Jeremy

With the E-perm system, you have a zero electret and a set of reference electrets that allow you to check calibration yourself on a regular basis, in between the annual certified calibrations at Rad Elec. These are included with the equipment. If you check their site you will also find they have a real high rate of accuracy. Another benefit is that you are leaving less expensive test equipment on the job, the high dollar reader you keep at your office.

In the first picture it looks like the brick is under the edge of the slab. If this is the case, then frost in the soil will heave and cause the slab to crack as seen. When a slab is overhanging the stem wall it is improtant that soil is not placed up tight to the bottom of the slab. Cracks exposed to freeze thaw cycle with water present will get worse.

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Roof top fishing site. Click to Enlarge 4.09 KB

FTR that was JeremyDP. Not Jeremy of Canaan Property inspections.

Their actuarial statisticians told them so. Otherwise, insurance guys don't move off the dime about anything. Uh, huh... Somebody say, "I'm good."

My thoughts as well. I would think that a small parapet along the ridge might be better than the penetrations caused by nailing the shingles down over top of the membrane. I know, added cost... Is there any water staining underneath?

Well, I'll throw one more curiousity out here, Why do insurance companies prefer the roof to be walked when safe?

If you ever find yourself in or near assbackwards Nashville, feel free to call me and take a walk around a typical local McMansion and/or brick rancher. First, you'll learn that we get snow very rarely, and if an HI has to look at a snowed-on roof, he'll just wait until the snow melts. You'll also learn that McMansions contain many easily-accessible viewports (dormers, windows, etc.). You'll learn that the local roofers are so bad at installing flashing that any bright middle-school kid could say that all the flashings are bad on every house, and he'd be right. The roofs on the brick ranchers are easily observed from the ground. If the observer writes an adequate and truthful report, and that report meets the requirements of the customer, draws the praise of the lawyer(s), and, along with thousands of other reports, draws no criticism or complaint at all, then it would be hard to prove that the observer didn't do an adequate job, especially in a state that doesn't require that observer to get on a roof. (We don't have to comment on bugs or fungus, either.) Sure, the local bar is set low. That's the way local HIs and the state reps want it. Finally, if you find yourself in our fair city, you might get to meet a widely-published and brilliant roof consultant whom I work with sometimes; and, you might meet a brilliant and thorough construction-defects lawyer who understands that the words in the HI report must be well-crafted by a competent writer, not lifted from semi-literate HI-software boilerplate, nor from the minds of undereducated observers. WJ How tempting WJ. I'm somewhat familiar with the territory, I was your neighbor for 16 years and thoroughly enjoyed living there. Up to this point I'll consider myself fortunate that I have not met your posse, but may take you up on it someday.

Of course, this is common sense, know your own limitations. An HI shouldn't be expected to go on to every roof, but I think general roof walking is a skill that buyers should be aware, and consider when hiring an inspector. I agree completely. I've said on many occasions that if a typical local HI climbed up on my roof without my permission, I'd shoot him in the azz with my pellet gun. WJ That should go for the typical roofer in your area as well; that is if you don't want them walking on your ridge cap and in the center of the valley. Come on.

Of course, this is common sense, know your own limitations. An HI shouldn't be expected to go on to every roof, but I think general roof walking is a skill that buyers should be aware, and consider when hiring an inspector.

It's hard for me to understand a complete or thorough inspection without getting on to the roof. Fame or no fame. Even when it is mostly covered with snow, there is typically many areas exposed that can give clues to the condition. Safety is one thing, but walking roofs is a skill that any HI should be maintaning or at least attempting to improve like any other skill. I thought the client would expect to know about all the "visibly accessible" areas of the home. If people are looking for education, through well written columns and articles, I see it as a duty for the writer to tell them the facts. Otherwise wouldn't it just be contributing to HI folklore? You can't possibly see from the ground what you can see from walking the roof. Buyer's that believe this have unfortunately been misinformed. (Like seeing in walls with infared?) Sure there are the ones that you can tell from the ground needs reroof and doesn't have a chimney or other large penetrations/obstructions. But if your not writing the roof from the ground, it warrants a closer look in my opion. Respectfully...

Looks like the low bidder got the job.

Some muni require them. I personally think they are a waste and not very effective. And a pain. The first thing you are going to do is block it open when it gets in the way, so you still have to manually close it. If you are used to manually closing it without a closer, then it is less likely you will forget to close it when all the groceries are in. I wonder what the statistics really are on that. Was that just a money maker or are there some solid statistical reasons for that rule?

What is trapping sewer gas from entering the building? Maybe the pump install is ok, but if the sewer line is open with nothing to trap the sewer gas, that is a problem. Is there a check valve or water trap before the sewer line? Does the discharge line remain full when pump is not running? There must be something to trap gases or it stinks.

I like the ol' bakers dozen concept. Throw the 13th in for good measure!

Yes, mechanically fastened to the footing and fastened to the beam. Typically no additional lateral bracing is called for.

There are various degrees of lightning strikes. I heard my old rock mason let out a horrifying scream as he was jingled with lightning via a metal chimney. He was working wet mortar and rock around the fireplace opening/hearth area. The same storm produced a lightning strike that split the trunk on a 30â€

Wow Les, is it any wonder our memory slips from time to time?

I've seen this at the other end of the age spectrum too. I suppose it is not as much of a threat there though.[:-crazy]

Walter?

There is a difference from the IRC. Apparently Oregon added figure R502.9 when adopting the code. My book does not have it. I agree with you, your code does require lateral bracing. The bracing shown in the photos would be a requirement of your state code. For those times when your all "shook up".....?

I'm referring to all of it. How tall are the post anyway? Is this in a seismic area?

Has anything been done to stop water from coming in? Can you see the drain outlet clearly? How many post are there? Are they on top of or sunk into footings? Is there damage to the floor structure? I know...You'll have more for us this weekend. If (may be a big IF) there is no floor structure damage and drainage is taken care of, maybe just the post will need addressing(replacing). May not be cheap, but sure enough, can be done. Have fun...You may not want to premeditate too far, just yet.

That doesn't look like treated post. Maybe they are dipped in creosote? From what I can see in the photos, my guess would be that the bracing was temporary for holding the post in place during construction.