portland oregon home inspection: Roof (Attic) Vents - Fastening/Nailing/Stapling in the Field/Flange - Proper/Improper and Ramifications - One Roof - 7 Years Old
- 04/07/12 08:53 AM
I am regularly finding roof vents installed improperly. In this area, I would say that at least 80-90% of them are installed improperly by nailing or stapling them in the flange/field, even though there are clearly pilot holes/key holes that are made for this and even though most of the vents clearly say not to do this right on them. This is how it should be properly installed: This is how they should not be installed: This is what can happen if they are not installed properly: This is a good example of a roof vent properly installed lasting 20 … (3 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: Common Roof Leak Points: Cracked Plumbing Vent Boots/Jacks - Typically After 10/11-15 Years Post-Installation
- 02/11/12 04:47 PM
From my experience, the majority of roof leaks originate at one of the many penetrations through the roof line found on the vast majority of homes. Some of these penetrations include roof vents, dryer exhaust vents (on newer properties), satellite dish fasteners, and a host of other penetrations and connections to the roof. Of these, a very common leak point is at the plumbing vents which penetrate the roof line. These plumbing vents, part of the plumbing system, have a "boot" or a "jack" (or a host of other commonly used names...) that acts as a sort of "shirt" around … (1 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: Drip Edge Flashing
- 01/04/12 12:25 PM
Drip edge flashing, while not technically "required" in most municipalities, is a good idea, and if it isn't present I will often find problems on homes. Subsequently, whether there are problems or not, I will always call out missing drip edge flashing (with a couple notable exceptions...) in a home inspection report. But first, what is drip edge flashing? Drip edge flashing tucks up under the shingles, resting on top of the roof decking/sheathing (which also happens to be, in this case, the top side of the "eave"...), then angles down over the gutter providing an "edge" for water to … (3 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: National Radon Action Month
- 01/01/12 04:24 PM
JANUARY 2012 IS THE NATIONAL RADON ACTION MONTH, AND THE VIDEO ABOVE HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO ACCOMPANY THIS YEAR'S AWARENESS MONTH. IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD YOUR HOME PROFESSIONALLY TESTED FOR RADON, CONSIDER DOING SO THIS MONTH. YOU NEVER KNOW: IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF THOSE YOU LOVE... … (0 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: More Elevated Radon Levels in Clark County - Not Near The River
- 12/31/11 06:53 PM
Got another radon test back today with an elevated reading, with some spikes over 17pCi/l (over 4.25 times the EPA's remediation/action level). This was on another home in Clark County *no where near the Columbia River* (since there are some who suggest that it is only an issue in the most sourthern portion of Clark County).. A fixable issue, but something you will not know about unless you have the home tested. Let me know if you want me to test your home! The method and testing equipment we use is not something you can purchase yourself. Hope you all have … (1 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: No Flashing and No Caulking on Cement Fiber Lap Siding at the Field Joints: OK?
- 09/16/11 07:06 AM
I recently did an inspection on a home built in the early 1990's that had cement fiber lap siding on it. It is doubtful (well, it isn't doubful, but definite) that the home originally had LP - Louisiana Pacific siding on it: the so called "first generation" LP siding, which was involved in litigation for its propensity to failure. I see this often. Why is it replaced? Most of the time it is replacd because the siding was decaying, but that is not what I wanted to discuss in this post. Hardie Plank (which this siding does not appear … (1 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: 20 Things to Look for In a Home Inspection
- 09/15/11 05:36 PM
Mark Weisleder wrote an article titled “20 Things to Look for in a Home Inspection”, which appeared online at the online article Moneyville (http://www.moneyville.ca/article/1050873--20-things-to-look-for-in-a-home-inspection?bn=1), September of 2011. Mr. Weisleder’s article is full of recommendations for consumers when buying a home, but the article is a bit unclear as to whether he expects home inspectors or home buyer’s to carry out his recommendations. The lack of clarity, combined with some concerns over his recommendations, prompted my response. The entire article can be found above, but I have included it here as well, unabridged, with my commentary intertwined. My comments will be in … (1 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: Check That Duct Work
- 09/05/11 08:01 PM
Most of the homes that I will inspect will have, from one degree to another, leaking air in the heating/cooling system, which means that air is getting out where it shouldn't be: air that you are paying for. Think of it the like putting gas into a car that you know leaks gas. Perhaps the leak is a little, but perhaps you are leaking puddles down the road. It is really important to take the time every now and again to carefully check all of your duct work connections, and especially the areas around the plenum. Obviously, do this with the … (4 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: Why Is the Inspector Mentioning Such a Small Item: Anti-Tip Brackets for Stoves
- 09/04/11 08:21 PM
One of the (one... of... the...) complaints that people (well, usually contractors and realtors... well... usually realtors...) have with inspectors is mentioning things that seem petty or otherwise not really significant, especially considering that most Standards of Practice and home inspector Service Agreements state that the inspector is required only to mention things of serious import. Personally, I think it would be nice if the inspector was left to their sole discretion to mention anything that they themselves thought was important: all liability for the inspection process would be removed, and the inspector would be free to essentially mention anything they wished. … (4 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: Having a Spray Wand in Your Rental? Me Thinks That is a Bad Idea, as well...
- 09/03/11 12:22 PM
Since I had such success with my previous post on fire places in rental properties (http://activerain.com/blogsview/2489191/having-a-fireplace-in-your-rental-me-thinks-that-is-a-bad-idea) I thought I would add another thing that I wouldn't have in a rental: spray wands at the kitchen sink. 1) A disproportionate number of rental properties (well, tenant occupied properties) that I inspect either have a leaking spray wand at the kitchen sink at the time of the inspection, or there are signs under the sink indicating that the spray wand was leaking. 2) If the spray wand leaks you are either giong to have to fix it, or you are going to have … (5 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: Having a Fireplace in Your Rental? Me Thinks That is a Bad Idea
- 09/03/11 09:27 AM
My percentage of investor clients in the last 2 years has increased with the lower interest rates, higher demand for renters (people who lost their homes due to foreclosure or did a short sale and can't buy), and low prices. Many of these homes, especially if they are from the mid to early 1990s or earlier will have fire places, which has got me thinking about whether or not it is a good idea to have a useable fire place in a rental. Personally, I wouldn't want any rental of mine to have a fire place in it. There are some good … (7 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: In the Field: Moisture Ants
- 10/18/09 05:43 PM
In the right corner of the picture you will note a mount of dirt that extends from the ground to the large beam. This was found on a home a few months back in Portland, OR. It is a Moisture Ant nest. When I have seen Moisture Ants before I hadn't seen anything like this, but they appear to use it to provide easy access between the moist beam and the moist soil below...
This is viewing it from the other side...
I didn't know what it was (for sure) until I cut into it with a knife … (3 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: KGW Article on Expiration or Extension of First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
- 10/18/09 11:21 AM
First-time homeowner tax credit may get 1-year extension By ERIC ADAMS, KGW.com Staff Rep. Kurt Schrader has introduced a bill in Congress to extend the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. Schrader's bill would extend the $8,000 tax credit for a year, through September 2010. It was set to expire Nov. 30. The tax credit has been praised by local realtors and homeowners as a life-saver for the crippled housing industry during the recession. Others have criticized it for only benefiting consumers who've never owned a home or haven't purchased one in the last three years. To Read the Rest of the … (0 comments)
portland oregon home inspection: In the Field: The Roof Should Be Replaced
- 10/17/09 10:55 AM
Description: At a recent inspection I got on the ladder to check out the roof, and came down 20 seconds later. "Aren't you going to inspect the roof?" "Yes, I already did. It needs to be replaced." "Really? You can tell that quickly?" "Sometimes... yes... yes you can." This roof was also easy to see from the ground anyway... large sections were completely missing on the southern exposure, and there were gaps between the shingle tabs that were over 1 inch in some areas. In this specific situation, the pine needles certainly accelerated the deterioration of the material, but it … (4 comments)
Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC is proud to be performing home inspections in all of the Clark County Washington and the Greater Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA metro areas. We specialize in offering a complete inspection process, from the inspection to the report, on site and in an expedient yet thorough manner. Prior to taking on the form of Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC in 2005, Inspection Consulting was one of the original home inspection companies in Clark County. We have collectively performed over 10,000 home inspections in the last 12 years, and we put all of this experience to work for you.
--
If you need a home inspector in Vancouver WA, or anywhere in SW Washington and NW Oregon, Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC will offer you the most experience, the best service, and we guarantee it!
Call Today:
WA: 360.907.9648
OR: 503.502.1495
Toll Free: 1.866.284.3151
I am regularly finding roof vents installed improperly. In this area, I would say that at least 80-90% of them are installed improperly by nailing or stapling them in the flange/field, even though there are clearly pilot holes/key holes that are made for this and even though most of the vents clearly say not to do this right on them. 
;)
;)
;)
