My first thought was "What's going on here?", when a drop of water hit me from above. I looked up to see additional water droplets hanging from the exhaust fan directly overhead.

It was raining outside and entirely logical that we had a new leak at the roof. I began to think the worst. Nervously, I couldn't decide whether to go to the attic or the roof? I wondered if maybe the gutters were full of leaves and water was backing up under the shingle and somehow traveling to the exhaust fan. Leaks can be very elusive, and sometimes just impossible to locate their origin. I proceeded to the roof, surveying the laminated shingles, only 10 years old, around the area of the vent. Everything looked fine. Nothing out of the ordinary.

I quickly proceeded into the attic and over to the suspect area. Sure enough, water was pooling in the fiberglass batt insulation directly above the bathroom vent fan. As I traced the path of the water by reviewing the wet insulation, I realized the water was traveling into the attic from the area of the bath exhaust fan vent pipe. I had the presence of mind to bring a towel with me and soaked up as much water as I could. However, the lingering question, "What do I do now?"

Grab a tube of caulk? Oh, that would be so easy - but no, I just can't. As a home inspector, I've said it too many times, "...if the flashing is caulked, that's considered a temporary repair..." If I found a caulked repair during an inspection, I would make note of it in the report and recommend a permanent repair by a professional contractor. Why? Well, the mere presence of caulking frequently implies previous leaking issues, and the right thing to do is not just treat the symptom, but attempt to determine the origin. However, that's easier said than done in many cases. The right diagnosis and repair takes time.

As a home inspector, my answer of how to repair a leak is clear, but as a homeowner taken off guard by this leak, on a very busy day (as is always the case), am I starting to waiver? I can't be late to my next appointment, and I don't want anymore water accumulating on my floor or ceiling! I don't have time to casually "find a professional contractor".  And if there's one thing my past experience as an insurance property adjuster has taught me, it's that water damage is the worst, and quick to destroy!

Okay, calm down. Take a deep breath. Remember, you're a trained home inspector. You see this stuff all the time. You know what it takes to fix this problem. No caulk. No temporary repairs. This leak needs attention. Get busy. Call a professional.

"Hello, ABC Roofing? Thanks for answering the phone. You see, I have this puddle in my daughter's bathroom, water is dripping from the ceiling, need a repair fast, and ........"

Fast forward several hours, problem resolved. Below is a snapshot of the repair that was made to the roof. Ah, now I feel better.  ---Wait, is that caulk?...........

ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) just put on a nice show. Informative, educational, relaxing….  A fine way to kick start 2012! I had the pleasure of representing U.S. Inspect at this gathering. 

Yes, the climate was ideal for the first week in January. It was 70 warm degrees and perfectly blue skies out in the Arizona desert but things were nice indoors also. They provided 45 different educational sessions ranging from “The Art of Building Science” to “Low Cost, Ground Zero Home Inspection Marketing” and everything in between.

Well over 500 inspectors were in attendance including quite a few of our Canadian neighbors. There were lots of friendly people meeting, interacting and learning together.

The vendor displays were also interesting. One booth included a much coveted Harley Davidson for a fortunate winner! No luck there for me but I did win a couple of small raffle gifts which were nice.

Perhaps the real treat was for the first time ever, my wife and daughter also made this trip. Now they know what a Home Inspector Convention is really like!  

It’s cold and rainy back in Virginia now. Why am I dreaming about motorcycles and cactus plants? OK, back to work, Bill! 

"What at first looked to me like an underground tank vent during my initial walk-around prior to client's arrival was actually an underground tank...for humans during the Cold War," Rob said.

Survival, as opposed to comfort, was the main concern at the time as you can tell from the picture of the fallout shelter Rob discovered.

What Rob uncovered was an underground fallout shelter that was used for protection against nuclear attacks in the Cold War Era. The shelters were built in basements, above ground, and in backyards underground, which was the case here. The structure  was tube-like in shape, and seemed to be a prefabricated model. The shelters were designed so that those inside would avoid the harmful effects of nuclear attack and the after-effects of radiation emissions. The thick walls could reduce the amount of fallout that penetrated through the ground and into the shelter. Most were made with numerous layers to increase the distance and shielding for protection against harmful radioactive materials.

Here is a picture from an advertisement by the Kelsey-Hayes Company in Detroit, who used to create prefabricated fallout shelters, similar to the one Rob found.

At the time, the federal government recommended that these fallout shelters were built throughout the country  for civil defense measures. There were some public shelters built in large cities that could accommodate a number of people who may not have had room at their own home to build one. However, most fallout shelters at the time were much smaller, and were built in the backyard or basement to sustain a family. They would stock food and survival supplies in the shelters so they could live up to about two weeks inside if necessary. Although these shelters may have provided some protection against that of nuclear fallout, they were not designed to sustain humans for much longer than a two week period of time. Ventilation was a main concern, as well as waste-disposal.

There are still fallout shelters built today in case of a nuclear attack. The thought of a nuclear threat is definitely scary, but it also gives us unique pieces of history to explore and learn about.

a. This is not what is meant by "attic fan."

b. Budget Bidet?

c. Sunkin treasure? Not quite. This AC Compressor has been encased in a layer of asphalt.

d. Unfortunately, this vent doesn't have much of a chance of working properly.

e. When only the best will do, Pampers.

f. A spiral staircase that's not for the feint of heart!

This last week my wife let me know she was tired of nursing our 14-year-old Maytag washer and dryer. It seems every time she did a load of wash it was necessary to bang on the lid between cycles to urge the appliance to continue.  Then, after putting the clothes into the dryer, she was not able to interrupt the full cycle, or the dryer would continue to heat without the benefit of a rotating drum!  Repeated pleading at the control panel would eventually get the drum turning again and get her to the end of the wash experience for one more day. I think you're beginning to get the point. It was time to consider a new purchase.

Actually, this was the fun part. We traveled to three different retailers, eagerly greeted by appliance salesmen, and given a quick education of the current climate in the appliance world. Changes in the industry, mergers and takeovers, and the latest high-tech offerings were all part of the experience.

Still, when all was said and done, we decided on a new Maytag set with Commercial Technology from Home Depot. We chose a front loading washer, beautiful Oxide color, no pedestals, home delivery and installation, removal of our older yet treasured appliances, and four years additional warranty. It was an exciting moment! We scheduled delivery, paid, and left the store feeling very satisfied.

Installation went off without a hitch. The contract installer thanked us and went on his way. My wife and I eagerly anticipated throwing in the first load of clothes. "But wait," I said, "Shouldn't we remove this bright yellow Energy Guide/Energy Star sticker adhered to the top of the washer in plain sight for all the world to see?" I proceeded to carefully remove the label and immediately noticed a very thick and very stickly glue residue remaining from where the label had been attached. Hmmm. What to do?

I sprayed a little warm water on the areas and attempted to clean with a Kleenex.  Nothing. Next, I tried a little Windex with a paper towel. Still nothing. Okay, how about a little Orange Citrus and paper towel. Nope. My thought at this point, "If I try more harsh chemicals, I'll probably ruin the finish." Maybe just a little Goo Gone? No success.

Okay, call Home Depot. Though polite, they didn't have an answer. They referred me to the installation service. That office said they had no experience in that area. Referred me back to Home Depot. Home Depot then called the manufacturer, Maytag. Their response, "Have you tried Windex? How about Orange?" On and on and on.

You can see where this is going. Long story short, everyone was stumped and shying away from responsibility. "Like I'm the only guy that's ever had this issue?  Seriously?"

My wife started Googling on the Internet looking for someone's similar experience and solution. She found several hits, including using a hair dryer to heat the suspect area.

In the meantime, I decided to try hot water and rubbing with my thumb. Surely that wouldn't damage the finish. Success!

Imagine that. Hot water and lots of firm elbow grease! Whoda thought!

I want a pool table…

We have bought many things for our new house, most out of necessity but a few indulgently. I bought a new TV before we even moved in. My wife bought a comforter, slip covers for the couch, and new pillows, doormats, and bathroom sets before we even had a house. We have purchased little decorative trinkets here and there, a candle because it would look nice here, an abstract picture because it accents this blank wall. We have now come to the point where was have just about everything that we actually need…

I will use this blog as an introductory plea recommendation to my wife that we get a pool table. I love to play pool. The fellas and I always go out to the bar and drink a few adult beverages and play pool for as long as we can possibly get away with it. I would absolutely love to have one in the house. Here are 22 excellent reasons why my wife should agree with me:

1. It will save us a lot of money. Instead of going to the bar for extended periods of time, I would be in the comfort of my own home, drinking my own beer and eating my own food.
2. I will get really, really good at pool. 
3. You will never have to ask me what time I will be home, and I’ll never have to attempt to come up with a time even though I actually have absolutely no idea.
4. After work I will be able to drive towards the house instead of away from it to go play pool.
5. I will love you more than I did before we had a pool table.
6. With the simple addition of a standard-size piece of plywood, we would also have a ping-pong table.
7. I would get exercise standing at and walking around the pool table all night instead of sitting on the couch. 
8. You and I could have great, inexpensive stay-at-home dates where we order pizza, drink Costco-bought wine, and I crush you in game after game of eight ball all night. 
9. The next big purchase will be your choice.
10. I will brag to my buddies (even more than I already do) about how awesome you are.
11. You could practice in your down time and when you’re good enough we could go to the bar and hustle for extra cash.
12. We could have fun double dates with our couple friends where they come over and we get to show off the house.
13. The perpetual real-world application of the laws of geometry will make me a more well-rounded individual. You can’t argue with science.
14. We could embed our wedding picture inside the balls… or a Redskins logo… whatever.
15. I will cook dinner at least two nights per week.
16. There will be extra table space when we host Thanksgiving dinner.
17. If we get snowed-in for a week like we did last winter, I will still be able to play pool.
18. You have free reign of choosing the colors of the pool table so it would fit perfectly into your décor.
19. My man cave will be the envy of all of my friends’ man caves.
20. I promise I’ll put those little thingies under the legs so we won’t damage the floor.
21. A pool table can potentially make the house more attractive when we are ready to sell. If a prospective buyer inquires if the pool table conveys with the house, we will say yes.
22. You will have a happy husband.

My wife is a reasonable woman… that’s what I’m worried about. She will probably sound eerily like her husband when she asks questions like, “do we really need that?” and “how much does it cost?” The answers to those questions, and all of life’s unanswered questions, will be answered in time.

I hope I have presented my case well with hard facts and suggestions that cannot be refuted. I end my begging presentation with one final recommendation, one all-encompassing notion, one final attempt to get my wife to see the vast importance – nay – the necessity of having our very own pool table… Pleeeeeeeease!

Have you ever made a decision or began repairing something in your home, only to realize in hindsight that you should have prepared more thoroughly? Or worse, you did the complete opposite of what you now know was right?  Yikes! We've all been there.

As an inspector, these situations (or evidence of these situations) pop up fairly often--but never quite like it did on one particular day:

I conducted an inspection in a very nice home with no major defects. It had been well maintained and I related this information to the buyers and their agent at the conclusion of the inspection. The only issue that needing addressing in the whole home was the steam pipes appeared to be covered with asbestos insulation. The asbestos covering was in excellent shape with no damage or friable (easily crumbled or reduced to powder) asbestos noted. So it was a concern, but by no means a defective item.

After the inspection, I was loading my tools back into the car, when suddenly the homeowner ran outside and directed me to come back into the basement. He wanted to show me something! Well, I proceeded to the basement and find the steam pipes asbestos covering now all over the floor! Apparently, while I was going over the home inspection with the clients, the homeowner was in the basement removing ALL of the asbestos with a box cutter! Oh no! (Those of you who know a bit about asbestos are gasping with me right now). He had removed it all and wanted me to leave it out of the report now that he thought, innocently enough, that he had “corrected” the issue. When I finally closed my dropped jaw, I had to explain to him that he was actually better off leaving it alone, and that, unfortunately, an asbestos abatement company would now have to be called to remove the asbestos and clean all of the surfaces of loose fibers!

That probably was not that particular homeowners best day. This is a dramatic example, but it helps to illustrate how very important it is to find out all the information you can about an aspect of your home before working with it in any way, because something could get seriously damaged or, like in this example, you could actually put yourself or your family at risk.

So, what would this homeowner have learned about asbestos and asbestos insulation if he had read up on it later that afternoon instead? Let's take a look. Here are some of the basics on asbestos insulation from the Environmental Protection Agency:

What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.

How Can Asbestos Affect My Health?
From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer; mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity; and asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.

Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

What Should Be Done About Asbestos In The Home?
If you think asbestos may be in your home, don't panic. Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers.

Major repairs must be done only by a professional trained in methods for safely handling asbestos. Minor repairs should also be done by professionals since there is always a risk of exposure to fibers when asbestos is disturbed. Doing minor repairs yourself is not recommended since improper handling of asbestos materials can create a hazard where none existed.

---

For more information on asbestos visit the EPA online!
Asbestos Do's And Don'ts for the Homeowner

But I have only one thing on my mind: An over-sized, overpriced, top-of-the-line beast of a TV to hang on the wall in our man cave, also known as the basement rec room. I have literally spent months checking fliers, visiting Best Buy, The Big Screen Store, Costco, Sears, and several other stores looking for the best deal on a sweet TV. I could bore you with all of the things I have learned about plasmas, LCDs, LEDs, and all of the advantages and disadvantages of each; however, I will spare you.

I decided to get a Samsung 55 inch LED TV and I couldn’t be happier. In the picture, it’s the third one from the camera on the right. Now that we have all of the really important things out of the way, we can start to focus on bedspreads, throw rugs, and scented candles (oh...my).

I always knew that my years of sport climbing would prove beneficial for me; however, I never thought that they would assist anyone else. Funny how sometimes you can actually be glad to be proven wrong.

Many years ago, I had a trainee with me doing a trainee ride-along (let’s just call him Keith, partial ID to protect those who have gone on to greater things). The inspection was going along very well. The clients decided to stick with me (I prefer that), and were taking notes as well.

The time came for the roof portion of the inspection.  I prefer to walk every roof that I safely can. I asked Keith if he wanted to follow me onto the roof, and like the gung-ho trainee he was, “Of course!” was the enthusiastic answer. The house had a sun room at the rear with a low sloped roof and the main house roof was at a steeper pitch. Upon successfully scaling the sun-room roof, I did the leapfrog technique and pulled my small folding ladder up to the sun-room roof and used it to access the main roof. I surveyed the main roof and the pitch and asked Keith again if he wanted to follow higher. The response was still positive, but not as ebullient as before. Up we went perhaps against his better judgment. When I reached the ridge, I heard Keith step off the ladder and begin to move towards the ridge also.

This is where time slows for me.  I heard that unmistakable sound from behind me that goes straight to the gut of every person that has ever walked a roof. Sliding.  That low grating sound indicative of uncontrolled movement. You never want that type of movement on a roof. Ever.

I looked down slope to a pair of eyes growing larger with every passing nanosecond as Keith slid towards the gutter.  At this point the climbing experience comes in. I should also mention that at six foot six inches, many consider me very tall. This fact comes into play as well.  Knowing time was not on my side and the old axiom that “Gravity is a cruel mistress," I performed a heel hook (where you strenuously point your toes and use the backside of your heel to gain purchase on a hold), on the ridge line, lay down flat on my back on the roof, perfectly upside down, and by stretching to my limit, was just able to grab Keith’s belt. Disaster averted, I kept hold until he got back to the ladder. Not surprisingly, He decided to remain on the ladder while I completed the rest of the roof inspection.  

My climbing experience has continued to hold me in good stead, but probably never better than that one fateful day.

What can we take away from this? That we need to know and work within our limits. For homeowners, it's knowing when to tackle a roof repair/task on your own, when to call a friend for an assist--and most importantly--when to simply call a professional. For inspectors, it's important to know that sometimes a roof can be walked; sometimes other inspection methods must be utilized. We, as individuals, have to make that judgment call about what is best and what is safest. That decision can be difficult, but remember that safety is first and foremost!