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sumas: "Nuke-testing" for Fun and Profit, Bellingham, WA - 02/25/12 08:55 PM
A few months ago, a friend of mine who happens to be a home inspector, showed me this little gadget. The sole purpose of the gadget was to test the function of microwave ovens. Now, fact is, as a home inspector, the obligation for inspecting appliances in this state is pretty minimal -- we don't have to do so if we don't want to, per the state standards of practice.
From a marketplace standpoint, most of us do take a look at appliances as a service. It is basic: We check that range burners come on, that dishwashers don't seem to be … (14 comments)
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sumas: Is Your Inspector a Licensed Structural Pest Inspector? - 07/24/11 04:18 PM
As of a few years ago, when the homes inspector licensing law went into effect, it is no longer mandatory for a home inspector to maintain a license as a structural pest inspector. In years gone by, from a practical standpoint, an inspector was not able to work in this state without the structural pest inspector license. The law now reads: A licensed home inspector may cite rot or conditions that are likely to lead to rot or similar issues. But that inspector, if he or she does not have a structural pest inspector license, MAY NOT reference sightings of, or damage … (3 comments)
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sumas: #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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sumas: Destruction Major -- Anobiid Beetles - 04/16/11 12:04 AM
Here in the Pacific Northwest, of the wood destroying insects, I would say that the one that really gets my attention is the anobiid beetle. The anobiid is a wood-boring beetle that works in the soft lumber under our homes. They thrive in a moisture content of 13 to 18% and can re-infest, generation after generation, for a hundred or more years. Eventually, they will vacate the premises when all of the nutrition in the wood has been depleted. But, practically speaking, the best way to get rid of them is with a pest control treatment -- typically borates -- and eliminating the conducive … (4 comments)
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sumas: 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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sumas: 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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sumas: 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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sumas: 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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sumas: Uncontrolled Roof Runoff Water - 02/03/11 11:52 PM
If you look at the photo below, you will see evidence of why a home in an area that gets significant rainfall should have gutters and downspouts. The wood fascia, below the roof, has had heavy runoff water routed over it for about five years. Wood that is subjected to heavy moisture will eventually decay. Fungus is moving in on us here, slowly but surely.
If a roof have proper overhang, over the gutters, that wood will be afforded a great degree of protection. And that is very helpful in the long run. This home, like many houses that … (13 comments)
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sumas: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) B-vent Safety - 02/01/11 07:17 PM
One of the most common issues that I find, when doing home inspections in Bellingham and Whatcom County, is the B-vent from the furnace, the water heater or the gas fireplace buried in attic insulation. Even though the B-vent is designed to reduce the spacing required for proper combustible clearance, it requires at least an inch of clearance to flammables and that includes insulation.
The temperature of a B-vent, if it is against wood, can lead to pyrolysis (lowers the combustion point of wood) or a fire. As I said, normally the inspector sees insulation around the B-vent. A metal shield or collar can take … (2 comments)
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sumas: Never Answer The Same Question Twice -- Home Inspector Licensing - 12/29/10 11:34 PM
This post is in response to Bob Stewart's "it's raining" blog. He has created a challenge: Sanitize and post some past business or client Emails and responses. The goal is to provide, to the public, easily accessible online information. Especially since home inspector licensing kicked-in here in Washington State, there are now many consumers who are trying to determine whether or not an inspector is licensed to legally work in the state.
This post starts with an Email from an agent.
Hi Steve,I know that you teach the local Home Inspector Licensing course at Bellingham Technical College and are closely tied to … (4 comments)
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sumas: Never Answer The Same Question Twice -- Woodboring Beetles - 12/26/10 11:49 PM
This is another post in response to Bob Stewart's "it's raining" blog and challenge -- "Never Answer the Same Question Twice". The goal is to sanitize, and share, Emails that were sent to us by clients with a goal of selecting and publishing those Emails, and the replies, that provide valuable information for the public. Over the years, due to all of the online writing I have done on the topic, I have received many questions from around the country on the subject of anobiid beetles.
The initial Email question to me is at the top. My Email reply follows.
Mr Smith,
I live in New … (6 comments)
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sumas: Squirrel-Listed: As Good As It Gets - 12/21/10 10:56 AM
I saw something the other day at an inspection that I thought was funny. The first thing that I noted at the side of the tiny wood stove was the logo (squirrel sitting with the acorn).
When I got down behind the unit, to try to figure out who manufactured it, I was pleased to see the manufacturer's tag. If you look at the top, right beside where it says model 1410 and 1440, you will see that this unit is "squirrel listed."
Charles Buell had told me, and my certifried assistant, that he would never buy this story of … (24 comments)
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sumas: So You Want Larry Trujillo, Bellingham (Whatcom County, WA) -- Then Don't Call Me! - 12/12/10 10:04 AM
If you want Larry Trujillo, for whatever reason, then DO NOT call 360-676-6908 or 360-319-0038 (cell). If you do, then you will greatly annoy Steven Smith of King of the House Home Inspection.
Back six years ago, when I got my main King of the House landline and cell phone -- 360-676-6908 and 360-319-0038, I kept getting calls for someone named Larry Trujillo who reportedly lives in Whatcom County or Bellingham, WA.
This might have been as many as four calls a day, which was more than the number of business calls I got in those early days. The callers seldom … (16 comments)
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sumas: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) Handy Tools - 11/05/10 06:03 PM
When an inspector is down in the crawl space, the fewer tools you carry the better off you are in most cases. I cannot tell you how many times, when I have gone down loaded like a burro, that I have gotten distracted by one thing or another and, by the time I was done, I had left something somewhere. Then, dead tired at the end of the inspection, I have had to go back in and crawl around again looking for a needle in a hay stack.
Sometimes, to avoid carrying too many tools that I might lose, or to … (5 comments)
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sumas: Does The Discount Discount Your Confidence? - 05/12/10 08:58 PM
I was driving away from a re-inspection today and I saw a little trailer with ladders and equipment attached.
Now that you have seen the view from my vantage point, let's take a look at the sign or billboard.
I know that successful marketing is often fueled by discounts, especially at department stores and super markets where we might get name brands at discount prices. Heck, even some local dentists advertise discounts and, early in my career, I used a few modest discount coupons. But when I see a 50% discount for services that require hard labor, that does not instill … (45 comments)
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sumas: And The Problem Is - 03/18/10 09:21 AM
From this shot, taken inside the garage, the top of the water heater looks normal. Nothing for the inspector to scratch his or her head about. No problem.
But when the inspector enters the attic above, that scenario of no problems changes. The B-vent, which reaches temperatures of 300 degrees F or more, is nestled snuggly in the insulation. Problem! Where a B-vent passes through an attic there should be one inch of clearance from the vent to any combustibles and that includes the insulation. This is easily done with a metal collar, an insulation shield that goes around the … (5 comments)
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sumas: Realtor, Lender Guide to Hud Manufactured Home Inspections - 05/15/08 07:47 PM
Minimizing the number of phone calls a real estate professional needs to make is always popular with the real estate professional. I think all of us, who work in real estate and related fields, have to make and return what seems to be more than our share of important telephone calls.
Many realtors and lenders become especially frustrated -- I know because I have talked to many of them -- when they need to schedule a manufactured home inspection that is subject to the very specific HUD financing requirements.
HUD demands an extensive, and very specific, permanent foundation inspection or certification and a professional … (4 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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