Marc

I've tried it too, Bryan. The Sun Systems 'Open Office' family of applications attempts to duplicate MS Office. I've both, MS Office 07' and Open Office on a Vista platform. For me, Open Office isn't quite as good as MS Office, some features are lost, but if you'd like to try it Jim, it's a free download. There's a version for nearly every platform, so you can try it now. I plan to ditch MS for Mac eventually, and was thinking of depending on Open Office at first, then buying Mac apps if I didn't like it. I very nearly put a .38 hollow point thru my Vista a couple times, but after 18 months and a couple grand in IT fees, it's tolerable and I can finally enjoy the features that Vista has. Nevertheless, I'll be upgrading to 7 soon. Marc

I use a thermocouple based thermometer. The infrareds are subject to various emissivity rates and I don't judge them accurate enough to check AC temperature differentials. Marc

I didn't think of it until now but a reason to not delay the repair of that vent stack is that it rains into that pipe with each rainfall. Tape might not serve very well. Marc

I had one in which the first trap, as you see in the photo, was installed backwards and nearly reached to the underside of the basin. A little standing water was always visible inside of it. Is called 'Tribal Construction Methods'. Marc

If it's a lead roof jack then you'll need to straighten the lead so the pipe can come up. Feel queasy about mounting a steep, snow covered roof? That's contracting! Gotta love it. Marc

I agree, so what's it doing on it's back? I mean, we don't have people that are made THAT stupid, do we? Marc

Wow! It almost looks monolithic. Marc

I often write up my concerns about questionable design when I suspect them, but in this case, there's too many factors to have a single 'one size fits all' boiler plate. Thermal stratification in multi story ceilings can really throw a kink in an HVAC designer's calculations but solutions are available. Just my opinion. Marc

On the bell curved rakes, the direction of rainwater flow is at an angle to the shingle, up to 90 degrees off, which violates a cardinal rule in shingling. The contractor must have flashed each and every rake in order to make sure that the water would shed properly. That's a lot of copper. Marc

Then I guess that Holmes should have simply refused to participate in a staged, media engineered 'bashing' of home inspectors. He should even have countered this particular CBC video by using his considerable media influence to educate the public on the major current realities of the home inspection profession in his province. This would serve to guide future clients on identifying competent inspectors. It would also further his credibility as seen by the public, advance the profession for us all and....make a few friends, and fewer enemies, among the brethren. Marc

I asked my wife to listen to the video, since I can't comprehend any sounds that come from a speaker, to confirm what I thought was true. As a result, I now perceive Holmes as dissing only the 4 inspectors who did so poorly, not the entire profession. They were fair game. I've since deleted all of my previous posts in this thread. Marc

It was a shock to me to hear my cardiologist recommend a few months ago to enjoy a glass of wine every evening. A Rx for alcohol....unthinkable. Marc

It's a slow day when it comes to this. Marc

Proficiency in English generally commands respect. That's why I don't get any. Marc

Looks like we've got another long thread in the making. We need another quietus.... Bonnie!!! Marc

How so? Are you referring to the production of ozone by the electrical sparking of the commutator brushes on your power tools? Lightning does produce ozone, if you recall. Marc

Others may disagree, as they have in the past, but for me, this was the fastest 'quietus' that I've yet to see on this forum. Caoimhín's post is much appreciated. Marc

A habit of mine when I get a house that is about 75 yrs or older is to check the exterior for paint that has long since peeled away, especially on window frames. If there's no rot, as I often find, I mention in the report that the wood that was used to construct the dwelling is of a quality that hasn't been on the market for several decades. That high density, old growth lumber is highly resistant to decay. Subterranean termites, which are rampart in these parts, do not like it. When the most destructive hurricanes come, the houses remaining are often these older ones. They are simply too heavy to be bothered by hurricane force winds. If I ever purchase another house, it will either be built new to my specs or it will be over 100 years old. I don't like the ones that homeowners have laid their hands on. They insult the original builders. Sorry Phillip, I see only a paint line in the 2nd photo and characteristic deterioration of the interior wall finish not uncommon to balloon framed dwellings. Marc

Does that mean that these aerosol cans of room deodorizer have ozone in them? Marc

Starting to sound like the military brass around here with all of the acronyms. GMTA? I can't figure that one out. Marc

Yesterday's inspection of a 30 year old, wood framed, slab supported dwelling revealed spotty but severe corrosion on some copper fresh water lines that were stubbing up through the slab. No vinyl tubing protects these stub ups. Additionally, one failure of a copper line seems to have occurred already about a year ago. PEX pipe was used to replace the isolated run of copper. Question is this: Is this not similar to the elemental sulphur that some claim is the culprit in Chinese drywall? How did this corrosive end up in concrete 30 years ago, assuming that's what the problem here is? The tabby is just pitching for a position as assistant inspector. Click to Enlarge 46.87 KB Click to Enlarge 50.49 KB Marc

I'm not well versed in legal issues so perhaps someone could explain to me why jury members would be more educated, knowledgeable and experienced than an arbiter? Is an arbiter more expensive than defense attorneys plus court costs? Marc

Lots of French-Canadians here suck the crawfish heads but not I. I'm one of the few conservative ones. Just don't get between me and my hog head cheese. Marc

Gumbo? You're from Oregon and you know what Gumbo is? Marc Pardon the thread drift. What was the original thread anyway?

I never could understand why closed cell foam was not a good choice for insulating dwellings. It insulates very well and also does not absorb or transmit moisture so why is it not an excellent choice? Marc