizzaro Roofing Inc.

Originally posted by SNations If there was no problem with condensation with the existing insulation, I can't see how adding anything more would cause condensation. My guess is that the "condensation due to bubble wrap" theory is based on the vapor barrier aspect of the bubble wrap, rather than on the insulating value. I've seen the original insulation on that particular ductwork during my carpentry years, and it was some sort of fiberous stuff with a heavy paper wrap. It probably breathed somewhat, though I can't say that type of insulation is common around here, or how anyone else would have known that. Locally, most of it is fiberglass with a foil/paper wrapping. I thought the idea of an impermeable vapor barrier on ductwork creating condensation was at least passingly plausible, but it might be total B.S. in actual practice. Brian G. Knowledge Permeable, To Both the Useful and the Useless [:-boggled

Ahhh... That must be what the rumblings were about. Thanks Mike, I'll pass it on. Brian G. Smarter-er Again [:-graduat

I'll have to ask about foil / no foil thing. It was put on during an overhaul to a new HVAC system, by a local contractor named....Scott Patterson. Seriously. [:-slaphap Brian G. Branching Out Scotty? []

It just never ends...always something new and different in the inspecting world. Originally posted by Scottpat That is just bazaar if it is a radon mitigation system. Beware the homophone Brother Scott. A "bazaar" is a market place; "bizarre" is the one you were thinking of. Brian G. A Bizarre Bazaar Might Be Cool [:-magnify

Yesterday a family friend asked me if bubble wrap applied to ductwork could create a condensation problem, and if there were any necessary steps to avoid the issue. Her's was apparently put on right over the old, existing duct insulation. I can't say I'm up on this one; never seen any. Anybody got the hard intel on this stuff? Brian G. Bubble Rap - What Toddler Gangsters Listen to in the Bathtub [:-paperba

I've seen my share of those, mostly because we've had an ITE-heavy wholesale electrical distributor in town for 50 or 60 years now. Dumb design, never should have been allowed as service equipment in residential use, but not dangerous as far as I know. Brian G. Electrical Does Not Improve With Age [:-indiffe

OY! Yeah, it's screwed up royally. No telling what the original intent was, nor does it matter, 'cause it's fubar. Just tell your clients it's all wrong and it's important to get a smart electrician to set things right. Brian G. Emphasis on *Smart* Electrician [:-graduat

Very cool. Brian G. "Droning On" Was Never More Fun [:-slaphap

It's not as revolutionary as the plywood drip pan for water heaters, but it looks highly functional to me. [^] Brian G. Is Patent Leather Patented? [?]

Originally posted by Jim Katen If you've never been sued, it seems like a racket. If you never get sued it IS a racket. But hey, even though I'm out of it now I still have 3 years of liability following me around. It ain't over 'til it's over. But it can protect you from financial ruin if you're ever faced with a 6-figure lawsuit. You don't have to make a mistake or do a damn thing wrong to be involved in a game-changing lawsuit. No denying that. I understand why some people want it, required or not, but I would have kept my money if I could have. How much you have to lose in the first place figures in heavily. Brian G. Nobody Wants to Slaughter a Bony Pig []

I think E&O is largely a friggin' racket. I had to have it because the state required it, but never even had a threat from a client. I always thought of it as a "keep every Tom, Dick, and Harry out of the business" fee. I figure I paid them somewhere between $20 - 25,000 over my time as an inspector, and never got a damn thing else for my money. Your mileage may vary. Brian G. I Want a Refund [:-grumpy]

Yep, that's an electrical fitting. At the risk of being "improper", I've always found electrical conduit and fittings to be far tougher than their plumbing counterparts (the water line to my old mo-bile home is the same stuff, which easily stood up to being re-trenched by machine). I'd mention it, but confidently tell them not to worry about it. Brian G. Sometimes the *Right* Stuff Isn't the Best Stuff [8]

This is out of the current line of the thread, but I dropped ASHI last fall in an effort to save money and stay in the game. At one time I was getting enough referrals in a year's time to justify the cost, plus I felt it was important to support the legislative and higher standard efforts of the organization. When money got tight I just couldn't see $400. Dropping that and my Alabama license saved me over $1000. This is strickly a view from the outside, since I never held an ASHI office, but it appears ASHI spends a tremendous amount of money on plane tickets and pricey hotel rooms for staff and elected officials to attend meetings and such. I always wondered if a certain amount of that couldn't be done by conference calls, Go-To-Meeting, or something. *Full Disclosure* I personally benefitted from that largess a couple of times, when I was generously allowed to share a paid-for room at national conferences. Brian G. No Matter What Jimmy & Scott Say, We Did NOT "Trade It Out" []

I hate that his show was axed. I think it was the best show ever made for HI's to watch. He went in and looked at the symptoms and/or crummy work, then tore everything open so we could see exactly what was going on behind those walls and ceilings; great stuff! I think he's going to find the going much more difficult when he can't do invasive inspections before putting the "facts" in a written report. Sellers aren't gonna go for that. And the first time he gets a significant "fact" wrong, his fame is gonna bite him hard in the butt. Lawyers love a celebrity lawsuit. Brian G. Purveyor of Both Facts & Opinions, Clearly Differentiated [^]

There's just no way to legislate this; it's a case-by-case call that has to be made on-site, at the time. I walk every one I can, and like Kurt, I frequently find stuff I could never have seen from the ground. If you can walk it, you should (IMHO). But we all know there are circumstance where it isn't safe to walk a roof, or isn't necessary. In cases like those, push back the urge to try and do the best you can from the ground and the attic. It ain't worth getting killed. Brian G. "Dyin' Ain't Much of a Livin', Boy." (Clint Eastwood, from The Outlaw Josey Wales) [xx(]

If I see something like that and it bothers me, I mention it in the report and suggest asking the sellers about it. The sellers have to either tell the client what they know, or lie about it. Either one has a certain value. [:-mischie If there is no seller to ask...well, I noted it. Brian G. Axe the Cellar []

Originally posted by Cavinggirl 100 years from now? Perhaps something like: Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea no longer exist due to lack of education and paper, a ban on aluminum cans and lack of cheap power for ice. I refuse to consider a future in which there is no iced tea (sweet). That would be naked barbarism and chaos, at its worst. [^] Brian G. The End of the World As We Know It [:-weepn] []

The first HI materials I saw had that at 40 - 80. In certain areas around here I regularly find 90 - 115, with no leaks anywhere. My house reads 95; I love it. Brian G. Knock That Soap Off! [:-thumbu]

I also think it's a bad question, because you could easily argue for either answer, and have solid points to make either way. They're both composition shingles, but one is a single layer and the other is multiple layers. If you're installing them, they're the same; if you're paying for them, they're not. They both keep water out the same way, but one lasts a lot longer than the other. They're the same, but different. Brian G. Sorta Like Jim Morrison & the Devil [:-dev3] [:-devil]

I also find the word "improvised" to be very useful, often in conjunction with adjectives like "crappy, crummy, sloppy, unprofessional, wrong, dangerous, etc.". I see lots of things that have been improvised. [:-headach Brian G. Too Bad Clusterf*** Is Unprofessional [:-boggled

Originally posted by Jim Morrison What is that cold-looking, white, powdery substance covering the ground in your photo? Cocaine. It's a very rich neighborhood. [:-party] Brian G. She Go 'Round, She Go 'Round, She Go 'Round...... [:-sing]

The elements also looked good on an amp check, so I'm ruling them out. I did notice that I had to turn the upper thermostat much farther to get it to come on. I wonder if that sucker is "bad" in terms of not kicking on when it should, but it can cut on. [?] I'm not getting in a big hurry to do anything, especially in terms of stimulating the economy. I'll wait for Obama on that one. They can take shorter showers until I can figure it out. Brian G. Youth Needs to Struggle a Little, It Builds Character []

No CO detector, obviously. Now these poor people have to live with the knowledge that a $25 dollar item could have prevented a needless, tragic death. I pity them. Brian G. It's a Hard, Tough World Sometimes [:-ashamed