nashville home inspection: Venting Again
- 03/20/16 08:25 AM
Unlike real estate agents, as long as I am in this business, I will never run out of blog fodder. I love what I do and do what I love because I enjoy the architecture of newer and older properties and I enjoy and often get a laugh when I see the ‘craftsmanship’ that goes on especially in rehabs. One of the things that I can say about older properties, they do have their issues. However, there was a lot of pride that went into the construction as this was to be someone's living space and the builders reputation was … (18 comments)
nashville home inspection: (not so) Speechless Sundae ~ 03.13.16
- 03/12/16 09:01 PM
I know that I have written several articles on the dangers of flexible plastic ducting being used as a source for dryer venting. Although this material has been banned for years for this application, I still run across it from time to time, especially in older properties or where upgrades have been made. Current standards now require all venting in crawlspaces, walls and ceiling cavities to be rigid metal and the effective length cannot be more than 25 feet. By effective length, I am referring to all the bends and straight runs not to total more than that … (16 comments)
nashville home inspection: If it Doesn't Look Right . . .
- 03/08/16 08:59 AM
In our darse prisa, get it done quickly, microwave society, it is not uncommon to see folks taking shortcuts. To use a grossly overworked term, ‘It is what it is’. Additionally, after 15 years in the business, I have come to learn, if something does not look right, it isn't. While inspecting a new construction house in Nashville, TN I ran across a wooden block by a doorway that really looked out of place. Being located by a pedestrian entrance door, logic dictated that there should have been a switch here. The property had just been issued a CO … (10 comments)
nashville home inspection: The Inspection is for Your Protection
- 02/23/16 06:13 PM
One of the items that home inspectors are required to check is functional flow. Functional flow is the volume of water produced when all the faucets are turned on at multiple fixtures. Generally, this is done in a bath. This is not to be confused with ‘static’ water pressure which is the force behind it. While inspecting a rehab, The functional flow was very weak even though the static water pressure was 70PSI. I finally found the problem in the crawl space where the water line entered the property. While updating some of the plumbing, the main entrance line … (20 comments)
nashville home inspection: Never a Dull Moment . . .
- 02/18/16 06:29 PM
There is a lot to be said about out of sight, out of mind and older properties like our more experienced population have stories to tell. Although not perfect, older properties were built to last as there was a lot of pride that went into the construction process. More so than the repair to the structural pier that is supporting one of the main girders. I hate to think that someone paid good money for such shoddy work. For the most part, homeowners will not go into the crawlspace to verify the quality of the completed work and so repairs … (19 comments)
nashville home inspection: FYI - Smoke Detectors
- 02/11/16 06:18 PM
Smoke detectors. Something we all take for granted as these silent sentinels are on the job 24/7/365. The only time most of us think about them is either when they begin to chirp indicating it is time to change the battery or when we take heed and replace the battery at the beginning of daylight savings time. Because daylight savings time is just around the corner, did you know . . . - That the average life expectancy of smoke detectors is 10 Years. - That during its lifetime it's been on the job for over 87,000 hours. At … (14 comments)
nashville home inspection: To be God's Most Intellegent Creation . . .
- 12/02/15 07:06 PM
. . . some folks do some not so smart stuff! Just when I think that I have seen it all, someone comes up and puts a new fly in the ointment. While inspecting a property the other day, I ran across this interesting scenario. The person who owned this property loved to tinker and needed to add some additional circuits to the room he had just finished remodeling. The answer? Why not just add a double male plug to act as a "jumper" between the two circuits. Oh! The plug coming out of the phone box? Yes that is … (14 comments)
nashville home inspection: Paying Good Money for a Bad Repair
- 04/27/15 07:04 PM
I love the older, more experienced properties. (Yeah! Right!) Like many of our more ‘experienced’ citizens’, there are certainly stories to tell, and a journal of what has historically happened in its life. Yesterday while inspecting a property in the East Nashville area, I ran across this unusual repair by an unhandy handyman. One again, a classic example of how not to support a load-bearing girder. The blocks were setting on the ground with no concrete foundation (18x18 for Davidson County). The bricks were haphazardly mortared together and because there were some building materials lying around, the contractor used asbestos … (20 comments)
nashville home inspection: (not so) Speechless Sundae 11.23.14
- 11/22/14 07:26 PM
I don't ever want to feel that I have given up or will give up. My Creator fashioned me so that I, with His help; will find a way. As old as I am, I still feel as if there are no surprises left for and in my life. To me, it is the surprises that make my life worth living. Every day is a a gift of the present. I have learned to expecting nothing and to accept and acknowledge everything. When the winds of adversity blow, some easily succumb to its forces. However, I will hang in there … (16 comments)
nashville home inspection: Getting All Bent out of Shape
- 11/05/14 07:23 AM
It is not unusual for folks to get all bent out of shape over some silly, trivial matter that does not amount to a hill of beans. People are who they are and their filters certainly react differently to the stress of life’s situations. Just as stress takes its toll on people, stress takes its toll on houses and their components as well. The stress imposed on the service mast by the overhead wiring has taken its toll on the mast as well as the roof covering. All of this could have been avoided had the electrician installed a tie-back … (20 comments)
Every now and then, we need a facelift. Having looked at my tired, frumpy, out-of-date I realized if I didn't like it, neither would my customers. For those of you are into DYI, it was time to crash, bash and smash and do a total make-over. It all started with the domain. When I got the domain 6 years ago, I never liked it. I thought it was too long. More keystrokes, more prone to errors. This becomes even more crutial with mobile devices. Word Press v/s Conventional. I opted for WP as there are so many user … (17 comments)
nashville home inspection: Color Coordinating...
- 02/14/12 07:14 AM
Color Coordinating... Every now and then I run across a home owner who likes to color coordinate. While color coordinating is okay, there are some things, such as outlets, that should be left alone. This is definitely not a good idea and especially when it comes to GFCI outlets. When these are painted over, the paint will often jam the mechanical test and reset buttons. If the buttons are jammed, the device may fail to trip resulting you going z-z-z-zt, which is not a good thing! I consider these a safety hazard and I recommend replacing the device.This … (81 comments)
nashville home inspection: If There's a Will...
- 08/20/11 07:00 AM
<Sigh> If There's a Will... In the "If there's a will there's a way" department, some folks are absolute "Ine-Steins". I often get an opportunity to see things I wish I hadn't. Leave it to the home unhandy, fixer-me-upper to come up with some "in-Gene-yus" ways to do what defiles all accepted trade practices. After all, it only a half a case of home-brew to "figger" out this concoction. <sigh> Well, if you don't succeed the first time, there's always more duct tape…
… (21 comments)
nashville home inspection: The Cheapest Fix Isn't Always the Best...
- 08/19/11 11:05 PM
The Cheapest Fix Isn't Always the Best... There is something about inspecting older, more experienced properties. Talk about hitting the mother load of blog fodder. No rehashed BPO's, short sales, market reports, and what have you here. Just pure, unadulterated fodder that does the blog good! In this vintage property, the HVAC system has gone through at least a zillion upgrades. In upgrades, where permits have not been pulled, contractors often take short cuts in order to save a few dollars. And let's face it, duct tape is one of those things that a HVAC contractor doesn't leave home without. … (23 comments)
nashville home inspection: Quit Peeing on My Floor...
- 08/19/11 12:53 AM
Quit Peeing on My Floor... Let's face it, occasionally all of us at one time or other has had bladder control problem. Pressure builds up, a slight sneeze and... OOPS!!! How embarrassing. The same thing happens in your home's plumbing system. Pressure builds up in the storage tank, water valve gets turned off quickly and… Now, one could put a bucket under the valve extension or do something stupid like put a cork in it, but hopefully we ARE smarter than that. Odds are, the bladder in the expansion tank is either waterlogged or defective. Expansion tanks are … (18 comments)
nashville home inspection: Oye Veh...
- 08/17/11 10:54 PM
Oye Veh... Sloppy is as sloppy does or at least that is what I have to say. And just because you can purchase something in a home improvement store, doesn't mean that it conforms to "codes" or acceptable trade practices either. First of all, there would be a strong argument that the contractors first job must have been in a meat packing plant - words can ere express the the quality of the butchering job on the cabinetry. The plumbing stops need to be readily accessible and operable. Well okay, they might if you have mighty small hands. … (40 comments)
nashville home inspection: Make My Day, Kill a Watt ~ The Lines Are Drawn...
- 09/24/10 12:30 AM
Make My Day, Kill a Watt ~ The Lines Are Drawn... There comes a time in everyone's life where they have to draw a line in the sand and say, "Enough is enough!" TVA, NES and The Energy Hog Gang have been running rampant and are stealing me blind. A combination of my negligent use of energy, customer service charges imposed by the local power provider and fuel adjustment costs tacked on by TVA has prompted this customer to draw the line. Yesterday's post, Make My Day, Kill a Watt, was a knee-jerk reaction prompted by writing "the check". Just like … (15 comments)
nashville home inspection: Training Your Water...
- 08/28/10 12:58 PM
Training Your Water... Have you ever had to train your water to make it go the place you want to go? Any of you that have ever had to do this, knows how bothersome it really is. There's the cajoling method. "Come on. You can do it! Now jump!!! Atta Boy! Good!" followed by some sort of treat for good behavior. You can scold. "Bad water. Bad water. Shame on you for just pooling around..." But as we all know, water just seems to have a mind of it's own and will do what it wants. Even when we get some … (10 comments)
nashville home inspection: Inspection Photo of the Day ~~ We'll Leave the Light on...
- 04/26/10 09:29 PM
Inspection Photo of the Day ~~ We'll Leave the Light on... When I first saw this while inspecting a rehab in Nashville, TN not too long back, I was reminded of a line from a ad that ran for several years on TV and radio. There are a few very obvious issues that most novices can point out such as the missing glass and those dreaded dangling participles. What isn't so obvious though is the actual installation of the fixtre. Because this fixture is mounted on vinyl siding, there has to be a weather proof mounting plate that … (20 comments)
nashville home inspection: (not so) Speechless Sunday...
- 04/24/10 09:20 PM
(not so) Speechless Sunday... I have met a lot of ladies in my life. Some, have been more memorable than others. However; there is one lady that I do not like to encounter no matter where I am. It seems as if this dark, dastardly darling shows up where you least expect. Needless to say, not being my style, I just widow shopped, and kept a movin'. I'm sure some dummy might get caught in her web...
Unlike real estate agents, as long as I am in this business, I will never run out of blog fodder. I love what I do and do what I love because I enjoy the architecture of newer and older properties and I enjoy and often get a laugh when I see the ‘craftsmanship’ that goes on especially in rehabs.
;)
;)
;)
