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PART 3: Legislation that affects Home Inspectors in Washington State - 01/31/10 09:42 PM
This is a significant blog, and of importance, written by Charles Buell.
Via Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com):
This is the 3rd in a series of posts I am doing on pending legislation that affects Licensed, Washington State, Home Inspectors----which in turn affects the real estate industry as a whole.
Senate Bill 6433 would extend the deadline for persons to meet qualifications for classroom training and field training until July 1, 2010. The various deadlines around grandfathering for experienced and “newer” inspectors was somewhat convoluted, and some would say downright confusing. Now that some of … (4 comments)
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Whatcom County Home Inspection (King of the House) -- Low Water Pressure - 01/27/10 02:47 PM
Normal water pressure is defined as between 40 and 80 PSI. Frankly, most plumbers feel that 80 PSI is too high and that it puts extra stress on plumbing fixtures. At a one-story home, most plumbers that I know suggest a reading of about 50 PSI. If there are more stories at a house, then add about 6 PSI per story. So a three-story house might, ideally, have a PSI of about 62.
The home below was three stories -- that means the water has to go uphill. While the pressure was in the normal range, the flow at the home was … (4 comments)
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Proper Bearing Under The House - 01/25/10 04:04 PM
Posts, and any structure designed for support, have to have bearing. That means the component has to rest on something stable, like a footing. In this case, at an older home, this post has no bearing. It is hanging. Sure, it would be nice if it also had an impervious membrane under the post to protect it from moisture wicking up from the concrete below. On the other hand, being an older house, the majority of the other posts don't have such membranes underneath them either and they are holding up. The post must have bearing. That means it should be … (8 comments)
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Standing Water -- King of the House (Bellingham WA Home Inspector) - 01/21/10 05:29 PM
How much water is acceptable in the crawl space? Well, in theory, the answer is zero water. On a more practical level, you want as little water as is possible. Unfortunately, at least in Bellingham and the wet northwest, the fact is that many homes are built on lots that, in one way or another, accumulate water. That can be caused by ground water that passes into the crawl space or, in the lucky cases, a solution can be found by simply grading soil on the outside and controlling gutter and downspout water.
It that does not resolve the problem, … (8 comments)
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Wood Decay Fungi -- Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection) - 01/19/10 05:23 PM
A home inspector spends a significant amount of time inspecting the exterior of a home. That inspection will include decks, gutters, soffits, siding, etc. Along with finding siding problems, and all the other issues that can turn up, an inspector is likely to find issues with either wood trim or composition wood trim.
The photo above is an example of that. You will see that the wood has decayed and it is soft enough that even the tip of a ball point pen will penetrate the surface. When decay is found, the afflicted wood should be removed and new material put in place. … (4 comments)
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Rodents -- Whatcom County Home Inspector (King of the House) - 01/16/10 04:30 PM
Working in Bellingham and Whatcom County at King of the House Home Inspection, I know that, often, homeowners do not understand why there are mice or rats under the home. For the home inspector the answer might be quite obvious. That answer is that the rodents have easy access. These access points can be quite obvious, such as gaps at crawl space entry doors. Or the entry points can be more subtle.
In the photo below, while quite obvious in the photo, this entry point would not be readily apparent to a person walking around the perimeter of the home. This … (5 comments)
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Half-Right/Half-Wrong - 01/15/10 02:46 PM
Often, when doing a re-inspection, the home inspector finds that the contractor only "half- read" the report so the contractor only got the repair "half-right." This photo would be an example. The copper pipe at the left is the drain from a TPR valve on a water heater.
Using basic guidelines (IRC codes) as a reference, this tubing should end within six inches of the ground. Even using more lenient guidelines, it should end within eighteen inches of the ground -- not even close here. When I cited the problem originally -- the tubing went straight out with no bend … (6 comments)
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Earth to Wood Contact - 01/12/10 12:02 AM
Most of us in real estate, inspectors or agents, know that wood to soil contact will, over time, lead to the wood decaying. While pressure-treated lumber is more suitable than ordinary lumber when wood is in contact with soil, it too will decay. With pressure-treated lumber, if you really want it to last a really long time, then get rid of the soil contact.
The photo below was typical of something you find when the soil is dug out from around wood. When I reported the wood to soil contact, initially, I said that the soil should be removed and, when … (8 comments)
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Frost-Free Hose Bibbs - 01/10/10 06:15 PM
Frost-free hose bibbs are designed to drain when the water is shutoff. It will run out past the valve and by draining all of the water, the hose bibb is not so prone to freezing. The point where the water is really shutoff is inside the home or the wall where it is warmer.
The whole purpose of these hose bibbs is defeated when hoses are left on the faucets. I cannot tell you how many times, at inspections, I have turned on the water and found that the water was rushing out from inside the wall. Problem -- ruptured hose … (6 comments)
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Landscaping Style Steps - 01/10/10 10:47 AM
Especially in wooded areas or where people garden, they often like "natural" steps. These are likely to be wood, such as logs, or stones such as in the photo below.
People can put in whatever kind of steps that they fancy. The fact is, however, that the risk of a tripping fall increases with these unconventional steps. Standard steps should have uniform risers that are not too high, virtually NEVER the case with these landscaping style steps. Also the tread will be too narrow compared to normal steps and, almost never, do they have handrails no matter how high they are. … (6 comments)
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Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Decks - 01/10/10 12:57 AM
Here in the Pacific Northwest, or the Pacific Northwet as a friend of mine called it, we inspectors see many decks that have some decay present. If the structural lumber is pressure treated then often that will be okay. However the flat surface wood decking boards will frequently have a soft/decayed surface that can even be unsafe. I have known people to step on a deck and go right through -- one leg hanging lower than another.
The flat surfaces are the most exposed and, when rain hits, the water will soak into the wood. And, over time, that causes rot. … (27 comments)
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WSDA Credit For Structural Pest Inspectors -- BTC Fundamentals Class - 01/09/10 08:33 PM
The Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection course has one day set aside where students learn the differences between being a structural pest inspector and a home inspector. In this state that is a big difference. A home inspector may not cite damage by wood destroying insects, but a structural pest inspector may do so. In fact, the structural pest inspector must do so if such damage or an infestation is seen.
So, the termites above would be reported by a structural pest inspector but they would not be reported by a home inspector. The home inspector would tell the … (0 comments)
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Bellingham Technical College -- Fundamentals of Home Inspection Course - 01/08/10 09:37 AM
At the Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection training course, we always plan to have guest lectures from experts in their fields. One guest that we have come to depend on is Dr. Dan Suomi of the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Dan is the regulator who oversees those of us who are, in addition to home inspectors, licensed structural pest inspectors. Dan also provides education to train inspectors so they make fewer mistakes. Prevention is the word.
There are many limitations on what can be reported by an individual who is a licensed home inspector but not a licensed structural … (4 comments)
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Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection - 01/06/10 12:03 AM
Bellingham Technical College had the first Washington State approved fundamentals of home inspection training course. Students may obtain 120 hours of fundamentals training and also complete their field training requirements. The course has been in existence for about 15 years.
I am the lead-instructor, program coordinator for the course, and I receive telephone calls from prospective students. For additional information, and the schedule, please call me at 360-676-6908.
Thanks for stopping by,
Steven L. Smith
… (1 comments)
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Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training -- Curtis Brown - 01/04/10 11:15 PM
Bellingham Technical College has a state approved fundamentals of home inspection training course. Students have the opportunity to complete the 120 hours of fundamentals training and also to complete their field training requirements. This takes place at a break-neck speed over four weeks. This course has been in existence for about 15 years.
I am the lead-instructor, program coordinator for the course, and I receive telephone calls from prospective students. Due to those student inquiries, I am posting a series of bios on the adjunct faculty in the home inspection training program at Bellingham Technical College. These are the people who keep the classes going and … (2 comments)
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Tomorrow: Bellingham Technical College Home Inspection Training - 01/03/10 11:15 PM
It seems like a merry-go round, going round and round, but, beginning tomorrow, Bellingham Technical College will begin yet another of our state approved "fundamentals" of home inspection courses.
This is a full sized-class. We are at max capacity -- sixteen students. For field training, the group will be split in half with two instructors taking the class out to different sites. We will do, roughly, ten inspections that last week.
And the previous three weeks of the four week class will entail 120 hours of detailed lectures and study. Topics include roofs, exterior, chimneys, decks, heat, electrical systems, plumbing, A/C, wood … (16 comments)
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Bellingham Technical College Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training -- Rick Pen - 01/03/10 07:23 PM
Bellingham Technical College offered the first fundamentals of home inspection training course to be approved by the state of Washington. Even now, BTC has one of the only approved state fundamentals courses and, within the confines of the four-week course, students have the opportunity to complete field training requirements as well. This course has been in existence for about 15 years.
I am the lead-instructor, program coordinator for the program, and I receive telephone calls from prospective students. Due to those student enquiries, I am posting a series of bios on the adjunct faculty at Bellingham Technical College. These are the people who keep the … (6 comments)
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Bellingham Technical College Home Inspection Training -- Charles Buell - 01/03/10 10:40 AM
Bellingham Technical College offered the first fundamentals of home inspection training course to be approved by the state of Washington. Even now, BTC has one of the only approved state fundamentals courses and, within the confines of the four-week course, students have the opportunity to complete field training requirements as well.
I am the lead-instructor, program coordinator for the program, and I receive telephone calls from prospective students. I decided to publish at Active Rain, a short biography on the adjunct faculty members who keep this course going through rain, snow and sleet. Click here to learn about the faculty.
Charles Buell began building … (4 comments)
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Whatcom County -- Well-water Testing - 01/02/10 05:24 PM
Recently a woman contacted me. She was frustrated because it was hard for her to find pertinent information on what degree of well-water testing, if any, was required by local government (outlying areas of Bellingham and Whatcom County) at the time of a real estate sale.
Most home inspectors, at least around here, do not get heavily involved in evaluating well systems or well-water testing. I carry in my vehicle some sample bottles, for collecting water, if the client wishes to do so. I leave that up to the client.
As a result of the recent inquiry, I am providing a … (5 comments)
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Business Decision -- Nutsy to Invade Mexico - 01/02/10 03:28 PM
I stated, a few days ago, that the wife and I will be spending some time in Oaxaca, Mexico this month. We did the same last year and we are thinking of making it our annual "snowbird" adventure. Last year, my certifried home inspector assistant, Nutsy, stayed at home and ran the firm. He did an amazing number of hiqh quality inspections while, at the same time, advising Mr Charles Buell on new and innovative ways to operate his firm.
Nutsy, as it turns out, has been so invaluable this year that my wife and I unanimously agreed that we … (13 comments)
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Incredible Story -- Teredo Loose In The Attic - 01/01/10 09:36 AM
Earlier this week I wrote an article about Washington state home inspectors -- the majority of us who are licensed as structural pest inspectors. I have heard comments from inspectors in other states who find it surprising that, up until recently, home inspectors in this state -- for all practical purposes -- had to be trained and tested by the state as to their knowledge of wood destroying organisms. Those species we study in the state include: wood decay fungi, carpenter ants, velvety tree ants, two types of termites and several wood-boring beetles. Sometimes we will see damage and not know just what … (7 comments)
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Steven L. Smith, Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Bellingham,
WA
More about me…
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc
Address: Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, Sumas, Nooksack, Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Whatcom County, Bellingham, WA, 98225
Office Phone: (360) 676-6908
Cell Phone: (360) 319-0038
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