Bill Kibbel

It looks black with an applied silver coating. I've never seen a black PVC roof membrane. I have seen several TPO sheets that were black. What was the seam spacing?

Telescopic magnet.

Did you forget what kind of folks frequent TIJ? You know we're all going to order one. [:-jump]

When my Mom and her family first came here from Finland, she lived in Weirton. Could this be Doug's situation: "The mayor reported a major issue with dilapidated structures is people purchasing them from out of state on tax auction without even seeing their condition. According to Harris, it is usually months before the new owners are able to repair the building and, by that time, the Building Enforcement Agency may have already marked it for demolition. 'These properties are a safety issue as well as an eyesore,' he said. 'We’re not just tearing them down because we can'.â€

Except that in most (sensible) jurisdictions, at least one still needs to make outside. Can't wait to see this ND plumbing code.

Well, there's this from the North Dakota State Building Code: CHAPTER 29 PLUMBING SYSTEMS Section 2901 Plumbing Systems. Revise as follows: Section 2901 shall be amended to reference the North Dakota State Plumbing Code instead of the International Plumbing Code. I suggest getting a copy of the North Dakota State Plumbing Code. Please let me know if ND has an exception that allows terminating plumbing vents in an attic. If it does, I'll refrain from painful extension of vents and offer an apology.

The first time I saw it, I contacted the supplier of the water heater. It's packaged with the unit from the manufacturer. It's closer to corrugated wet exhaust hose for marine use than the garage exhaust tubing. They're not that unusual around here. Most were installed in the '90s.

Bullshit! Did the agents show documents written by the roofer, plumber and city inspector, or did they just "tell" you what they said? It sounds like typical used-house-sales-people tactics. They'll try and pull this crap until an inspector establishes him/herself as one that is not intimidated. Citing sources and asking the agents to show you documentation to back-up their comment will shut them up for good. Find out what code is in effect in your area and get a copy of it. Don't be afraid to (accurately) quote from it. After that, I would offer to extend the vents where it would cause the agents the most bodily pain.

It's official product name is self-adhesive, foil-backed flashing tape - trailer-park home compatible.

The only advantage that I can possibly think of is an economical advantage.

My colleague has been using a Magnum for about 2 years. He likes not having to reach so high for a ladder.

Over a year ago, I downsized from a full-size conversion van to a Trailblazer. Now, I'm thinking about downsizing again. It's more fuel efficient and not quite as goofy as the toaster cars. The wife's getting a Mercury Mountaineer that I can borrow for work when it snows.

Spalling, when referring to brick, only occurs with the old style bricks, that were fired with a hard crust and soft core. The bricks in the pic are fired at a temperature and process that creates a uniform hardness throughout the brick. Clinkers only occurred with the above older method as well. Those bricks are chipped. The chipping occurred prior to installation. Look at how the mortar filled into the voids created by the chipping:

I can't think of any situation that would require a second(ary) valve. Most of us think you're nuts, but not because of the question.

Yep. Tinned copper, likely 'cuz it's in rubber insulation.

I'm the latter. The one on the right is my wife.

I've seen a handful with ridge boards built in the 1890s. I've seen a handful without a ridge built in the teens. I've also read many publications that describe and illustrate roof construction with ridge boards. The earliest mention is 1891, but it is included with other roof framing methods. By 1903 the other methods are often no longer described and the ridge board is becoming almost exclusive. By 1907, roof structures without ridge boards are clearly described as an "old method". I'm guessing that shortly after 1900, the "build it like my master taught me" method is disappearing. The carpentry trade is being taught by the growing vo-tech education system, architects are consistently designing most residential buildings and builders are using published design guides and arithmetic. I know it doesn't explain exactly why the change in the way they framed roofs, but I wasn't around then. Ask Les.

Relax Mike, my animated avatar is fair warning that anything I post should not be taken seriously.

They is me. The 1905 transition date is based on extensive research of buildings in the mid-Atlantic region with documented build dates. There are of course some exceptions, but for the most part: - Rafters installed in 1900 (and shortly after) are paired with no ridge board - Rafters from 1910 builds (and a few years before) are attached to 1" ridge boards.

We had one winter that lotsa plumbing vents had ice plugs form. I suggested folks install a tee, connect the dryer vent and run a load when you need a defrost.

When I can't get to the top of a chimney, I find vent connectors come apart real easy - just a few screws. I have thousands of pics just like this from today: Here's what's typical in our region:

How 'bout looking up it with a mirror? That chimney doesn't look like the type that would have been built with a liner.

That's my line. If they continue to bitch, they get the probe! [:-bigeyes Yeah, but I find that I need to use it quite often to illustrate things for the less experienced and skeptics.

I attended a half dozen early ASHI National conferences. I wasn't thrilled with them, 'cept 2 were in cities where old girlfriends reside. Once a family began, I no longer had any interest in multi-day events. Have you ever spent 3 days stuck with several hundred home inspectors? [:-yuck] I now attend one day events put on by local chapters or state associations. I look for seminars that have at least one topic covering a new building product that I am not completely experienced with. I end up with well over 80 CEUs each year. I'm not a shmoozer/networking type, so the smaller, more local events are more pleasant. I also speak at 3 to 6 seminars each year. In addition to the above, I attend several restoration conferences, preservation workshops and "old-house" expos each year. I always gain incredible amounts of information that's helpful to my clients.

Our occasional visiting IAQ expert and meth lab investigator, Caoimhín Connell, put together "Recognizing Former Meth-labs" for home inspectors.