The Hoe Down on Holding Down- Roof Staples- A Wenatchee Home Inspector - 10/28/11 06:07 PM
The Hoe Down on Holding Down- Roof Staples- A Wenatchee Home InspectorOne the most important components of a home is the roof. This is the beginning protection from Mother Nature’s assault on the home.This is also an area when many short-cuts are taken and poor workmanship is performed. Who is going to go up there look, right?Well this Wenatchee Home Inspector is! All too often I see poor flashing details, shingle installation and sloppy nailing.Here is an example of a roofer that should be pinned to the deck.
                               This was a roof-over, where the new roof was directly installed … (12 comments)

Night at the Opera… Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspector - 10/27/11 06:56 PM
Night at the Opera… Chelan and Wenatchee Home InspectorDuring a trip to Germany I snapped this picture of the Opera house located at the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin.
Berlin for me had a slower pace than many of the other European cities but still a very  beautiful place to be. If you are a museum hound like I am you should put Berlin on your bucket list.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur..."
Red Adair
 
“Inspecting the World-One Home at a time”
NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed … (15 comments)

Signs of the Times- from a Wenatchee Home Inspector - 10/27/11 11:48 AM
Signs of the Times- from a Wenatchee Home Inspector
                                                    Signs have a fundamental element in providing information and direction or symbols of trade, commerce, and industry, from the ancient world to the present.
                                                    
                                                     In another context it can be a token or indication. Or is it a conventional or arbitrary mark, figure, or symbol used as an abbreviation for the word or words it represents.
                                                                              If you are using sign language it may be a motion or gesture used to express or convey an idea, command or decision. Sings can also be a notice, bearing a … (6 comments)

Entiat River Wednesday - 10/26/11 06:58 PM
A fall scene from my home on the Entiat River Washington
 
                         
 
“Inspecting the World-One Home at a time”
NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Orville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…                             
NCW Home Inspections LLC-509-670-9572
… (10 comments)

Cooling Off, The inventors touch… Chelan and Wenatchee Home Inspector - 10/21/11 09:06 AM
Cooling Off, The inventors touch… Chelan and Wenatchee Home InspectorWe do get to see some fun things out there in the world of Real Estate and property inspections. You all know what I mean.Well as a home Inspector one of the great privileges I have is to be able to document some very inventive people’s contraptions.Too bad most of the inventions are downright dangerous.Here we have an example of some cool work. This is a window unit Air Conditioner that just did not have a a proper connection and needed a fix.
             
 
 
But what if you … (15 comments)

Shining a light on Rare Earth Minerals- Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspector - 10/20/11 09:26 AM
Shining a light on Rare Earth Minerals- Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspector
                                                                     As a home inspector I try to keep up on many elements that effect  my clients.In a recent presentation by Scott Kruse of Riverview Electric he discussed the cost and supply issues surrounding rare earth minerals and their impact on fluorescent lighting.
                                                  There will be an increase in the cost of much of the lighting that is used in commercial settings and at home where many have converted to CFL‘s (compact fluorescent lights).Rare Earth minerals are 17 elements of the periodic table that are used … (25 comments)

Call to all victims… Triennial Aircraft Crash Exercise at Panghorn Field - 10/19/11 09:44 PM
Call to all victims… Triennial Aircraft Crash Exercise at Panghorn Field
                                                      
The Tri-ACE 2011 (Triennial Aircraft Crash Exercise) is nearly here, Saturday, October 22nd at Panghorn Field. 
The Pangborn Memorial Airport (PMA) will be staging a full-scale aircraft incident simulation entitled Tri-ACE 2011 on Saturday, October 22, 2011. The purpose of this event is to exercise the PMA Airport Emergency Plan and to comply with the Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139 requirements.
They need a total of 50-60 volunteers to portray victims and family members of victims.  Anyone who may be interested or intend to volunteer, … (0 comments)

Shaking the Poop Deck- Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection - 10/19/11 10:03 AM
Shaking the Poop Deck- Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspection
During a home inspection one of the most basic tests for a home inspector to perform is the old water closet dance.
This is when the home inspector gently places the knees on the side of the bowl of the privy and give a jiggle. What the home inspector is testing for is if the John has been properly secured to the floor.
 
                                   
We want the Loo to be secure to the floor, because if it is not chances are that the wax ring is being compressed in an uneven fashion that leads to … (8 comments)

Devil in the details-Gas Appliances- Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspection - 10/18/11 01:58 PM
Devil in the details-Gas Appliances- Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home InspectionWith gas appliance one of the main issues is making sure that all flues, connectors and chimneys are correctly installed for the appliance(s).Many do not understand that all chimneys (gas, wood, oil) need periodic cleaning and inspection.  Natural gas and propane appliances may not produce the visible soot like wood burning appliances, but they can deposit corrosive substances in your chimneys, flues and connectors.Many times the condensates mix will flue gases and create an acidic mix that can eat away at your ducting without producing any external symptoms until the problem has … (6 comments)

Danger, Will Robinson- From a Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspector - 10/17/11 09:36 AM
Danger, Will Robinson- From a Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspector
                                                           For all of those that remember that famous quote, well you know what I mean.This is the very first show that I can remember that scared me as a little one. There was an episode that featured a monster that scared the bajeebers out of me. I still remember all the adults laughing at me as I hid behind my dad’s lounge chair.Here is an episode from some of my home inspections that also cries…  “Danger, Will Robinson”.Garages are important part of our home… they are also very dangerous because … (9 comments)

Breast Cancer- Digital vs. Film Mammography Screening - Women under 50 - 10/15/11 05:03 PM
Breast Cancer- Digital vs. Film Mammography Screening - Women under 50
 
                                                               
Prior to entering the Home Inspection profession I spent 5 year at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and then 19 years in Biotechnology field at Immunex Corp. Immunex specialized in the human Immune system. So I have been around cancer field for about 24 years.One thing that I am very aware of, and think everyone should be, is Breast Cancer. Both my wife and my mother are survivors. About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.I also have another connection that makes me a … (2 comments)

STOP… Step away from that wire and put down the wire strippers!!! - 10/15/11 11:26 AM
STOP… Step away from that wire and put down the wire strippers!!!
                                                                     In the land of home inspections we see this all too often.  Home owners, Uncle Bob’s (do not know what Bob has done to deserve this) and various other people think they can handle electrical work.This is not to say that some are not skilled home owners and Uncle Bob’s. I have seen work by home owners that is as good as if not better than their professional counterpart. Because they have the knowledge and the time to do the work that exceeds the code minimums.But most … (9 comments)

Best Practices – Finger Guards - Child Safety - 10/14/11 05:42 PM
Best Practices –  Finger Guards - Child Safety
                                                          
In the light of best practices we are talking mostly about residential inspections but I thought this unusual item deserves a mention.On a recent commercial inspection project I was performing I came upon a cool little device.This was a medical facility and this specific area was the family section that would be seeing many children.As a design feature they installed these guards on the doors to prevent children from sticking their fingers into the door jamb.
         I know as a child I have done this(ouch).  I have also closed a … (31 comments)

It’s not what it is cracked up to be- Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspector - 10/14/11 09:09 AM
It’s not what it is cracked up to be- Wenatchee and Cle Elum Home Inspector
                                                                           There are two universal truths about cement. One- It will get hard, Two- It will crackAs a home inspector I see cracks in foundation quite often. Well… I must say almost every time I look at a foundation.Evaluating that crack can take some more thought. Shrinkage cracks from the cement curing are usually fairly uniform in width. A wall crack which continues into the floor is likely to involve the building footings and may be a settlement crack.Here we have an example of crack … (6 comments)

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) found during Home Inspection… Cancer or Cure? - 10/13/11 10:06 AM
Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) found during Home Inspection… Cancer or Cure?
                                                           As a Wenatchee home inspection and structural pest inspection service I warn my clients about Di-hydrogen Monoxide and its dangerous effects.Much has been written about it. Read more at  http://www.dhmo.org.
Here is a exerpt from the site-
...Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment. Some of the known perils of Dihydrogen Monoxide are:
Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities. … (9 comments)

Shadows from the past- Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspector - 10/11/11 09:50 AM

Halloween is coming and soon pumpkins will fill front yards and windows. Why do I mention pumpkins?Viddy well my Droogs, on a recent home inspection I come into a room that is orange, very orange.I like color and I am always glad to see people use color in their homes. Orange is one of those colors though has to be used wisely and with purpose.This room had a purpose.So I enter the room and look to my right and I see shadows from the past.  A memory…  but I did not quite place it.
    Then it hit me like … (6 comments)

Full of Hot Air- Wenatchee and Chelan Home Inspector - 10/10/11 10:30 PM
On a recent home inspection in the Methow Valley I could not help but just enjoy the ride.All along my trip from Wenatchee to Winthrop area the rivers (Columbia and Methow) were full of anglers fishing for Salmon and Steelhead in the cool currents of the respective rivers.Then I come around a corner and there was another angler of sorts. One who is looking to catch a ride on the currents of the sky.
Some days as a home inspector it has rewards.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur..."
… (3 comments)

NCHBA Benefits Breakfast at the Wenatchee Smitty’s hosted by NCW Home Inspections. - 10/08/11 01:07 PM
NCHBA Benefits Breakfast at the Wenatchee Smitty’s hosted by NCW Home Inspections.NCW Home Inspections will be hosting a North Central Home Builders Association member’s benefit breakfast at Smitty’s Pancake House this coming Tuesday, October 11th at 7:30.
Come and get some grits and information about the North Central Home Builders Association membership benefits.Whether you are a new member or a veteran member, learning about the benefits the NCHBA can provide that can help you and your business is essential.Remember the breakfast is FREEso come join us!If you are interested in attending please contact Cindy Smith - 509-665-8195.
"If you think it's expensive to hire … (1 comments)

A Wenatchee Home Inspector - Leaving Las Vegas - 10/07/11 10:46 PM
Well my week as a Wenatchee Home Inspector in Las Vegas has come to an end and I am home in the beautiful Wenatchee Valley.
                                                     The beginning of the week was a primer for what was to come. I received several certificates; home inspection of manufactured homes, home inspection of gas appliance, electrical service panel inspection and a few others. By the end of the week I had my grey matter oozing from my ears.
                                                                              The Last two days was spent in an IRC (International Residential Code) class. This is a primer class for taking the ICC Residential … (5 comments)

Remembering the 3-R’s- Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspections - 10/05/11 11:52 PM
Remembering the 3-R’s- Wenatchee and Leavenworth Home Inspections
We all remember the 3-R’s, Recycle, Reuse and Reduce right?
                                                                
During a recent home inspection I came across a reuse of materials from the around 1945.
                                                 
During World War II due to financial and material shortages it made it necessary to reuse goods and recycle materials.
The war efforts demanded so many resources it left little for the home-front. Many items such as metal, rubber and even certain food items had to be rationed.  Much of these materials were needed overseas for the warfront.
Thus it … (24 comments)

The Long Hall- A Wenatchee Home Inspector in Las Vegas - 10/02/11 12:15 AM
The Long Hall (haul)- A Wenatchee Home Inspector in Las Vegas
                                         Well I made it to Las Vegas for the home inspection conference and had only a few mishaps.On my connection flight from Seattle to Las Vegas we were delayed by a malfunction restroom on the plane. They actually had to get a part in to fix it. What part I do not know. You got to have the air potty going.Then I get to LV and the shuttle driver almost picks off a pedestrian. I think it may be another game here. Stop signs are for sissies.Then I finally get … (10 comments)

Don’t trip me up- Cle Elum and Wenatchee Home Inspection - 10/01/11 10:29 AM
Don’t trip me up- Cle Elum and Wenatchee Home InspectionCircuit Breaker (definition) n : An over current protection device that is designed to automatically cut off the flow of electrical current when the flow of the current through the circuit breaker exceeds its rated capacity.
                                                        Unlike a fuse which requires replacement when overloaded, a circuit breaker can be reset much like a switch.Most people have tripped a breaker here or there when they plugged something that drew too much current, or in the case of my friend who cut through his saw cord with his saw.Circuit breakers that trip often … (21 comments)