steven l smith: Oops, Another Good Reason To Go On The Roof
- 12/31/13 12:37 AM
I had a surprise at a house, in Bellingham, a few weeks ago. That surprise brought home to me the importance of an inspector walking the roof when it is possible to do so. The surprise, also, reinforced the importance of hiring a home inspector. The subject house was in a wooded area and there was a good view of the front of the roof but, as a result of the trees, no view from the ground was possible at the back. Trees obscured the view of the sides as well.
From the front, roof access was not difficult so I climbed … (5 comments)
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steven l smith: Not In Washington State They Won't -- Health Insurance
- 11/14/13 09:28 AM
As we all know, the roll out of the Affordable Care Act has been, shall we say, off to a bumpy start. Millions of people having their policies canceled, when they thought they were going to be able to keep them, has been dominating the news for a week. That even bumped all of the federal website issues out of the news for awhile. In fact, the glitch was creating so many problems, politically and otherwise, that the President and lawmakers are trying to figure out "tweaks" to resolve the distress.
So, as probably everyone knows, the President today said that he … (1 comments)
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steven l smith: Double Whammy -- Carpeting on Outdoor Wood
- 01/01/13 12:43 AM
Working as a home inspector in Bellingham, WA, the heart of the Pacific NorthWET, I see many circumstances that are conducive to decay and deterioration of the building materials.
This example, below, is commonly seen. A homeowner has tacked indoor-outdoor carpet over the wood deck. Some of the surface, of lesser concern, is covered with an overhang above. But there is a significant expanse that is not covered. These carpets absorb moisture and retain it against, and in, the surface of the lumber below.
A combination of wet wood and carpet over the wood is a double whammy. With the … (19 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Technical College Map -- Fundamentals of Home Inspection
- 08/25/10 04:39 PM
We are only a few days away, class starts on Monday, August 30, 2010, from the next fundamentals of home inspection training class at Bellingham Technical College. That will include a week of field training at the end of the course.
Inevitably we have students from different parts of the state and, often, they do not know their way around campus. The course, this session, will be in Morse Center, #221.
Morse Center is the building at the upper right corner on the map, listed as MC. See all you students bright and early next Monday morning, 8am.
… (3 comments)
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steven l smith: Washington State Approved 40-Hours of Field Training -- Bellingham Technical College
- 08/21/10 06:13 PM
I was checking class enrollment this evening and the next Fundamentals of Home Inspection and 40-hours of field training courses are starting to fill-up with students. At BTC, typically, we do not have mammoth sized classes. When possible, it is best to have smaller classes with more time for discussion. The next course is just over a week away, beginning August 30, 2010.
The last week of our fundamentals of home inspection course includes the 40-hours of approved field training. Students, in small groups, go on actual inspections with the instructors, all of whom are licensed and experienced inspectors.
Anyone … (2 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Home Inspections (King of the House) -- A Government Freebie I Like
- 08/12/10 10:43 AM
In this field of home inspection which is heavy on paper work, overwhelming at times, I am always on the lookout for anything that might simplify my life.
Here in Whatcom County, WA, the assessor -- you know those folks who figure out how many tax dollars to squeeze out of us and our homes -- have a nifty web site. For a home inspector, you can put in an address and search by address, parcel number or owner name. That is handy enough when trying to learn some information about a house prior to doing an inspection.
However, in scoping … (7 comments)
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steven l smith: Jewel of the Prairie -- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- 08/07/10 07:21 AM
Last weekend I was in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at a funeral service and, also, visiting relatives. I have an uncle back there and any number of cousins. I always have a good time with my cousins.
My cousin Bob who, like me, spent several years in broadcasting -- so we have lots in common -- lives in a condo that overlooks the river. Did you know there is a big river right through the center of Saskatoon? My guess is that you did not know that.
It might be the middle of the prairie, but it is a nice view.
Thanks for … (1 comments)
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steven l smith: Fundamentals of Home Inspection Class Update -- Bellingham Technical College
- 08/07/10 03:43 AM
Since home inspector licensing began in this state later last year, people (yes men and women) who wish to enter the field of home inspection are required to take a 120-hour state approved course in the fundamentals of home inspection.
The first state approved course was offered by Bellingham Technical College, a part of the state technical and community college system.
The next course, which will include 40 hours of approved field training, will begin on August 30, 2010, here on the Bellingham campus.
The course is four weeks long, with one week dedicated to the field training. For … (0 comments)
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steven l smith: Fundamentals of Home Inspection (Bellingham Technical College) -- August 30, 2010
- 08/05/10 02:13 AM
Our most recent home inspection class is wrapping up this week at Bellingham Technical College.
The next Fundamentals of Home Inspection Training Course will begin at Bellingham Technical College on August 30, 2010 -- a Monday.
The course is three weeks long and it fulfills the state's requirement of 120 classroom hours of fundamentals training. Course content includes all of the basics -- exterior, structure, roofing, plumbing, electric, etc. The final week consists of 40 hours of approved field training. Students who successfully complete the program will be eligible to take the state licensing exam.
To learn more about … (3 comments)
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steven l smith: Window Window On The Wall
- 07/30/10 04:31 PM
One component at new houses that is sometimes "iffy" is the mechanical operation of new vinyl windows. On many occasions, I have found that the windows do not track properly. They stick or do not latch or, somewhere along the way, they bind.
This is usually not a big deal with new windows, appropriate adjustments can be made, but it sure is a good thing to discover this problem in advance so the builder can deal with the "fiddling factor" instead of clients who usually know nothing about windows and window installation.
Thanks for stopping by,
Steven L. Smith
… (7 comments)
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steven l smith: Wood Destroying Organisms in Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA
- 07/24/10 06:19 PM
Over the years, people have asked Steven L. Smith, King of the House Inc., for information on the various species of wood destroying organisms that might be found in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Steven L. Smith is well-versed on this topic as state licensed home inspector #207 and as a state licensed structural pest inspector.
This narrated slideshow, produced by King of the House Home Inspection, provides localized information on the topic of wood destroying organisms that are commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest.
… (9 comments)
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steven l smith: Greetings from Tacoma
- 07/09/10 04:44 PM
This is a lazy weekend for me. My wife is attending a big bead festival in Tacoma. The biggest one in the state I am told, although I know practically nothing about beads.
I have my laptop and I am catching up in the active rain. We are on the 23rd floor of this quite spectacular hotel that I do recommend. It is called Hotel Murano.
Their website is here.
Anyone who has ever been to Venice, Italy will know that Murano and Burano are islands off of Venice. You get there by the boats from Venice. Burano is known … (3 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) -- Not Such A Deep Problem
- 06/26/10 09:15 AM
Here in the Pacific Northwest we have a zillion crawl spaces. Seriously, they are way more common than slabs or basements. And, in these unconditioned crawl spaces, foundation vents are required.
They are usually put in place but then, often, the soil around the house is shoved up against the vents. A good plan is to put in "wells" at the vents. The builder clears soil back in front of the vent, hopefully fills the area with pea-gravel up until a few inches under the vent. They use metal, plastic and pressure treated lumber for the wells.
So far, okay. But … (7 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) -- Chimney Issue
- 06/24/10 12:56 PM
This is something that I probably would not have seen had I not been perched on the roof at this house. The top was wide open on a metal wood stove chimney. This was high on the house and, without being up there and looking down, only a minimal view was possible.
I probably would have figured out that something was amiss from down below, because the metal chimney was rusted. However, this was a situation where I was glad that the slope was such that I could safely access the roof.
Thanks for stopping by,
Steven L. Smith
… (7 comments)
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steven l smith: Old Paint and Old Asbestos In Your House -- Maybe?
- 06/20/10 09:30 AM
For many years now, those individuals buying older homes have been informed by inspectors, appraisers and the government that pre-1978 houses might contain lead-based paint and/or asbestos products.
The following general information applies to lead-based products and asbestos.
The manufacture of lead-based paint, applied for decades on both the exterior and the interior of homes, was discontinued in 1978; however existing product was used through 1982. In a related matter, up until the late 1980's, copper water supply pipes were "sweated" together with solder that contained some lead. Generally, that is considered to be a minor health risk but, if older … (8 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) -- No Flashing, Decay Present
- 06/20/10 08:26 AM
Often homeowners build decks based on tips from neighbors or some how-to-do-it guide that they purchase or are handed at a building center. The information that they glean, and what they understand, can lead to problems. Some of the common issues include decks not properly secured to the house, unsafe steps, handrails and guardrails.
One of the more subtle ones, is the deck that is secured right up against the wood siding and there is not a proper metal flashing in place. Below is an example.
Water pools on the flat surface and that leads to moisture accumulating against the … (1 comments)
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steven l smith: Bustin' Into The Garage
- 06/17/10 04:53 PM
A real estate agent I work with often sent me this interesting video. Apparently, if there is a window on the garage door, it is pretty easy for a competent burglar to gain entry to the garage and maybe the house. Even if that was NOT the case, now that this video is all over youtube, I suspect that any reasonably up-to-date criminal will be into breaking into garages.
You can see the video below.
Nutsy says: A plastic cable tie, holding the gizmo thingee together, would alleviate this potential security problem in my estimation. Remember only you can prevent crime.
… (13 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Home Inspections (King of the House) -- Connecting the dots
- 05/30/10 02:39 AM
It is always nice to be able to figure out why a problem exists. At a recent inspection I had noted some minor gutter and downspout maintenance issues prior to the deluge of heavy rain. But, when I was down in the crawl space, the otherwise dry area was really wet in one corner. This always requires further review from the outside.
Sure enough, when I got the fine tooth comb out, on the outside, the foundation drain was not functioning and water was running over the top of the drain and out around the downspout. You can see the … (7 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Technical College Field Training
- 05/28/10 05:14 PM
Wow, another four weeks just passed us by. Today we completed another 120 hour fundamentals of home inspection training class and yet another 40 hours of field training. At this point in the course, the students are totally exhausted. The first three weeks they are mentally pummeled for 8 hours a day with relentless and very detailed minutia.
Then, the final week, they have five inspections and, all together, that amounts to 40 hours out in the field. But, they are still not done. Because, after that, they have to go home to wherever they live and write the reports. These … (8 comments)
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steven l smith: Bellingham Waterfront Development
- 04/07/10 06:14 AM
Ever since Georgia Pacific shutdown the tissue operation, a few years ago at a prime waterfront location in Bellingham, there has been a great deal of speculation as to what should, and will, go in to fill the space. Many of the old GP buildings are still there and few, if any, are of architectural interest.
And you have many public bodies involved in figuring this out -- the city, the port, Western Washington University to name a few. One hope, that fizzled, was attracting NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to move to, and to become an integral part … (3 comments)
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I had a surprise at a house, in Bellingham, a few weeks ago. That surprise brought home to me the importance of an inspector walking the roof when it is possible to do so. The surprise, also, reinforced the importance of hiring a home inspector. The subject house was in a wooded area and there was a good view of the front of the roof but, as a result of the trees, no view from the ground was possible at the back. Trees obscured the view of the sides as well.
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