Bill Kibbel

This has always worked for me: "I found: Aaa Bbb Ccc, etc Have an experienced fixologist make all the needed repairs".

A couple more things to think about: Most of the stuff you're finding on Google is from law firms and the media or text that's quoted from those sources. If you look at "official" studies, that aren't influenced by those that profit from asbestos litigation, on the health concerns and statistics, you'll find one common element. The studies do not evaluate those that have been exposed to asbestos containing building products in their homes. The studies only focus on long term or intense exposure to asbestos used in manufacturing. That includes mining operations, factories, those that are near mines or factories and those that share dwellings with workers contaminated with asbestos fibers. The other studies are all done in laboratories on rats. I'm not saying that there's no risk. It's just that the studies that produce the scary statistics are done on those at the highest risk. I don't worry about all the asbestos exposure that I've had. Like Mike said, there's enough other stuff out there that'll probably get us first. Heck, they've found PCBs in ceiling tiles that were recently installed in buildings.

It's a hooded dormer. Way up North they're sometimes called bonneted dormers. An eyebrow dormer is shaped, well - like an eyebrow. Click to Enlarge 10.25 KB

The term "basket strainer" is now used for that thing in my kitchen sink that my wife makes me clean out, 'cuz it's too yucky. Today, that type of basket strainer is used mostly in industrial/manufacturing, to protect steam process equipment. I don't know why someone installed that on a water line in a residence. http://www.muellersteam.com/products.as ... 503&page=2

I don't think an updated public water supply would have too many large particles that this strainer was intended for. If there was a problem, inexpensive filter cartridges do the job these days.

Its a basket strainer. I usually only see them installed on condensate return systems for rather large steam boilers. Mueller is still making them.

I see that occasionally as a repair for cracked/split neoprene collars. Many of them fail before 12 years. Click to Enlarge 9.77 KB

Not if you're wearing a thong. I didn't think I'd have to remind anyone:

I respect Joe's concern about the foundation issues. While the earth doesn't move and shake around these parts, his area has some major limestone formations. They like to dissolve away, occasionally opening up to swallow buildings and vehicles.

Just so it's known, I'm not physically able to walk every roof there is. I also really don't care (anymore) if other inspectors walk roofs. I used to, because I also used to care how HIs were perceived as a profession. I had to give that up a while ago. I stopped counting quite a few years ago at 10,000. My career "complaints" are significantly less than 1/2 of one percent. It's not because I do less and disclaim more. I'm convinced it's probably because I go into, over and through more of a building than most in this biz. The other benefit is that folks typically are willing to pay me 70-100% more than other inspectors in the area. The argument that a non-roof walker hasn't missed any major issues, based on the lack of complaints or legal actions, might be hard to prove as well. "Just my humble observation, but neither customers nor RE agents nor builders know if the HI missed something. Also, in my humble experience, most HIs I've run across don't know they missed anything, either." -WJ "Lawsuits are expensive and time-consuming. It's almost always cheaper to fix problems out of one's own pocket than to hire counsel and go to court." -WJ Sure. How many do you want? It's not just roof issues. There's been flashings, chimneys, venting and decking issues that have been missed as well.

Walking roofs doesn't prove manliness. We have no fear of falling off roofs 'cuz we are men. "Men can take anything..." [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344">

I saw an old octopus furnace again today. I might be the only one that gets excited to see a >100 year furnace still doin' duty. If not, maybe someone else might find this 1897 publication interesting. http://www.apti.org/publications/Tech-A ... es1897.pdf

I think the general public might have a slightly better perception of home inspections if more inspectors walked more roofs. I particularly enjoy the views from atop 4-storey Queen Annes. Click to Enlarge 56.47 KB Click to Enlarge 59.68 KB

In NJ, there's a bill that will "require licensed home inspectors to report energy analysis for each home inspected for buyers in contemplation of purchase". http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills ... 630_I1.HTM I suggest reasonable improvements for every building inspected without an analysis or offering a "rating". What happens if a home has a perceived negative analysis? Will they make demands for the seller to correct? Can they bail out of the purchase? Will historic buildings be stigmatized? I'm confident the big money Realtor boards will help this bill die.

What more can be done to educate the consumers? Check this out: http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=14082 Not the article, but "Jeff's" comment at the end about referrals. Ignore the next comment. The writing indicates he might not have made it to 6th grade.

I'm always getting punctured. Old building crawlspaces are filled with broken glass, busted cast iron pipes and old boards with nails. If I was worried about my leather welding gloves getting nasty, machine-washable Kevlar would be my choice.

The gyp board is installed on top of the trusses and the structural sheathing on top of that. The trusses that are installed within 4' of the area separation walls are 5/8" shorter than the others to allow for the thickness of the gyp board.

It was always a dirt track (from 1915 through 1990). I never returned there after the '70s. After paving, speeds increased to 140 mph, resulting in horrible wrecks. Cycle races were even worse. I fondly remember the dirt/rubber dust. Dates were just thrilled when I'd take 'em to the speedway.

I grew up 15 miles from Flemington. I was there many Saturday nights in the summers of the '70s. http://www.3widespicturevault.com/FRONT ... ries_1.htm

There's a check valve on the discharge in Darren's picture. All require check valves. Some also have traps on the drain inside the tank. If you read the manufacturers' installation instructions, most state to connect the vent pipe to "the sewer vent system". Several have warnings not to use vent "devices". The practice of terminate the vent over the sink comes from the discharge pumps that don't have a reservoir tank. The one in our laundry room is installed the same as in the pic. Municipal inspectors around these parts don't seem concerned.

Why spend money gluing on more fake crap?

We've always given repeat customers (that ask) $25.00 off. It doesn't matter if their previous inspection was last week or 20 years ago. Our fee has probably gone up exponentially since their last inspection anyway.

More often then not,the moisture meter is used to illustrate to others what you already know.

I'm hoping WJ's comments are a joke. As Tom probably knows, it's rarely about kids eating paint, it's about the paint dust getting onto what ends up in their mouth. Here's some tips I've offered to my clients for over two decades: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advic ... risk.shtml

There's probably more than half a dozen threads that started with a very similar question. If you tabulate the replies, I'd bet the majority recommend the Protimeter Surveymaster. Here's just two of the threads: https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... ture+meter https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... ture+meter