Gibsonguy

Thanks for the replies Jim & Tom, I was thinking the same thing. Anything on vinyl siding not to be used on anything but a vertical surface?

Hi Guys, I was wondering if anyone has seen siding installed on a gambrel roof before? The owners said they chose to do this, rather than use shingles which wear our. Usually mansard faces stay for a very long time. There is no shingles underneath. The owners said they removed the shingles and they installed a Tyvek building wrap under. I know the siding isn't water tight, just wondering what the long term effects would be especially on siding not installed perfectly vertical? Has anyone seen an installation like this? It's been 10 years and I haven't seen it yet. Looking for any info on vinyl siding that states it must be installed vertical if possible. Thanks!

Thanks guys. This is exactly what I was looking for. I did mean apartment. Many here in Montreal do not have a disconnect in the panel itself. I was speaking to an electrician who told me it's required. I was just a bit "shocked" (pun intended) at all the previous panels I hadn't mentioned... but it appears it was all for naught. I appreciate you guys checking in and helping.

Hi guys, I was hoping for someone to shed some light on a topic if possible. I have seen many condos without a main disconnect. I know an electrician who says that this is not allowed, however the sheer number I see would seem to contradict this. Every panel must be able to be serviced from inside the unit, and be able to shut it down as he says. I'm in QC. I was told that a main disconnect for a condo is not required by an electrician on an electrician's forum but he says that's from the CEC... Anyone know? Thanks in advance!

Thanks Chad! I appreciate the help. Badair, I am in QC. We don't follow the NEC here. AFCIs are required only on bedroom wall receptacles, they aren't to be installed on permanent light fixtures.

Hello All, Is this not an S-trap? This is brand new construction, the house has never been lived in. Is there something I am missing? The first picture is under the kitchen sink. The extension is not 2x the diameter of the pipe... The second is in the powder room. My antennae are up on this home as I found a couple of other issues like no electrical outlet in the powder room and ceiling lights on AFCI's that suggest the home was built by a "jack of all trades" Any help would be appreciated Thanks!

I always thought of it as row housing attached on both sides. Is this one of those Canadian/American things?...

Thanks Marc. It isn't a condo building... Just a town home. I appreciate the feedback.

Maybe it's this? A kind of foam with an intumescent property. http://www.firechemicals.com/Firex.html I can feel the foam like density and insulation properties when I touched it in the attic. This product looks pretty interesting. I can see how thermal resistance is important. I may have answered my own question here.

It is definitely spray foam. It may have an intumescent latex barrier on it, but I'm not 100% sure if even that is considered ok. The building doesn't have sprinklers and it's a residential home. I think it would require a fire wall. This is just a new one on me. Wondering if anyone else has seen it or has an opinion on it? This is an intumescent latex barrier: http://www.netzerotools.com/handi-foam-m10000-ignition-barrier-5-gallon

Try to get a good one if you can. I have a Klein and I'm not too impressed, but it's MUCH better than my older one (Can't remember the name). My master electrician friend says to go with Fluke. Check the sensitivity so you don't get one that goes off every time you sneeze...

Mark has the right reply: backer rod and caulk is necessary for stucco and EIFS installations to manage expansion and contraction between two different materials.Openings can allow moisture to enter and get trapped in the wall. Typically these are face systems with no drainage plane. The overhang may or may not protect it, but it's not done properly.

Hello All, I just wanted to ask for some feedback. I did an inspection on a 2011 townhome and in the attic, there was spray foam over the party walls. There is a hole at the top of one party wall which I am asking to be sealed, but what are your views on the spray foam? How can it affect the fire rating of the wall? I did not make any holes to measure the drywall and verify a proper 5/8" . How would you write it up? Thanks in advance for any opinions you may have

Interesting .... I never knew. It makes sense, but I had never seen it before. Once again, this is the temple of wisdom! Thank-you again.

Hi Marc It is below the check valve, right after the pump. The discharge tube runs from the pit up to the ceiling, and then horizontal, where the check valve is installed. His explanation was to relieve the pressure in the pipe. My question is.. because of the strength of the pump? To empty the pipe because it is 7 ft or 8 ft high? I've never heard of it being done before, yet he states the company asked him for it. When the pump operates, obviously it sprays out from the hole, but the pump operates sufficiently to empty the pit.

Hello Everyone, I inspected an early 1960's home, original on owner. The discharge pipe for the sump pump is copper and the water was squirting out the side of the pipe. I thought it was the weld, but the owner told me the pump company had told him to put a hole in the discharge pipe to help relieve pressure because the discharge pipe runs 8 ft high. Anyone heard of this? The pipe does have a one way valve on it. I have never seen this before. Once again, thanks in advance for all your wisdom. Click to Enlarge 31.36 KB

Hi All, I just wondered if anyone can confirm or deny my theory. I've never seen any like this, but can this be an old anti-black-flow preventer? The valve turns completely left and right, but it is sealed at the floor. Because the home is 1950 construction and it's in the slab, I am just making an educated guess.. Anyone? Click to Enlarge 37.89 KB

Thanks Marc. I am a bit under the gun as I have a few reports to get out. This is an important customer and it is not a low end build. I want to make sure I cover it all so he can speak to the builder.

Hi Guys, I guess the title says it all. This is a brand new home. Would any of you have an issue with the way these shingles were cut? No leaks in the attic and it was raining a lot the day of the inspection. Would you be worried the uncut shingles in the valley would allow for water to get underneath? Is it even worth calling the builder to fix it? Thanks in advance. Click to Enlarge 59.91 KB Click to Enlarge 71.01 KB

Hi Everyone, Just wanted to open a discussion about ethics... yes right and wrong. Sometimes the line is blurred (most times in a real estate transaction it is...) I am generally always on the side of my client. Yesterday I did an inspection for a divorcing father. I am known to be thorough and he was a very detail oriented client. (ie: anal) I spoke with him today and he tells me he managed to renegotiate 40K off a home that, in my mind, was in pretty good shape for it's age. It was owned by an elderly couple going into a home. I am not a seasoned vet but not wet behind the ears either and I am just reflecting on some of the finer details that I openly talk about during my inspection. I'd hate for a problem that I think is minor for me become an issue down the road because I neglected to include it in a report, so for me, everything goes in the report. This time, it cost an elderly couple 40K.

They are injection ports.. here are the vertical ones just a few feet further down the foundation wall. I was just wondering why?... not really "what are these?". I have banged a few hundred form ties before to know that these are not ties. I was wondering if you have seen anyone use epoxy injection for holes made from form ties before? Or is there something I am missing? This home has already surprised me with an original interior perimeter drain when the home was built (1971) as well as iron ochre. Click to Enlarge 22.85 KB

Hi Marc, The ties are flat here. It's the injection ports you are looking at. I didn't see any bolts, bulging or cracking in the foundation wall. Thanks though!

Thanks Kurt! I appreciate it. I was pretty sure, but I wanted to hear one of the vastly knowledgeable posters in here give me their opinion.

Hi Guys, I just wanted to ask about why a foundation wall that has no apparent cracking would have injection ports laterally? I was thinking this just a case of leaks from form nails that was injected with epoxy? I wanted to ask anyone else for more info before writing it up as such. Thanks for any input you may have Click to Enlarge 25.5 KB Click to Enlarge 26.12 KB

I see this all the time inside the attic spaces for the common walls. In areas where no one is going to go, it is just not aesthetically pleasing, but it isn't considered a defect. Some houses we have too much to write up already. When there are too many things in a report that don't have any meaning, it takes away from the importance of the things that do. That pic stays on the cutting room floor in my editing room.