Jim Baird

To quote Gil Scott Heron: "The revolution will not be televised, not be televised, not be televised. The revolution will not be televised. The revolution, ladies and gentlemen, will be real!" I don't know what violation Mr. Fabry committed, but unless it's bad taste or vulgarity, I say let him be heard.

Hey Chad, Remember that the carpenter bee hole is ingress/egress and not an exit only!

Greg, Did anyone mention it takes time? Looked at yer page. One word of caution. Working for the seller is a job I shy away from. The only one I have done was for a seller who was told by the buyer to get one done. To inspect as a way of certifying something for fitness or use is to set yourself up like a blowing pin. Buena suerte!

Frost is still yet to fall on our pumpkins. Even so, colors are changing, as on witchazel in pic. Download Attachment: Witch hazel.jpg 205.84 KB

...For years I used to write any plastic T&P drainpipe as "not rated for 210 degrees or 150psi, the temperature and pressure at which the T&P valve opens." Hey Paul, what you have to remember about the PT discharge is that it is open ended, so the pressure-temp rating for the pipe is moot. I think "size is what matters" here.

Bruce, Sealed crawl spaces are being promoted here by some conservation "think tanks" associated with universities. I've even heard that one local electric utility has made the sealed crawl space part of its "seal of approval" for energy efficient rating. What I haven't heard the spreaders of this new gospel mention is how an annual termite inspection is possible when all the inner foundation walls are draped in poly. I sort of think there's not enough "science" on the situation to make one or the other theory of crawlspace ventilation unassailable. So it becomes a matter of whether you "beleive" things to be so. Just my thoughts on the matter. I still think the open-air circulation reasoning holds the most water.

I don't see any evidence of flashing, either at the skylite curb or at the brickwork. It looks like the brick mortar actually makes a joint between brick and wood! I would write this as a case of missing flashing and a certain leak location, future if not current. Certainly a serious defect that demands immediate fixing.

I'm not sure what he means by "both" covers, either. Here's something that happened to me, though. Client's dad, retired and amiable enough, was on site and dogged my heels through the entire routine. When we got to the panel, I did not stop to focus on which breakers were on or off, I just wanted to remove the cover, check for decent job etc., and move on. The house was only a cpl of years old and pretty upscale, custom home. Dad wanted to help me get the cover off, and I let him, since the cover was large. During removal, though, a cpl. of the breakers got hit by the cover and thrown, which "click" sound was obscured by "clang" of panel and door, and by grunts of dad and self. That eve got call from homeowner wanting to know why the lights wouldn't work in this room and that. "The child, once burned, shuns the fire."

Re: Painted attics Found this the other day. This framing w/deck wasn't painted, but it looked like it had been spray-sealed with urethane or some such. Download Attachment: Poles.jpg 53.71 KB

Steven, It does sound funny to paint the attic doesn't it? By the way, when I find structural problems I may offer opinions about what might fix it, but always remind the client that a licensed designer can best prescribe structural remedies. As a licensed designer, what would you suggest to "correct" the sagged rafters? As a former carpenter I know that wood, once it has "taken shape" as a sagged rafter does, can't really be straightened. About all that can be done, IMHO, is to "kick" the rafters off with purlins braced to something stout. If there's two layers of shingles now the rafters could still be going south. The roofer's assessment of soundness was probably determined by whether his feet felt much bounce or softness as he worked. Shame on him anyway for doing a "layover" job.

Tried calling Click and Clack, phone was busy, so thought I'd ask you guys. Home inspector needs ride. Old pickup I drive just not professional enough in looks. After several years' lean times, am building a solid rep for quality work. Now it's time for a quality ride. I need comments/suggestions on good vehicle to look for. Thanks.

Looks like a rusty heat exchanger.

Kurt, Is there a grammarian in the house? It was noted, with some chagrin, that this site appears to be haunted by opinionated English majors! During a summer job in the college library one of my tasks was to file and shelve masters' degree theses. Believe it or not, some guy got his masters in journalism with a thesis on justifications for the use of passive voice in headlines. While general rules of prose style do say that for techo-speak the best sentences are SAAD, (simple, active, affirmative, declarative) sentences, I often use just such passive phrases as Crusty did. I think it is a way to de-personalize the report, and I also think it is OK, as long as it is not overdone. Yours in the struggle for better prose style, Jim

Re "odd stuff", a couple of years ago I was belly crawling through a two-three foot max height crawl space when I saw a shadowy area ahead. Soon I found myself peering over the edge of an old hand-dug well, approx four feet square, that had been capped with a four-inch slab. The well had caved and the slab cap had fallen, straight down, landing askew about eight feet down. My heart jumped right into my throat, as it might when you suddenly reach the edge of a cliff. I have been known to traverse the short places on my back.

IRC wants the PT relief discharge to terminate outside or to a "waste receptor" or "other approved means". A waste receptor is supposed to be trapped, and of capacity to receive whatever waste without oversplashing. Having seen one of these valves blow due to excess temp, I don't think the drips catch pan under the heater would qualify as an appropriate receptor.

I have seen English ivy pull bricks off of buildings and pull down cornice work. Virginia creeper (parthenosisus quinquefolium)is not quite as muscular. Wisteria strangled to death a hundred year old pine on my mother's lot.

Norm, Thanks for your reply, and for the offer to share the contract. If the contract is "faxable" I have a fax number, 1-706-795-5176, or e-mail. If neither, then snail mail at Jim Baird, 584 Hawksview Dr., Comer, GA 30629. JB

Norm, Just out of curiosity, how do you approach your billing when you are dragged into court battles? I was dragged right to the edge of the cliff recently, (court date set and systems go until hasty out of court settlement), and told the client I would just log my time and bill at an hourly rate as a consultant. Another local inspector I contacted told me his standard reply to court appearances was $750 per diem.(Apparently seeking parity with the other "professionals" involved ((that is, the lawyers)) )

Chad, Re "odd stuff", a couple of years ago I was belly crawling through a two-three foot max height crawl space when I saw a shadowy area ahead. Soon I found myself peering over the edge of an old hand-dug well that had been capped with a four-inch slab. The well had caved and the slab cap had fallen, straight down, landing askew about eight feet down. My heart jumped right into my throat, as I have been known to traverse the short places on my back.

Kevin, You got it right. In our state (GA) licensed designer can include landscape architect, architect, engineer,(I'm not sure about surveyor for design). Our state has just passed a law requiring residential contractors to be state licensed, but as yet provided no money or human resources. Maybe progress will happen in due time.

Friends, The same thing has been happening in Atlanta metro area, where certain inspectors have been served with trespassing papers etc. In a world where, to the eye of some, quality of building appears to be in an obvious state of steep decline, the rip&skip, whambamthankyouma'am builders still stay in business, and most homes sold still don't get decent inspections.

Kevin, If you are going to inspect new work you really should get certified in the IRC, and should own a copy of that book so you can cite code references. The obvious question is where was the local code authority on this case? The IRC requires "positive slope" and also requires a certain distance from the "toe" of a slope to a building's edge. Regretably, site drainage is a common problem in new res construction these days. If the site looks as bad as you say it does, I would tell the buyer to have the builder get a licensed designer to shoot grades on the site and prescribe a remedy.

I'd say the landing rule applies here. Write 'em up!