Kickout flashing, also known as diverter flashing, is a special type of flashing that diverts rainwater away from the cladding and into the gutter. When installed properly, they provide excellent protection against the penetration of water into the building envelope.  

• Homeowners who do not understand the importance of kickouts may choose to alter them because they are unsightly. A common way this is done is to shorten their height to less than the standard six inches (although some manufacturers permit four inches), which will greatly reduce their effectiveness. Kickout flashings should be the same height as the side wall flashings.
  
• Homeowners may also make kickout flashings less conspicuous by cutting them flush with the wall. 

Sellers can speed their home inspection by following these suggestions. The inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing. 

1. Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning.
2. Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from the premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home, better yet get a pet sitter.
3. Replace burned-out light bulbs!!!! to avoid a "light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem.
4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.
5. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely. Leave a couple behind for new owner.
6. Remove stored items, debris and wood from the foundation. These may be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites. Also away for detached buildings as well.
7. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawlspaces.
8. Unlock areas the inspector must access: attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawlspaces.
9. Trim tree limbs to 10 feet from the roof, and shrubs from the house, to allow access.Clean gutters as well.
   
10. Attend to broken or missing items such as doorknobs, locks and latches, windowpanes, screens and locks, gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Your real estate agent will thank you. Order our Pre-Sale inspection to insure your home is in the best viewing conditon before any buyers have the oppertunity 1st. Call 425.608.9553 Today!

Collar ties are designed to tie together the tops of opposing rafters. This helps brace the roof framing against uplift caused by wind. Collar ties must be placed in the upper third of the roof to be properly used.

Rafter ties are designed to tie together the bottoms of opposing rafters of a roof system. This helps keep walls from spreading due to the weight of the roof and snow loads. When the walls spread, the ridge will sag. A sagging ridge is one clue that the home may lack adequate rafter ties. Rafter ties form the bottom chord of a simple triangular roof truss. They should be placed as low as possible in the roof framing for overall best support.

Basicly, collar ties and rafter ties perform different functions but are both essential to residential home roof-framing members.

When it comes to getting your 203k loan call our office to schedule the required inspection. Our inspectors are experienced and have the resources that it take to move the process along. Like more information on what a 203k loan can do for you? Send us an email and we will get all the information needed for you to proceed forward with your loan process.

We also have a great lender we do business with that can move it along fast, connect you with experienced contractors and get the project done saving you money.

Contact us for our next Home Owner 203k Office meeting wher you can have all your questions ansewed by a loan officer, Top Agent and an 203 Inspector!

Upon attendance your will get member access to our members section with Tips on what not to do!!

Call Today!

Pacific Northwest Inspections Group

13256 Northup Way

Suite 12

Bellevue, Wa 98005

425.608.9553

http://www.PNWIG.com

I am on my third short sale inspection just this week alone. Buyers are now more informative than ever on the importance of a professional home inspector. With over 20years in the building industry my clients know the report they recieve will give them the knowlege needed to make the move forward.

One home was passed by three buyers due to inspection, if your were to see the other comapnies report you would then understand that the current license requirement is in need of being stiffened. The hands on construction backgrougd you recieve from Pacific Northwest Inspections Group can not be match by any text book inspector. This year we have a new report system that could save you thousands in having the home properly inspected. Give us a call Today before your next purchase 425.608.9553 or toll free 1.866.981.MOLD.

Our website http://www.PNWIG.com or direct http://www.PacificNorthWestInspections.com

Like to learn more about our services please call to set up an appointent at our Bellevue office and we will hand on show you why we make the choice in hiring a professional Licensed inspector easy. Open 7 days a week.

Pacific Northwest Inspections Group, LLC

13256 Northup Way

Suite 12

Bellevue, WA 98005

425.608.9553

...another home found with windows all the way to floor and owner used stanard double strngth glass to make his own windows.

What is the issue you ask?

For one:

Mainly because the process of tampering increases the strength of glass thereby reducing it's risk of breakage.

Most importantly:

In the unlikely event of a breakage, one type of tampered glass shatters into many small fragments to reduce the risk of injury and damage to other property. Another type breaks into linear fragments that may still remain safely in frame.

Tempered glass saves lives.

How to tell if glass is tempered:

Most all tempered glass will have a lower corner stamped that it is tempered. Another way to tell is to wear polarized glasses, which you can see a tempered pattern when viwed at an angle.

Now you know...now inspect your window and door glass and get it changed if it is low to floor or placed in a storm door.

If a window meets all four of the following criteria the glass needs to be tempered.
a. Exposed area of an individual pane is greater than 9 sq. ft.
b. The bottom edge is less than 18” above the floor.
c. The top edge of the same piece of glass is 36” or more above the floor.
d. If one or more walking surfaces are within 36” horizontally of the glazing.

Check for Leaks

Weatherstripping and caulking is probably the least expensive, simplest, most effective way to cut down on energy waste in the winter. Improperly sealed homes can waste 10 to 15 percent of the homeowner's heating dollars. Take these steps:

1. Check around doors and windows for leaks and drafts. Add weather-stripping and caulk any holes you see that allow heat to escape. Make sure doors seal properly.


2. If your windows leak really badly, consider replacing them with newer, more efficient ones. Keep in mind, however, that replacing windows can be expensive - it could take you quite awhile to recover your costs from the energy savings alone. But new windows also provide other benefits, such as improved appearance and comfort.


3. Every duct, wire or pipe that penetrates the wall or ceiling or floor has the potential to waste energy. Plumbing vents can be especially bad, since they begin below the floor and go all the way through the roof. Seal them all with caulking or weather-stripping.


4. Electric wall plugs and switches can allow cold air in. Purchase simple-to-install, pre-cut foam gaskets that fit behind the switch plate and effectively prevent leaks.


5. Don't forget to close the damper on your fireplace. Of course the damper needs to be open if a fire is burning; but if the damper is open when you're not using the fireplace, your chimney functions as a large open window that draws warm air out of the room and creates a draft. Close that damper - it's an effective energy-saving tip that costs you nothing!


6. Examine your house's heating ducts for leaks. Think of your ductwork as huge hoses, bringing hot air instead of water into your house. Mostly out of sight, ducts can leak for years without you knowing it. They can become torn or crushed and flattened. Old duct tape - the worse thing to use to seal ductwork, by the way - will dry up and fall away over time, allowing junctions and splices to open, spilling heated air into your attic or under the house. It's wasteful. According to field research performed by the California Energy Commission, you can save roughly 10 percent of your heating bill by preventing leaky ducts.

These leaks cost your Furnace effiency. If you have 10% leakage then you 90 plus furnace is now an 80% effeniency.

Let us give your home a Energy Rating and give you the information needed to kepp you home as effenient as possible.

Calll 425.608.9553

or visit our website http://www.PNWIG.com

Tips:

Check Your Insulation

1. Insulate your attic. In an older home, that can be the most cost-efficient way to cut home heating costs. Before energy efficiency standards, homes were often built with little or no insulation. As a result, large amounts of heat can be lost through walls, floors and - since heat rises - especially ceilings.

How much insulation should you install? Typical framed homes now being built in California's Central Valley must meet insulation requirements of R-38 insulation in ceilings and R-19 for walls and floors.

2. Weather-strip and insulate your attic hatch or door to prevent warm air from escaping out the top of your house.


3. Seal holes in the attic that lead down into the house, such as open wall tops and duct, plumbing, or electrical runs. Any hole that leads from a basement or crawlspace to an attic is a big energy waster. Cover and seal them with spray foam and rigid foam board if necessary.

Check Your Heating System

1. Get a routine maintenance and inspection of your heating system each autumn to make sure it is in good working order.


2. Replace your heater's air filter monthly. Your heating system will work less hard, use less energy and last longer as a result. Most homeowners can replace filters and do such simple tasks as cleaning and removing dust from vents or along baseboard heaters.


3. If your heating system is old, you might consider updating it. ]]. That means only half of the fuel used by the furnace actually reaches your home as heat. Modern gas furnaces, on the other hand, achieve efficiency ratings as high as 97 percent. By replacing an old heating system with one of the most efficient models, you can cut your natural gas use nearly in half!


4. Use your set-back thermostat. California houses built today must have them. If you have an older home, consider installing one. A set-back thermostat allows you to automatically turn down the heat when you're away at work or when you're sleeping at night, and then boost the temperature to a comfortable level when you need it. Remember - it takes less energy to warm a cool home than to maintain a warm temperature all day long. Properly using your set-back thermostat could cut your heating costs from 20 to 75 percent.


5. Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward, toward the ceiling. Ceiling fans are a great idea in the summer, when air blowing downward can improve circulation and make a room feel four degrees cooler. A cooling draft is a poor idea when it's cold, however. By reversing the fan's direction, the blades move air upward in winter. This is especially valuable in high ceiling rooms, where heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.


6. Make sure all hearing vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed through the home.

Leaky Ducts and what is the importance? "Next Tips Blog"

We can help with our Complete Home Energy Audit Call 425-608-9553 or stop by our office for a Free Energy Guide!

More Tips to Follow!

..we are still located in Belleuve, Wa and have moved into a new office located just off of 520. We offer drop off services for our clients; mold, asbestos and water samples. Questions about dropping off lab sample please call us, also for properl collection methods. We also can supply you with steril collection bottles, swabs, etc..

We are also State licensed inspectors with partnership with Energy Star proving professional home energy audits. Our inspections use the latest equipment. Some FAQ's

Q. How long does an Audit take.

A. 4-6 hours

Q. Some home inspectoors claim to do an audit for under $300.00 is this possible?

A. Most likely they are not trained and are not using a blower door and duct blaster equipment. They are in and out in 2-3 hours and give you little information that is needed to conduct a true audit. We use licensed auditing software and home model software.

Q. Want is a blower door?

A. Being a professional company we can show you hands on in our office and educate you all about home energy audits. We are State verifiers and work closley with Energy Star and Home Builders. Call us and stop by our new office in Belllevue. 425.608.9553

All inspectors are State Licensed and Certified. All Asbestos samples are collected by a Certified AHERA inspector. Mold samples are taken by our IAQ Certified Specialist.

There are many ways in which a building loses energy in Seattle area. Some ways are easier to find and correct than others. Most people, when asked us how their homes lose heat, automatically respond "doors and windows". While doors and windows do contribute to heat losses in the home, they are minimal compared to the heat loss which you do not see. Our inspectors find the sources of building leakage and give you the information needed to correct them, you could save a considerable amount of energy. T

One of the major contributors to heat loss in the home is created by what is known as "stack effect". Because warmer air is more buoyant than colder air the heat rises through the house and exits through hidden leaks. At the same time that the warm air is exiting the leaks in the upper level, the lower level of the home becomes negatively pressurized and pulls colder outdoor air into the home. This is unconditioned, cold air which now must be conditioned. The opposite occurs in the hot, humid summer weather and the cooling system must operate more to cool and de-humidify the warm, humid air being pulled into the home. 

Understanding Differences in ou Home Energy Audits

Our services range from home energy tune-up services to complete diagnose of the building and it's integrated components. If you are purchasing a home, the basic Home Energy Scan may best fit your needs. If you own the home and want to find the most cost effective retrofits in your home, the later is likely to be your best choice. The important thing to remember is that not all energy assessments or audits are created equal.

Energy audits for Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell. Kent, Tacoma.. King County and.....

Energy Audit

HERS Audit