Charles

Good Day Professional Inspectors. The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors are seeking applications for Board Member Positions. Independent inspectors are welcome and encouraged to apply. The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors is an independent not-for-profit organization, incorporated in the State of Illinois and tax exempt under IRS guideline 501c(6). It serves the public interest by establishing the standard of competence for the home inspection profession. EBPHI governs and administers the National Home Inspector Examination specifically to support the regulatory needs of states in identifying the required level of competence to conduct a quality home inspection. Should you be interested in serving on the EBPHI Board of Directors please reach out to our Executive Director for a Board of Directors application. Dee Kring dkring@executiveoffice.org Additional information about the EBPHI Board and the NHIE please go to our website at www.homeinspectionexam.org Charles Gifford President Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors Cell (904) 424-5988

Good morning, The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors ®️(EBPHI) is looking for new Directors. The Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors®️ (EBPHI) is an independent not-for-profit organization whose mission is to establish the standard of competence for home inspectors and to enhance consumer confidence in home inspection professionals. EBPHI, founded in 1999, maintains and administers the National Home Inspector Examination®️ (NHIE), a content-valid examination for use by regulatory bodies in assessing competency for regulatory purposes. EBPHI Board of Directors and its responsibilities EBPHI is governed by a board of directors whose members represent home inspectors and the home buying public. Directors are expected to: · At all times advocate and promote use of the National Home Inspector Examination in regulatory processes in their own states, in other states and in federal regulation as needed. · Promptly and thoughtfully respond to issues and concerns brought before the Board at any time. · Diligently strive to educate themselves on the science of psychometrics (test development), to ensure that the National Home Inspector Examination remains credible, valid, reliable and defensible. · Participate in three in-person meetings each year and in conference call meetings as needed. · Be available to present information about EBPHI and the NHIE to legislators, regulators, home inspectors and others to enhance acceptance of the examination. Please visit our website at WWW.HomeInspectionExam.org for additional information. Should you be interested in completing an application email me at AmeriSpec@Bellsouth.net. Thank you, Charles Gifford President Elect Examination Board of Professional Home Inspectors

Greetings, I recall that several years ago the Flat Glass Manufacturers and code writing folks were trying to develop standards for installation and fastening of glass surrounds in showers/tubs. It is my understanding these standards never made it to the latest additions to the building codes. Comment. In my market, we are seeing larger and large walk in showers. With and without doors. Some of this glass is huge, six feet tall by eight foot in length. Might be mounted to the wall with two brackets, but none on the threshold/sill/step other than silicone. Need some help finding where in the IRC or Florida Building Code, I might find reference, to fastening requirements, and or design specifications. Thanks in advance. Charles

We like caulk and flexible flashing tape! Charles Click to Enlarge 58.45 KB

I know time has passed, but it is possible to repair a brick veneer wall from the inside when client wishes to not remove brick. Expensive and time consuming and can lead to future discover and ever increasing cost. Repairs involves supporting existing floor and roof above. Removal of exiting wall. Building a new framed wall with sheathing (ZipWall) (Huber Engineering). Fastening/anchoring per plan. Using special fasteners to tie in existing brick to new wall framing. Charles Click to Enlarge 105.9 KB Click to Enlarge 36.85 KB

We prefer even lower costs bidets. Charles Click to Enlarge 23.16 KB

Thanks for the comments. Charles

Good morning. I have a client that has a new home who is now starting to paint interior walls new paint colors. Upon painting several rooms, bubbles have occurred. It appears that the new paint activated the original builders paint at the joint compound on the drywall and bubbled/peeled due to improper preparation. Beneath the paint bubbles the joint compound was/is dusty. New home painters in production building here in Jacksonville typically spray the field and cut in with a brush; trim, casings, and ceilings. No primer is applied. Does this appear to be a correct assumption? How does the owner correct? Continue to paint, and skin coat the drywall with new joint compound, sand and prime, where bubbles appear? That's a lot of work. Any immediate solutions? Thanks is advance. Charles Click to Enlarge 16.56 KB Click to Enlarge 22.34 KB

My bet is on connecting a hose to flush out the in-ground drains of debris. Might be easier than jamming the hose down the downspout from the gutter/roof above. I know I have to flush the leafy matter out of my drains on a periodic basis. what was on the end of the hose behind the downspout (male-outlet or female-inlet end)? Charles

Good morning. Guidance please. First one I have seen. International Comfort Products. 2-1/2 Ton. Condensing unit MFD 2013. Labeled R22. Air handler MFD 2014. Labeled R410. I know that R410 systems run at a much higher pressure and use different metering devices than R22 systems and replacing an old R22 condensing unit requires an air handler replacement because of these pressure differences. But what about the opposite. Can a R410 air handler work with R22 refrigerant? I recommended that the buyer consult with an HVAC contractor to ensure proper matching and to also discuss potential warranty denials due to possible mismatch. Thoughts? Respectfully, Charles

In our area, NE Florida, we have tons of wood frame stucco homes. Many have significant water intrusion issues. Below you will find comments that we use in my company on every wood frame stucco house. I don't believe that a couple of sentences can address the risk with stucco, or at a minimum, relaying to a home buyer the limitations of our inspections. "This is a wood frame home with a hard coat stucco type finish (we are unable to determine the thickness and number of layers during a visual home inspection). It appears that the home has a mechanically attached lathing, cement base coat and either a synthetic, shell, or painted finish. Cement based stucco systems are designed to drain water if the system gets wet on the outside of the self-furring lathing and builders paper. The finish is supposed to dry to the outside (exterior) or drain down to the bottom weep screed or stucco stop. We also need to consider face sealing the finish system in certain areas to keep water out, as such it is important to keep all through the wall penetrations; windows, visible flashing, doors, hosebibbs, and electrical connections sealed against water intrusion (these are areas where the original construction flashing details cannot be seen or observed and are often behind the stucco finish system). Additionally, if cracks occur and/or if water intrusion is detected immediate corrective action is recommended. Intrusive wall examinations have not been conducted." We have recently started using the following on new construction. "ADDITIONAL STUCCO COMMENTS. Application of plaster stucco is intended to follow two specific National Standards, ASTM C926-14a and C1063-14c. While the majority of these two documents are followed there are several items that are not adhered to in our geographic area; head flashings over lower level windows on two story construction, weep provisions at second floor projections, and casing beads at penetrations and/or dissimilar materials. We cannot answer why these important details are ignored, we can only alert you that they are missing. Care is needed to ensure that you have proper rain control provisions (rain gutters and s crack free, sealed finish) and that you monitor your exterior finishes for proper performance on a routine basis." Charles

Hilti makes concrete anchors of all types. https://www.us.hilti.com/anchors Charles

Your tree stump dilemma brings back a bad/yet pleasant memory. Living in Florida we always worry about windstorms and trees. Well the inevitable happened and a large oak in my front yard broke apart and fell on my roof. Luckily no structural damage but the branches poked about seven holes in the roof deck. During the storm I was on the roof with a chain saw, wife on the ground with a flashlight while I cut and removed branches and covered the roof to minimize water damage. Well, what to do about the stump and palmetto bushes that surrounded the tree? We cut the tree stump off at the ground and cleared the palmetto fronds. And spent the next several weekends washing away the soils to get to the roots. Worked with axes, hatchets, and hand saws. Gave up. Turned to kerosene and beer. Neighbors would come by with beer and lawn chairs. Each weekend, we would burn a gallon of kerosene, drink beer, watch the fire and shoot the breeze. Too much moisture in the roots and palmetto stumps. After several weekends the thrill of the fire went away. Stump grinder to the rescue. Made easy work. No real memories though! Charles

Marine grade tung oil

Sure looks like subterranean termite treatment holes. Where is your finished floor in relationship to the holes? Charles