How many things can you find wrong
posted on October 13, 2008 01:39:55 pm
How many things can you find wrong with this install? The original equipment was everyones favorite FPE panel that has been "upgraded".

Has anyone seen this????
posted on October 13, 2008 12:50:52 pm
This house was originally built in the 30's. There was a fire in it a few months ago and when the contractor began to rebuild discovered these walls. Has anyone seen anything like this before?

Religous posts
posted on October 13, 2008 08:22:37 am
I am not a new member just new at posting. I read and obsorb all the posts that are involved in the Inspection busIness. BUT!!! I recieved an email message [from JESSIE] via this site trying to influence me with a religous message! THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS SITE IS ABOUT!! I recommend that his membership be revoked! With a better thought...keep up the excelent job helping all of the guys and Ladies in the Inspection business become more proficient at their chosen proffesion. Thanks, Jac Jacqmin Owner, Modern Structure Inspection Services

Framing... is this ok???
posted on October 12, 2008 08:41:04 pm
The builder began framing on our house last thursday. My husband an i went to to see it on friday, and what we saw.... seemed really shady. There where premade wall panels *(which we knew was common) but lets say it take 15 2x4's to make that panel..... 12 of those 15 boards were made to look like 8 foot 2x4's by being dove tailed pieces fit together.... thats crazy right???? is this normal.... what is the structural integrity of a house when 85% of it is made with scraps piece together???

Reverse mtg inspections
posted on October 12, 2008 12:51:19 pm
I recieved a call for a quote from a lender for a reverse mortage inspection. Is anybody doing these, and what is the lender looking for??

Drip leg at CSST?
posted on October 12, 2008 10:38:38 am
I assume (which may make me an ass) that CSST would need a drip leg at/before appliance connections just like black pipe? True or False? Thanks, Reis

Don't you just hate speed bumps?
posted on October 12, 2008 09:18:31 am
I'm sure the people in this car do. YouTube - Speed bump (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5ZwbDj7sQM)

Boilerplate
posted on October 11, 2008 05:10:11 pm
What have you guys got for a standard Boilerplate on forecloseures. Did one today and wnat to cover all the angles. Thanks, Wayne

ICC Codes Spread
posted on October 11, 2008 04:58:34 pm
Captain Spaulding brings the ICC Codes to Freedonia.

TPR discharge pipe
posted on October 11, 2008 03:44:42 pm
Tell me this is wrong. I'm refering to code check (IRC 2803.6.1 and UPC 608.5). AS you can see this was an approved installation. Rich

New Inspector John Mavilio,Massachusetts
posted on October 11, 2008 08:55:54 am
Hello Fellow Inspectors: I have just signed in to Inspecton News and hope to share some information about inspection topics. I have been in Florida for the past year performing inspections and completed my course studies fo alltec/pb disaster services for inspections .I have been activated only once so far for damages from hurricane Gustav but unfortunately when I was called to be deployed hurricane Ivan was bearing down on Houston/Galveston area and guess what, thats where pb set up the deployment rally point one day before it hit. I could not even get a flight down there. If any other inspectors are working for pb or alltec i would like to share some info about these types of inspections. Thanks, John Mavilio, NetZero- Free Dial Up Internet Service - High Speed ISP - Net Zero Internet Provider - Netzero.com (http://www.deltaassociates@netzero.com). I will be checking for a response.

This is how it's supposed to work
posted on October 11, 2008 06:44:10 am
Yesterday I had a great day, could have been really bad.....but it was more surreal. The inspection was 106 YO flip house. First time buyers that REALLY loved the house, since it met all of their needs and wants. Background: The flipping contractor was busted by the City Codes people for working without permits, so they mad him get all the permits, etc. The house was great on the inside. I did find a GFCI outlet for the washer, and the ground wire had come loose too. There was a leak at the shower enclosure, stove anti tilt bracket missing, and a couple other minor things. Pretty much normal stuff. Went into the crawlspace, part of which is stand up, part of it is only inches from the floor framing. Here's where it got interesting. The entire back of the house had new floor framing. Everything about it was wrong. It was too close to the ground, and was not PT lumber. They had cut two joists for plumbing, and supported the cut joists with scrap lumber resting on the ground. No ledger board or joist hangers were uses where they ties into the existing floor system. At the rear of the house, they didn't support the framing on the foundation. They just had random bricks holding it up along the back. The house has a brick foundation. There were just a zillion framing issues, and it was just "ALL WRONG". If this would have been a family member, we would have been out of there right then. But this couple loves this house. While they are calling their Realtor to come over, I placed a call to the City, they gave me the inspectors number. I called the inspector, and he actually answered his phone. I told him my concerns without asking him how in the world he passed this crap. He was kind of non-committal, but took my name and number. He called me back within a few minutes and told me he only did the final, and was just working off the list from the prior inspection. He also found a snafu where there was an open framing inspection, but it was never called for (and not followed up). They got a final by mistake. "OK, thanks for the call". I continue on, and about 10 minutes later, the City Inspector shows up. WE go into the crawlspace with the client, the inspector says, "I was never in here". He takes a look at the crap and says, "Your inspector is right, this is just wrong, and should never have passed." Meanwhile the Realtor shows up and goes down in the crawl with all of us and starts taking photos to e-mail to the other agent and the owner. A little later the owner shows up and wants to go into the crawlspace to see for herself what's going on. She tells me the original contractor was fired in the middle of the job. She compliments me on my skills too. (OK, where is the hidden camera?") She is clearly pissed at her contractor, but is also interesting in making it right (so she can sell the house). She is on the phone to her new contractor who is going to come out on Monday and do whatever it takes to fix it. So at the end of the day (after at least 6 trips into the crawl, and about 2 hours longer than normal) here is the tally. A City codes guy that compliments me on my skills, and admits I am right, AND cares enough about his job to show up and see if he messed up. A property owner/flipper that doesn't stand there and argue about everything, also compliment me on my skills (and asked for my card), AND seems willing to do whatever it takes to fix the house. A Realtor that isn't pissy about maybe having a sale go down the toilet, and was proactive about getting everyone on board because of the problem. I had a real head swell moment when I was in the other room and I heard her tell my clients that she had been at another inspection that morning and I was clearly a much better inspector. The topper was they paid cash and gave me a tip. I have been doing this a long time, but it still feels good when you get validation for doing a good job, and drive away without anyone being unhappy with you for doing a good job and telling the truth. it was a great end of the week.

Pool drowning law not being enforced - abc7news.com
posted on October 10, 2008 09:30:15 pm
InspectionNews has found this information related to pools and spas that might be of interest to you. Pool *drowning* law not being enforced (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story%3Fsection%3Dnews/7_on_your_side%26id%3D6443940&cid=0&ei=Lw_wSNaAKZ_S9QTS0Jy6Bw&usg=AFQjCNEppDSk7YKxIyzrWotLEz2fZj27Yw) abc7news.com, CA - 42 minutes ago SAN MATEO, CA (KGO) -- A new *pool safety* law that could save children's lives may not be enforced here in California. 7 On Your Side's Michael Finney has *...* More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story%3Fsection%3Dnews/7_on_your_side%26id%3D6443940&cid=0&ei=Lw_wSNaAKZ_S9QTS0Jy6Bw&usg=AFQjCNEppDSk7YKxIyzrWotLEz2fZj27Yw)

Fire Prevention Week focuses on home heating safety - Dover Community News
posted on October 10, 2008 09:30:15 pm
InspectionNews has just found the following information that might be of interest to you: Fire Prevention Week focuses on home heating safety (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081010-NEWS-81010048&cid=0&ei=Lg_wSKGXEpLgyQT1kpyyBw&usg=AFQjCNE5dbQhbymSxkYN28guSnQXd-CFTg) Dover Community News, NH - 5 hours ago Homeowners with fireplaces and wood stoves that have not been properly maintained or cleaned are at great risk of *chimney fire*, especially if they have not *...* More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081010-NEWS-81010048&cid=0&ei=Lg_wSKGXEpLgyQT1kpyyBw&usg=AFQjCNE5dbQhbymSxkYN28guSnQXd-CFTg)

Inspection reports
posted on October 10, 2008 08:43:36 pm
Just curious what some other HI's are doing. I'm using a reporting system I like quite a bit and I was taught to fill it out at the end of the inspection, get paid and hand them the report. As the inspection takes quite some time usually, I'd rather take the report home, with my notes, fill it out under no pressure, then get it to the client. I know a lot of you do something similar but what about the payment end of things? Thanks for any help. Much appreciated Brian