Nail Holes In New Construction Roof Systems are Common
Nail holes in a new construction roof system are common. They most commonly occur where scaffolding anchors or toe boards are nailed through the roof system to apply siding at or above the roof. They can be difficult to detect during inspection and are often...
Tensioning Residential Foundation Cable Late
Most of the home foundation construction in the Houston area today is post tensioned slab on grade foundations. This type of foundation is not reinforced with conventional reinforcing steel bar but is reinforced using tendons that compress the concrete in two...
Knob and Tube Wiring
During inspection of older homes in the Houston area it is not uncommon to find Knob and Tube (K&T) wiring. In Houston this type of wiring is typically found in buildings constructed in the 1940s and before. Knob and tube wiring was an early standardization of...
Suction Filter Dryers
Suction filter dryers are typically installed on air conditioning systems that have had a compressor failure and when observed normally indicate that a compressor was replaced on the system. When a compressor motor fails it can introduce solid particles and acidify...
Masonry Base Flashing Errors
Flashing issues are common in residential construction. During our framing inspections, we try to identify flashing mistakes or areas where there is concern for performance so that they can be corrected early in the construction process. This is often the best time...
Hurricane Preparedness – Are you Prepared?
Hurricane Preparedness Hurricane Season is serious business on the Gulf Coast. The hurricanes affect residents from the coastal counties and extending many miles inland, causing severe property damage as the hurricane dissipates moving inland. DO NOT underestimate...
Dry Weather and Your Foundation
It is that time of year once again. Dry weather and warmer temperatures are upon us. It seems like this time of year just sneaks up on us every year and it is dry before you know it. On the inspections I am performing I am just starting to see the soils showing...
Smart Consumer Series
Peter Schkeeper is a friend and colleague of mine. We served together on the board for the National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers. He has since retired from the board and has started a new project making informative videos, training, and providing some...
IBHS PROVIDING ROOFING RATINGS
IBHS Building Science IBHS has some pretty interesting building science going on. They do real world testing of building materials for the insurance industry and share their information to the public. https://youtu.be/NkuV_05C6-c From the National Academy of...
Relief Trenches? Who Needs Them?
Relief Trenches “What is a relief trench?” you ask. A relief trench is a ditch installed from the forming preparations to a drainage area as part of site preparation for construction of a slab on grade foundation to prevent accumulation of water in the forms in the...