Tom Corrigan

How about the IRC? P2720.1 Access panel. A door or panel of sufficient size shall be installed to provide access to the pump for repair and/or replacement. Tom Corrigan

Jodi, The main disconnect(s) is the one that is connected to the service entrance cable. Don't overthink the question. Tom Corrigan

FWIW, the NYS DOS was being pressured by the PE folks to include in the SOP and the COE (which 2 years after licensing we still don't have) a prohibition against specifying a scope of cure, and a cost to cure. The licensing law dumbed down the profession lots, this is just another attempt to dumb thing down further. A legislator is going to have to get screwed before things get better. Tom Corrigan

Why do we home inspectors think that we need to tell our client to have something fixed, and tell them who should fix it? For more than 30 years I've reported what the defects are. That's it, the Jack Web approach. I guess New York is "special". There is no State licensing of contractors; not builders, plumbers, not electricians, not nobody! Anybody can do anything. Some municipalities sell a business license. Most of them are meaningless. FWIW, the electrician forums were buzzing when NY licensed home inspectors. If they only knew how meaningless the licensing is. Tom Corrigan

Looks like sparkey installed multiwire circuits to the one and only leg. Tom Corrigan

However the vent is for the neighbors unit. Probably should have been increased to 3" diameter to prevent frost related closure also. Tom Corrigan

If you get any flack, send those pictures to the licensing board and the electrical inspectors oversight board. Ask them for their comments. Tom Corrigan

Na, it's none of the above. The mason started from the bottom, then used a full section at the top. The "missing" section is less that a full length. This keeps the mason from having to cut a section. See it all the time, doesn't make it right. Tom Corrigan

Chad, In NYS, and also in other IRC States, if the AHJ says OK! Tom C

Chad, From the IRC: R907.3 Recovering versus replacement. New roof coverings shall not be installed without first removing existing roof coverings where any of the following conditions occur: 1. Where the existing roof or roof covering is water–soaked or has deteriorated to the point that the existing roof or roof covering is not adequate as a base for additional roofing. 2. Where the existing roof covering is wood shake, slate, clay, cement or asbestos–cement tile. 3. Where the existing roof has two or more applications of any type of roof covering. 4. For asphalt shingles, when the building is located in an area subject to severe hail damage according to Figure R907.3. Some local AHJ's use #1 above to prevent any layover. Tom C

Gary, It would be better to refer to the standard that applies. That's defensible. Picking one on your own isn't. Tom C.

Gary, Thanks for the kind words. NY uses a modified version of the 2000 I Codes. We are not presently using the 2006 version. This is expected to come this summer. Check the ICBO site for a copy of the I Codes that include NYS modifications. Tom Corrigan

Gary, At the risk of sounding like a smart ass, the section is 605.10 and it does not apply to detached 1-2 family, detached.... etc. (see the exception under 101.2) Tom Corrigan

Nope. Only relative to DWV connections. Does 605.9 really apply to pressure pipe? Tom Corrigan

This is a flow switch. It allows power to the garbage disposer only when there is water flow at the faucet. Tom Corrigan

The New York State Home Inspector licensing law is more than sad! The law became effective 1/1/2006, there is still no standard of practice. Also of interest: The state accepted a nonproctored online test as part of the path for a grandfathered license. Several state lawyers were presented with thier "certification" during a meeting. Thier comment was "woops, well it's too late now". NYS developed thier own HI test because there are state employees that write tests. The difficulty of the test questions is adjusted up and down based on the pass/fail ratio. The test is not a demonstration that the applicant posses some recognized minimum level of knowledge. The senate sponser was a sales lady. NYS licensing has not been good for the consumer Tom Corrigan

NY allows ACM disturbance by the owner occcupant of a one family. All others must have a License and follow the NYS DOL regulation. The siding on that barn would need to be removed by a Licensed person, unless of course the barn became a one family first. Then the owner/occ could remove it. Tom Corrigan

Joe, Is that cement-asbestos siding? Can you just demolish a building with asbestos in Pa.? Tom Corrigan

Scott, This standard NYS code stuff. Come to the next ASHI meeting and I'll explain it. Tom Corrigan 518-281-7007

I will not revise a report. I will write an additional letter, but only at the direction of the client. The sales people don't direct my work. It sounds like the agent should be calling the attorney for the buyer. Tom Corrigan

Don't confuse the terms townhouse and condo. The term Condo relates to a form of ownership. You can own a single family detached condo. Fire separation typically must be added to a building when the use of the building, or portion of the building changes. Fire separation is a code requirement and not a function of ownership. Tom Corrigan

The article refers to unlicensed inspectors. There shouldn't be any per the law. The path to licensing is easy and getting easier. The state accepted an online and nonproctored national association test, in concert with a claim of 100 inspections as adequate for a "grandparenting" path to a license. It's real easy for a sales lady to find a cooperative licensed inspector. Tom Corrigan

This is a common and warrantable defect in fiberglass matt roof shingles from 1985-1991. Further info is available at: http://www.inspect-ny.com/welcome.htm#roofing Tom Corrigan

As I said before, and things may have changed, I helped develop the original form. We at ASHI called the inspection a "partial inspection". The need for the form related to a change in the Texas laws that required some attempt at discovery of defects by the seller, or maybe it was California, it was many moons ago. Anyway, my company stopped doing the relo HI work. We continued to do the engineering inspections for the relo companys untill we caught one of them removing a paragraph from a stamped report. They supplied it to an end user who called us for the HI. Oh well, they paid the 28k rather than deal with the DAs office. Maybe things have changed, my guess is not. Tom Corrigan

I provided input to the ERC during their developement of the ERC Home Inspection form. It was clear that they really don't want information, but rather they want to have a document indicating that the made an effort to discover defects. Part of their strategy involves locating a blind newby to perform the work. They do this by not paying much. Do the right thing and find other work. Tom Corrigan