In an old house in Yellow Springs this privy or outhouse (toilet) from the 1800’s is really unusual. It’s a three seater! Two adults and a child’s spot. The older homeowner told me all about it, when it was built the house was at the edge of the village so when travelers came in by […]Read More about A Privy, you will probably never get to use one!
Modern “In”convince!
A 1950’s house, with all the modern convinces of the time. The party room with spotlights and bar, built in intercom and music in all the rooms. The wiring was amazing, lights everywhere, recessed, at the top of the window treatments, with ceiling fans, just mind boggling! But more mind boggling was trying to figure […]Read More about Modern “In”convince!
Chimney Issues Explained
Brick chimneys need regular attention and maintenance, neither of which appears to be given to most of them. It is more common to find problems with brick chimneys than not, all of which can be expensive. Price is also based on accessibility, steepness of the roof, height of the roof and of the chimney, dangerous […]Read More about Chimney Issues Explained
Crazy Chimney with Poor Support
Some things you see defy logic !This chimney is one of them, constructed out of heavy brick on a wooden plinth: it’s just not done. If you were going to do this the wood framing would need to be so much stronger and bolted together: but it’s not.Probably needed to be supported be a heavy […]Read More about Crazy Chimney with Poor Support
Submarine in a Dayton Basement?
You might be forgiven for thinking that this inspector was inspecting a WWII submarine, it looks like a moment from Red October. Down in the basement of an old Dayton school in that has been repurposed into a lovely apartment building are a bank of old abandoned distribution panels that looked like something from a […]Read More about Submarine in a Dayton Basement?
Low Flow Water Woes: Water Pipe Issues?
One of the primary functions of our homes is to provide us with an adequate supply of fresh water for all of life’s necessities. From doing dishes and laundry to flushing toilets and taking showers, we use a lot of water. So naturally, it can be very distressing to turn on a faucet only to […]Read More about Low Flow Water Woes: Water Pipe Issues?
Asbestos Covered Boiler in Old House
In the basement of a 1920s home the original cast iron boiler was still sitting in the middle of the room. It appeared everyone who passed it they rubbed against it, put their hands on it and marveled at its size without thinking about its consequences. This beast of a boiler had been replaced ten […]Read More about Asbestos Covered Boiler in Old House
Read Your Home Inspection Report
Recently a client called with concerns about small issues noted in their report. We discussed these points and I mentioned that he needed to be concentrating on the roof issues. The clay roof tiles were deteriorated, cracked, some missing and very expensive to repair and replace and had he had an expert look at it […]Read More about Read Your Home Inspection Report
Neighbors, Make it Difficult to Sell!
You are looking at a house, it’s gorgeous from the street, it’s possibly the one. The interior has been remodeled, the mechanics’s updated, the bedrooms perfect for the kids, you feel this is the end of the search for a new home. Your Realtor is excited for you and has a contract ready for your […]Read More about Neighbors, Make it Difficult to Sell!
Long Forgotten, Xenia Lumber Company
Inspecting an older home there was a stamp on most of the floor joists visible in the basement. It was hard to make out what it said, most of the stamps were all faded or blurred and illegible which made me more curious. It was obviously something to do with Xenia, but what? It turns […]Read More about Long Forgotten, Xenia Lumber Company
How Houses Age Like Fine Wine:
How do homes age? When a home is 100 years old or even 200 years old, home inspectors must apply a different set of standards to evaluate the house. For example, building codes were not in effect 100 years ago and the quality of construction was often left up to the integrity and expertise of […]Read More about How Houses Age Like Fine Wine:
Lead Water Main Pipe is a Health Hazard
In the basement of a home from the mid 1800’s there was a heath hazard that no one noticed. Various buyers over the years, the current owner who had purchased the home six months before, real estate agents and our clients all walked past this piece of pipe as they anxiously looked for potential issues […]Read More about Lead Water Main Pipe is a Health Hazard
Telephone Interface (a piece of history)
The telephone has just about disappeared from homes. Back when they were connected by wire to the telephone exchange there needed to be a connector inside the house that connected the home wiring to the phone company wiring.The connector is called a telephone interface which is the modern version of the connector in the photo. […]Read More about Telephone Interface (a piece of history)
Asbestos Pipe Insulation Health Hazard
Video of asbestos pipe insulation on a hydroponic (water) or steam boiler heating system. Asbestos can be dangerous to your health if fibers are disturbed, often found in buildings buildings from the fifty’s and older on heating and hot water plumbing pipes.
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