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blaine: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House) Sliding Glass Doors - 10/22/11 05:38 PM
At about seven of ten houses, that I inspect in Whatcom County and Bellingham, there is at least one sliding glass door. Often these can be difficult to operate or test. Sometimes a seller will have a keyed lock on the lower track, that keeps it in a stationary position. In that case, it may not be possible to check the door. Other times, you have to fish a wood stick or similar bar out of the track, security measures.
Once the door is free, so it can be tested, I often find that the latch is out of adjustment. In what … (2 comments)
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blaine: #1 Album in America, August 1965 - 08/07/11 11:39 AM
In August 1965 what would later be referred to as the world's greatest rock 'n' roll band had their first #1 album on the U.S. charts. There are disputes about which band really deserves that title, but this band certainly wins on pure endurance and longevity.
Around the country, in 1965, the hit in the theaters was Julie Andrews in the classic Sound of Music which is one of the biggest selling soundtracks in history.
The music in that production could not be any more different than the music on the #1 charting pop album. Rock radio, by 1965, was heavily … (19 comments)
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blaine: Washington State Approved Home Inspection Training School - 07/31/11 05:02 PM
Bellingham Technical College will be running another 120-hour home inspection training course beginning on October 17, 2011. After that, so students are qualified to sit for the state exam, we will offer the 40-hours of state approved field training. That will begin on November 4, 2011. This will be, for the year 2011, the last such course offering.
The BTC inspection course was the first course to receive state accreditation when licensing began a couple years ago. To make it convenient for students, the training includes both the three weeks of Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training, 120-hours, and 40-hours of field training. The courses can be taken … (1 comments)
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blaine: Washington State Home Inspector Training -- Bellingham Technical College - 07/22/11 06:24 PM
The next full (120-hour) home inspection training course will be held at Bellingham Technical College beginning on October 17, 2011. The 40-hours of state approved field training work follow, beginning on November 4, 2011. This will be the last such course offering, at BTC, in 2011.
The BTC inspection course, the first course to receive state accreditation when licensing began a couple years ago, includes both the three weeks of Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training, 120-hours, and 40-hours of field training. While the courses can be taken separately, most students take both.
For an overview of the BTC course, and the field training, please watch … (8 comments)
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blaine: #1 Single In America, July 1964, 47 years ago - 07/17/11 09:13 PM
One of the groups that has been classified as, perhaps, the most all-American of all singing groups, had a #1 single for two weeks in July 1964. The song hit the #1 slot on July 4th and it stayed there for two weeks. As a result of the British Invasion, the single had the distinction of being the first #1 hit on the U.S. charts by an American "boy" band in eight months.
The band had formed in high school as Carl and the Passions, from there the name changed to the Pendletons. Needless to say, the numerous tracks of "hot … (8 comments)
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blaine: Stand By Me -- Bellingham, June 25, 2011 - 06/18/11 01:17 PM
A legendary soul and R&B performer is coming to Whatcom County next weekend, Saturday, June 25. Ben E. King was an original lead singer with the Drifters. He was the featured vocalist on This Magic Moment, There Goes My Baby, Save the Last Dance For Me, Spanish Harlem and other classic hits from the early years of rock n' roll.
But his pinnacle moment has to be his huge solo hit -- Stand By Me. This song has gone on to become one of the most respected rock and R&B songs ever recorded. Even the early Beatles were playing with this … (7 comments)
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blaine: Willie and Lobo -- Jazz Alley (Seattle) Monday April 18, 2011 - 04/15/11 05:49 PM
Willie and Lobo, a musical duo, was introduced to my wife and I about a year ago by one of our favorite restaurateurs, Carol Shank at the Rhododendron in Bow, south of Chuckanut Drive.
Carol had this interesting music playing. It reminded us of the Gipsy Kings, but it was different and all instrumental. The duo was known as Willie and Lobo and they had, for years, played in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
We had wanted to see them at some point so, a month back, I was pleased to get an Email that they would be playing on April 18 at … (2 comments)
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blaine: Termites, Termites Everywhere - 04/15/11 01:45 AM
Here in the damp, shall I change that to wet, Pacific Northwest, we have a species of termite that is rare. Many parts of the country, including this state, have subterranean termites -- nasty little devils that live underground but come up into homes to feed. And some warm areas of the country, also, have drywood termites which can live up in the structure of the home, require little to no moisture, and cause immense damage.
Wouldn't you know it, here on the wet side of Washington State, we have attracted a species known as the Pacific Dampwood Termite. These guys are often found out in … (14 comments)
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blaine: Outdoor Ponds -- Flying Under the Radar - 04/06/11 11:12 AM
You probably know that swimming pools have any number of requirements as to barriers and various means of keeping children from accidentally drowning. The barrier requirements, depending on the design, may include four foot high, non-climbable, fences that need latches. In some cases, safety requirements include an alarm that will sound if someone goes through a door into the area with the pool.
On a number of home inspections, here in the northwest, it has come to my attention that even small outdoor ponds, very popular, are fraught with drowning dangers. And, of course, since people want to see them in the natural, there are … (7 comments)
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blaine: Citizens Work To Save the Lummi Island Ferry - 03/13/11 12:25 PM
At first, I believe that everyone thought that Whatcom County and the Lummi Nation would resolve the dispute over the mainland port for the Lummi Island ferry. But the negotiations are at an impasse and there is now less than one month left before the deadline that has been imposed by the tribe. The Lummi's have notified Whatcom County that the ferry must vacate their land by April 10, 2011. Below is a photo of the ferry arriving at the mainland port, Lummi Island in the background.
About 1000 people, or fewer, live on Lummi Island and there are very few businesses. … (5 comments)
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blaine: Wood Destroying Organism Infestations -- The Common Denominator - 03/11/11 06:48 PM
There is one factor that is involved in almost all issues involving wood destroying organisms. When we talk about wood destroying organisms we are referencing a fungal issue -- wood decay fungi or rot. And we are also talking about any of the wood destroying insects. In my state, that includes two types of termites, three kinds of ants and a couple types of wood-boring beetles. That is quite a smorgasbord of bugs.
What I refer to as the common denominator, in the vast majority of these infestations, is shown below.
The culprit is moisture. It need not be standing … (9 comments)
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blaine: L-P Innerseal Siding - 02/20/11 11:08 PM
Here in the Pacific Northwest, a multitude of homes were built with L-P innerseal siding as the cladding. Many people do not know it, but this product came not only in the lap siding that is so common, but also in 4ft x 8ft panels. As a home inspector, when I find oriented strand board (OSB), or the similar hardboard, I look at it very carefully. That is, especially so, the case when the house is from the mid-1980's to the mid-1990's.
Many real estate agents are more worried about whether or not the siding is L-P brand than they are … (15 comments)
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blaine: Haggen Grocery Chain Sells - 02/19/11 10:55 AM
There are not very many locally owned and independent grocers left in Bellingham and Whatcom County. One fo the county's largest employers, and a locally owned grocery since 1933, has sold a majority interest in their store to a private investment firm out of Florida.
Rick and Don Haggen, of Haqgen's Inc, own and they are managing the firm at this time. I remember shopping at Haggen clear back in my grade school days and, at that time, it was operated by the Haggen family. The Haggen family is retaining a significant minority ownership, even after this sale, and will remain involved … (3 comments)
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blaine: The Great American Bald Eagle Lives On - 02/18/11 05:32 PM
Back when I was a kid, here in Bellingham and Whatcom County, the only time I ever saw a bald eagle was on a postage stamp or on some sort of official government flyer. That included the 50's, 60's and 70's.
Then, around the time of my 30th birthday, I remember my wife and I seeing a sole bald eagle in a tree at Lake Padden. That was the early 1980's. Since that time, they have become more common in this region. Once I went to Whidbey Island and there must have been 20 of these big birds sniping at each … (8 comments)
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blaine: Slippery Slope -- Problem or Not? - 02/12/11 07:04 PM
Sometimes a professional home inspector has to point out, as a potential problem, a condition that may or may not end up being an "actual problem". An excellent example of that scenario is provided in the photo below.
Here in the northwest we have ongoing and frequent rainfall. This home is built into or at the bottom of a hillside, which is very common. That is a conducive condition when the earth slopes toward the building. At an older home, like the one above, there is some history so the inspector can look for signs of past moisture intrusion from … (5 comments)
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blaine: Dreaming of Warm - 02/11/11 07:00 PM
So much of the country is cold that my recent posts with photos of Oaxaca, Mexico, taken less than a month ago, are being well-received here in the rain. In Italy, and Mexico, the town square is a big deal.
In Italy they call it the piazza. In Mexico it is the zocalo. Same thing. Townspeople are loyal to the square and, most nights, they all go out on the town or at least walk around. Even though it was winter in Oaxaca, the weather was warm and the zocalo was full of vitality. Oh, and plants too.
… (6 comments)
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blaine: Whatcom County and Bellingham Home Staging Professional -- Melissa Young - 02/08/11 02:59 PM
Bellingham (and Whatcom County) is, in the realm of things, a small community. The city and the county are growing but, compared to the Seattle area, we are still small. Therefore, some of the professions that are commonly found in larger cities are not present here, or, if they are present, there are fewer people working in the field.
I work with real estate agents all of the time and I run into many people who are involved in real estate in the affiliated fields: appraisers, bankers, title companies and various other specialty inspectors.
One profession that I do not run into very often is the home staging professional. … (3 comments)
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blaine: Outdoor Kitchens by Mark Palmer, Bellingham, WA - 02/06/11 11:25 AM
I often have inspection clients ask me for the names of licensed general contractors who are capable of remodeling the houses that the clients are buying. One state licensed contractor, who I have referred often in Bellingham and Whatcom County, is Mark Palmer. He has extensive building experience -- from disassembling and putting a house back together again to major remodels and designing and building complicated multi-level decks.
One interesting and popular field that Mark is involved with is designing and building outdoor kitchens. The basic kitchen will usually include a sink, a barbecue and sideburners. Some of the kitchens will have all of … (10 comments)
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blaine: What is a Conducive Condition - 02/04/11 02:02 PM
In this state, and my community, the WSDA which regulates structural pest inspections, has a term that is called "conducive condition." People often ask for a list of conducive conditions. A list of common conditions could be drafted, but never could one supply a list of all conducive conditions. Because, the fact is, something an inspector never thought of before could be a conducive condition if that circumstance makes wood more prone to rot.
Common conducive conditions are uncontrolled water runoff, improper perimeter grading, poor ventilation, wood to soil contact and debris or organic matter or moss in locations where those substances should not be. … (11 comments)
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blaine: Electric Heater Safety - 02/02/11 11:36 PM
Recently I read a post by Charles "Chuckie" Buell, where he talked about cords being run over electric heaters. I guess it was a coincidence but at an inspection recently, I ran into a great example of the "cord over the heater syndrome". It is a very common occurance in Bellingham. Problem is, people do not know that there is an inherent problem with the arrangement. Below is the language, and photos, straight from my report.
"Electric outlets/receptacles are installed directly above bedroom and living room heaters. While this was a common installation practice a few years ago, it can be a … (14 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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