Bill Kibbel

It's an old beacon light re-purposed as a grow light.

The EPA claims that the use of textured finishes was banned in 1977, but this is incorrect. The manufacture of textured finishes containing asbestos was prohibited starting in 1978. There have been popcorn (acoustic, cottage cheese) ceiling finishes that have tested positive for asbestos fibers into the early 1980s.

My wife thinks the smoke detector is the oven timer. When it goes off, dinner's ready!

It's limestone. This type is very common for that period throughout southeastern PA, west-central NJ and I'm sure up into northern NJ. Here's the same limestone in an area of western NJ that I used to hike: It's not like the limestone Kurt would see in Chicago or would be used in major high-end buildings, which would be Indiana limestone. Indiana is a premium building stone which has a uniform texture and porosity. Limestone forms a crust on the surface, from weathering and atmospheric pollutants. That's why the faces that haven't flaked off in Neal's pic are a different color from the inside. This crust traps moisture and salts. Once the crust is breached, it flakes off and (relatively) rapid decay begins.

That wasn't the last time. She wanted a bigger kitchen and I hadn't gotten around to it. I came home one day to find her putting away a sledge hammer. I then saw two walls were gone leaving a few live outlet boxes laying on the floor and a couple switch boxes hanging by wires from the ceiling. That was her subtle hint to make the kitchen my next project.

EPDM installed by roofing contractors that have had no experience installing it. It's weally wrinkly.

From the conditions and history you described in the first post, you might recommend replacing it with an updated backflow valve that operates automatically. It would also eliminate the valve stem, replacing it with a clean-out cap.

Probably and old manual sewage backflow valve.

I remember "Selvent" was on the list of recalled HTPV vent piping systems that came out in the late '90s. I'd bet it's made by Selkirk. The recall was for through-the-wall installations only.

There are spray on fire retardant coatings (called intumescent fire reactants) that can be field applied. When applied properly by an approved applicator, they are NFPA, ASTM, UL & ICC approved. Obviously, what's pictured wasn't properly applied.

It was probably applied when there was too much moisture in the material or the temp was too high. Also, the coating looks too thin. There's a field test that involves putting the flame of a propane torch to it for 10 seconds. The coating should expand and create a consistent char layer. From what is shown in the pic, I don't think you actually need to do the test to know it will fail.

No - upflow. There was clear evidence of a humidifier was likely located above the area of corrosion. Just one tube had a hole. This was a multiple building complex that took a few days. It was dismantled by an HVAC tech the day after I discovered a major problem with the flame entering the tube that had the hole. The other 3 burner flames didn't look right either. I suspected that a proper draft couldn't be induced if there was a large crack, hole or separation in one of the heat exchangers. I made a big stink about it and they called the company that installed it to come out and fix it. The AC coil had been removed by the tech for a good look at the heat exchanger. The rest of the primary and the secondary still looked brand new. It seems that Nordyne might replace the exchanger assembly, but not pay for labor or shipping. I don't know that anyone mentioned to the manufacturer the possibility of a humidifier contributing to the failure.

We once bought a home that had the oil-fired boiler venting into the side of an abandoned fireplace above. The single-walled flue connector passed through closets on each level. I added an additional terra cotta lined flue alongside the existing chimney. The wife insisted on putting the bricked-up fireplace back into service. I removed one brick and found the firebox completely packed with oil-burner soot. I reached into the soot and pulled out a mummified bird. I then mortared the removed brick back in and said "Sorry Hon, we have enough fireplaces already". That didn't deter her at all. She busted out the bricks, removed the soot and 26 dead birds. Click to Enlarge 40.89 KB Click to Enlarge 15.43 KB

I thought sharing this might be helpful. Primary heat exchanger tube on a Nordyne furnace, manufactured in 2003. I think it's aluminized steel. Two fingers fit in the hole. Click to Enlarge 27.74 KB Click to Enlarge 30.17 KB

Slate is stone. Stone is specifically listed as a material that can be used for fireplace walls. The hearth can be concrete or "masonry" (R1001.9). Is slate not considered masonry? Stone inside fireplaces don't 'splode - at least not the ten thousand+ I've seen that have had fires for over 200 years. Cracks gradually develop in the stones on the back wall directly behind the area of the fire from constant heating and cooling. Eventually some bits of stone break off, but never more of an area of a few square feet. A cast iron fireback prevents any further damage. I only see minor damage to stone hearths. The mortar is another issue. Most fireplaces built more than 150 years ago were intended to be plastered on the interior. The plaster was sacrificial and often renewed every spring. Exposed stone and brick fireboxes are often not historically accurate. It was removed, just like folks inappropriately removing plaster to expose the "rustic" beams.

When the steam pressure rises to a set pressure, a diaphragm lifts the arm of the damper regulator, slacking the chain on the other end, allowing the draft damper to close. I can't tell from the picture, but there should be a rod on the other end of the arm that simultaneously opens the "check draft" damper on the flue connector.

Lots of folks call that type of structure a cupola, but they're not correct. If I were to speak of it as a cupola, I would use air quotes. A cupola is either a round or octagonal temple-like structure, topped with a dome. In the 19th century the new fancy round barn ventilators were being termed cupolas, then the raised look-out portions of train cabooses. Here's a picture I took of a real cupola on the Moravian Church in Bethlehem, PA. Click to Enlarge 54.94 KB

The same thing happens if you use the search feature to find a thread.

I finally got around to watching it. I thought it was gonna be goofy - it wasn't. It was actually pretty good. I'd suggest shortening it a bit to meet the interweb's limited attention span (and my ADD). Also, the white suit - I kept trying to poke your belly on my monitor.

It's a chase for metal vents. It's not only supported by wood, but it could be made of wood framing and the brick is a veneer used for exterior siding. The details necessary for a brick veneer installation were not done, resulting in really wet OSB and framing. If this continues much longer, there's going to be extensive rot. I can't even imagine any way to fix this without removing the brick and rebuilding the whole system. The OSB could already need replacement. I'm familiar with Springfield (I went to Wittenberg U). There's no seismic activity that causes any damage to buildings in SE Ohio, hurricanes can't make it there and the occasional spotty tornadoes don't usually cause building code enhancements.

Often (but not always) timber was cut, then hewn or milled green and then seasoned for at least a year before being used in a building. Many twisted beams were likely installed with at least some of the twist already present. There might be some additional twisting in next year or 2. It's not likely going to get any worse now. When I'm concerned that the twisting might be affecting other components of a structural assembly, it's never been necessary to actually remove the twisted section. There's usually an easy reinforcement, like steel strapping or additional posts, that can be added to relieve the strain. 8"x10" is a small beam. Our 18th and early 19th century German/Swiss builders usually hand hewed "sommer" beams that range from 17"x17" to 22"x22" for homes and some even larger for barns.

It really looks like an impact. Who is this Miss Judge?

Anybody put the fake snow on Christmas trees in the 50s and 60s? It was a mix of mica and asbestos!

It's a wood fiber insulation, but it's neither Balsam Wool or Silva Wool.

It looks as if I have access to create a new forum here. Give me a subject line and a brief description and I'll give it a try.