Jack Ahern

Bilateral Knee (both) replacement 1/2002. There is life after knee replacements. Court sports and extreme skiing are out.Any activity that will provide torque to your new knees is out. It is possible to climb ladders, walk roofs, crawl crawls, irritate Realtors, write reports, strap on good knee pads for a brief kneeling experience, almost anything else you used to do.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton, Maine

I've never seen floating slabs in my area. Wood forms and moisture = termites Spaces between floor and wall could admit critters and radon Remove form tie (rod)--trip and scrape hazard Indoor air quality issues (mold)is refered out[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

Please add this to my previous post. Lots of pictures(35-60) depending on the size of the house.I will master picture insertion and e-mailing reports within 1 month after ASHI-FtL. Packing up as I speak.I hope the early snow birds leave some Guiness for me.[8D] [:-party] Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

You all know that in the Great Commonwealth of Massachusetts we do things better differently. By law Listing R E Agents can not recommend HIs to the buyers. In a perfect world, it would follow that we should not market to these folks.[:-banghea We now have "BUYERS BROKERS" entered in to the mix. It is OK to market to the "BUYERS BROKERS"?These are the same folks![:-banghea It is hard to tell sometimes when you should be the hammer or the nail I'm not sure a seminar could solve our problem. Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

I was told in a seminar that the 2x4 method is the industry standard(recommended by the manufacturers). Have the RE Agent push the open button-'Kick thru' the electric eye feature of each door. It should reverse-if it does not, get it fixed or replaced. Test again for the reverse feature with the 2x4.Squish the small part of the 2x4. It should reverse-if it does not, get it fixed or replaced. If the door sounds like it will self destruct or fall off the building--get it fixed or replaced. None of this happens if there is a vehicle under the door This is how we do it in Needham on the Charles and Bridgton,Maine[:-banghea Jack Ahern Go Pats

I use a slightly modified HOMEXAM report. Compiled in my lonely writters garret and delivered by hand or "overnight" to my client. This is a service greatly appreciated by my clients.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine Go Pats

Merry Christmas and have a Prosperous and Happy New Year. Great forum-TIJ.Big Thank You from the Great Northeast. Only inprovement is an ample supply of Guinness. I hope they have enough in Fl.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

In the Metrowest area of Boston--12/01 to 2/10 seem to be the slowest for me. I do not do many condos so that may be a reason. Good excuse to golf/hang out in Florida during Jan and Feb. I bring my phone but leave my tool bucket home. Will be in attendance in Ft Lauderdale for the ASHI National thingy.IRC during the day and Guinesses at night at the Clipper. Some of the ASHI-NE guys going. Should be good (warm). Happy Holidays--I hope its all right to say that??[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

In order to switch off the Christmas lights from inside, my wife instructed my sparky to add two circuits to the front of my house. Switched from inside the house. Weird--but she's the boss? [:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

Where does there inside moisture go? You know showers,cooking,breathing,toilet,laundry etc.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton, Maine

Could be the firewood truck was piled up real high. Could be a load of Christmas trees coming out of that lot. Could be a new store-bot house piled high What the h*** its Maine. What do you expect?[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

I expect to attend this year. IRC course is worth the trip.Be good to meet some of youse guys.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

My brother is an elevator maintenance mechanic in Boston.All elevators in the Comm of Mass must be inspected by the AHJ. A licensed mechanic must be the principle operator and demonstrate all the required functions to the AHJ. All elevators teeney to very large must go thru the inspection process. Defer this to the licenses and the state authority. Never-ever will be our area. An elevator must pass inspection--or it will be disabled by the licensed mechanic.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

In my part of the woods, I see them. Generally I call them out. Temporary jack posts are just that.Temporary! Some times I see them shoring up a sloppy staircut in older houses. Most of the munis will not allow them. A competant professional general contractor would know that these jack posts are inferior to properly installed "lally columns". Weekend Contractor Stuff.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton,Maine

John--- In my other life I was an acoustical contractor(installer). There are some tiles that are sold correctly for bathroom use. Without getting too technical---Rails(tee bars) should be ss or aluminum. Hanging wire should be ss. Tile should be water PROOF. Any other tile will absorb moisture--promoting mold/mildew etc.These tiles will then bow from the moisture(weight). The big boxes do not sell waterproof tile. Need to go to Kamco Supply in NH/Me/Ma for the correct tile. Any time you see acoustical tile installation in a residence, Probably is a Saturday/Sunday project for the home handy person.Hugh amatuer electrical opportunity. Structural nightmare. Can not correctly hang these ceilings with a bent nail and skinny wire. I see it all the time in Mass. Yeah! Yeah! I know! you do not have to lift and look. I do because I need to know[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton Maine

We see them in the greater Boston area. Where is the asbestos?--"snow man without his pretty white(grey) skin". Appears to be a coal fired furnace-converted to gas or oil then gas? The air quality in both the tenacles (octupi) must be off the charts.The client will be blowing this old dirty conditioned air around his house through filty ducts. Only the great HVAC god knows what is lurking in the furnace and connected ducts. I would recommend replacing the furnaces and any reachable metal ducting. Have the balance, professional cleaned and tested. When a new efficient furnace is installed, the existing remaining ducting may not be sized correctly. Good reason to remove all the ducting---and start over.Gas company may have an issue with a 100 year old unlined chimney. May have a problem getting rid of the old furnace and ducting. The asbestos police may hold things up? There are a lot of these 100 year old double/triple deckers in the greater Boston area.Renovate?? then condo-ize the flat. Lots of amatuer GCs handling the renovations.Lots of thin ice and minefields thru out these buildings. Gotta luv the big box stores and the handyman books. Seen it done on TV--how hard can it be?[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Bridgton, Maine

In Maine, the "homeowner contractor" would rig up a condensate line from the buckets to the sill of their 1840s house-barn.Narrowly escaping any real work, they would then go for a ride on their Harley or Bass Boat and call it a day. It is scary!! This would also occur to a professional?? contractor! Anything goes in the Vacation State. I've inspected a few living spaces (homes) in my Maine neighborhood. No rules(codes) are good rules?? Even a little commomn sense?? It is hard to keep a straight face. Buyers do not like it when their home inspector laughs out loud.I'm staying in Mass. for a while longer.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles

For the new guys--you need to get up in the attic and walk around (if safety permits).You need adequate light,proper training, enough time to fully inspect the attic area, and the confidence to red flag it. Missing something like that, will cost some one their health or a life.That exhaust will find its way into the living space. The owners will never know what hit them [:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles

I use a self modified, constantly updated, version of HOMEXAM. Software is written for the general HI population of the US and Canada. The author keeps track of all things HI. He does not push any product for any society.Things are different in the Great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All the HIs that trained at Notheatern Univ. used this text. Go Sox! Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles

Makes my day to see the Wellesley&Needham Women trying to parallel park a Hummer/Suburban/Rover. Brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. Used to buy houses for that price.[:-banghea Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles

Terrance- any food that hits the deck for less than 5 seconds should be OK. Any restaurant chef knows that. Its the "five second rule" Ever seen a restaurant floor?? Too much education and too much paranoia![:-banghead] Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles

I've been able to track 3/4 paid inspections per month off of the ASHI web site.Works for me kids[:-banghead]. Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles

In my neck of the woods, anyone caught defacing a bottle of Guinness gets a public flogging.[:-banghead] Jack Ahern Needham on the Charles Chief inspector and Master Flogger

Get one of them big easy chairs and an adequate supply of Guinness. Then let them rip. Good luck[:-banghead] Jack Ahern --- from Needham on the Charles

Must be an ASHI thing. Needham sells about 1000 housing units a year. I see 30. Words out. I'm an old portly guy who does not climb roofs and I'm too slow/thorough. Got great binoculars and a keen new set of eyes (cataract surgery). Go sox Jack Ahern