mcramer

Look in your Electrical Code Check at the drawing of an island counter top. P. 22

You've already answered your own question. It's leaked in the past. It's poorly repaired. It was poorly installed in the first place. It's leaking again. Seriously, what more do you need to know? What type of underlayment was there? Are the tiles on battens? How are they fastened? What was the headlap? Were all the penetrations flashed to the surface of the tile with lead?

Try calling an electrical supply house. Your electrician should be able to track them down for you.

You need a tombstone style surface mounted receptacle box. They are available.

Try this with your Suretest. Test 10 receptacles in your house with your Suretest. Test the same receptacles again the next day. Compare the results.

Licensing is great! Just ask the people in Mass. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... consumers/

It's technically incorrect, but I can't in my wildest dreams, imagine this causing any problem whatsoever. From a functional standpoint, it's equivilent to installing the grounding bar. I would ignore it and move on.

Congratulations. You actually want to base your decisions on knowledge, rather than arm-waving opinion. You'll find that electrical systems are damn safe, especially compared to other risks in the home. Try the NFPA. They keep detailed stats on the causes of fires. http://www.nfpa.org/Research/index.asp

Mitch, you are trashing ASHI. Your statements are simply not true. As I know you're an honest fellow, I'm sure you believe them to be true in your own mind. Let me gently suggest that you are forming opinions without knowing all of the facts. I'm just sorry to see you fall into that black hole. Now let's get back to something constructive.

Hogwash. Any member can attend any meeting of the Board, or other meetings for that matter. Hogwash again. ASHI is the ONLY organization that has a staff position devoted to chasing down violators. But as you know, that kind of stuff is just about impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. But at least ASHI has tried. Hogwash. No, one person was kicked off the forum for bad behavior. Believe me, there is still plenty of questioning that goes on there. Your choice, of course. And I can respect that. But please don't go trashing ASHI or its members by saying things that are not true. Love and kisses,

Posted on Fri, Apr. 30, 2004 It's not all about me. ASHI makes stuff like this article happen, every day, all around the country. If you can't see the value in that, I guess you can't really see any reason to belong to any organization, because there's nothing in it for you. From the San Jose Mercury News: Home inspection crucial in buying process DESPITE HOT MARKET, SKIPPING STEP NOT ADVISABLE By Caille Millner Mercury News Home inspector Roger Robinson has a tip for home buyers: Stop looking at the paint. ``That's one of the biggest mistakes my clients make,'' said Robinson, who owns the Star Inspection Group in Oakland. ``They get caught up in the house's new paint job or whatever looks good to the naked eye, when they need to be concerned about the foundation and the electrical wiring.'' At the very least, home buyers need to take the crucial step of walking through the home on which they've made a successful bid with someone like Robinson before they buy. This process is known as a home inspection, and it's a crucial step in the home buying adventure. It's also a step many buyers are tempted to skip in the Bay Area's heated housing market, where homes are often snapped up within 24 hours of being listed. But in a housing rush, getting an excellent inspection with the right inspector is even more important. A pre-purchase home inspection is a complete physical exam of a home's safety and working order. The inspector will evaluate the house's foundation, wiring, roofing, framing, drainage, plumbing and heating, along with important fixtures such as the fireplaces, stairs, ceilings and floors. It's the buyer's chance to learn exactly what she is purchasing before completing the deal -- and to give her the chance to back out in case the house turns out to be a lemon. ``Home inspectors are the buyer's best friends,'' said Stephen Gladstone, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. ``We can discover things about the house that the average buyer would never find out from an agent or seller, and we can tell them what to do about it.'' But the buyer only gets that magic from a good home inspector, so it's imperative to pick the right one. The two most common options are to get a recommendation, usually from a real estate agent or a friend, or to find one yourself. If you decide to go with a recommendation, it's important to do the same research you would if you were looking for an inspector on your own. That means asking questions and checking credentials. ``In every instance, you need to know how many years the inspector's been in business, what he has in the way of background and experience, and what kind of specialties he has,'' Gladstone said. ``If possible, get a list of references -- and call them.'' And don't forget to check with professional associations. An experienced inspector should be part of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) or the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA). These organizations enforce standards of ethics and provide continuing education for their members. They're also great ways to find experienced inspectors yourself. For an inspector to get full membership in ASHI, for example, he must complete at least 250 inspections. Both organizations have Web sites that enable buyers to locate local members. The inspection generally lasts between two and four hours and costs $200 to $500. Buyers should be present -- it's the perfect opportunity to ask specific questions. Some of the most common red flags include any problem having to do with moisture (which spells rot, mold and water damage down the road) or sanitation (especially plumbing, which can be very expensive to fix). If your house has major problems, you should ask the seller to fix them, for a break on the sales price -- or even to get out of the purchase, if your contract allows it. ``If you don't ask, you won't get it,'' said Don Norman, president-elect of ASHI. ``And you must negotiate -- you don't want to buy a house with major structural problems that you can't afford to fix.'' That possibility is the reason it's vital to get an inspection, even in a crazed housing market like the Bay Area's. Some buyers, feeling a need to make their bids stand out, are offering to take houses ``as is'' and forgoing inspections. That's a mistake, Norman said. Robinson, who has weathered 25 years of the inspection business and many different real estate cycles, encourages buyers to look at a home inspection as part of the long view. ``Even now, buyers need to be aware of what they're purchasing and be prepared to ask the sellers for high-cost improvements,'' he said.

You'll get it. Eventually. Think Borg.

Why recommend ASHI? Q. Why do you always recommend home buyers hire inspectors who belong to the American Society of Home Inspectors? I am a professional home inspector, formerly a home builder, who chooses not to become an ASHI member because of their outrageous requirements. There are several other excellent home inspection organizations which have equally competent inspector members. Does ASHI pay you? ASHI does not pay me to recommend their fine national organization. Non-ASHI members like you often complain that I don't mention their home inspection organizations. There are many inspectors who are not ASHI members. However, I know of no other nationwide group that has such high membership standards. Do you? Unfortunately, some realty agents often recommend non-ASHI home inspectors who are known as easy non-deal killers. But home buyers need tough, honest inspectors who will thoroughly inspect homes and report to buyers the facts discovered. REAL ESTATE QUESTION? Questions should be mailed to Robert Bruss, 251 Park Road, Burlingame, CA 94010. Or, to e-mail questions, go to www.bobbruss.com and click on "Ask Bob a Question." Robert Bruss email this print this

Something like 40 tons of asbestos come into the country every year in products imported from other countries. If it isn't glass, metal, plastic or wood, it could contain asbestos.

It has nothing to do with a "marketing program." You would have to know the unique individuals involved in order to understand it. When I was President of ASHI, I visited many Chapters, including Gulfstream. That was the only visit where people were actually somewhat rude to me. Not everyone, but just a few.

system 1 unsealed roof are still being applied in other parts of FL (aside from SE FL) Some are system 2, which is sort a hybrid; sealed underlayment, but tiles adehered with fasteners.

Just curious. For what?

http://www.hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/99/991111.html Florida Solar Energy Council: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/pubs/energyqa/q8.htm

That's a common misconception. Recent research shows that if you eliminate ventilation of the attic, it increases the surface temperature of the roof by 2-3 degrees. Many of our code requirements are based on "that's the way we always do it" rather than knowledge derived from research.

OK, but you didn't ask why before. The reason is that the neutral is grounded at the service and is at the same potential as the earth. As you get away from the grounding point, the potential to earth increases, therefore you need to insulate it to protect you from getting a shock. P.S. Don't waste a lot of time reading code books. They're basically inscrutable.

Where does it say that in the NEC? (Hint: It doesn't)

The neutral can be bare up to the main disconnect, even today. You guys should buy a code book.

The main issue with this will be water penetration. When water inevitably leaks behind the stucco over wood frame, how does it get out? It doesn't. I've seen several houses where this condition has caused structural damage, water inside the house and the dreaded M word. It's a fundamental flaw.

Those are asbestos cement shingles. Wired on. The underlayment is rotted away by now, which is why it's leaking. It's at least 50 years old. Tell your client to plan on additional disposal costs when it's replaced. Around here it adds about a grand to the cost of replacing a roof.

Why don't you just send me the $134.00. I won't even charge you any tax. My previous post was all voice recognition.