emalernee

Thanks to this thread, I won't feel guilty deleting the email. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Here in the civilized part of the world we have banned crawl spaces, only full basements. If we come across a house with a crawl, we turn it into the polite society police and the next day it is torn down and a Taco Bell is built to replace it. If there aren't any steps, it's not meant to be inspected. Same goes for attics with no steps. I move that this should be added to the "Standards of Practice". Heck, if there isn't a handrail on the steps, I won't go down there. A man could fall and ruin his afternoon golf game with his doctor. [] Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

I voted No. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Posted this on the ASHI site the other day and thought I would come here to get your, the unaffiliated/unwashed/unwanted, opinion. The other day an agent asked me what I was going to do about the Home Warranty Companies no longer covering A/Cs with freon. Seems she sold a house that needed A/C service and the Warranty Company would not cover the work. Then, the other day this article (see below) appears explaining a Warranty Company's position. I get the feeling that this could be a big hullabaloo for us lonely Inspectors if we don't present the true facts to our clients about the upcoming war between Freon vs. Puron. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio Download Attachment: freon.pdf 23.55 KB

So Bill Kibbel is holding out on us, shares the info with the mob from NJ, but not here.[] Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

If that material is right for the stove, could the house overhang be blocking the exhaust and allowing it (exhaust air) to be sucked back into the make-up air, now depleted of oxygen? That exhaust is got to be way to close to the underside of the overhang. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

A tie has worked for me over the years. Long ago I showed up for an inspection where there was a pickup truck out front with ladders attached (I drove a Ford Club Wagon with my 16' articulating folding ladder and 8' folding ladder inside) so I figured work was being done on or in the house. I rang the door bell and a guy in gray pants and a gray shirt (name patch above one pocket, something written in script above the other pocket) answered the door. I asked him if he was there to fix something. No was his reply, he was there to inspect. An agent came form the back of the house and ask me why I was there, which I replied that the buyer called me. As we waited for the buyer to show up I had a nice conversation with the Inspector, seemed like and still is a nice guy. Buyer shows up, agent tells her that agent ordered inspection with fellow Inspector, but buyer could choose. She chose me. Later said that other Inspector looked like he was there to service furnace, but I looked professional. I could of kissed her, but that wouldn't have looked professional. Tie, blue oxford shirt, and Khaki pants have never stopped me from entering crawls or attics. Nor does tipping the scales at well over 300 lbs. (but falling, 30 lbs in 5 weeks) keep me off the roof. You might say I weight test everything I walk on. One this subject of Flares and Flourishes, I say to each his own. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Mark, It is mostly a vegetarian and protein diet. For the first 10 days you eat all the vegetable (no starch) and fruits you want at about a two to one ratio. Flax seed oil and olive oil are two of the oils I'm allow to use. Shakes with fruit and a protein powder 3 to 4 times a day along with a bunch of tablets filled with supplements fill out the diet + 64 oz of water per day. No processed or canned foods allowed. Day 11 through 21 I can have lean meat (chicken or fish).

Late in getting in on this Weight Loss string, but I started a 21 Day Purification Diet on 1/12/10 and went in for my one week weight-in on 1/19/10. I loss 22 lbs. Talk about someone that was full of it. I won't disclose my starting weight (even my wife doesn't know that), but will keep all informed of weight lost. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Siding Installers haven't figured out how to put up vinyl yet, what fun they should have with this stuff. Looking at that vinyl covered press-board and the metal clips, I'm thinking LP or Masonite siding in a couple of years, if this stuff starts to sell. Gives us something more to report on. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Click to Enlarge 54.1 KB Here's what's going to happen to that vinyl siding in a couple of years. Notice how well the cement/asbestos siding has held up. The wood siding under it is probably in great shape also, being covered for 50+ years. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Kurt is right, every time it rains, lime mortar heals itself. The only maintenance is about every hundred years it needs re-pointed, because it wears away. I also think that detailing is of utmost importance when building a brick veneer wall, "Rust Resistant Ties, Cavity Spacing, and Through Wall Flashing", none of which I have ever seen (other then in books) in my area of Ohio. Down the line someone else will pay the price for our current (lack of) building practices. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Kurt, watched it all and then some. Our father never spoke much about what he did in the war, just where he had been (North Atlantic, New Orleans, and the South Pacific). When my little brother and I were going through some of his stuff, after his death in 96, we found the following citation and the medal in a cigar box. I believe it is the highest metal that can be earned in peace time. The war had been over about two months when the incident happened. He went into the Army in February of 1942 and was also called up for the Korean Conflict. All these guys and gals also went through the Depression. Wow! Most Thanksgiving Days, before the bird is served and prayer is prayed, I read the citation to the family. (spelling is as it appears in original orders) HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES ARMY FORCES WESTERN PACIFIC OFFICE OF THE COMMANDING GENERAL GENERAL ORDERS #38 APO 707 23 January 1946 SOLDIER'S MEDAL - AWARD. By direction of the President, under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 2 July 1926 (Bulletin 8, WD, 1926), a Solder's Medal is awarded by the Commanding General, United States Army forces Western Pacific, to the folling named enlisted man. Technical Sargent EZRA A. MALARNEE, 35273889, Transportation Corps, United States Army. For heroism near Bagacay Island, Philippines, on 9 October 1945. When an explosion enveloped a gasoline barge in flame and scattered burning gasoline over the adjacent waters, Technical Sergeant MALARNEE dove from the Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel of which he was an operator to assist several crew members struggling in the water. Despite the imminent peril of additional explosions, he unhesitatingly swam to the aid of a sailor frantically attempting to evade the flames and calling for help. After a brief struggle, he succeeded in subduing the drowning man and towing him back to the waiting boat. Then without regard for his own welfare, he plunged into the water again and assisted in the rescue of several more injured men. By his prompt and courageous actions in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, Technical Sargent Malarnee averted possible loss of life among the barge crew members at the risk of his own. Home adress: 1521 Park Avenue, S. W., Canton Ohio BY COMMAND OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL STYER: W. A. WOOD, JR Magor General, USA Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff OFFICIAL: (signed) C. H. DANIELSON Major General, USA Adjutant General DISTRIBUTION Special AGAD - 50 Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

The third picture (with the gash) looks like exterior gypsum covered with a vinyl material. I have never seen exterior grade gypsum sheathing used below grade, only as replacement for Celotex. What's behind this surface? Basement, crawl, or foundation on grade? Some areas won't allow exposed concrete foundations, so maybe this is the builder's idea of a finished veneer. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

I stick my finger in front of the lens and point to the problem. I have also used a small dry erase board and pen that I would scribble a note on and place before the camera and the defect. Found that I always remember why I stick the finger in the picture and no longer use the note pad. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Terry, Every improperly sized flue I see is reported as needing to be downsized; except mine! I upgraded the furnace more then 10 years ago, but didn't want to ugly-up my new chimney pots from Superior Clay with a metal cap sticking out of it. Haven't had a problem. It's an outside chimney with three flues (dummy, fireplace, and water heater). When I sell, I expect the Inspector to report it as not right and I will correct it if the buyer requests, but for now, the pots look classy from the street. I've had people stop and comment on how nice they look. My motto to my clients is: "do as I say, not as I do" Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Ending of Jimmy Carter's time in office - high interest rates - flake-board instead of plywood - experimenting with insulation and vapor barriers - press board on counters with laminate coverings. I started building my first spec house in 79 and was guided by the agent who was listing the house to build cheap and dress it up for a quick sale. Lucky to get it sold in 80 at 16.5% interest. Thirty year houses filled and covered with products that were designed to last 20. Owners with a throw-away mentality; keep the house for 5-7 years and sell. Life goes on. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Sure it will. When the bumper hits the pipe, it breaks at the floor (already weakened from years of rusting), gas flows under the car, fumes hit the hot exhaust, car blows up, heater never gets touched. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

What is "Custom" about a builder who is #1 in the area with more then 30 developments? Is the only difference between him and a tract builder, the tract builder builds the home first and then sells it and the "Custom Builder" sells the home first and then builds it? Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

John, They are Anderson Perma-Shield windows. The top jamb cover can be removed to access the sash balancers and the sashes can be removed by taking out the lower jamb cover on the left side. Check out the Anderson web site for needed repair parts. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Maybe it doesn't rain in NJ. I've driven through the state a couple of times and it didn't rain on me. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Mike, Setting here working on it as I lurk . The course will look similar to the Building Preservation & Restoration program that I finish this June. Lots of hands on classes and site visits. I plan on a Certificate track that will take about 50 Quarter hours to complete. The Degree program will have around 110 Quarter hours. Had a nice long talk with John Bouldin from Virginia Tech, though the course that he is working on is wood inspection, he has lots of experience in Home Inspections in Virginia. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Looks like blind nailed cedar. If it was wet when installed, I woulod think you would get the effect that you saw. Face nailing with the proper nails may pull some of it tight, or just cause bigger cracks in the cupped siding. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

What? It's above the groundd it sets on. The yard just grew up around it, you know how fast things grow in Alabama. Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio

Be careful when you put you hand over those registers, I hear tell that the air is coming out at around the speed of light or near it! Ezra Malernee Canton, Ohio