Looking at buying a new home? That small stream at the rear of the property may be the selling feature and the most appealing point as you consider making an offer. What you may not realize is that many of these small streams have been re-categorized by FEMA as potential flood zones. Flood zones are […]Read More about Flood Insurance Issue? Check Before You Buy.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Better than Sheet Vinyl
Thinking of new flooring, forget laminated flooring. They are noisy to walk on, are easily damaged by moisture or water in bathrooms or kitchens. Water on shoes coming in from outdoors nearly always damages the entryway flooring . Vinyl has improved dramatically with the introduction of heaver weight, thicker plank vinyl. It is easy to […]Read More about Vinyl Plank Flooring Better than Sheet Vinyl
Continuing Education for Home Inspectors
Continuing education is how we are spending one long weekend every year at the ASHI spring Expo in Columbus getting another fourteen hours towards our annual requirement! The state of Ohio now regulates Home Inspectors and demand annual continuing education to maintain your license. Being an ASHI inspector is another level of desire to be […]Read More about Continuing Education for Home Inspectors
Deadly Poison in a Home Basement!
Inspecting the basement of a vacant house, we came across this container marked poison! First of all its poison, which is dangerous to leave around in any house and especially a house that you are selling.A curious child or a adult wondering what is in the jar could be poisoned, possibly by just touching the […]Read More about Deadly Poison in a Home Basement!
Incorrect Joist Hanger Installation Unsafe!
If they can be nailed wrong, they will be. It seems that more than half of the decks we inspect have a problem with the joist hangers. For some reason (and its probably price) people want to buy a smaller joist hanger than necessary saving a few dollars and putting the deck in jeopardy. Joist […]Read More about Incorrect Joist Hanger Installation Unsafe!
Telephone Technology in a Historic “1916” Home
Inspected this amazing home in Springfield built in1916, and located a few blocks from the Frank Lloyd house (see note below). The house originally had automated gates on the driveway. The original wood paneling and floor to ceiling trim in all the rooms was in perfect condition and beautiful to admire and be amazed at […]Read More about Telephone Technology in a Historic “1916” Home
What is Usually Wrong With a Deck?
A Realtor from a Xenia office recently commented that there had only been one deck in the last two years that we had not thrown the book at. Thinking about that statement I realized he was probably correct. Unfortunately most of the decks we inspect, even professionally built decks are badly constructed and potentially dangerous. […]Read More about What is Usually Wrong With a Deck?
Not a Safe Railing.
As inspectors we get to see some of the worst looking and some of the best looking homes in Dayton. This home had been completely remodeled and most likely all without permits. The giveaway, the railing would not pass code. The spacing would allow a child to climb through.If you are getting work done you […]Read More about Not a Safe Railing.
Bad Workmanship, There is no excuse.
This water heater was installed 7 months ago by a local and well known Dayton plumbing company. They must have sent their least trained installer with a big box of bits and told him to use up everything in the box! Issue #1: The flue pipe must have a continuous upward slope.Issue #2: The furnace […]Read More about Bad Workmanship, There is no excuse.
Dayton Main Street, 100 Years Ago
Inspecting a home this week, I saw this picture of a very busy, prosperous downtown Dayton being revitalized probably one hundred years ago and thought about how wonderful it is to see downtown Dayton coming back to life again. New homes are being built, lofts converted, bars, brewery’s and restaurants opening in areas other than […]Read More about Dayton Main Street, 100 Years Ago
New Construction No Mortar Between Bricks?
Inspecting a four year old home in Xenia. The front of a two story the house had a big brick gable above the garage and on up into the roof. When we were in the attic we discovered that the brick mason had dry stacked the bricks and blocks, in other words they had not […]Read More about New Construction No Mortar Between Bricks?
Basement Stair Headroom Requirements
Washington Township, house built in the 1970’s. Walking down to the finished basement with my 6’2″ client in front of me, there appeared to be a clearance issue. First question has to be who built these stairs, what building inspector passed it when the house was built and what does the purchaser of this new […]Read More about Basement Stair Headroom Requirements
Special Moments in Life to Enjoy…..
During a busy day there are things that make you stop for a moment and think about life. Climbing the ladder to walk a roof I spotted these lovely young chicks cozy in their nest, beaks open waiting for their mother to return to them with more food. Don’t we all sometimes wish we had […]Read More about Special Moments in Life to Enjoy…..
“DIY Renovations” are a Gorgeous Disaster
Just arrived to inspect this home and as I start in the remodeled kitchen, I look at the lovely large skylight and wonder. Alarm bells start to ring in my brain…. To make the big open area seen in the photo the bottom chords were removed from two roof trusses weakening the complete roof system. […]Read More about “DIY Renovations” are a Gorgeous Disaster
