John Kogel

To users of Word 2010, why not uninstall and install the old version, such as I have with MS Office XP? To the Mac users, I notice my son's buddies who are employed in the cyber world use Apple products a lot. They know what's up. Compatibility with other users, clients, etc has always been my concern.

I would say if it really does weigh close to 30 lbs, it is likely to be very similar to the real thing. Will what they ship match what's in the picture? It is not that much $ to take a gamble and try it. You could always resell it on eBay. []

Ahem. Not exactly priceless. They are offering it to me for $19.95. []I have a free resizer program called VSO something. It is not flawless, as it skips some pics if you feed it a large batch. The search continues.

Yes, I've seen that growth on moist crawlspace floors. I don't know if it needs light to grow. I have seen it in some very dark environments. It is an indicator of too much moisture in that crawlspace. If you call it a fungus, you would not be wrong. Call it a mold, and you will have to explain that it hasn't attacked the inhabitants of the house. Yet. [] I don't know if this variety will move up to the joists, but that would be an extreme case. The tiny balls may also be a fungus growth. There's one that I call a "lichen" that grows on windowsills that looks like that. We can see moisture seeping through the perimeter walls. There are issues with drainage to deal with there. In my climate, once the crawlspace gets a chance to dry out completely, those fungi would probably die off.

External hard drive with a USB connection to your PC. I load all my inspection info straight to it, best $100 you can spend.

I will guess Westinghouse "Novaline"?

To do that, would he be digging from the outside as well? In which case, he could lay conventional perimeter drainage around the outside, right? Then would there be any need for interior drains? Better to stop the water at the exterior, I would think.

I agree. He also wrote that the house was "bulldozer ready." Sounds like Ed's a bit of a grandstander. - Jim Katen, Oregon I think you got it. He got his name in the local rag, and may get a few leads from it. I thought about his crapper cartoon for a second yesterday, but this picture tells the tale well enough. Click to Enlarge 52.66 KB I suggested moving the closet wall, so I could have said the wall is "crowbar ready" and gotten a laugh. []

The first time I went to the quackopractor, it helped. He pushed whatever was out back in, thank you , Sir. I had been pulling coffee sacks full of oysters into my boat. They're a lot heavier when they're out of the water, eh? And talk about repetitive motions, try that biz for a year or five. The second and third visits, I came out hurting more than when I went in. Ok, that's enough of that. My back hurt off and on for about 3 years after that, but I learned to take better care of it, and got rid of my oystering habit.

My small contribution: Move just a little bit slower and bang your head a whole lot less. [] Repetitive motions in home inspections? I wish. Like tapping the deposit keys at the ATM machine, I could use more of that. [] Here's a tip. I use an extension ladder for 2 storey roofs. I've marked the two middle rungs, so I always grab it there and it's always balanced when I lift it off the truck roof rack.

Thanks, Jim. Anyone learning the trade would do well to read every word of that report. I have to admit, I skimmed parts of it. Some of your clients may do the same, but that would be their folly. A question: Why Black poly on the floor of the crawlspace? How is it better than clear?

Do you actually write "Recommend (you, the buyer, consider) insulating . . ." ??? That's horrible. What's wrong with "I recommend that you insulate the attic hatch?" My objection to the word recommend isn't the word itself, it's using it in such a way that you're telling the reader to recommend something. If you feel it's too strong, don't use it. I use it all the time and people don't seem to have any trouble understanding me. Most of my clients aren't stupid enough to think that they have to do something just because I phrase things in the imperative. Give your customers some credit and they might surprise you. I write "Recommend insulating ..." I put the words in brackets which are implied but not written. Why do I avoid using "I" in a report? Am asking you. [] An electrician was telling me why he hates home inspectors. Nice guy. [] Well, he was still talking to me after I pointed out all the bedroom outlets in the house he was wiring had hot and neutral reversed. He'd had his own house inspected and his wife was in tears. The buyers wanted all new vinyl windows and all the kitchen outlets replaced with GFCI units, etc, etc. They had taken the HI's recommendations and turned them into requirements. That is what I was getting at. No, I use "required" when "Service by a qualified heating technician is required". Thanks, Jim M. I started using "qualified" as well, like for working with Al branch circuits, "qualified" was better than "licensed". Yes, my reports are fairly stilted to read. Lists of comments is what they are. Fences posts - Rotted, leaning, Repair/replace as needed. Plumbing - Repair leaking faucet in main bath Report - resolve to make improvements Homework - none required. []

OK, how am I going to recommend anything without using "recommend"? How do I replace this: "(I) Recommend (you, the buyer, consider) insulating the attic hatch to reduce heat loss and etc." "Insulate the hatch" is too strong. Now the buyer is running back to the seller, the inspector says you, the sellers, need to insulate the hatch or we walk. "Recommended" become "required" pretty easy as it is. A few deals have fizzled because of the HI's recommendations turning into demands from the buyers.

And is that why you only hit reset once?[] Thought I'd add that little precaution.

I tend to Recommend. Maybe I should quit that. Not on the list. []

I could add the reasoning behind banning the practice - contamination of ground water. The sludge runs off into the water supply. If grey water systems were built to similar standards as septic systems, maybe there'd be no prejudice against them. The stinkiest ingredient in sewage is the fats and detergents, the grey part.

I'm with you, Jim. Furthermore, those gussets should be solid oak, in keeping with the heritage aspect. [] Nope, not serious.

If I saw this during an inspection, I would let a qualified builder or engineer design a repair. But, since this fellow is asking you directly, I suppose an opinion is called for.[] Plywood will not provide very much bearing surface on the ridge board. Lengths of 2X4 could be nailed or screwed in there, but the shingle nails will get in the way, and it will turn into a joke if this same worker trys to do it. I don't know. Is there a Simpson tie for that application?

Yeah, but if he'd turned his truck around, it would have been right side up. He just wasn't thinkin that day. []

Thank you, Bill. Is it a check valve or were you being careful not to say it is a check valve? [] Looking at the Meuller product list, I think it may be an early form of strainer, but there's no visible way to replace a filter, unless it can be pulled out through the bottom. Yes, we have pressure, a big lake up in the mountains. Plenty of rain. If the pipes can take it, 90 lbs of water pressure can spoil a person. I see a lot of old houses that have never been supplied with a pressure regulator.

Since the regulator was KaKa as well, I was able to just say "Replace leaking regulator and adjacent device". What is this object, patented by Mueller 50 or 60 years ago? The toilet flange looks like it was built to last. Is it lead, and would it be soldered to the copper pipe? Click to Enlarge 48.48 KB Click to Enlarge 48.37 KB

You wouldn't go with a one piece tub and shower unit? Now who's the hillbilly? [] BTW, Kurt. I see you let the chickens out this afternoon. I snapped a picture. Click to Enlarge 54.26 KB

Right, most new tubs would be acrylic and they don't perform well without the support. Lay the moist mortar down in garbage bags or use Scott's trick (maybe not so good, see below). It is not surprising that when we see them installed wrong, the drain is leaking from the flexing of the floor. This tub was in a newer $600G home. The attached shower was leaking at the drain. This one has some plywood reinforcement. The skirt is still the only part of the shell that rests on the floor. The trap is under the bit of insulation there. Click to Enlarge 36.08 KB

Yep, you want it to be level or sloping slightly towards the drain, but never the other way. I have better pics somewhere, but here are some pics under a mobile home tub. I saw the opening behind the water heater and got some graphic rodent dropping shots. They had the wallpaper and vinyl flooring in ahead of the tub. This one has enough clearance for a trap. Usually, the trap has to go below floor level. But that is a typical underside view. A 2X4 goes along the wall to support the wall flange. That 2X4 needs to be positioned at just the right height and it needs to be level. Click to Enlarge 34.67 KB Click to Enlarge 63.54 KB Oh, and a tip about tiling the floor. I have found the last two floors I've done in my place, the 13" tiles fit perfect with no cutting between the tub and the cabinet. A 6' X12' entry way, 13" tiles, same thing, no cutting. []

That's a good catch! I must say I would never pour water into a house like that unless I got an OK from the owner, but, hey, you found a problem.