ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2013
The question might better be put "who..." but you should ask yourself, what are the electrical energy users in your house? We all have choices. Sometimes we don't have a choice as regards energy, but in many ways we can choose to use energy or not. We can save energy too. For example, we can tr...
09/12/2013
An attic access ladder simply MUST be properly installed. That's why there are such specific manufacturer instructions that comes with every one. The ceiling to enter the attic can range from 8' in some houses, to 10' feet in others. In a garage the attic can be 12' or 15' high. Even 8' is a lo...
09/10/2013
"So long as entrepreneurs are considered parasites and the beneficiaries of their efforts seethe in indignation, the poverty of the envious classes can only deepen." Michael LevinFoundation for Economic Education That's a pretty strong statement! Entrepreneurs are as essential to the economy as t...
09/09/2013
When I read notes left for me by sellers or realtors, sometimes I snicker a bit because just driving up to the house I often notice things that preclude what any note might have to say. When I read this one: "Roof shingles all recently replaced by a licensed roofing company," I did in fact snic...
09/07/2013
53
Comments
Whether you know it or not Lenn Harley is a very experienced competitive shotgun shooter. She has decades of such experience. My daughter has wanted to see if shotgun shooting is something she would like to pursue. I have no experience with competitive shotgun shooting. Lenn offered to meet my ...
09/06/2013
The longer I am in business the more I realize that we should all beware the repair receipt from a "licensed professional." A couple of weeks ago I was to do a re-inspection of some work done to correct some serious problems I had identified during the initial inspection. There were a few posts ...
09/05/2013
In the good old days HVAC duct work was small, metal and did not efficiently carry air because old, metal HVAC ducts are famously inefficient and leaky. Why? Because there are many joints, elbows and unions that either were left with gaps, or the gaps and holes developed over time. Additionally, ...
09/04/2013
Are These Dueling Quotes? As regards what even the least desirable person enjoys in a developed society, "We consider what a variety of labour is employed about each of them, we shall be sensible that without the assistance and cooperation of many thousands, the very meanest person in a civilized...
09/02/2013
23
Comments
Every now and then I see what some "contractor" thinks are magical load-bearing glass doors. How can that be, you ask? Well, it can't. Just because the NEW WAVE of contractors to flood the repair market think doors are magically load bearing, they are not. Removing walls and structure to "open u...
09/01/2013
58
Comments
I run into all kinds of things on pre-drywall inspections - many things we could call New Construction Afterthoughts. Interestingly, they created the walls for the rear stair well. But they only cut a regular door opening. The buyer was the one who noticed it! They cut this opening a few days pri...
08/31/2013
Rainmaker
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Jay Markanich
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An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.