bellingham wa home inspection: Peeping Tom Alert - 08/16/08 12:11 AM
Well, you would not expect that a 50 something year-old male, such as myself -- startlingly handsome as I may be -- would have a problem with peeping toms. But I had this feeling the last few days, in my Bellingham, WA home, that something was gawking at me through the … (10 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Sexy Sharks and the King of Seduction - 08/07/08 05:17 PM
If you lived in the last century, you probably know that Barry White was known as the king of seduction. In theory, when he tuned up and started singing, all the barriers came falling down. Lives were changed, children conceived. That is what "they" say, whoever "they" might be.
Well, I … (10 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Flex Ducts on Dryers, Convenient but Bad - 08/04/08 09:44 AM
We home inspectors see accordion style flimsy flex duct over and over again on dryers and air-handling equipment. I would say that it is present in 90% of homes that I inspect. In newer homes it is often a short length behind a dryer. It does not go through the wall but … (6 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Not So Clueless in Bellingham - 07/22/08 05:46 PM
It is always nice to have a clue as to what might be happening next. I think we often get such clues but, sometimes, recognizing them is the trick. We are exposed to so much stimuli that it can be easy to have something pass right over our heads. Poof … (5 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Pacific Northwest Music Legend -- Doo-wop - 07/13/08 11:44 AM
At this point in time, this is likely to be one of the lesser known acts I will be writing about in this series on Pacific Northwest music legends. On the other hand, they were big nationally, a #1 with a bullet act, in the pre-British invasion years.
Now, almost everyone … (11 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Pacific Northwest Music Legend -- The Genius - 07/10/08 08:20 AM
This is another in a series of articles on Pacific Northwest music legends. So far, response has been good, so I plan to write more. Today's artist was not born or raised in Seattle. He moved to Seattle as a teen and considered the Seattle jazz scene of the 1940's as … (4 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Pacific Northwest Music Legend -- Talkin' The King of Crooners - 07/09/08 11:22 AM
In the past, I have done a few blogs about entertainers who were famous here in the Pacific Northwest. These have always received interest and comments. Many people do not know it but, over the years, the Seattle area has produced some of the biggest names in musical entertainment. In some cases those … (17 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: USA and Canada: Do We Panic on the Streets? - 07/07/08 10:56 AM
This is probably overstating the case, but in going over my photos from last year's trip to Italy, I was reminded of what I consider to be a curious situation. People in the "old world" think that those of us in the USA and Canada are overly cautious or down right … (10 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Home Inspector's Nightmare - 07/06/08 05:11 PM
When I talk to people who have graduated from college, myself included but that would be talking to myself, I find that many of us have had the same nightmare. It is something on the order of it being the last day of class and you are suppossed to graduate and, at that … (10 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Home Inspection (King of the House) -- The View From Below - 07/05/08 01:10 PM
It is not uncommon for a home inspector to notice a problem caused by a roof prior to actually going on the roof. This is often apparent at the soffit area, or structure below, and is visible as the inspector walks the perimeter of the property evaluating the overall condition of … (2 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Little Kitties Morphed Into Hideous Pod Shaped Creatures - 06/03/08 04:41 PM
Well, in my country type neighborhood, Cornwall Park area of Bellingham, there has never been a shortage of wildlife. We have possums, squirrels. Then this installment all started a few years ago with a feral cat. She had kittens, we had the three kittens "fixed" but could never catch the mama. … (14 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Carpenters With Bad Public Relations - 05/31/08 12:35 AM
This blog talks about work done by carpenters that would fit into the category of "unwelcome work." These carepenters are not human. They are insect carpenters -- the well-known and much feared ant known as the carpenter ant. The photos below are evidence of a significant carpenter ant infestation. This cottage was located in … (8 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Wood Destroying Organisms That Aren't - 05/18/08 06:49 PM
In Washington State, there are laws regulating wood destroying organism inspections. The laws even define what qualifies as a "WDO". Clients sometimes find the definition, or what makes that list, confusing. They are surprised that a mouse or a rat is not included, nor are certain bees or wasps. In this … (12 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Mirror, Mirror On The Wall Who Is The Silliest Of Them All? - 05/13/08 11:20 PM
It is odd to be out and about and to, suddenly and unexpectedly, run smack dab into a storybook house.
When I say I ran smack dab into it, I mean it figuratively. Today I was many miles away from Bellingham, in the woods up by Mount Baker, and I could not resist … (8 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: 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 wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Home Inspections (King of the House): Downspout Leads To Rot - 01/15/08 07:50 PM
In a previous blog today, I showed a photo of two gutters that were full of debris and water was running out of them onto the structure. At the same home, here is a downspout that is the site of decay of the T1-11 siding. It could be that the decay … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Home Inspections (King of the House): Private Wells - 12/26/07 04:11 PM
In an earlier post today, I wrote about septic tank inspections. Since septic tanks and wells often go together, I thought this information would be appropriate as well.
A private well is a specialized and complex system, mechanically and biologically. Generally speaking, these systems are beyond the scope of a standard home … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Whatcom/Skagit County Home Inspections (King of the House): Damp Crawl Spaces - 12/23/07 02:11 PM
Here in the Pacific Northwest, due to our damp climate, those of us who do state mandated inspections for wood destroying organisms (as part of a home inspection) look for water or dampness in the crawl space. Damp conditions can be caused by a multitude of problems: poor management of runoff … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: 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 wa home inspection: 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 wa home inspection: Anacortes Home Inspection (King of the House): Tiny Fingers Do The Walking - 09/27/07 01:03 PM
Over and over again, as a home inspector, I see easily accessed outlets and light switches that have no covers. If a home is older, it seems that is very often the case. In fact, there should be covers on ALL of the switches, junction boxes or outlets in a home. … (3 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Burlington Washington Home Inspection (King of the House): Missing Vapor Barrier - 09/25/07 01:44 PM
A key to reducing the chances of attracting wood destroying organisms includes having a vapor barrier down on the soil in the crawl space. Without such a barrier, the moisture in the soil evaporates up into the crawl space and even up into the interior of the home. That leads to … (2 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Property Inspection (King of the House): Leaky Faucets - 09/20/07 05:00 PM
While not a serious problem, and one that everyone seems to be able to deal with without anyone freaking out, the leaking faucet can be irritating and wasteful of water. The condition can be at any faucet in the home, you choose: Laundry sink, bathtub, shower, jacuzzi, kitchen sink, bath sink. … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Mount Vernon WA Home Inspector (King of the House): Your Crampin’ My Style -- Inadequate Clearances - 09/20/07 01:55 PM
For some reason, homeowners insist on putting in obstacles that make access to their electric panels unsafe. That in itself is a defect to be called out on an inspection report. To be considered accessible, a panel must have an open area at least 30" x 3' deep at the front; … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Home Inspector: (King of the House): Chimney Flashings - 09/20/07 01:52 PM
A masonry chimney on the roof almost always has, or should have at least, a metal flashing around it. This is usually described in four sections. At the top, behind the chimney, is the head flashing. At the front, low side, is the apron flashing. Probably the most critical flashings are … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Home Inspection (King of the House): Keeping the Water Out - 09/18/07 02:07 PM
A much misunderstood aspect of home maintenance involves caulking. What to caulk and what not to caulk, and where does it work? Basically, caulking is not a substitute for good workmanship. I have seen houses where the siding was cut short, with an inch between the butt end of the siding … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House) Overheated Circuits - 09/18/07 02:06 PM
When looking at electrical safety, probably the two biggest concerns are shocks/ electrocution and fire hazards. With old wiring, as connections and insulation deteriorate, it can lead to wires and connections attaining higher temperatures. Physics is involved: You have voltage, amperage and resistance. As the resistance goes up, which happens … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Municipalities Do It Best - 09/01/07 04:22 PM
I thought I should share this. I have made a number of posts lately regarding unsafe wiring. This is NOT home owner wiring. I was digging through some photos and, again, this is a photo I took near Cancun, Mexico. This is wiring in a public park. Seriously, this is a … (3 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: A Healthy Home - 08/25/07 10:11 PM
Hello Friends and colleagues,Since I am a Home Inspector I always talk about homes and there components.knowledge is power as far as home construction and maintenance.Many people never talk about insulation or movement of air in and out of abuilding. Even if these topics seem less than entertaining they should beregarded … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Home Inspector (King of the House): Conducive Conditions and Crawl Spaces - 08/25/07 12:21 PM
A common problem in crawl spaces is the plastic vapor barrier being out of place or missing altogether or at least missing in some areas. The photo below is a crawl space that is very damp, as you can see. As a result of that the insulation fell down and that … (3 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Property Inspector (King of the House): Up On The Roof -- Tar - 08/25/07 10:13 AM
When a home inspector sees tar around the chimney are the vent stacks, or roof vents, it usually means one of two things: The roof leaked there and this was a repair or that the person who did the roof was not a professional and trained roofer. A professional roofer might, … (5 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Washington Home Inspector (King of the House): Condo Wiring - 08/24/07 10:16 AM
Below is a photo of the main breaker at a condo. Inside a condo, people see an electric panel and assume that it is like the main panel inside a home. Usually that is not the case. At condos the panel inside is usually a distribution or sub-panel. The main breaker … (6 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Home Inspection Bellingham WA (King of the House Inc): Carpenter Ants - 08/22/07 04:20 PM
The state of Washington WSDA considers the carpenter ant to be the most "important" insect pest in the state. I kind of question the word "important" and think it might be better to just say the most "significant" insect pest. The carpenter ant is much misunderstood by the average person. For … (3 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Wa. Washington Home Inspection (King of the House): Water Is The Enemy - 08/01/07 03:58 PM
A detail oriented inspector will look at the tub or shower surround, associated tiles, floor areas and caulking. One of the more common maintenance calls by the inspector has to be telling clients to remove the old caulking or grout and install new. Most of the time we suggest this be done … (4 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Washington Home Inspection (King of the House, Inc): Chimney liners - 07/31/07 01:16 AM
It was the norm many years ago: They vented the fossil fuel furnace, the wood stove and maybe the fossil fuel powered water heater all into the same masonry chimney. Many homes like this are still around today. While this is may not be something to panic over, based on modern thinking, this … (4 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Property Inspection (King of the House, Inc): Carpenter Ants and Wood Destroying Organisms - 07/25/07 08:53 AM
Those of us who are home inspectors get used to our own lingo. And the realtors who have been in the business for some time understand most of it. Today, I had a reminder, in speaking to a realtor, that all the technical words we inspectors think are common might not … (10 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Property Inspections (King of the House): Condo, Manufactured Home, Apartment Electrical - 07/22/07 04:59 PM
Here is something that not everyone knows. As a realtor, ever look in a condo and find the "main" electric shut-off inside the panel in the house. Or maybe you saw that at a mobile home. Fact is, at least in my area, most of the time that panel is not the … (0 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Wa. Washington Home Inspection (King of the House): TPR Drains - 07/21/07 06:44 PM
Actually, I do not need to be vindicated by the photo, as my concern in this post is based on standard plumbing practices. But this posting of the two photos makes a great point! I can tell you that, time and time again, an inspector will go under a home and … (3 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham WA Home Inspections: Raindrops Keep Fallin' In My Flue - 07/17/07 09:14 AM
Bellingham, Whatcom county and the great Pacific Northwet have enough rain that the title of this post is among the more called out items at home inspections -- especially at older homes. Often we see the brick chimney or a clay flue liner and there is no chimney cap over it. … (9 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Birch Bay Blaine Wa. Home Inspection (King of the House): Crawl space variations and ventilation - 07/16/07 12:58 AM
Recently, I saw a general statement telling people to block their crawl space vents permanently. I have made skeptical remarks on this, based on conditions I personally see out in the field inspecting in western Washington and based on Washington WDO laws.
While the practice of blocking vents might be a good … (4 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Bellingham Real Estate Inspection (King of the House): Vinyl Siding, Some like it Hot! - 06/09/07 05:21 PM
If you like it hot, then this photo is for you. After all, it is not everyday you get to take a peak at a melted house. Now, you may be asking, what happened here? And the honest to goodness truth is, I really don't know. Your guess is as good … (22 comments)
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bellingham wa home inspection: Point Roberts Home Inspection (King of the House):This inspection call makes new home builders mad - 05/12/07 09:58 AM
At new homes, probably more than half the time, I find that the crawl space vents are at, or even more likely, below grade. Sometimes this is caused by the landscapers with their beauty bark. Regardless, the builders often feel tweaked when an inspector calls this out. But, in Washington State, … (4 comments)
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