
Inspectorjoe
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Everything posted by Inspectorjoe
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Split Faced Block Discontinued - Chicago
Inspectorjoe replied to Mike Lamb's topic in Exteriors Forum
Will, I'm curious about the Split Block Certified program you talk about on your site. This program, called "Split Faced Certified", is a complete regimen designed specifically to solve this problem. A subject building is inspected by a specially certified inspector. If there are any outstanding issues, these are specified and can be repaired by certified contractors with special expertise dealing with split block water intrusion problems. We have even engaged with some insurance companies and banks who can provide funding for the repairs. When the work is completed, the building is re-inspected and a certification issued. This certification should go a long way towards alleviating any fears that unit owners or prospective buyers would have about the building. This program is specific and is trademarked. Only certain inspectors, contractors and Architects have been trained and are qualified for this program. Look for the "Split Block Certified" seal to be sure that your building will have no problems. I googled "Split Block Certified", but strangely, it brought up only three results, all originating with you. For some reason, you also refer to the program as Split Faced Certified, so I googled that. That returned only two results, both originating with you. I'd love to know more about this program, but can't seem to find any info about it on the net. Who are some some of the inspectors, contractors and architects who are trained in it? Where did they get their training, and how does the certification process work? Thanks Click to Enlarge 16.58 KB -
One of my (many) regrets in life is not going to see Zappa perform. I've been a fan since high school, around '75-'76, when I borrowed Overnight Sensation (on 8-track) from my brother. I was in AC for a few days last month, but didn't go to House of Blues. I wonder if the quilt is still there. The panties thrown at Greg weren't pre-worn of course. The band has a huge, rabidly loyal following - and with good reason. They're immensely talented. They only do 60's covers, but they do them very, very well, and are always pushing the envelope. This clip is a good example. The woman who starts out on bass then moves to keyboards isn't a musician - she's their business manager. Her only musical background was some piano lessons when she was a kid. She learned to play the bass this past summer just for this song. For some reason, the camera stopped recording before the end of The End. Damn! The music scene here in the Lehigh Valley has always been diverse and very good. I think I'm going to pick up a hobby I dropped over 20 years ago - capturing video of local bands. Here's a video I shot last month in a parking lot at a garlic festival. All four members of the band are outstanding.
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U.S. housing map: When most homes were built.
Inspectorjoe replied to Bill Kibbel's topic in Open Topics
You can't go wrong with Bethlehem, John. It's only about three hours away from you. Be aware that it's overrun by tourists between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but if you come with your wife and she's not into old buildings, there's plenty of shopping opportunities to keep her occupied. I'd be more than happy to take you around. This is America's first industrial park: Download Attachment: 1 048.jpg 948.68 KB The 1741 Gemeinhaus is the largest 18th century log building in the United States: Click to Enlarge 65.97 KB Click to Enlarge 64.63 KB Click to Enlarge 115.6 KB Click to Enlarge 112.17 KB Plus, Bethlehem is a politically diverse city! Click to Enlarge 76.38 KB -
With Halloween almost here, I thought I'd share a video I made that features a zombie who has a knack for collecting women's panties. I don't get it. What's he got that I don't have?
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John, it's definitely the finish coat. I called a sharp local EIFS inspector and asked him about it. They are chopped strand Fiberglas fibers that were added for reinforcement. They usually don't show like that, but it's not a problem, other than being unsightly.
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Today, I had a 1925 house with Fiberglas-reinforced stucco. I don't know how old it is, but it's obviously not original. The fiber strands are uniformly exposed. I don't recall ever seeing this before. Does anyone know if it's a problem? Click to Enlarge 47.81 KB Click to Enlarge 78.05 KB
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40's & 50's music nostalgia question (Help needed)
Inspectorjoe replied to Erby's topic in Open Topics
http://www.historynet.com/home-sweet-ho ... e-song.htm http://www.kristinascarcelli.com/homesweethome.htm -
One final note on this. Since I no longer need to put the three section ladder inside the van, I bought a 28' Fiberglas two section ladder today. It's 15 pounds lighter. That will be helpful lifting it onto the van, but even more helpful when extending it, since that weight won't be way overhead. Anyway, I paid for it at the Beth-Allen Ladder showroom, then drove a few blocks to their warehouse to pick it up. Two guys were waiting outside with it when I pulled up. I got out as they were walking toward me with it when one of them says very seriously "I can't load this ladder onto this van". I knew immediately what he was getting at - Beth-Allen is a Weather Guard distributor. He was kidding of course. They looked at the Van Tech rack and went ape over it. They said it looked a whole lot better-built than the racks Weather Guard makes for mini vans. So if anyone is looking for a rack, I heartily endorse Van-Tech.
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I use a 6' photographer's monopod. I haven't needed anything longer. Like Maxsam, I get a lot of washed-out shots for no apparent reason. If a roof access hatch has a combo lock on it, I often find the combo written somewhere close by.
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Angie's List Background check?
Inspectorjoe replied to Ben H's topic in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)
Wow, now that's targeted advertising! Click to Enlarge 48.65 KB -
Angie's List Background check?
Inspectorjoe replied to Ben H's topic in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)
But then they wouldn't be able to charge you for it! -
Angie's List Background check?
Inspectorjoe replied to Ben H's topic in Open Discussion Forum (Chit-Chat)
I don't know what they're going to charge you for it, but for a consumer, it's pretty much useless unless it's a one-man operation: "Angie's List will require a background check on the owner, relevant manager or principal of the business organization appearing on Angie's List." So the plumber working in your house won't have undergone a background check, but his boss back in the office will have. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... 7864,d.dmg I loathe Angie's List. They'll never get a dime from me. http://blog.upboom.com/2010/12/28/6-rea ... slist-com/ -
I had decided to go with the Weatherguard rack (with the trademarked red tips!), but it wasn't available in black. I found what I wanted at Vantech - aluminum painted black. I ordered a set online from the manufacturer last Sunday night. When I came home mid-afternoon Tuesday, the box was on my porch. It was $329 and no shipping charge or sales tax. I'm guessing they're made in the US, in Brooklyn, but where they were made wasn't printed anywhere. It's really good-quality. The brackets are made to fit a flat roof - which my van doesn't have. Since they are made of aluminum, it was easy to bend them to fit the contour of where they were going. I ended up spending about 8 hours installing it. I could have done it faster, but I spent a LOT of time making sure everything was just right before drilling 8 - 7/16" holes in the roof of my new van. I bought the high profile model. That has the ladder about 10" above the roof, which allows the liftgate to open nearly all the way. It's a struggle to get the ladder up there and over the side brackets, but it will be easier when I dump the three section fiberglass ladder for a two piece 28' aluminum one. With a two section ladder, the liftgate won't open so far, but I'll still be able to open it enough to get stuff in and out. The rack comes with a stop for the front bar to prevent forward ladder movement and a guide for the rear bar to prevent sideways movement. A Velcro strap secures it. I bought a cable lock for added security from movement and theft. Click to Enlarge 66.82 KB Click to Enlarge 63.29 KB Click to Enlarge 62.3 KB Click to Enlarge 69.99 KB Click to Enlarge 64.84 KB
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When I've had weird stuff happen to electronics, I've had decent luck diagnosing the problems by Googling the symptoms.
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Franchise purchase or solo?
Inspectorjoe replied to sgarner's topic in Help Wanted - Businesses For Sale
Seeing only five words, I pictured you slumped over your keyboard, Mike. Seriously, I did. -
No, John, it would hit the windshield. I'm OK with giving up on the idea. That was reinforced yesterday when I had a house that was down a long driveway, below the road. I couldn't drive down because they were putting in a new septic system. It was a long way to carry my stuff. Another thing I didn't think of, was pulling the ladder out while parked on a city street. I'd have to either have an empty space behind me, or double park while I slid the ladder out the back.
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I was kidding, of course. I even positioned the van so people driving past wouldn't be able to see it while I took the picture.
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instant radon screening?
Inspectorjoe replied to Les's topic in Indoor Air Quality (I.A.Q.) and Mold Forum
Yeah, I'm sure the guy sees no irony with the name of his company: Integrity Home Inspections -
instant radon screening?
Inspectorjoe replied to Les's topic in Indoor Air Quality (I.A.Q.) and Mold Forum
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
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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.
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Home Inspection Software
Inspectorjoe replied to bpetchauer's topic in Computers & Reporting Systems Forum
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. -
Home Inspection Software
Inspectorjoe replied to bpetchauer's topic in Computers & Reporting Systems Forum
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.
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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.