Charlie R

Bad week, gained 3 pounds according to the scale. I usually do a brisk walk at sunrise, at least 1/2 hour but with all the snow here in Maryland I've been forced to dust off the tread mill (Boring! I-pod is a help, but the walls just look the same!) Business has been really slow with all the snow, can't do anything out in the yard, so a lot of computer and sitting around - and the temptation to eat is tough. Going to get a grapefruit now, see ya! [:-crazy] Charlie

Good pic, thanks for sharing. Charlie

I'm curious - how old are the homes? Charlie

Thanks for sharing, good to have. Charlie

Then how did you know you lost it? I was just looking for it to mail to Robert. []

Is this thread still going? I just saw it, I've been fighting weight all my life. At one point I was 305 but that was about 10 years ago. Started last January (2009) at 275, ended December at 258. 253 this morning. Weights do help, also walking/jogging. Not a member of WeightWatchers but my wife is a lifetime member so I know the routine and am trying to stick to it.

I say let the lawyer write the agreement . If you want to give the lawyer a couple of sample ones as examples, fine, but if it comes to enforcing the agreement, the lawyer will have to do it so let the lawyer choose the tools. You wouldn't want the lawyer choosing your tools for you to do an inspection would ya? Charlie

Read about the Fenix here and bought one last year. I gotta say, I love that light. I get at least two inspections, I bought 3 of the rechargeable batteries so I always have 2 charged. I just put a charged one in after two inspections every time so I don't know really how long it would go, but it is a great tool. The belt case is a piece of junk though. Charlie

If it's a built in microwave, I carry a plastic bottle that's about half full of water with me and throw it in, start the microwave and run it for a minute to see if the water gets hot or not. I have found a couple that way that made a lot of noise but didn't actually heat anything. Check where the power comes from, and make sure the microwave is attached firmly to the cabinetry/walls. I did have one in a new construction that almost came crashing down. If the microwave is just sitting on the counter, forget it. I started out with a leak detector, but lost it several years ago and have never missed it. Charlie

Thanks for sharing, good pics. Charlie

Hello All; And thank each of you for your replies to my question. As Wayne stated, this certainly became an interesting read. I never stated what I do in these cases so in all fairness here goes - I put it in my report that the trusses were cut, that it's usually against what truss manufacturers say you can do, and it is against the rules of the current IRC. If the installation appears to be a good one with proper support then I say I don't see anything wrong BUT I recommend that the client contact a local truss manufacturer and have them either inspect or recommend a local structural engineer or contractor familiar with truss repairs to inspect and repair if need. Obviously, if I see something wrong, I make the same recommendation but stating that it looks like a questionable installation. The reason I do it this way is most truss firms know someone who can do a quick inspect and design that the client, if they are handy, can follow and do for themselves if they choose. The ones I have followed up on charged 200.00 for the inspect and design and the clients did it themselves. Wayne kind of got to the reason I posted this - as home inspectors, each inspection we do we go through a home, doing mental checklists and memory scans and we see things and we think "OK", we see things that we think "Odd, but OK" and we see things that we think "Nope, that ain't right." But we also see things we have been told are wrong, such as the cut truss chords, but that we also know usually result in no damage. There are may things that fall into this category but what does each inspector do when you see these things? Verbally mention them versus writing it in the report as a notation versus writing it up with a recommendation? Just interesting to see how each inspector crafts their report and why. Again, thanks for all your input. Stay safe. Charlie

Hi Chad; My question is not about if the trusses should be cut or not. My question is, if other inspectors do note this condition do they note it as a simple FYI or do the they scream "OMG, get a structural engineering firm ASAP!" I just don't want the thread to become an argument about trusses, I'm asking how other inspectors word their report on this particular issue. I apologize if I wasn't clear. Thanks, Charlie

I am curious how different inspectors state the issue and suggested repair when the inspector finds an attic pull-down stairs installed in a manner that had the installer cut through the bottom of the roof trusses (typically two truss bottoms cut) instead of installing the stairs between two trusses. Obviously, I'm talking of an amateur installation with no additional truss reinforcements. Do you make a big deal of it or just a mention? Do you recommend repair by a qualified person or tell the client to hire a structural engineer to inspect? Just curious what others do as some of the local inspectors I have talked with here (Maryland) are on both ends of the scale with this issue. Thanks, Charlie

The class action suit in New Jersey found FPE guilty and New Jersey residents had until 2005 to file a claim. You can read it here - http://www.inspectapedia.com/fpe/FPEnotice12-05.htm Charlie

Thanks for the link, I'll look into that one. Charlie

Thanks, I'll go check them out. Charlie

Hello; Just curious, I'm getting ready to buy a new laptop, but if the netbooks work, maybe I'll go that way. Anyone using a Netbook with Inspector Pro or Home Gauge? Thanks, Charlie