DonTx

Does FHA take into an account the age of an A/C? We have a friend who is selling their home and nobody told the A/C to stop working. It's old and still kicking, the Sellers will be giving the Buyers an A/C allowance. However, the Buyers are using an FHA loan both Sellers and Buyers are worried the deal may go south because of the old A/C. Thanks for the help,

There should be a continuous ridge, normally it's a 2x6 standing on end, covered with 2 layers of grade D felt paper then most will nail a batten strip on top after the paper is on. That picture looks like they took a few shortcuts. This might help you. Download Attachment: DSC01089.JPG 64.18 KB

Well, you can't have our "One Tough Grandma", but I hear that Kathleen Blanco may be wanting to relocate!! [:-witch]

She's actually running for Governor here in Texas. Her motto is "One Tough Grandma" Since she blasted the TRCC the way she did, she just got my vote!

Artistic expression! I've seen a few of them done that way, normally it's a darker shade than the other shingles. Apprently it's suppose to be cool and trendy in some neighborhoods.

The same thing is happening here in Houston. Builders go in and tear down these small 1500 to 2500 sf ranch style homes in the older well to do neighborhoods and build these McMansions. I often tell the clients that the home that was tore down to build their new one was more than likely built better than this new one....

Who makes this type of soffit material? I've checked the James Hardie website and Weyerhaeuser and neither have this type of soffit material. Download Attachment: DSC00855.JPG 29.34 KB Download Attachment: DSC00854.JPG 41.92 KB P.S. It's either fiber cement or a cedar product I believe.

Now I know where I saw it..... ....the last sentence Download Attachment: IMG_7217.jpg 49.68 KB

I think I should ad a picture for those of you who can't 'remote view' the home. Download Attachment: IMG_6873.jpg 53.95 KB

Yesterday's home had this showing at the face. I figured it might be a cold joint... Whaddyathink?

I've been told that it is wrong to double different sizes of ground wires up under single set screws at the ground bus. I often find #14 and #12's paired up as well as #10 and #14's. As I was told, only grounds of the same size and material can be doubled/tripled up under single set screws at the ground bus. Can someone give me the NEC code for this?

The other shingles are curling at the corners. How old did the Sellers say it was? Usually when I see a roof like this, it takes very little effort to pull them up. My guess would be the foundation or some weird installation problem. What was the roof decking?

I'll assume then that she was easy to smash?[:-splat] Of course, from what I hear, out in AZ they'll take your flashlight away from you and abuse you with it....[:-fight]

Do you have a builders warranty on the home? If so, file a claim with them for seal failure.

Well Bob, I'd rather crawl! I hate heights! I don't walk every roof, however, if I can't see the entire roof from the ground, I start getting worried. Take for example this 1 year old roof, I couldn't see one side and then I found two fresh cut tree stumps on the side I couldn't see. So up I went..... Download Attachment: IMG_6034.jpg 61.67 KB Download Attachment: IMG_6032.jpg 66.9 KB Needless to say, I felt I'd done my job!!

Update: My Client forwarded me a copy of the letter from the CertainTeed Rep. It's pretty obvious after reading the letter that this idiot did not even go out to the home and look at it. He must have taken the roofers or builders word for it. That would explain why I didn't see any ladder marks at the time of re-inspection other than those from my LG that were made at the time of the original inspection. This fixin' to get good....

I use to be a stern opponent of walking roofs. I'm still not crazy about walking them, but since I've started walking more and more, I'm finding more and more! I didn't walk the roof of the home in the pic below. My LG wouldn't reach the roof. However, I had a bad feeling about the tree at the side of the home and scheduled another of my inspectors to look at it two days later. Good thing I did. How would you have worded your statement if you hadn't walked this roof? I feel it would have been a cop out to simply state "Didn't walk roof due to height, have a roofing specialist further evaluate this roof" Donald This bad boy was sounding all kinds of alarms... Download Attachment: IMG_6390.jpg 70.42 KB Glad I have an inspector with a 28ft ladder! Download Attachment: treevsshingles.JPG 62.12 KB Sometimes I wonder if I pay him enough... Download Attachment: treevsshingle.JPG 82.49 KB This is all I could see from the ground.... Download Attachment: IMG_6364.jpg 61.45 KB

What's the shipping on something like that?

Thanks Mike, I've done checked that section out. What I need is the details for the exterior outlets and recessed lights.

Terence, Who's wood siding is that? Find out then dig up the installation instructions. I bet there's a diagram somewhere about head flashing and jamb flashing. Like others have said, 'It aint right'.

Does anyone have illustrations of the proper way to seal penetrations through Stucco exterior? I know how it's suppose to be done, but both my SMA manual and my TLPCA manual do not have illustration details for things like exterior outlets, light fixtures, gas lines, etc. The EIFS part does, but I'd be called on the carpet in no time for using those!!! Thanks All,

Jim, thanks for the response. I figured that they may have been talking about the vertical nail spacing, however their current installation instructions still require a nail to be placed 1 inch from the edge. Also, another picture that I didn't show in the post above was one where the returns did not have felt paper under the shingles. I'll be going back out in a few days for a re-inspect. I'm going to recheck the roof to see if they've added nails.

Same here, not many 'old' homes left in Houston. We do a handful each year in the 1910 to 1930 range. Many inspectors in this area won't touch 'em, but I find them interesting. In some of the 1940 to 1960's neighborhoods, their razing the ranch style homes and building 4-7k sq.ft. McMansions. I've often told Clients the home that was here before was built better than this new one you're about to buy.

Norm returns! Welcome back Norm, to a place everyone knows your name...[:-spin]

Bill, I asked the Client if the rep even went up on a ladder or looked at my report, they didn't know, just that they'd be getting a letter from him. I told them that CertainTeed would be getting a letter from me with all 30+ pictures of the roof and a copy of their own installation instructions. What is WideTrac? I dunno myself. Clients said the rep told them it was some type of patented shingle that could have the nails spaced further apart. I told them it sounded like B.S. because there was nothing on CertainTeed's website about it. "If it was indeed so great, don't you think CertainTeed would put it up on their website?" I asked. Bain, don't be silly. You can't burn new homes here, the wood is too green and the paint is full of water! LOL