ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2014
42
Comments
On a fabulous inspection the other day of a completely remodeled 1880's row house just blocks from the United States Capitol Building, I was impressed by the key that came out of the lock box to get us in.It was an original skeleton key!I LOVE old skeleton keys!Skeleton keys are used to open what...
06/17/2014
Free Enterprise Suggests The Pursuit Of Happiness “Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, will invite you, to add something to the pleasure of others, or to diminish something of their pains.” ...
06/16/2014
14
Comments
Anytime I see a basement "apartment" I know I am in for some fun. Looking inside the panel box I knew they had done some wondrous new things to the house (6 double taps and one triple tap in an original, and very small, 125amp panel box), but I could not figure out where the wiring came from to s...
06/15/2014
Amateurs do this sort of thing all the time and this is not, not, not an appropriate fireplace repair. Fireplace boxes get hot and cool down. A lot. As such things expand and contract and what very often fails in a fireplace are mortar joints. The cracking and loosening of mortar has to be handl...
06/13/2014
Without a stamp how do you know it's FRT plywood? Fire Retardant Treated plywood is required as roof sheathing fire protection between abutting houses - duplex, condo, or townhouse. It is commonly called "FRT plywood." You can tell the brand and quality by viewing a stamp. The stamp needs to be...
06/12/2014
30
Comments
New construction, lovely floor plan, wonderful kitchen and beautiful all around but, but (!) - would you want to live with this? You can't tell, can you? This is a high-end electrical cook top. There is a high-end kitchen light/fan above. The two high center cabinet doors do not open up as they h...
06/11/2014
A Plumbing Penetration Should NOT Be Used For Calling The Mother Ship. Plumbing penetrations are an integral part of the plumbing system. They are to release pressure from a plumbing drain system. When solids and liquids enter the drainage system of your house they have volume. The space requir...
06/10/2014
Free Enterprise Demands Liberty "Indeed liberty is the divine source of all human happiness. To possess, in security, the effects of our industry, is the most powerful and reasonable incitement to be industrious: And to be able to provide for our children, and to leave them all that we have, i...
06/09/2014
Sometimes I want to leave a note for sellers that says, "You did a poor repair - why sell the consequences to someone else?" Homeowners, or friends of homeowners, or the hiring of less-than-talented people, often leaves unprofessional repairs in a house that the homeowner wants to sell to people ...
06/08/2014
After hardly saying hello, the voice on the phone yelled, "You ruined the sale of my house!" He then went on in a rant that ended with, "I know where you live." It was said in a very unkind manner. I have heard this sort of thing before. People upset that I identified something on their house...
06/06/2014
Rainmaker
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2,017,031
Jay Markanich
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia
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An experienced home inspector's look at current home inspection events and conditions along with his useful recommendations.