Bill Kibbel

It depends on the stone. For example, granite has an r value equivalent of about .08 per inch, quartzite .03 per inch and limestone about 0.1. Any insulating value is virtually negated when considering the thermal conductivity of the stone walls.

I guess I'm fortunate to have worked with some good repair contractors that can fix any damage on old buildings. Then, they have enough sense to eliminate any/all the conditions that allowed the infestation. Add some common sense regular maintenance advice to the owner and re-infestation can be avoided. In my experience, there's been many, many situations where some very simple tasks can keep the termites from entering a building. I've dealt with active wood-destroying insect infestations in every one of my property purchases. Each one was quickly and completely eliminated by correcting conducive conditions - without any pesticides and never a re-infestation. Our company works with 3 very professional firms that do our WDI inspections. They do very thorough inspections and offer guarantees without selling soil injection treatments for every suspected "problem". I don't know the exact figures, but it's not very often that a treatment is deemed necessary. I guess maybe pumping more (and sometimes unnecessary) chemicals into industrialized North Jersey area soil would go unnoticed []. Over 85% of my residential inspections have potable water supplied from a well in close proximity to the home. Most of these clients also have concerns over toxicity to their livestock and/or pets. This reminds me of some medical professionals only prescribing meds for every ailment, while ignoring well documented facts that some medical conditions can be virtually eliminated by other common sense methods -like proper type and amount of nutrition and appropriate exercise.

What's with the rush to pump chemicals into the ground before determining if there are any termites that need to be killed? I've seen many termite infestations easily and permanently fixed by correcting the conditions allowing/inviting the bugs into the building.

American was bought by GSW (Canadian) in the early 2ks. AO Smith took over GSW in the mid 2ks. Look at the components of any recent AO Smith, GSW, Reliance, State, John Wood and American residential water heaters. They're all AO Smith products.

Instead of spreading out additional surveys on other forums, just post a link to the poll here. I don't think you have to be a TIJ member to vote. I just logged out and the survey was still available. Mike's mold testing poll is the "featured survey" at the bottom of the home page: https://inspectorsjournal.com/

https://inspectorsjournal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16944

From Mike Lamb: A recent Chicago Tribune article (January 6, 2013) contained the following statement under a photo on the front page of their Money & Real Estate section. "Testing for mold, radon and carbon monoxide are among air quality issues usually addressed by home inspectors." This statement was accompanied by an article on home inspections called, "Sizing up a home." Click to Enlarge 59.09 KB The Chicago Tribune's total average circulation, including print and digital, was 414,590 for the six months ending March 31, 2012. Please just answer the survey and do not provide comments as to what your opinions are on testing for mold. (Comments will be deleted) For discussion of this issue or the article, please start a new topic.

Look at the gray boxes above. There may be one that says "New Survey" between "New Topic" and "Reply to Topic". If the survey box is not there, then only mods can create polls. If that's the case, send me your poll question and selection of 2-12 answers.

I once test drove a 3-section 28' aluminum extension ladder. It's marketed to firefighters. I think it's made by Duo-safe? It was heaver than the Werner fiberglass model and more costly too.

New PA Superior Court precedent: http://articles.philly.com/2013-01-03/n ... rime-scene

In the movie: Click to Enlarge 35.26 KB After a major 2006 restoration: Click to Enlarge 21.58 KB

What does this house in Cleveland have to do with Christmas? Click to Enlarge 24.79 KB

When the second layer of shingles was added, they did not re-install or replace the flashings at the chimney. They just threw on the new layer and caulked the joint. The leak and damage appeared after their check cleared. It's wrong - and now there's considerable damage to the sheathing and probably adjacent materials.

They should be installing the fan outside of the living areas of the home, resulting in all piping "inside" is under negative pressure. If the piping fails downstream of the fan in an attic, the "incredible dose of radon" would likely dissipate in the (hopefully) vented attic and not into the actual living areas of the home. Be sure to get a post mitigation clearance test from a testing firm not affiliated with the installer.

We call them "panel full o' spaghetti".

I recommend reproductions. Kyle, the switchplate artist, carries quite an assortment of them. Google Kyle Designs. If you need original, try Ohmega Salvage.

It's an article by PAR's attorney. I sometimes have reading comprehension issues, but I thought it was evident that the licensees were the licensed Realtor members of the Association.

Sidewall vent termination clearance to combustibles: 1" below & sides and 3" above.

Cast iron sectional boiler = heat exchanger.Fire-tube boiler (locomotive), outdoor wood-fired boilers = water jacket.

From what I can see in that small area, it looks like some seepage between cast iron sections. It could be failed seals. It could also be from a boiler that sits "cold" all summer. It might be an oversized boiler or no boiler bypass resulting in rapid, rather than gradual, expansion or contraction of the cast iron.

That ain't no "remodel". Looks like first time amateurs performing the work and inexperience or absolutely no planning before deciding to do the work.

"They're going to find out today, rather than the day they move in. If you want to look like the asshole, that's fine with me."

But there is no "Licensing" of home inspectors in PA. WTF does that have to do with this disclosure issue?

Yea, I thought the content was more of a property description than an inspection to identify material defects.

Well, here's a legal precedent for Pennsylvania: http://www.parjustlisted.com/archives/2897