Bill Kibbel

Correct. Compare the facade bricks to the bricks of the chimney. As Charlie stated, they were replaced. When you start getting calls to inspect buildings like that, it's time to raise fees.

We eventually found our favorite booksellers that we would return to a couple times each year. They also keep an eye out for what their regular customers collect. The favorite was our annual pilgrimage to the bibliophile nirvana of Hay-On-Wye, Wales. A small 12th century town packed with 30 antiquarian bookshops.

It tastes like Tums.

The correct architectural term is simply "band" or "band moulding". If it were of masonry, it's a belt course.

Maybe it'll be one of the few that was done correctly. The bright white might be a good sign. http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advic ... onry.shtml Take a close-up pic to show us the method of repointing too. View across and up the facade wall to see if there's any significant bulging or sweeping. Look into the window jambs for separation. There are far too few brick headers for interlocking the wythes.

I frequently tell folks exactly how I think something should be repaired. I also warn them of what others will try to sell them.

The wife and I are serious bibliophiles. Before kids, we traveled extensively and a good percentage of our travels revolved around visiting our favorite antiquarian booksellers. While my wife's purchases would be considered investments, I couldn't stop purchasing technical publications, mostly pertaining to buildings, ancient furniture and early woodworking. Most of my collection on building materials and methods are publications from before 1930. It also includes pamphlets and journals from architectural, engineering and mechanical industry associations. Some of the best images are from the advertisements in the journals. I often scan images to include in inspection and consulting reports and articles. Very recently, I found all the hot and cold water pipes throughout a large home were insulated. I didn't recognize the small diameter pipe insulation, but found a manufacturer's product tag. I found an ad for the exact product, extolling the quality of the product, 'cuz it contains asbestos. In the report I didn't have to "suspect" it contained asbestos or recommend the hassle of testing. There have been a couple occasions where I've pulled up to an inspection with a book to show the clients a pen and ink drawing and exact floor plan of the home.

Bill, I am interested to learn how you handle this situation. There are a lot of inspectors here that will ride, in like a cowboy, and condemn the whole floor system - calling for major invasive repairs. I'm very much opposed to that. I always warn my clients that there's about a 50/50 chance they'll deal with a buyer listening to one of those cowboy inspectors, when they sell the place. So, they should be sure to disclose the condition of the floor system, and make it an "as is" situation - non-negotiable. If you don't like it, don't waste our time with an offer - period. Most of the cowboys insist that all affected joists be sistered from bearing point to bearing point, which I understand is the latest requirement. But, I see it as absurd overkill - especially when it's just the bearing end of the joist that is in question. Fortunately, an engineer can supersede code around here, so I tell folks to avoid the unreasonable constraints of the code by getting an engineer instead. They'll probably save a ton of money that way. I typically suggest lifting all the joists with a properly sized steel lintel (upside down) or a steel channel, and bolt it to the foundation. Of course, that won't work with stone. As a backup, I suggest beams on columns (or piers) on proper footings just inside the foundation. What's your typical recommendation? When I inspect the building it: A) Needs to be repaired. B) Has already been adequately repaired. C) Has had a lame attempt at a repair. In this area, almost every repair has been to simply add beams, supported by posts or columns. About 35-40% of these repairs are well executed and will support the affected joists for another century. The other 60-65% of the attempts at repairs are bits of lumber assembled to look like it might be doing something. Click to Enlarge 58.82 KB

Wade was a big manufacturer of interceptors and separators. Interceptors were used for cooking grease and separators for drain systems (like in garages) that might have gas/oil. I'm pretty sure that is their separator.

The compressive strength of structural terra cotta blocks has little to do with the cells being vertical or horizontal. Selecting the blocks for structural applications was based on the thickness of the shell and webs and the method of mixing and firing the clay. (Some were mixed with sawdust that burned off when fired, resulting in a lighter, but weaker product). More often than not, the blocks were laid with the cells horizontal. It resulted in a far superior bedding joint than when vertical.

That tank was manufactured to be part of a "range boiler" domestic hot water system. It is now being used as a tempering tank for the boiler feed and cold supply to the gas water heater. A range boiler is a system that generated hot water by a "water back" in the firebox of coal range. Click to Enlarge 17.88 KB

The fireplace surround is probably cast stone (like the exterior accents) and has been buffed and polished. White oak has some rot resistance - red oak is awful. I inspect a lot of 18th and early 19th century stone buildings. The timbers/lumber are almost always oak or chestnut. A large majority of the ends of the first-floor joists have deteriorated where they pocket into the stone walls.

Go here: http://www.buildingscience.com/document ... diffusion/ Scroll down to photograph 4 and read the text below. It's what happens all summer long in vented crawlspaces.

It's from iron ore tailings used as aggregate in the mix. It's most common in CMUs manufactured from the late '40s through the mid '60s. I had a woman selling a home tell the buyer that someone must have broken in decades ago and shot at all the basement walls with a shotgun.

Cisterns. http://www.oldhouseweb.com/blog/cistern ... servation/

If you can't make the call on the condition of structures and systems you're inspecting, or can't quickly find credible sources to answer issues you may question, you shouldn't be charging people for your "service". That's our firm opinion. Maybe that's why our fees are typically 40-65% higher than our "competitors".

There was coal-fired steam power all around down there. There were coal stoves for cooking too. I had a cast-iron coal stove that came off a canal boat.

Visit the East coast Richard, and you'll find it isn't unusual here on old buildings (mid-1850s through the early 1920s). But, like the old Church I discussed in an earlier thread, it often gets covered over with a limewash at some point.

Take a scan through the CSST report linked in the article on the front page. From the report: "The history of CSST coverage in the USA started in 1983 from a research and development project sponsored by the Gas Research Institute. The initial standards were developed by the American Gas Association Laboratories and were designated in 1987 as AGA 1-87. This standard became an ANSI standard in 1991. In 1989, the National Fuel Gas Code introduced coverage of CSST. In 2004, a class action suit was filed and settled in 2006, resulting in the addition of requirements for bonding and, eventually, installation of lightning protection. The resultant code/standard changes only addressed bonding: In 2009, the National Fuel Gas Code introduced coverage of bonding the CSST." Also highlighted in the report: "CSST installations and proper bonding lack uniformity: • Good municipal inspectors assure proper installations. • Other municipalities don’t even know of the issue. • They rely on the plumbers (who don’t know about grounding). • They rely on the electricians (who aren’t looking at the plumbing)."

A new report on the failures of CSST is now available. The report was issued by the Fire Protection Research Foundation, a group that consists of members of NFPA, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the U.S. Army, the New Mexico Institute of Technology, private engineering firms and some CSST manufacturers. The study is intended to carry out a literature review and gap analysis to inform a future research project designed to validate installation methods for CSST gas piping to mitigate damage due to lightning events. In the report is a caution that only bonding the CSST at its starting and/or ending point may not be sufficient and that “a global equipotential solution is necessary to achieve a complete solution.â€

"Aggregate-coated plywood" is the name of the product. It was popular at one time for exterior cladding, starting in the late 60s. It's available today as stone-aggregate panels, but the substrate is now fiberglass/resin. It's mostly used for commercial building facades and extensively used for outdoor trash receptacle panel inserts.

6" is common for modest coal-fired cooking stoves.

The design and bid selection has been completed. Late in 2010, I heard that the federal grant money was to be released in early 2011. There was also some fund raising to be continued to fill the gap not covered by the grant. The expense is for repairs and neglected maintenance that goes beyond just reinforcing the wall.

Bulging is a term used for a wall that is bowed from top to bottom. This would be most obvious when looking along the wall. Sweeping is a term used for bowing from corner to corner. This would be most visible when standing on the edge of the roof looking down the wall Click to Enlarge 13.16 KB Shortly after I turned 40, my abdomen has had some bulging and sweeping. I don't think installing tie-rods will fix it.

You got it! Here's the hand-forged nuts on the ends of the 3 tie-rods:Click to Enlarge 59.3 KB The rods were installed in the mid 1800s. Click to Enlarge 25.85 KB Most old churches, unless there are flying buttresses, have leaning, sweeping or bulging walls. Click to Enlarge 69.66 KB