bellingham home inspector: Mix and Match Wiring - 05/12/08 11:49 AM
Mix and match might work for some things. However, it does not make for a pretty or safe sight when working with electrical wiring when circuits include both copper and solid-strand aluminum wiring. The panel below has both -- mix and match. The terminal on the left clearly has a solid aluminum … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Open-ended Gutters - 05/06/08 09:07 AM
Many new homes in the Pacific Northwet, older homes too, have gutters installed that have open ends. These are almost always on dormers so they drain the water from that smaller roof down to the end of the gutter where it keeps on a movin' down the rooof to the main … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Creepy Crawlies - 05/04/08 01:56 PM
It seems that almost everybody has some living object that creeps them out. For me it is the snake and lizard variety. For many other people it is insects in general but especially spiders. The other big fear for some people is the vermin variety, rats and even mice -- who … (22 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Mold? Fungus For Sure - 05/03/08 11:24 AM
When an inspector sees sheathing under the roof, visible in the attic, with kind of a gray, hazy stain, it can be problematic figuring out what caused it. There are several possibilities. The first thought might be a roof leak but that is usually more isolated, in a given spot or … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Just Rollin' With The Flow - 05/02/08 08:56 AM
You ever see one of those driveways that slopes toward the garage vehicle door? If you have, and you have ever wondered what happens when it rains in a wet climate, the photo below gives you a pretty good idea.
This is really a bad situation. First, the garage cannot be … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: No Flashing, Big Problem! - 05/01/08 09:23 PM
This photo is a good example of why it is important to properly flash an exterior wall that is located at the side of the roof. Some short-sighted builders think that, since the water is going to be running down the roof, it will not hurt to have the wall touching … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Inspector Got Steamed Up On The Roof - 04/30/08 11:11 AM
The whitish vapor you see coming out the flue that is closest to you is indicative of a safety problem. It is also something an inspector sees a lot of. I was up on a roof and had identified the two flues to the right as having come from abandoned fireplaces. … (13 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Which Smoke Detector should I buy? - 04/20/08 11:57 AM
As a home inspector I am frequently identifying old smoke detectors (10+ years) and recommending new ones be installed. Many clients want to know which ones which ones they should buy. Something is better nothing...
As a firefighter I have been to numerous calls in the past 10 years where a working … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Moldaphobia - 04/09/08 11:58 AM
Mold is a topic that, today, creates fear and anxiety. Unfortunately, a number of law firms (wanting to pursue mold litigation) and also companies wishing to capitalize on re-mediation work, help incite this feeding frenzy of both information and mis-information.
There are many posts about mold here at ActiveRain. Of the blogs that I write, and … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Illegal Aliens Welcomed On Bellingham Bay - 03/31/08 06:33 PM
I have been busy the last few days between work and writing a second meme. However, I am never too busy to occasionally take a walk. While we had snow on Saturday, today has been a mixed bag. We went from sunshine and warm temperatures -- lawn mowing weather, to rain. … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Stressed-out Decks - 03/27/08 02:21 PM
The deck below is the final blog related to an earlier post about tall trees near homes and how that impacts roofs and decks. The wood at this deck, at the time of the inspection, was still in satisfactory condition. At least, based on what a person could see under the … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Washington State Home Inspector Training - 03/23/08 01:27 PM
Things will be changing in Washington State, now that a home inspector licensing law has been passed and signed by the Governor. The way it will all come out, ultimately, is going to be determined to a large degree by the home inspector licensing board. At this point, while generally established, … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Pacific Northwest Home Inspections (King of the House) -- Wood Eating Plants - 03/22/08 12:02 PM
The little window box below could be hiding problems. People are so tempted to hang large and small planters on the side of the house. Heck, I have a rental house with a planter outside one window. If this is done correctly, which it seldom is, fewer problems will result. Think … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom County Home Inspection (King of the House) -- Smoke Detectors - 03/20/08 01:34 AM
The photo above is a common sight for the home inspector. The smoke detector is missing in the line of duty. Poof and it was gone! Why, well there are many reasons for this. One of the most common is that the battery is weak, it starts squeaking and it … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Crawl Space Vent Problems - 03/20/08 01:26 AM
If you look at the photo below, you should see three problems. Now, two of the problems are pretty much the same thing, just 2x the problem. The other problem is related, but different. Here goes: First the different problem -- The screen is torn out of the vent on the … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: 5 Steps to Maximizing your marketing in 2008 - 03/19/08 10:11 PM
<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> by Rick Bunzel <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Pacific Northwest Home Inspections (King of the House) -- Venting Fans in Attics - 03/13/08 02:10 PM
The photo below left is an example of the way some people vent exhaust fans from bathrooms, laundry rooms or even range hoods. They duct the fan to the attic, but instead of having a proper hood on the roof, they tie the duct in the general vicinity of a roof … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Pacific Northwest Home Inspection (King of the House) -- Blowin' Hot Air - 03/10/08 05:58 PM
If you have ever been in a new home and saw that 24 hour timer on the wall of the bathroom or the laundry room, then you are probably looking at the 24 hour ventilation system. These systems are designed to be set to operate automatically. This is done with one or … (10 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House): What's Knot -- LP Siding - 03/07/08 06:07 PM
I have written about this topic before, but then I have an experience that makes me think I had better write about it again. It seems like old hat to me, but that is not the case. Yesterday I was doing an inspection and a friendly appraiser was on-site. He was … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Home Inspector Training Bellingham, WA - 03/05/08 11:32 AM
For those of you in Washington State, who are not aware of it, both the state senate and the house are close to agreeing on new licensing requirements for home inspectors. It looks like passage is a foregone conclusion at this time after years of bickering.
The new rules would require people entering the … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: New Homes, Forgotten Tasks - 02/29/08 12:16 PM
There is, periodically, a discussion about whether or not there is a point in having a home inspection at a brand new home. My experience has shown me that the answer is a resounding "yes." The most serious problem I have found at new homes involves significant standing water in the … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: A Termite Manifesto: The Stranger Among Us - 02/26/08 11:25 AM
In the Pacific Northwest, practically speaking, we have two types of termites to look out for on inspections. And, if you are in the Bellingham area, despite the propaganda you might hear to the contrary-- Yes, we too have termites!The first, and uncommon in most parts of the country, is the … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Look To The Sky My Friend - 02/26/08 10:08 AM
When a home inspector looks for leaks, where pipes and vents exit the roof, it can be a subtle process. If there is an accessible attic, the inspector will try to look around these appurtenances (big fancy word for stuff coming out of the roof). Another method, done in virtually every … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom County Home Inspection (King of the House): Pest Inspector Methodology - 02/22/08 03:13 PM
When performing a structural pest inspection, an inspector is likely to "sound the wood." The basic idea is two fold. One possibility is that the wood will, hence the name, "sound" different if it is damaged, hollow, soft. This is a technique that works quite well on exterior logs on log … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Botched Up At the End - 02/22/08 12:29 PM
Inspectors see any number of decks. Some are well built. In this wet climate, we like to see the structure built out of pressure treated lumber and concrete piers that isolate wood from soil. As the composite deckings get better looking, to look much like wood, they are becoming more common. … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Mount Baker Home Inspector (King of the House): Uncontrolled Runoff Water - 02/22/08 12:12 PM
There is a tendency, when homes or cabins are at alpine regions, to ignore the runoff water from the roof. That means, they do not bother installing gutters and downspouts. The argument against them, by those who do not install them, is that the gutters can be bent, damaged or torn off the … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House): Coffee And A Light - 02/22/08 12:19 AM
I saw a recent blog about can-lights written by Charles Buell. He was explaining the finer points of can-lights, inspecting can-lights, and can-light safety. In the comments, he and another AR member were talking about safety features found in some can-lights -- that cause them to shutdown if the bulb is overrated … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- Two Problems, One Attic - 02/21/08 04:48 PM
This is an interesting photo in that there are two problems, or at least possible problems. The knob and tube wiring, which had been modified in various places, is the most obvious problem. Some insurance companies will still cover knob and tube wiring (with a higher premium) but many of the … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom County Home Inspections (King of the House): Scenes From This Old House - 02/21/08 10:54 AM
This Old House -- a famous song and a famous expression. As a home inspector, I see lots of old houses. The one below was a classic example of a 100 year old plus farm house that had been built and lived in over all those years. The modifications and repairs were not always, in fact seldom, done … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Blaine WA Home Inspector (King of the House): Oh Rats! - 02/19/08 10:55 PM
It is odd. People do not want rodents in their homes. Yet they often fail to do something as simple as putting one plus one together. That something simple is realizing that rodents are going to enter a crawl space when they have a window of opportunity, such as through numerous holes … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Home Inspection: It's All About Straightening The Pictures On The Wall - 02/17/08 05:22 PM
The title of this blog is deceptive, down right silly -- if you know anything about the scope of a home inspection. Silly as that title above might be, it is apparent to any working inspector that some naive sellers are under the false impression that the home inspector comes to a house to … (40 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Ferndale WA Home Inspections (King of the House): Disconnected Heat Ducts - 02/14/08 02:40 PM
The photo below gives an example of a problem detected upstairs, that would be hard to impossible to troubleshoot without going into the crawl space. I was at an older home and had my laser thermometer out testing the accessible heat supply registers -- while the furnace was running of course. … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House): Subtle Diversions - 02/14/08 02:25 PM
Many aspects of home inspection involve common sense. That does not, however, mean that the decisions an inspector makes are always obvious. That is especially true when dealing with electrical, HVAC or plumbing issues. This blog is about a common sense concern, but one that the average person does not think … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: This One Curled My Hair And Gave Me A Charge! - 02/14/08 01:43 PM
I found something at an inspection the other day that was not only dangerous, but pretty illogical too. This was another house where a "builder" had been doing his own projects. He might have been a builder, but an electrician he was not. The photo to the left is an AC … (8 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Manufacturer's Recommendation: Repair With Duct Tape! - 02/14/08 11:56 AM
I know an individual who, sarcastically and with a smirk, makes fun of duct tape repairs. Can you imagine that -- making sport of the greatest repair miracle cure of the past 100 years. It is a product well known around the world, and in Canada too. This same person is a stickler … (10 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Black Widow Spiders In Western Washington! - 02/12/08 10:12 AM
I have to admit, as a Washingtonian all my life, I have always thought that the only place a person would find black widows spiders would be east of the mountains, as in eastern Washington. Those of us born and raised here know that the "serious" spiders and snakes are found on … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Big, Mean, Nasty Termites: At Least They Are Not In Your House - 02/11/08 10:34 PM
As a home inspector, who also teaches a class in wood destroying organisms through the state college system in Washington State, I always take a camera along with me on hikes or vacations. I have some cool, and very illustrative, photos that I have taken of all kinds of wood problems, … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House): New Home Inspection Issues - 02/11/08 11:17 AM
This is probably a surprise to most people, it was to me the first few times I saw it. I am referring to the number of times in new houses, where the heat ducts have not been hooked together or, if they have, they have come loose. Sometimes I think it … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Garage and Appliance Safety - 02/11/08 09:39 AM
I would not say that this is a frequently seen problem on my inspections, but it certainly is not uncommon either. This is a new house and nobody bothered to put in a barrier to keep someone from accidentally running into the water heater. A metal bollard (post) should be put … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Homeowners Doing Crazy Things With Trees - 02/10/08 04:10 PM
Earlier today I posted a photo of a nice tree house. In thinking about that, I started reflecting on any other unorthodox uses for trees, that are nuts, insane or crazy that I have seen on real, honest to goodness home inspections. Unfortunately, back when I did this inspection, I was not … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Is This An Exception To The Rule -- Does This House Really Need an Inspection? - 02/10/08 03:33 PM
I probably should have saved this post until April fools day. But, then again, I was browsing through my photos today and ran across it. Actually, I was looking for it a few weeks back and could not locate it. So, since it was in my grubby little home inspector paws … (11 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Lynden Home Inspector (King of the House): Right Idea, Bad Implementation - 02/09/08 10:56 AM
The photo below is amusing in a way. This crawl space vent well was put in, somewhere down the line, by a person who knew that crawl space vents need to be protected from runoff water and being blocked by soil. To achieve that goal, the person put in a vent … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Everson WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Crawl Space Debris - 02/07/08 12:12 PM
Earlier today I wrote about old roof debris and the huge mess it creates in an attic. At that time I eluded to a different, but similar, scenario in the crawl space. In the crawl space the builders will often leave the old wood forms around the poured footings or piers. … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA home Inspector (King of the House): Attic Debris - 02/07/08 12:02 PM
So the owner of the home is really proud of the new roof that replaced the old wood shake or shingle roof. The owner says it was a major improvement and, in fact, it probably was. Then the home inspector goes into the attic. This is another of those things an inspector … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Blaine WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Want Mold? Baby -- You Got It! - 02/06/08 12:48 PM
There have been a number of posts lately about mold. Home inspectors see mold all the time, in varying degrees. Sometimes it is widespread but usually it is in a localized area and it does not take an Einstein to determine the cause. And, one thing is certain, mold is ALWAYS, in … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Monty Python Trees - 02/05/08 02:28 PM
I remember in one of the old Monty Python movies, there were trees that would reach out and grab people. I kind of felt like that when I saw this tree. This is one of the best examples I have seen of a tree, at a main public street, that has … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Romans Knew Thy Wood - 02/05/08 09:44 AM
I was pondering Charlie Buell's blog called "What Would Impress The Romans" and thought I would pull out a couple photos of Roman work that impressed me. This is the bottom of an ancient Roman-built building in Bologna Italy. Bologna, like much of Italy, was run, or overrun, by Romans (or Greeks) at one … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Antique Modern - 02/05/08 09:15 AM
I ran across this photo this morning. It is one that came from my trip to Italy last fall. We were standing on top of a hill, looking down on the city of Verona, and I saw this power pole. It had the old glass insulators. I have seen a number … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Everson WA Home Inspector (King of the House): The Picture Conveys A Thousand Words - 02/03/08 07:41 PM
I have gotten many gasps, comments and mileage from the photo of the fresh water supply that is pictured below. In fact, a few weeks back it helped me tie for number one in the "bozo bathroom" awards here at Active Rain. (I would have won outright, but the other party, who … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom County Home Inspection (King of the House): Oh Lordy! My Fungus Has Turned Green - 02/03/08 12:19 PM
People in the Pacific Northwest sometimes feel like they are living in a rain forest. And, of course, some parts of the region are in rain forests. The rest of us, who are not in rain forests, still have lots of rain. Moisture and shade, that leads to a lack of … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Home Inspection Puzzle: Guess Why? - 01/30/08 10:46 PM
Okay, you were not there so this is hard to figure out. But some of the home inspector types like Charlie Buell will probably come pretty close or nail this one. And, since it is my puzzle, I get to give you the clues as I see fit.This was a home … (11 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Failed Caulking At The Tub - 01/29/08 10:38 PM
This is a simple blog, but I had this pretty good photo of a common problem and thought I would post it. When a home inspector checks a tub and/or shower, he or she should take a look where the floor and the tub meet. At the floor, especially if it … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Safety and Seller Ethics -- Don't Know? Or Just Not Telling? - 01/29/08 12:20 PM
Normally, when performing an inspection, I find that sellers really do not know the various problems at their home. That includes outlets that are not properly polarized or grounded (they do not know the difference if appliances work when they are plugged in); subtle flashing problems or issues at roofs, windows … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Point Roberts Home Inspector (King of the Hosue, Inc): My Roof's Got A Hole In It - 01/29/08 11:37 AM
Woke up this morning and there was snow in Whatcom County. However, as of later this morning, the temperature has moderated and now the snow is turning to rain and slop. The wet and rain, melting on the deck and running out the downspouts and off the roof, made me think of … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Positive Spin On Home Inspection Issues - 01/28/08 05:46 PM
I have run into people who think that we home inspectors are too negative -- glass half empty types. To counteract that belief, I thought I would do something to the contrary. I have posted here a photo of a roof. Now, there are inspectors who would think that this was … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House): Analysis Of An Invasion -- Carpenter Ants - 01/27/08 03:23 PM
A pest that we see often in the wooded Pacific Northwest is the carpenter ant. Carpenter ants are not all exactly the same size or color. In fact there are many different species but they get their name, as a group, because of the way the ants categorized as carpenter ants chew the wood … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom County Home Inspector (King of the House): Improper Flashings - 01/27/08 03:02 PM
It is always kind of sad, sometimes amusing, when a homeowner knows that some component is required at the home but does not know the correct way to install it. Here is a photo of a metal flashing, above the eave on a sloped roof. The fellow who installed it figured … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Lynden Home Inspector (King of the House): Making Up Your Mind -- Condo Electrical Safety - 01/26/08 04:24 PM
Prevention is oh so simple but the condo association, or someone, has to realize that there is a problem waiting to happen, and a potential safety issue. First, let me set the stage for an emergency. After the scenario is over, it will be obvious that it is one of those situations where you really did have to make … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Lost Aircraft Found During Home Inspection - 01/26/08 12:11 AM
When I do a home inspection, I try to stay pretty focused on the job, despite the various distractions: deer, raccoons, buyers, sellers, mud, bees, etc. Yesterday I was inspecting a home and a creek ran behind it. I was taking a break and looking around. Low and behold, down by the … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: "The Contractor Stakes His Reputation On This House" -- Start Running! - 01/25/08 02:58 PM
I have got to tell you, especially with remodels and contractors "flipping" houses, you really need to start running when the contractor or his agent says "This contractor stakes his reputation on this job." Over and over again, I have heard that. The first time I thought, wow that is neat … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Sudden Valley Home Inspection (King of the House): Unsafe Extension Cords - 01/15/08 08:18 PM
This is a photo of a scenario that is not uncommon to find, especially in vacation homes. At this home a permanent appliance, that requires power, has been purchased and is located at the other side of the door. The problem is, there is not an outlet on that side of … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Rain on the Roof - 01/14/08 11:08 PM
In wooded settings, when leaves and debris clutter the roof, it can lead to problems. While rain on the roof is common, and popular in songs, rain is a primary reason we need roofs in the first place. Roofs do not perform too well when they are covered with debris. With … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House): Missing Flashing - 01/14/08 10:50 PM
The photo is a bit dark, sorry, but the poor camera was flooded today. What a downpour. Anyway, there are a couple things here. First, the steps are built up over the composition wood siding. The T1-11 siding does not look too favorably upon being wet all the time. And, moisture … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Thin Air Up There - 01/14/08 10:31 PM
This photo probably does not do the driveway justice, as far as how steep it really is, but this is a fairly common problem in Whatcom County -- especially in a community out by the lake. That problem is driveways that are really, really, really, really steep. I have done inspections at some … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Don't Look Now But My Bolts Are Loose - 01/10/08 11:49 PM
If you work in real estate, you know that modern homes that have furnaces and water heaters in the garage -- if they are in line with a vehicle path -- require a barrier or bollard as protection in front of them. Bollard, you know, that metal pole that is bolted to the concrete … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Roll Roofing - 01/02/08 11:05 AM
Roll roofing, bottom line, is not a very durable nor a high quality roofing material. However, in budget operations or non-critical locations, it is sometimes used -- often on lower sloped roofs because it is cheap and more suitable for that application than conventional shingles. It is quite common on shed … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House): This Is A Shock - 12/23/07 01:47 PM
This Square D electric panel has a serious defect. In fact, it is a major life and limb safety issue. Yet, unless someone knows what to look for, the problem might be overlooked. Look to the left terminal in the photo, and you will see that there is a fairly small … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: My First Clue That Something Was Wrong - 12/22/07 05:32 PM
I have seen weird problems with water heater temperature pressure relief valves before, but this was the most "slap you in the face" startling discovery I have seen. Usually, the problems are pretty standard: There is only a plug where the TPR valve should go; there is no TPR drain line; … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House): High Deck Safety - 12/22/07 04:02 PM
When a home has a high deck, or a balcony, an inspector should look to see that lag bolts or screws were used to attach the ledger board to the home. Obviously, high decks coming down with party goers can result in some pretty serious injuries. In a related matter, at … (4 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Home Inspector's Hands Tied On The Job! - 12/10/07 03:24 PM
When I say the home inspector's hands were tied, I mean it as a joke. However, it is not uncommon to find this to be the situation in the real world of inspection. It is most often the case at a home that has been vacant. The seller decides to winterize the … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Wood to Earth and Rot - 12/10/07 02:56 PM
This photo is a classic example of what happens when soil is piled against wood. This is the side of a garage. The garage, especially an unattached garage, is a common place to find this problem as the structure is often ignored compared to the house. There was a concrete foundation here, … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House): 240 Volt Circuits - 12/02/07 07:27 PM
I have been looking at some of my "bozo" electrical photos today -- compilations from a number of my inspections. This is not an uncommon scenario. In this case, someone removed the 240 volt circuit from the water heater and just left the energized wires hanging there with a couple wire nuts … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Wood Stove Safety - 12/02/07 07:08 PM
Wood burning stoves and fireplaces are a component of many homes that an inspector has to evaluate. Honestly, more often than not, there is some glaring problem that makes it apparent that the device requires professional service. This ranges from heavy deposits of creosote in the flue, to broken firebricks, bad … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Marketing Jingles - 12/02/07 11:59 AM
Well, another week has gone by where circumstances were such that I did not get the time I wanted for AR blogging. However, I thought that some members might find this post interesting. As many of you know, prior to inspection, I worked as an engineer and finally the manager and owner … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Insufficient Heat In The Home - 11/24/07 10:44 PM
One thing you cannot take for granted in a home is that it will have sufficient heat sources. In older houses the situation could be as basic as a space heater that is being used to heat too many rooms. I have inspected newer houses where, for one reason or another, … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Crawl Space Water Calculations: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) - 11/20/07 03:52 PM
As a home inspector, there have been times where it was important, as a service to my client, to guesstimate the quantity of water that was collected in a given location. In one case, in a garage, I found an old pit for working under a car. This under the slab pit … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Lynden Home Inspector (King of the House): Unsafe Wiring - 11/18/07 07:50 PM
In the blog just before this one, I wrote about why re-inspecting a home to make sure all repairs were done by qualified parties, in a workmanlike manner, can be high in liability. I was browsing some photos and thought this would be a good example. These were live 120V wires in a … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom County Home Inspections (King of the House): A Windy Topic - 11/13/07 04:32 PM
Here in Whatcom County, Washington, we had a big windstorm yesterday. There are still several thousand people without power. Winds up to 70 miles per hour knocked trees and limbs down and took power lines with them. Only three houses away from my home a large tree was "topped" by the … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Oops, Why Your Clients Cannot Count On Code Inspections - 11/11/07 10:13 PM
From a safety standpoint, this is probably the most egregious error, or oversight, I have ever seen from a governmental code inspector. This photo is from a new home. The electrical code inspector had completely signed off on the electrical system, including the panel, circuits, etc. It was done and approved! … (6 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Tip For Seller's Agents - 11/11/07 09:57 PM
This might be more applicable information in the Pacific Northwest than certain other areas, but I suspect it is a universal problem. It certainly wouldbe in any area with trees, especially deciduous trees. As a home inspector, I would suggest that realtors might want to recommend that their clients either clean … (7 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Guess Who Is Coming For The Home Inspection? - 11/11/07 09:30 PM
I was doing a home inspection on Thursday. It was in a wooded area. Now, at home inspections it is common to run into the buyer, the seller, realtors involved or maybe a builder or even a worker who is going to do repairs on the home. In this case, I … (5 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Wa Home Inspection (King of the House): Galvanized Plumbing Pipes - 10/24/07 03:38 PM
Obviously, the stated purpose of a home inspector is to inspect a home. That is really the only calling for a home inspector. A watch dog's job is to scare intruders and a home inspector inspects homes. So, if that is what an inspector does, he or she should try to do … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Mount Baker Home Inspection (King of the House): Crawl Space Posts - 10/24/07 02:29 PM
Imagine the surprise my client would have had, at some point down the road, had he not had an inspection. The example here is not one single, solitary isolated incident of a builder who was in a rush. There were about thirty posts under the house and all of them were … (12 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom and Skagit County Home Inspections (King of the House): Building In Your Wood Destroying Organisms - 10/16/07 04:25 PM
I saw this deck over the weekend. I have seen this design element before, but not in a long time. The deck is non pressure treated lumber and this stump had either had the deck built around it or it is conceivable that, originally, the stump was really a tree and … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House): Ground rods - 10/16/07 04:09 PM
In newer homes, the grounding electrode (or electrodes) almost always have been put in by licensed electricians. As a result of that, the electrode is done properly and usually driven deep into the ground. However, when I inspect older homes that had knob and tube wiring, which had no such ground originally, … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Wa. Home Inspection (King of the House): Unsafe Deck Surfaces - 10/16/07 03:49 PM
When it comes to decks, I have to reiterate again just how careful a person needs to be when walking on them. I did an inspection this weekend, where the deck surface clearly had some problems. In closer investigation, it was apparent that a person could step in the wrong place … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Point Roberts/Birch Bay Home Inspections (King of the House): Failed Thermal Seals - 10/13/07 12:03 AM
One thing an inspector should look for is failed thermal-seal windows. Sometimes they can be hard to spot, depending on how cloudy they have become. Another factor that can make it hard to identify them is the general cleanliness of the windows. More than once, I have found myself trying … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: My Much Anticipated, Long Awaited Dissertation On The Italian Pizza - 10/11/07 03:42 PM
While in Perugia, which is in Umbria, I wrote about the real life Italian pizza. Now, truth is, there is quite a variation in pizza recipes just inside Italy. Naples claims to have invented the pizza and is quite snobbish about it. My wife's tutor came from that area and only … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Pictures From Italy: Verona - 10/11/07 03:05 PM
A city that we had never visited before was Verona. Verona is only a few miles from Venice and part of the Veneto region. We had four days to fill, before meeting another couple in Lake Como so my wife picked Luca and I picked Verona. The architecture and the people are … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Skagit County Home Inspection (King of the House):Common Point Of Contact - 10/11/07 02:39 PM
Over the years, many building or construction details have changed. In the older homes - like the one I live in - they commonly had the ends of rafters, fascia or trim rest on the roof. And at my house, in spite of this taking place for 50 plus years, the … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Anacortes Home Inspection (King of the House): Shedding Roofs - 10/11/07 02:30 PM
Sometimes, while doing home inspections, I see expensive and nicely applied roofs that are well maintained. That is the exception. I am astounded at how few people seem to realize that a roof takes some upkeep. For example, any roof that continually has moss, leaves, needles and other tree debris on … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Lake Whatcom Home Inspection (King of the House): Watch Your Step - 10/05/07 02:08 PM
It always seems like common sense to me, that one should protect against children falling from high decks, but I guess that is not the case. I am amazed by the number of times, on home inspections, that I see unsafe situations like those apparent in the photo below. This is … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Skagit County Home Inspector (King of the House): Unsafe Outside Electric Outlets - 10/05/07 02:03 PM
A home inspector sees many outdoor outlets. Probably the most dangerous outlet I have seen was in Skagit County, at a house between Mount Vernon and Burlington. It was a serious shock hazard. Some of the time outlets work great and are well maintained but others have problems. What kind of … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Washington Home Inspector (King of the House): Unsafe Decks - 10/05/07 02:00 PM
People tend to take decks for granted. Sellers, buyers, realtors, and inspectors too, will go right up on the deck - usually - without thinking twice about it. That is especially true of lower decks. They are simple and common structures- right? True, but often decks, even the low ones, can … (0 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Mount Vernon, WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Failing Windows - 10/02/07 02:51 PM
As I inspect around the Pacific Northwest, even in the older homes, I usually see newer windows: thermal pane vinyl or sometimes aluminum. But, sometimes at older homes, the inspector will find old single pane glazed windows. Obviously, such windows are not as energy efficient as newer windows. However, often the … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Moss - 10/02/07 02:49 PM
In the Pacific Northwest we have moss. It can be very beautiful, especially in the rain forests. But when it is growing on the roof, as in the photo, or on the roof and the siding then it is not a good thing. Thick, green, healthy moss collects moisture, leads to … (1 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): When Plants are Problems - 10/02/07 02:44 PM
Often buyers fall in love with the foliage and plants growing around the home. Sometimes the vegetation is spectacular. In Washington state, by law, the home inspector has to throw a bucket of water on the jubilation (and admiration of the plants beauty) if the plants are touching the home. The … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Washington Home Inspection (King of the House): Unsafe Panel - 09/28/07 01:44 PM
This is the electric cover removed from the main panel in a mobile home park. The burn or arc marks are from high voltage - 240V. At some point, the two legs of the 240 volt conductor came in contact with the metal cover. This was an old, and unsafe, main … (3 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Whatcom, Skagit County Home Inspection (King of the House): Tall Trees And Your Roof - 09/20/07 05:14 PM
Trees can cause a myriad of problems when they are too near, or hanging over, roofs. Sometimes the damage is pretty apparent: Like when the big branch blows in the wind and rips or breaks shingles off. Perhaps more devastating long-term, because homeowners do not pick up on it, is the … (2 comments)
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bellingham home inspector: Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House): Shake Roofs - 09/20/07 05:09 PM
Shake, and wood roofs, in general, can be very pretty roofs. But, if they start going south, they can deteriorate real fast. Because they are wood, if rot begins and moisture levels stay at twenty percent or higher, that rot will continue. Shakes are popular in my Pacific Northwest Region, but … (2 comments)
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