Inspectorjoe

Yeah, I'm sure the guy sees no irony with the name of his company: Integrity Home Inspections

He may be using something like this. Edit Charlie beat me to it.

I think I've come up with a better idea than cutting a foot off two of the sections. I was over-thinking this, but then remembered Thoreau's advice: simplify, simplify. The solution came to me in a rare moment of lucidity. What do you think?[:-graduat Click to Enlarge 57.88 KB

I see they do make clamp-on models. I missed that when I was looking a while back. I wasn't all that impressed with them. I saw that they recommend removing them before going through an automatic car wash. That would be real handy. And unless I missed it, I didn't see vertical extension accessories. I'd feel more comfortable with the ladder butted up against something solid. I decided to go with this one. I was more than a little leery of the negative aura it might give off, but those fears subsided when I saw this benefit was the first one in the list of features: "Van Solutions Trademarked Red Tips tell everyone that you work with the best." I won't be mistaken for a Ferris wheel greaser with those trademarked red tips! I used similar straps with my Mazda, Charles. They worked great, but were a minor pain to use. Plus, if I didn't twist the bottom part of the front one at least a dozen turns, it would start vibrating at around 25 MPH, and by the time I hit highway speed, the sound was so loud it was painful. John, I spent a half hour trying different configurations. It just won't fit with the passenger seat in. One problem, is the length was listed at 11 feet, but when I got it, I found the actual length was 11 feet, six inches. It would need nearly every inch from the back door to the firewall. It wouldn't pay to separate the sections. If I can access a roof with one of my smaller Little Giants, I wouldn't even need the 28' I don't see me bringing it along more than twice a week. My wife suggested the dolly idea. I'd have to turn in my man card if I admitted that she came up with a good idea that escaped me.

I bought Inspect Express three years ago this December. I went with it because of how I could make the report look. I have yet to begin using it. I'm still using Inspectvue. I know Inspectvue gets a lot of knocks, but it is a super-stable program. I once had it on three machines. I'm down to using a version that I last updated in 2007, on a nearly 11 year old laptop. I can't update it or install it on a different computer because I haven't paid the subscription fee since 2007. That's how long I've been been planning on dumping it. I'm just so familiar with it, I keep putting off the change. I've needlessly put myself in a bad position. I've always figured that if I had a hardware failure, I could always pay the subscription fee and install it in a new machine, but with their reputation for bad service, that probably isn't the best backup plan to have.

I've only heard good things about HIP, but lately I wonder how much of it is spontaneous and how much is the result of incentives. On Facebook, Dominic is giving away three passes to an upcoming Las Vegas inspection conference. To be eligible for the drawing, you just need to leave a positive review of HIP Mobile for Android or iPhone at the app store. That's not right.

That's a good Idea, Kurt. I'd be comfortable using Velcro straps in a belt and suspenders application.

Even if I agreed with that statement, it wouldn't be a factor. I'm concerned with functionality, not snob appeal. That's a very impressive rack (500 lb. capacity with two rails). Unfortunately, the Grand Caravan doesn't have gutters. I think the last mini van that had gutters was the Chevy Astro Van. Yakima and Thule make really solid stuff, but if I remember right, they all mount to the original factory racks. I bought a van without a rack. Has anybody ever used those Velcro straps? In my mind I know they work, but I can also see me being a nervous wreck driving down the highway at 70 MPH with them.

I need some advice on ladder racks. I know many of the brethren here have used them most if not all of your working lives. I've only carried ladders on top for about 3 years with my Nissan Frontier, and recently for about three months on my now-retired-from-inspection-use Mazda MPV. A while back, I posted about what I thought was a great idea: buy a three section 28' extension ladder and carry it inside the van after taking the seat out. The only van with enough interior length was the Dodge Grand Caravan, so I bought one, although it definitely wouldn't have been my first choice without that special need. In hindsight, I should have checked to make sure I could find someone to take the passenger seat out. I struck out. One of the techs at the wheelchair van conversion shop near me was nice enough to show me how to do it, saying it was pretty easy. You just cut the wires, put an ohm meter on the pairs, then solder the proper resistor across them. When I crawled under my seat to start, I discovered that there were a lot more wires than he said there would be. I wasn't sure I wanted to possibly fry the brand-new computer in an attempt to fool it into thinking the seat was still there. What sealed the deal for abandoning that idea was using the ladder for a few months. I knew it would be heavy, so that was no surprise. I didn't take into account that I wouldn't always be parking right in front of the house. Having to lug that thing in the summer heat, hundreds of feet from the road, on sloping land and across fences with locked gates was one little detail I hadn't thought of. So I'm going to sell the 3-section Fiberglas ladder and buy a conventional 2-section aluminum ladder. So now I need a roof rack. I have it narrowed down to two. This fancy rack seems like it will be very quick and easy to use. Put the ladder on it, move the lever to clamp it in place and I'm done. The advantage to this simple crossbar rack is a little less wind resistance (I won't carry a ladder all the time) and making it much easier to clean snow and ice off the roof. The disadvantage is taking longer to strap the ladder down. It only took me two or three minutes using ratcheting straps on the Mazda, but just moving a lever sounds really appealing. A big time-saver would be these Velcro straps, but frankly, using Velcro to strap down a ladder seems a little bit crazy. Below is the van. All thoughts are welcome! Click to Enlarge 69.94 KB

From the same house. The original built-in icebox: Click to Enlarge 41.63 KB It's built-in as opposed to freestanding, so the ice man can load it from outside - no wet floor from dripping ice. Click to Enlarge 61.09 KB I live for days like today.

That's it! Sharp Rotary Ash Receiving System

Nope.

Sort of - temporary storage.

I had a really cool house today - a 3,375 sf 1920 craftsman style bungalow that was in as close to original condition as you'll ever find. I found a triangular metal plate in the basement floor slab, within the outline of a large circle. In the center of the circle is a pointer, with the numbers 1 through 8. Opposite the plate is a small square that has been filled in with concrete. The blue thing in the background is a ten year old boiler. Click to Enlarge 30.26 KB Click to Enlarge 34.45 KB Click to Enlarge 34.53 KB Click to Enlarge 49.01 KB Removing the triangular plate reveals eight triangular metal bins. At least one is filled with water. Click to Enlarge 46.25 KB Click to Enlarge 42.28 KB This is the center of the assembly, under the indicator. The narrow ends of the bins surround it. Click to Enlarge 43.84 KB I've never seen anything like it before. I had no idea what it was, then it suddenly hit me what it was. "Of course, now it makes sense!" What is this?

I may be the odd duck, but I don't mind some small talk - in fact, I often initiate it. I like to build a rapport with my clients. We're going to be together for 3 or more hours - we may as well get to know each other. It pays back if a report is late or if I might miss something. It also boosts referrals. At least half of my inspections is repeat business from past clients or referrals from them. Although I'm definitely not a multi-tasker, I don't find it distracting. I simply pause my thinking for a moment or two. As far as people arriving late, I don't mind it a bit, in fact I often welcome it. I don't like people getting there early. I try to arrive about 15 minutes early. I hate when the buyers are already there when I arrive. I hate it even more when they realize who I am and immediately get out of their car and walk towards mine. I'm often not ready to get out of the car and get started, but I guess it would be considered rude to just stare at them through the closed driver's side window. On a side note, I try not to arrive more than 15 minutes before the stated start time. If the seller is told the inspection starts at 9 AM, it's just not right to show up at 8:30. I also hate when the buyer insists on following me around on my initial get-aquainted tour of the house. This is after I explain that I need to do it alone so i can concentrate on and remember a number of different things, and they won't be missing any of the inspection. The same goes for the roof. I make it clear that I won't be commenting on it until I finish looking at it, and at that time, I'll go over everything and show the pictures I took. Inevitably, once a month or so, I'll have someone follow me outside, and as soon as I climb the ladder and step off, shout up to me "How's the roof?" That drives me nuts.

I received a sample in the mail the other day. I put it on for a few minutes, but it felt like it would be too hot to wear for an extended period of time. Maybe I'll give it a try on my next yucky crawl space.

For years I've wanted to tour Battleship New Jersey, which is permanently docked at Camden New Jersey. Since I'd probably feel guilty taking a day off to do a solo tour, I figured it would make a good outing with my wife and two grandsons. It was every bit as fascinating as I thought it would be. On a bit of a sad note, although we went on a nice Saturday in June, there were very few visitors. It makes me wonder about its long-term viability. The New Jersey served in WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. Nearly everything about it intrigues me - how something so complex was designed without the aid of computers, how it was constructed, how all the different systems operated independently but also as a whole, and how it could be decommissioned and mothballed, only to be recommissioned and brought to life again (several times). I also can only wonder how something so single-purposely built can be adapted to use as a museum. I'd love to know just how they adapted the mechanical systems for it's new use. It had to be a gargantuan task just to figure out what goes where, what controls what, how to isolate unneeded water, waste and power systems, etc. Anyone within driving distance of Camden should consider a visit. You won't be disappointed. There's also a Battleship North Carolina, docked in Wilmington, for anyone in that area. This fall, I think I'll make a visit to the Intrepid in New York. I have some pictures on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joe.hancaviz/m ... 360&type=3

I have to admit, I've never taken notice to that - never really thought about it. You have my curiosity piqued and it'll be on my radar in the future.

That's not something I would comment on.

Beautiful stairway! I find one of the best fringe benefits of this job is the ability to see cool buildings and components up-close and personal. Here's a 1924 gem I did last week. It looks like an idyllic day, but the temperature at the time I took the picture was an even 100 degrees, with high humidity to boot. The heat last week damn near killed me. Click to Enlarge 77.54 KB

The level of craftsmanship is breathtaking. The house is in nearly original condition, inside and out, including the original wall surfaces in the dining room. The only room that's not original is the kitchen, but the remodeling was done tastefully, and they kept the dumbwaiter and servant call indicator box. Kibble probably sees places like this all the time, but for me, I need to remind myself to concentrate on the job at hand and not just stand and stare at stuff in awe. Click to Enlarge 36.6 KB Click to Enlarge 54.56 KB Click to Enlarge 48.88 KB Click to Enlarge 55.86 KB Click to Enlarge 32.85 KB

It does, but it's not. That's an interior wall. The perimeter foundation is a double row of what looked like 10" block. I've never see that before, but then I don't recall ever seeing a block foundation supporting solid stone walls. Click to Enlarge 33.76 KB Click to Enlarge 70.85 KB

The system was intact, but the electric was disconnected. The suction and discharge lines were threaded steel pipe. I sure would have liked to see and hear it run. Click to Enlarge 56.64 KB Click to Enlarge 55.95 KB Click to Enlarge 37.28 KB Click to Enlarge 25.77 KB

I assume this machinery was installed at the time the house was built in 1929. Who knows what it is? Click to Enlarge 50.21 KB

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.