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Paul MacLean

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  1. Paul MacLean
    Precisely why I don't do reinspections! I tell'em to use licensed, qualified people and get receipts, warranties, etc. The repair person is responsible for his work and he just bought all the liability. When I was doing reinspections a proper repair was a thing of wonder. It almost never happened.
  2. Paul MacLean
    Around here (no really hard freezes to worry about) that valley would most likely have been galvanized metal. Those shingles are a roof leak.
  3. Paul MacLean
    Donald, thanks for the info. I have only seen PEX in Austin a couple times, but I'll interested in the outcome.
  4. Paul MacLean
    The paint in the panel is another no-no.
  5. Paul MacLean
    This was posted on the ASHI board. It's a video about NACHI's certification. YEAH! Click on the home inspection piece. KDKA news video about home inspector "certifications"
  6. Paul MacLean
    OK...here's the obvious question. Does anyone have any good boilerplate for addition to an HI contract to protect us from unreported illegal drug activity? Thanks!
  7. Paul MacLean
    Interesting information, but well beyond the "Scope of Inspection" for this non-technical guy! If I'm concerned enough to do this kind of testing, I'm going to refer it to an HVAC contractor.
  8. Paul MacLean
    http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05162.html
  9. Paul MacLean
    I learned a long time ago to never tell a client how long you think the roof will last. If you say 3 to 5 years, all the client hears is 5 years. Then when the roof starts leaking in 4 years, the client calls swearing you said it was going to last 5 years. I simply tell them they are going to have to replace the roof "immediately", "in the near future" or "in the foreseeable future." The bad ones get the Walter Jowers tag line..."the sooner the better." Works for me.
  10. Paul MacLean
    For a long time I wrote up fireplace air vents that are higher than the firebox for the same reasons Jim mentioned. Down here I frequently see them vented through the side of the chase above the roof when the fireplace is on an interior wall and you can't easily run the vent directly outside. Then I finally found manufacturer's instructions that said it was OK to run the vent above the roof. Since then I quit hassling everyone and don't mention it anymore. Unless it's early in new construction, it's something that isn't going to get changed anyway.
  11. Paul MacLean
    Rosie's License No. says she been in business no more than a year or so. Her prices are typical of newbies in the Austin area. She hasn't learned yet that she needs to add a surcharge for older properties. An 1800 sq. ft. 2002 home inspects a lot easier than an 1800 Sq. ft. 1975 house, both on slab.
  12. Paul MacLean
    A little late, but I'll jump in here. Probably 8 years ago while doing a final inspection on new construction, I filled the whirlpool tub, started the pump and noticed the water level in the tub start to drop. Almost immediately a voice from the kitchen below hollers, "Y'all know you got water coming through the ceiling down here?" It seems that an AC tech happened to walk in at just the right moment. Since it was new construction, I never heard anything about it after I left the site. I frequently use this story when telling people why they need to have new construction inspected.
  13. Paul MacLean
    I'm not Donald, but here in Austin I see both 15amp and 20amp lighting circuits. It's not a code thing. I presume some electricians just prefer to stick with 12ga wire and 20amp breakers.
  14. Paul MacLean
    Reminds me of one I saw about a year ago. (Sorry no pics) Three year old house. In the subpanel the neutral cable was simply stuck in the neutral bus lug with no screw. The cable was loose as a goose. How they went three years without a problem I'll never know.
  15. Paul MacLean
    And sometimes, it's even provided! What I'm seeing more often than not is a tiny little hatch that provides access to the GFCI outlet that the pump is plugged into, but no motor/pump access. I regularly see whirlpool tubs that have no ready access under the tub. They put marble fronts on the tub that are fully caulked and sealed. The fronts can be removed, but that doesn't fit my definition of readily accessible without damaging surfaces.
  16. Paul MacLean
    Donald, call your favorite Rabbi. I know, I know...I don't know one either.
  17. Paul MacLean
    I get on every roof I can, and like Kurt, I think you're going to miss stuff if you don't. Unfortunately, I have a gradually worsening balance problem and I can't get on steep roofs anymore. Social Security is going to send me a check in about a year. When they do I will quit walking roofs and quit inspecting. Roofs are too important to short change in an inspection. Just my nickels worth.
  18. Paul MacLean
    Ditto everything above. I just want to add that you need to make sure the unbacked batts under the subfloor are adequately secured. I frequently see batts on the ground in crawl spaces. A well secured nylon net or the like should do the job.
  19. Paul MacLean
    Life gets a whole lot easier when your debt free.[:-bonc01][:-jump2][:-bonc01] Congratulations Brian!!!
  20. Paul MacLean
    I have never seen that ugly stuff in this climate. And I'm happy about it.
  21. Paul MacLean
    The company I worked for was out of Birmingham, AL. Maybe a southern thing?
  22. Paul MacLean
    I'm picking the University of Texas baseball team to win the College World Series. That's my cop-out. UT's basketball team (due to injury and a poor student) will go to the big dance, but their toes will stepped on quickly.
  23. Paul MacLean
    Back in my window days, our catalog listed them as a "Spiral Sash Balance".
  24. Paul MacLean
    I don't know. We fly into Honolulu for 3 days at Waikiki, and then board a cruise ship to see the rest of the islands in seven days. Sort of like taking your hotel with you. It's an Elderhostel trip if you're familiar with Elderhostel. You pay one price and it's all inclusive. My kind of vacation. No planning. We just show up and top quality guides and experts do the rest.
  25. Paul MacLean
    I generally come by at least once a day, but don't expect me again until mid March. We're going to Hawaii[:-party][:-jump2][:-jump][:-headpho[:-bonc01][:-party]
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