Brian G

Originally posted by kurt I tell folks "There's rats in the crawlspace". How else would one say it? As long as we're parsing and picking, "There's" is a contraction of "There is", which is bad English in that sentence. "There is rats in the crawlspace." There are rats in the crawl space. [] As to why most of the posting is attributable to a relatively small number of members...well, that's complicated. I will say that everyone on that list has been willing to either teach or learn, or both, for a long time now. This isn't the easiest place to post, but by posting a lot and exposing myself to criticism by the more experienced members I've become a much better inspector than I would have been if I had kept my head down. I've also developed a thicker skin and better mental judo techniques, which are useful in more ways than one. [:-fight] Brian G. Hiii-Yaaaaa!!! [:-batman]

Originally posted by Chris Bernhardt This is how I wrote it up. OK now, swing away! To those about to rock we salute you. I feel like Dracula...now I've been invited in. [:-vamp][:-dev3] Exterior: Questionable siding details in two locations. Sentence fragment. Like Brandon, I favor using all complete sentences in a report. A great many HI's act like they're paying 50 cents a word and don't want to run the bill up with little words like "I", or "the", or in this case "I found". That's just one of my things. One on the left side of the house where the rake of the garage roof meets the house. Fragment #2. See picture. Which one? Was it imbedded by this text? If not, did it have a number? And on the back of the house where the siding meets the rake of the roof over the kitchen. Fragment #3. Those three would have made a nice compound sentence. See picture. See above. We know that a weather resistant barrier should be present however these are inherently difficult areas to detail properly. Aside from the use of "we" Les already recommended against, this reads like a run-on sentence (but may not be, at least technically). I'd put a comma after "present". You could just drop "We know that" altogether. Nice use of "inherently" there Chris...someone else might object to it, but I think it's the perfect word for what you're trying to say. Further investigation is needed if there is some better way to detail the flashing of these joints so that they are just not open. This is the one that made me post. As I read that, if there is no better way to flash this detail then no further investigation is needed (much less outright repair). The second part isn't quite right either. My version of that part would be something like this: "You should find a contractor who has experience with flashing details like this and have him do whatever is necessary to fix these two spots." So the new paragraph might read: Exterior: I found questionable siding details in two locations; one was on the left side of the house where the rake of the garage roof meets the house (see photo # 14), and the other was on the back of the house where the siding meets the rake of the roof over the kitchen (see photo # 17). A weather resistant barrier should be present, however these are inherently difficult areas to detail properly. You should find a contractor who has experience with flashing details like this and have him do whatever is necessary to fix these two spots.id="maroon"> I saw where you said in a later post that this report was for people you knew and you didn't write formally on purpose, so it is what it is, but hey.... you invited the vampires in. [] Brian G. Blood-Sucking Parser of Paragraphs & Phrases [^] []

Originally posted by kurt Bears ain't going anywhere special this year. Patriots proved that last night. Probably not, as long as the QB runs hot & cold like a faucet. I can't tell if Grossman is just green or occasionally suffers from game-long attacks of stubborn stupidity. You never know though, so much depends on being hot when the playoffs come around, and lots of things can still happen with injuries in 5 weeks. I wonder if the weak schedule isn't hurting the Bears already, and may not have them in playoff-sharp condition when the time comes. My boys don't have enough D, but they're hell with the O. Drew Brees has 5 consecutive 300 yard+ passing games and counting (including one over 500). He may well break the NFL record for consecutive 300 yarders and the single season passing total (currently held by Marino). Miami passed on him to go after Culpepper (pun intended)...I wonder if Saban would like a "do-over" on that one. [] We're 7 - 4 and winning the division, with only 5 left. Things will really start to narrow down fast in the next few weeks. Every game is critical unless you're the Bears or Colts. The wild card races are gonna be a frickin' log jam. Brian G. I Love It [:-footbal

Good grief Charlie Brown. [:-indiffe Brian G. There Are "Connectors" and then There Are "Connectors" [:-bigeyes

I'm not aware of any problems particular to Wadsworth either. I have to believe that if they had lost thier UL listing due to design or manufacturing problems they would be fairly infamous in electrical and HI circles. The burden of proof will be on him, and I'd bet he can't back that statement up. I'm pretty sure they were eventually absorbed into the ITE/Gould/Siemens/whatever the heck they are now brand (FYI). Brian G. Mythology Is For Ancient Greeks & Romans, Not HI's [:-dunce]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Central/07/3 ... index.html There was an article later, by JLC I think, where they showed how all of the lags holding the ledger were in a straight line down the center of the board, but the hangers were wrong or installed wrong in such a way as to put all of the weight on the half of the board below the lags. The ledger ripped in two down the middle and the whole thing collapsed. Brian G. Don't Bring Me Down [:-headpho

Originally posted by Jim Katen I'd like to go on record as saying that it's the dumbest idea since the Hummer. I assume you mean for civilians. What do you think it says louder? A. Boy do I feel seriously inadequate about something. B. I have this kind of money to waste, so I do. I'm not terribly clear on what they're proposing either, but I'm automatically suspicious of anything complex. If the contractors have get a lot of details right for it to work...well, that ain't good (take EIFS for example). [:-indiffe Brian G. There's How It Should Be, and Then There's The Real World [:-mischie

That does seem like a lot of fasteners when you start getting into the longer ledgers; every 15 inches on a 10-12 footer? But hey, better too many than not enough, and I'd be happy to see any inspectable specifics for these dang gee-haw contractors to have to follow. I also saw where they spec that the fasteners have to be staggered down the length of the board, not all running at the top or bottom respectively. That was a major factor in the big nightclub deck collapse in Montana. Brian G. Go Frank! [:-angel]

Originally posted by Brandon Chew That's how it works in the engineering world, from which I came. I did one year in appraisal, and they drill that stuff into your head at Appraisal Institute training. You gotta know who the client is in any given situation, because legally you can't disclose anything about the appraisal report to anyone but the client. It's very common for the buyer to be paying for the appraisal, but the lender is actually the client. Really pisses the buyer off when you won't tell them anything. [:-taped] Brian G. Mafia Home Inspector...I Ain't Talkin' [:-grumpy]

I'm not really sure how aggressive yellow jackets are here. They tend to hide thier nests, so it's usually the person who starts trouble without knowing it. Down here we have to watch out for the Red Wasps. They may hit you just for being in the general area. We actually have two strains of those nasty SOB's; the dark-red-fading-to-black boys, and thier even more belligerent orange-with-hardly-any-black cousins. Brian G. Stingers Suck [:-sour]

In a lot of other legal situations the client is the person or party who is relying on the professional's work product to make a business decision, which may or may not be the same person providing the check. I don't know if that's ever been established in court for HI's, but that's the way I play it. In Mike's example, I would have the daughter sign the contract or I wouldn't do the job. No offense to Mom. [:-splat] Brian G. Yo Momma! [-crzwom]

It never ceases to amaze me how frequently something really noteworthy is hiding in that place where you'd just as soon not go. Crummy access, barey enough room, wet/dusty/dirty/smelly/hot as hell/cold as ice/etc., you name it; 9 times out of 10 the Inspection Gods reward me for making the effort. [:-angel] That's a good one. [:-thumbu] Brian G. How To Keep the Squirrels Out of the Attic (Or Kill Them) [xx(]

Les, if you've already got just two words that accurately describe it (compacted gravel), why worry about getting it down to one? Have you been drinking Kurt's Kool-Aid? [] Brian G. Les Seeks Less? [:-boggled

Well I was hungry and thinking about eating, but now.....[:-yuck] Brian G. Maybe Later....THANKS CHRIS!!! [:-irked][:-sick]

I know this isn't really the place to ask, but I thought one of our resident technophiles might know... How difficult/expensive is it to set up short online video clips? Something like YouTube, but your own stuff on your own site. Anybody know? Brian G. The Camera Loves Me, But Not in "That Way" [:-indiffe

Ignorance thou doth abound. [:-dunce] Brian G. Truly, My Job Be Thusly Secured [^]

My brother got curious once and stuck each end of a 3 foot piece of insulated 18 ga. solid in the slots of a wall outlet. In maybe 1 good second the plastic insulation fell off all at once, like it was liquid (I guess it practically was at the time). It looked like a magic trick. I was about 6, so I thought it was cool in spite of his burned fingers. [:-propell Brian G. Siblings Are Good Entertainment (Sometimes) [:-slaphap

Originally posted by Chad Fabry 1) doesn't this have the distinct possibility of drawing 300 amps? Well, not really. Bill's right about the SEC, but most of the time an average 200 amp service isn't actually carrying more than half of that (usually far, far less). My first thought is that it isn't really any more likely to draw 300 amps than it would be if the whole thing ran to the 200 amp panel first, it just has greater disaster potential if it ever did. I'd have to call it, no question, but if it were in my house I wouldn't be very concerned. Maybe I'm up too late. [:-sleep] 2) what would be the point of using this method over feeding the upstairs sub from a breaker in the nice 42 circuit panel that's been there (previously a 42 circuit bulldog pushmatic...I have it) since day 1? Unless it's something like what was already suggested, beats me. I'd have done it the same way you would. Love Bill's photo. [:-crazy] Brian G. Some Electricians Don't Need a Reason [:-dog]

Originally posted by Chad Fabry I'm a less than diplomatic a**hole and Hillary's claim to fame is she's married to one. I would argue that Mr. Hillary is more commonly associated a different anatomical member. [:-magnify [:-dev3] Brian G. I Gotta Work on My Impulse Control []

Originally posted by randynavarro Anybody want to 'confess' how they'd inspect something like this? Oy! I sure as hell wouldn't pretend to understand it, so I'd look for obvious problems (leaks, corrosion, wiring issues, etc.) and just try to run the stuff and see if it worked. Beyond that, disclaim and recommend review by some who does actually understand it. Brian G. "I Don't Know" Are Not Forbidden Words [?]

That's a big pot Granny cooks chicken in. [:-chef] Brian G. I Seen It Lotsa Times [^]

Business sucks right now, but you boys are reviving my spirits. The future is bright. [] Brian G. Filling a Niche That Won't Be Closing Anytime Soon [:-thumbu]

The Old House Journal has a term for that. They call it "remuddled". [:-boggled Brian G. I Love a Cold Glass of Italianade in the Summertime [:-dopey]

That's a nice old Prarie, one of my very favorite types. That particular one isn't right down my alley, but if anyone wants to finance the move I'll provide the land to set it on. [] Brian G. Generous to a Fault [^]