Thread: What's your best find of the Week? 10.08.2010

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

Nice use of a skylight for a cricket.

Multi-use products. It's all about efficiency.

Originally Posted by John Kogel

"The water heater? It's behind that green panel."

And it stays there

100 amp sub panel fed off 12 gauge wires double tapped from the range breakers.

Another fine Chicago condominium conversion:

Third floor joists pockets at exterior wall - it was pretty much like this all the way around:

wonderful crawl space

notice the fine work on getting that last wood piece under the joist. that took time in a creepy crawl space--a look thru support

chas

forgot pictures--and how about that insulation--which way is the warm side

Moisture intrusion inspection at four story Chicago condo. Built 2005, brick veneer over block, no water resistant barrier in drainage plane, through wall flashings terminate within wall at both interior and exterior.

Jesus Saves, shoots, 2 points!

wife to husband "HONEY HAVE YOU SEE WHISKERS"
husband to wife "HELL WITH CAT WHO LET MY SNAKE OUT"

At least the outlet is GFCI protected.

Thats one bad snake!

This is a first.

rick

Rick, yours is cooler, but I was excited to find this today. An old pusher-prop amphibious. Not going to fly any time soon though.

Loads of kitty kaka this week, it must be a curse!
The one place stank so bad, I put my dust mask on to check the E panel.
Don't get me wrong, I like cats. It's the people they live with that are disgusting.

There was kitty litter in that closet, and where would the water heater be? Yes, it was behind the panel in the closet.

John,

Years ago my wife wanted a cat. I told her no cause she got upset with the boys wetting on the toilet seat a little but was willing to let a cat sh*t in the house.

rick

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

John,

Years ago my wife wanted a cat. I told her no cause she got upset with the boys wetting on the toilet seat a little but was willing to let a cat sh*t in the house.

rick

Ask any cat. They know their shet stinks, and prefer to bury it outside in the neighbor kid's sand box. Cats don't run away from home. They will seek out a better home if they're feeling abused. It takes 2 minutes to clean out a kitty litter tub. If you can't handle that, put in a cat door. End of rant.

This attic was so full of storage, I took some pics of the corners and the middle sections and moved on. Then while I was writing up, I realized I hadn't actually seen the bath exhaust vent anywhere. Turned the fan on, went back up and found it.

Chimney vent never penetrated the roof deck... Good thing it was never used...

Originally Posted by Paul Kondzich

OK if you say so...Or a pic inserted in the report that shows you opened the panel. Must just be me.

The practice started before cameras were invented.

John, weren't you inspecting before business cards were invented? or for that matter, maybe electricity?

I found out this last week, that they love corn just as much as the doughnuts.

Funny Christmas Lights

Funhouse stairs:

Check out the placement of the trampoline directly below the overhead service wires.

rick

If they hit the wire, they won't be grounded...

Originally Posted by Michael Thomas

If they hit the wire, they won't be grounded...

Two hots and a neutral, they don't need to be grounded. But they can move the trampoline. I don't know how to fix those stairs.

A Christmas Card for everybody. Happy huntin'.

Scared the jingle bells out of me when I got to the top of the attic scuttle and took my first peak into the attic. Thought this was Santas last stop.

"There, I fixed it", Part XIVXXI:

Originally Posted by Michael Thomas

"There, I fixed it", Part XIVXXI:

Scarry (not-so-Great-)stuff there Michael!

Perhaps we should ask for a section, scariest stuff or home inspection nightmares!?

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

It's an animated Gif!!!

I'll gladly pay $20.00 for $10.00 worth of whatever you were smoking.

Chicago flipper follies, part XIXXI - gotta' love this roof "support" method:

Also: Gas-fired water heater vented into the attic, abandoned plumbing vent pipe which was directing water onto the attic floor above the (wet) bathroom ceiling, bathroom fan vented into the attic and deteriorating nearby drywall, evidence (efflorescence and previous patching) of numerous previous and present roof/flashing leaks, insulation at the attic floor installed vapor retarder up, substandard electrical wiring practices, non-IC cans, incorrect drainage of air conditioner condensate, etc. etc.

Inspection ended after the attic - just as well, I would likely have been there for 5-6 hours - everything was screwed up - and I dreaded having to write the report...

Here's a couple I found the other day.


DSC00074.JPG DSC00022.JPG






DSC00048.JPG DSC00047.JPG

gyprock found in Corpus Christi

Originally Posted by Tech 9 Home Inspections

Here's a couple I found the other day.

That looks like student housing. "Hey, the light works and not too many cooties in the mattress, we'll take it".

Originally Posted by BARRY ADAIR

gyprock found in Corpus Christi

"That roof was fine until the home inspector stepped on it"

Here is one that is just plain silly. I guess an HVAC artist lived there. The third one from the right was the real one.

Yesterday I got a earful from the listing agent - who had got a earful from the seller - because the previous inspector (deal fell through) had marked up the air handler (which was readily visible in a corner of the utility room).

Now, a nice printed label I could see.... I guess... but something scrawled in magic marker?

Then I tried to pull the cover on the blower compartment, and it was stuck because it was twisted up from a previous attempt to open it - and so baldy that I could not get it open.

So I finished up the HVAC, tried to pull the deadfront on the panel next to it... ALL SIX screws are badly stripped... like someone had been using a *very* dull Philips tip in a power driver.

Finally got *it* off, but it was *not* easy.

Per the listing agent (who seemed a decent sort) neither of the last two items were on the previous report... and I just have to wonder: did the last guy screw both up, and just walk away assuming he would never be connected with the damage?

I could see not reporting the stripped screws, but I don't see how he could have avoided reporting the damaged cover - and I was *very* glad that I had the buyer and his agent looking over my shoulder when *I* found it.

And I gotta' wonder: inspection #1?

I rarely (I hope) look the total fool at an inspection, but yesterday was almost a "What's your worst miss of the week" day, and I thought the example might be a useful reminder.

50+ unit 6 story condo in Skokie IL built, mid 1990s.

Occupied 4th floor unit, heat supplied from a central boiler via a two pipe system to an air handler which also contained the coil for a unit-specific central AC system with the condenser up on the roof.

Unit was at around 70 F, heat was off at the thermostat (noted, in passing), set the T-Stat to "Heat" and to 85 F, blower comes on, water supply pipe to the AH heats to the touch, walked through the unit with the IR camera, there was heat at every register. OK, everything appears to be kosher.

So I finish up with the AH and move on to the electrical panel, and while I'm taking a few pics, I hear the Listing Agent mention that the unit has "radiant heat".

Well, clearly it does not - I'm standing right beside the AH - and I go on my merry way.

But... it keeps bothering me, so I get the IR camera back out, and start checking floors.

Now, with slab-embedded hydronic system I sometimes cannot image the lines' patterns through carpeting or even wood floors if there is an insulating underlayment, but if the heat is on, I've *always* been able to see at least a faint pattern *somewhere* at a ceramic tile kitchen or bathroom floor, and usually it's quite distinct:



But at this unit, I see nothing.

Finally, we reach the end of the inspection, and head down to the basement so I can check the storage locker and the parking space, and see if perhaps I can find the shut off valves for the hot and cold domestic hot water risers up to the unit.

And while I'm looking for *those*, over in the corner, *almost* out of sight behind a protective steel plate welded between two bollards, I find a what sure looks like a manifold for hydronic heating, with lines heading upwards.

So NOW I ask if the broker has a copy of the listing (which of course I should have looked at on line before the inspection), and sure enough, it lists "radiant floor heat".

And the light goes on: I "should" have wondered why the heat was off at the T-Stat...

Anyway, I eventually get the whole story, which is a setup new to me: the primary heat for each unit is the in-slab hydronic, controlled by the building, which is intended to maintain 68-70 F. The AH is intended to provide *auxiliary* heat if a unit owner wants the unit warmer.

IMO, it would have been somewhat embarrassing to miss the primary heat source.

Morals for the story:

1) Check out the listing before the inspection, every time.

2) When you encounter something that surprises you (heat off, in a adequately heated unit) ask yourself "why?" instead of just moving on.

3) Do not assume the agent/owner/manager is a idiot, ask yourself "Why would they think that'?. Better yet, ask.

-----------------

(As for why In could not image the lines, who knows? Heat had been off too long? Lines buried too deep and slab thermal mass too great? Some kind of insulating and/or control underlayment under the finish flooring? Some combination of the above? Something else?)

My worse find.....because I can't have one.

My timing was good today, I had just finished my explanation of how AFCI protection extends to extension cords when I spotted this one, running into a home office:

Four of these support posts in a row (set in concrete no less) under the deck doing a pretty darn good job of making sure those two rows of deck planks won't ever fall through.

They were not attached to anything, not even the planks.

Bath fan with a 'kill' switch. Right above the tub, too. The tape insulation is a nice touch. I actually felt a little buzz from it when I went to turn it off.

BTW, for Canadian inspectors, in Canada, no switches have ever been allowed within 3 feet of the tub.

Builder said he could not understand the need for a fence.

Home Inspection find today.

A whole gal. of the stuff....

They always ban the stuff that really works! Hey, at least they didn't just pour it down the drain or out in the backyard!

I live in a 60 year old house. Probably still some of this stuff in the soil around my foundation.

Ingenuity at its best

There... fixed it!

Out of curiosity, what section of the code (if any) is violated by plugging the conduit ends with expanding foam?

Entire front of home cantilervers over foundation about 24 inches. The problem 2x6 floor joists and 24 inches centers! Floor struture below is exposed and uninsulated across the entire front of home. This was built in 1977, entire front of home has setttled and dropped a little.

Originally Posted by Trent Tarter

Entire front of home cantilervers over foundation about 24 inches. The problem 2x6 floor joists and 24 inches centers! Floor struture below is exposed and uninsulated across the entire front of home. This was built in 1977, entire front of home has setttled and dropped a little.

I can understand that in an old hippie house or bush cabin, but that looks like a normal suburban hacienda. Hard to believe no one has ever questioned it. They glued some Faux Stones up to make it look right.

Originally Posted by John Kogel

I can understand that in an old hippie house or bush cabin, but that looks like a normal suburban hacienda. Hard to believe no one has ever questioned it. They glued some Faux Stones up to make it look right.

Yea this was in a nice little subdivision in town. The funny thing is that there were several homes in the area built just like it. You could see that some people had added supoort posts and piers below the front of them.

It's been a looooong week and it's only Tuesday

vannihilation

2nd pic has condensate discharge behind gas meter for added drip irrigation

enjoy