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mjr6550

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Everything posted by mjr6550

  1. mjr6550
    I can't really disagree with you other than to say that basements where the parging is in good condition (not from lack of deterioration, but from replacement) almost always seem to be far less damp. Also, quite a bit of deterioration of parging usually does not bother me too much, but when the sand/lime mortar starts to pile up on the floor these walls can end up with structural problems that are expensive to fix.
  2. mjr6550
    Regardless of the mold, periodically the interior of stone foundation walls need to be reparged with a new masonry layer (similar to stucco). That prevents the loose mortar from eroding between the stones and it cuts down on moisture penetration though the foundation walls. It looks like the walls could stand to be reparged. That would be a job for a masonry contractor. Don't hire a mold contractor for that because they will probably sub the job to a masonry contractor.
  3. mjr6550
    It looks like plumbers were destroying framing even before the Sawzall was invented. It is also interesting that plumber (gas fitter?) chose to pipe for the gas lighting by notching the top of each floor joist right at mid-span. So I guess someone thought that if they are going to make holes in the joists that would also be a good spot. Click to Enlarge 58.32 KB Click to Enlarge 43.27 KB
  4. mjr6550
    Interesting inspection today. Much of the house was gutted or fell apart, so I got to see things that are usually hidden. Click to Enlarge 68.35 KB Click to Enlarge 71.83 KB
  5. mjr6550
    I've never seen them on a roof before.
  6. mjr6550
    Very sad news. I saw him about three weeks ago and he did not look well. I heard last Sunday that he was on Hospice. He will be missed.
  7. mjr6550
    The existing electric 40-gallon water heater *is* an average hot water supply for 3-4 people. Only if they are French.
  8. mjr6550
    I believe the requirement for tempered glass adjacent to bathtubs was first required in the 1996 IRC. I see many houses without tempered glass there. My own house was built in 1990 and did not have it until I replaced the window. Many replacement window companies still don't install tempered glass.
  9. mjr6550
    Anyone else thinking giant Lego blocks?
  10. mjr6550
    Concrete that is too wet can create a lot of cracks, but it looks like more is going on there. It appears that there is a horizontal joint near the top of the foundation wall. I see that when they use 8-foot forms and want a foundation wall 9 or 10 feet high. There may have been a cold joint there, especially if adding height was an afterthought (excavated too deep, owner changed their mind). The random cracking is too closely spaced for typical shrinkage cracks. I have seen that before when the foundation was backfilled too early, as John said.
  11. mjr6550
    This is at a bank owned property. Quite a bit of new work was performed (poorly) to get the property ready for sale. Apparently they decided not to deal with this. Click to Enlarge 47.75 KB Click to Enlarge 45.2 KB Click to Enlarge 43.66 KB
  12. mjr6550
    I'm confused. Why wouldn't the difference in current between the hot and neutral conductors not trip one or both the GFCIs?
  13. mjr6550
    As flow is restricted the velocity increases, which would explain the noise and the vibration. I am also suspect a stuck valve. Although not the same issue, I have found not hot water flow at a couple of vacant houses with pressure compensating faucets.
  14. mjr6550
    It would still function as an expansion tank, but it is not a proper location assuming that the water heater has a shut-off valve in the supply. My only other thought is that they were trying to deal with a water hammer issue.
  15. mjr6550
    Typically loose connections at the screw terminal or the blades of the disconnect will do that.
  16. mjr6550
    As long as the connection is proper it could be fine. But, it would depend on the load as to whether there is enough bearing area, and also whether the 4x4 has enough capacity.
  17. mjr6550
    That is quite a bit of corrosion. Generally you want to remove most of the rust and then prime with a zinc-rich primer, then paint. But with that much corrosion and the location, it would be difficult to do it properly. So, it couldn't hurt, but I doubt it will help much.
  18. mjr6550
    Older codes generally permitted attaching beams to the sides of columns without resting on the beam. However, many of those connections probably did not comply with standards for bolted connections. So, depending on when this was built it may have been ok. The 2x members were probably added later. As someone else said, if they are resting on footings it may be ok, but even then I could argue that structural rated fasteners would be required because the fasteners prevent the 2x members from buckling.
  19. mjr6550
    I'm not familiar with the codes that were generally used west of the Mississippi. But, prescriptive codes for deck ledges, etc. are relatively recent in the code (Scott may be correct about 2006). Anything otherwise would rely on engineering design. Nailed deck ledgers are unlikely to meet design requirements for withdraw (especially after 30+ years). I would also not look for old standards. If a deck collapsed I would hate to have said that it was ok based on 30 year old standards.
  20. mjr6550
    It is permitted according to some manufacturer's manuals. I have seeno where this changes the discharge pipe clearance from 1.5 feet to 4 feet.
  21. mjr6550
    No. Total cost for repairs will likely well exceed the value of the property.
  22. mjr6550
    I think you are going to worry yourself to death before the non-friable asbestos gets you.
  23. mjr6550
    If it lights up with the wall switch off (I'm not sure if you meant that) then likely switch is on the neutral conductor.
  24. mjr6550
    I looked at this foreclosure house today. Rather thin brick outer wythe. A couple photos show the ties used between the wythes. Click to Enlarge 36.2 KB Click to Enlarge 29.67 KB Click to Enlarge 38.39 KB Click to Enlarge 34.06 KB Click to Enlarge 39.42 KB Click to Enlarge 45.35 KB Click to Enlarge 53.67 KB
  25. mjr6550
    From the bottom it looks like precast. From the top it looks like poured concrete. Is it precast or poured, or precast with a topping coat. Urethane caulk or epoxy could be used to seal joints. Possibly even urethane injection. Methacrylate coatings are also an option.
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