Bill Kibbel

The stucco is not terminated properly - a roofer wouldn't know that. 1. Water wicks up the stucco from the roof surface. 2. Debris can't wash out of that little gap. 3. There are plenty of authoritative sources that state that the stucco should be at least 2" above the roof surface. It should also terminate with a weep screed.

That's Weyerhaeuser drop siding #124. Probably from late 1950s to mid 1960s.

I've never discussed foundation health. If I did, I would probably advise that it avoid ultra-processed foods and exercise regularly. The advice given can only be based upon the type of foundation and the conditions at that specific property. Probably 90% of the buildings I inspect have foundations built prior to 1900 and are constructed without a speck of concrete. They always need maintenance, but the type of materials and methods used also depends on the above. As Les said, encouraging water to drain quickly away would be a common recommendation. Considerable expert witness work has revealed that waterproofing contractors should be avoided when "fixing" old house foundations - unless you want their insurer to pay for a replacement foundation.

Looks like maybe it had a shorter one originally that was fully enclosed and they couldn't find a shorty replacement. Also looks like a gopher popped up from a hole.

I've been tryin to post a reply for 3 days. Thought I was blocked. I don't know about asbestosis, but with mesothelioma, a vast majority of cases are from workplace exposure. There are statistics however, of cases from non-occupational exposures and there have been many studies from those stats. I think the problem is there is no way to accurately separate causes between in-home exposure to ACMs and outdoor environmental exposure. I'm sure there's plenty of airborne asbestos still being released everywhere from the friction wear of vehicle brakes and clutches. According to answers given by medical folks, It doesn't require a large amount of asbestos fibers to start the chain reaction that can lead to lung cancer, particularly for people that are genetically vulnerable.

I've seen a fair amount of linoleum, but never anything like this.

"Well, to articulate my thoughts with the utmost respect and caution, and without the slightest intention to tread upon the perspectives that might diverge from my own or to inadvertently dismiss the diverse views that others may hold dear, it is imperative, I believe, to approach this discourse with a nuanced consideration of various angles, ensuring a holistic examination that respects all contributory insights. Moreover, in endeavoring to distill my viewpoints through an objective lens—mindful, of course, of the myriad interpretations that this subject might invoke and striving to uphold a balanced discourse that transcends personal bias—I must confess, amidst this diligent cognitive excursion, that I have indeed, quite regrettably, lost the thread of the initial thought I intended to convey". -Al Jensen (Lord Darrell Allen Jensen)

This Katen guy pisses me off. I've honed my report writing for 38 years and I'm quite satisfied with my current proficiency. Then, Jim shows up and smacks me in the head with another (not obvious to me, but) important issue with my writing. This isn't the first time he's done this to me. Thanks Jim, but blissfully ignorant is easier.

I'd be willing to do what I can. We would need Mike B to set up some "scaffolding" to do the work from. A webzine type home page would be a great start.

So I met this guy last weekend - I'll call him "Chad". Drops a plain brown paper bag, wrapped with tape in the back seat of my car. I get home a couple days later, opened it to discover his vintage porn collection. 110 years old. Even the advertisements are full of really cool illustrations and diagrams.

Happy TIJ-Bday. Just talked about this site with Chad yesterday. We've brought up several times that there could/should be much more than just discussion forums. We've still got members that could regularly contribute to populating the site with articles, insights and resources for all inspectors. Or, it could turn into a handful of us old farts just bitchin' about all these young-uns.

Could it be new construction bloom that was never cleaned? It's usually not from the brick. The soluble salts are mostly from the mortar in contact with the brick. Not only in-between, but the mortar behind too - if adhered directly to block. In addition to water entering into the wall, high alkali cement in the mortar, contaminated sand and/or admixtures containing calcium chloride as an accelerator could be the source. The reporting is ok, except I've never met a porch specialist.

I like #3, a portrait of malefic but necessary infrastructure. I kinda like #2. I much prefer viewing the backs of buildings in cities. I'll walk the alleys all day. Facades aren't the real character. Behind, there's all kinds of additions, random appendages, odd shape protrusions and inconsistent mechanical components that make a much more interesting composition. A photo form the 1940s in lower Manhattan.

I think you're always welcome at TIJ (we've built up a tolerance). Might even be some respect here for your experience and insights. I've visited other forums and very briefly joined the facebook groups. I saw exactly what you described. It produced thoughts of the ignominious demise of our profession.

Pretty sure it's a primitive clothes washer. The gear shift thing lowers and controls the agitator. The raised rim is where the wringer clamp on.

No sir, recent recreation.

This is part of a plantation I inspected. Built of hewn logs, but it looks like they were sliced in half. Documented to be a slave dwelling until the plantation owner family fled to England for the duration of the civil war.

Yeah, a little weird. Us normal kids just blew up or shot everything we ever owned.

Folks often ask how long I've been doing this. My reply is often followed by "you must've seen everything". This immediately triggers a barrage of shit I've never seen before. There was another one in the carriage house too.

A spouse's retirement always eradicates the long established balance in the home. There are so many stories. This is one reason I refuse to retire (it would result in my quick demise}. The other is that my financial advisor said I can easily retire at 94, with enough to live comfortably for 11 minutes.

Cool. The 70s! I had the Banana Splits lunch box and then the Jetsons. The thermoses lasted 3-2-1... and I'm drinking broken glass.

One of the few times I've used a drone was to fly into interior of a church steeple belfry. The access from inside was permanently sealed and it was about 90+ feet from grade. Ima gonna invent a drone that can remove the screws and covers from electric panel boxes and pry open crawlspace hatches.

The deeper the strip be, the more jagged be the crack.

The industry calls it thin brick veneer. Most folks still call it Z-brick - brand name of the original and largest manufacturer. I call it lick'em-stick'em brick'em.