Bill Kibbel

The Wisconsin Assoc of Home Inspectors flew me up to speak at one of their seminars. They're real nice folks and seemed to provide some regular quality education. Of course you'll have to drive across MN to get there, but they speak with the same accent as people from ND. http://www.wahigroup.com/wahi_events.html

We stayed out of radon testing as long as we could. Once it became defined and regulated, we teamed up with a test-only firm. All our inspectors are "certified technicians", so they can place the test. The radon company makes all the arrangements, picks up the tests and sends the reports. A majority of the tests that I place come back with "unacceptable" levels. Most are between 8.0 and 50.0 and I've had several over 100. Two were over 300!

The sod isn't part of the roof system - it's insulation. It's a very simple concept. Imagine building a dollhouse. Now, tie very thick bundles of hollow straws together and pin the bundles to the very steep roof structure, starting at the bottom. Now use a textured paddle to beat the bottom of the straws in each bundle upward, so only the bottom open ends of each straw are visible. This is called "dressing with a leggett". Now attach the next course and continue the same steps until the tricky part - the ridgework. Thatched roofs, with maintenance, can last 70 years. The ridge needs replacement about every 15 years. I've helped with some thatch repairs and helped with a new thatch installation on a reproduction building. It took us 5 weeks for about 10 squares.

Excellent question. I had the same question decades ago when finding original tile roofs under layers of later roofing covering early PA German buildings. I thought it was odd that these early German builders, that typically built outstanding structures wouldn't put any side-lap to roofing tiles. Here's the answer for many early German-American tile roofs: Click to Enlarge 29.53 KB I also have an illustration in an 18th century book from Germany showing the 2 methods of laying tiles. The one without the side-lap shows a channel, or lip, moulded onto the edge of each tile. The alignment of the tiles both vertically and horizontally must be that strict order & structure thing that the German people seem to be known for.

I lived in VA from '81 tom '83, then returned to NJ. Around that time there were 3 potential sites for this project, PA, VA & NC. By the time this project finally moved forward, I had moved to PA, where I was hoping it would be created. I was disappointed, but the VA had State politicians and major funding behind it. I was there for a few weeks one summer to do research at the library there for another living history museum project. I stayed in an 1840s hewn-log farmhouse, on Pinnacle mountain overlooking the town of Luray.

All manufacturers have had to include FVIR technology since 2005. Only local amended codes would require FVIR equipped water heaters be elevated. All of us here have no life.

The 3 digits are not any type of measurement - it's relative readings. It's on the search mode, when held at a 25% angle with the cap on. The numbers will range from 60-999. Below 60 reads ---. It's for rapid surveys to pinpoint areas that should be checked in the measure mode or by other methods.

The black device on the water treatment canister is an automatic air vent. It's intended to vent the accumulation of trapped air in a closed water system. I've never seen one on a water treatment canister. I also don't understand why the vent would be extended with tubing to a furnace flue connector.

Gargoyles, chimeras and other grotesques were used in architecture to ward off harmful or evil spirits and protect the occupants. I met these at yesterday's inspection. Click to Enlarge 90.24 KB Click to Enlarge 99.46 KB Click to Enlarge 48.22 KB Click to Enlarge 44.46 KB

http://damomma.com/2010/08/05/an-open-a ... te-husband

I've never been asked if I can fit in a crawlspace. The question I'm frequently asked is "You're not going in there are you?" I'm built like a ferret.

I drive through a covered bridge everyday - twice. The clearance is posted at 11' 6". Looks like you're 12'+.

"This film showcases the latest in modern housing materials, the miracle mineral asbestos! Just imagine choosing to clad your new home, and a thousand others like it in malleable, colorfast and fireproof asbestos. Truly a gift to those new homeowners". My favorite: "turning old houses, often eyesores, into beautiful and gracious homes". http://www.viddler.com/explore/condense ... ideos/230/

Very true Mike. That's because OSHA actions are complaint driven. Maybe they should write a regulation though, about inspectors setting ladders on composite decking. It seems to be the most common cause of injury to inspectors. Gary, theres a specific exemption from fall protection requirements for inspecting roofs unless "construction operations are underway". "The exception would apply where an employee goes onto a roof in need of repair to inspect the roof and to estimate what work is needed.... The intent of the provision is also to recognize that after all work has been completed, and workers have left the area, there may be a need for building inspectors, owners, etc. to inspect the work".

I wouldn't write "there's no dishwasher" - there's still plenty of homes that never had a dishwasher. I've written stuff like "the dishwasher has been removed. Attached appliances are usually included in the sale".

No, that's not correct. Measuring, estimating, inspecting or visually evaluating the roof does not require fall protection. Where in the regs do you interpret that OSHA requires fall protection for just being "on the roof". Read the whole thing, not just one small excerpt from 1926, which is the standards for construction. Inspectors are not engaged in "construction, alteration, or repair" when on a "jobsite".

Sure - a few. There's all kinds of extra "hands on" stuff to go over at the inspection and I've started doing audio reports. One time I had brother and sister, both blind, buying a home together. I picked them up at the train station before and dropped them off after.

Jim, Did you see something positively ID-ing it as Masonite Woodruf?

I don't think it is, because it has a rabbet (or lap joint) for the vertical joints between panels. From what I remember, Masonite Woodruf has a specific flashing strip, with a raised ridge, between each panel.

It won't bounce without the e.

For a cat I vent connector, the minimum slope is 1/4" of rise for each foot of length. It's suggested by some water heater manufacturers, but not a requirement.

There are a lot of reasons to be a member of ASHI. I'd really appreciate seeing your list - seriously. My list keeps getting shorter. I started striking items from the list back when the peer review requirement for membership was eliminated.

Have those that posted pics of failures positively identified the manufacturer? I think it's very important to verify the brand of the product being shown in these pictures, considering the title of this topic.

I've been a member since 1987. I've been disappointed several times with some decisions made by national leadership. I've remained a member mostly because of the value of my local chapter. The most recent decisions and actions of national however, has me seriously questioning the direction ASHI is heading. I used to think ASHI was devoted to integrity in the profession. The most recent action (See: https://inspectorsjournal.com/forum/top ... C_ID=12377) has me considering not renewing.

Robert, I've never seen the texture shown in your original pictures. There were however, hundreds of different paper-like asbestos containing products manufactured for many types of industrial uses. Like the fella that worked at a shipyard - everyday he'd bring home a bagful of the blue product they were removing from a ship and dump it in his attic. Turns out it was crocidolite, significantly more hazardous than chrysotile asbestos.