RickSab

I'm glad it not on my neighbors service. Will the downspout be a good enough ground?

Drain is my bet. They are all over here. Most towns don't want you to use them anymore. Rick

A true cabinet screw has a washerhead top. They provide a larger flat surface to contact the wood hanging strip. They are often a number * or 10 screw. Most drywall screws are a #6. A drywall screw also has a tapered head that helps set it into the drywall. Much like a wood screw. This type of top can split the wood strip if driven too deep. I agree that a big problem with drywall screws is how many break when installed. An installer will not spend the time to remove it. He will leave it in. I would still make note of the screws just to CYA. Rick

Those old tiles appear to be plastic coated so they can also trap vapor. They also have no fire rating. and probable don't contribute much to R value. I'd cal out the whole insulation job as a problem. Rick

Is it normal for copper supply lines in your area. In my part of the woods it's black pipe. Rick

OK, so did you find a meter? Is this an illegal hook-up? Rick

Thanks for education. Now maybe I'll make someone think I'm smart also. Rick

Here's my two cents. It is 2" higher than any part of the building within 10" Any yes there are issues with that brick Chimney. Rick

I also found the tone alarming. He may be a good inspector, but I didn't feel he was promoting inspecting as much as he was scaring prospective buyers. Old homes have their issues. Some are well maintained others are not. What was the best practice when a home was constructed may not be now. To label all old homes as problems was wrong. I think he may have hurt his business over the long run. Someone buying around the time of the article may call him but many more may pass on buying for a while. As far as the arsenic, it's the first I've heard of, but isn't just as important to protect yourself from the dust when sawing through a wall. I doubt anyone will remember the arsenic angle anyhow. Look how many people burn treated lumber and plywood. They don't seem to care what they release into the air. I also agree that if you want to get a story in the paper you should use multiple sources. A thoughtful article, written, edited, and proofed again for accuracy is best. It's like the nightly news. Just because some one in the media ask you a question, doesn't mean you need to answer. Rick

Wow! This helps seeing where everyone if from. Thanks it is way kool. Rick

Even though I will never work in the state, I applaud your efforts and hope it will open eyes. No matter your affiliation, most of us are small business trying to do the right thing. Lets hope we can all put association agendas to the side when we have the opportunity to promote the profession and serve our clients. Rick Sabatino

Great! Thanks for posting it. Rick

"Of further concern is the home inspector's failure to disclose major furnace problems. He may have been professionally negligent, depending on what conditions were visible at the time of the inspection. But this barely compares with the deliberate concealment by the Realtor." At least he concedes it is depending on what conditions were visible at the time of the inspection. A HI’s visual inspection is surely not as through as a serviceman inspecting a unit. The fact that the unit performed for almost a year leads me to believe that it was not an immediately apparent problem. We also don't know if the agent did get someone else to keep it running for the sale. If it was negligent on the part of the HI I don't advocate releasing him/her from liability but in this case it looks like more issues could be involved. A visual inspection and operating the heating plant with normal controls may not have revealed any concerns. Rick Sabatino

AMEN to no horizontal stripes.

That is good to hear. I'm considering one of those. They have a 14' version out and its rated 300. Rick Sabatino

I'm using my 2002 Prius. I've averaged 40 mpg for the last 106,000 miles. I haven't even replaced the brakes yet. I have a decent looking 1996 Grand Voyager but it doesn't have a roof rack. I plan on using a telescoping ladder and everything else fits in the trunk too. It parks easily looks good, and is great to drive. If I were to buy a new vehicle it would be between a new Prius and a Scion. The Prius is my first Toyota and I love it. I've had trucks ( my first a 75 K5 Blazer), vans as big as the Dodge 350 extended and even a small AMC wagon. I am happy being down sized. Now if I could too. Rick Sabatino

I too have been looking for report software for the Mac. My biggest reason is I've never had a Mac machine crash or go in for repairs. I've been using them for almost 20 years. I have just upgraded to a new dual core and I expect I will install Window XP on it so I can try a few more systems out there. I would love to know what programs are File Maker based because I am told they can be easily recompiled to run native on a Mac. I'm no computer expert so it's not something I can do, but I heard it from someone who was a File Maker Pro consultant and built programs about 6 years ago. Six years can be an eternity in software years though. Rick Sabatino

Green is upon us. The more we know the better for our clients. In Chicago, the Center for Green Technology offers a wide variety of seminars and classes on the subject. There are many buildings going up that are Green Certified. Get ahead of the curve. Any day you can learn something is a good day. Rick Home Inspection and Facility Services Oak Park, IL