Nails and nailing

It sounds so simple and small doesn't it?

I'm not only a home inspector, I'm also a finish carpenter. I hammered thousands of nails. Fat ones, skinny ones, tall and short. It's funny though how something so small can actually require a decent amount of skill to use. Back in the day before pneumatics became popular, a carpenter held a pouch full of nails and a trusty hammer. Now, you will only see nails in a carpenters pouch when he is doing pick-up or punch work (coming behind and fixing some minor errors).

Waffle head hammers are just what they sound like. A head that has the imprint of a waffle. These hammers are used primarily for pounding 16 penny nails for "rough framing" applications. It is intended to grip the nail head at different angles without ricochet. When framing a house, you're not worried about leaving a track behind because it will be covered up.

Smooth head hammers are usually smaller 14-20oz. and they are used for finish carpentry (interior carpentry). The smooth head is primarily designed to ensure that the track left (if any) is not noticeable. Nail sets are used to help a carpenter set the nail without leaving a track from the hammer.

The head design of a 16 penny nail can also look like a waffle while a 4-8d finish nail is concave to allow a center point for a nail set (also called a nail punch). The head on a finish nail is not much larger in diameter than the shank of the nail itself. This is for two reasons. (1) in finish carpentry, whatever your nailing is not "structural" and simply needs to be fastened to the wall. (2) The holes left from a finish nail are very small and considering the next phase of construction is painting or stain, the smaller the hole the better. As you can see, the choice of nails and nailing are important.

"Blunting" a nail refers to removing the sharp point on the tip of the nail. This is done by flipping the nail backwards and hammering gently on the pointed end. Harder woods such as Oak have very tight grains and are less forgiving when using a nail to fasten. "Blunting" a nail reduces the spread that occurs when the nail enters the wood. The spread causes stress against the tight grain and causes the wood to split, especially closer to the edge. By reducing the spread, you also reduce the chance of splitting.

So the next time a contractor gives you a bid to add or replace some interior trim. Ask him what kind of hammer he uses, it might give you an idea of his quality.

Nails and nailing.. it's not so simple

Modesto Home Inspector

Inspecting homes in Modesto CA can be like Indiana Jones on another adventure. Stepping over nails and broken bottles in some bank owned homes can be a real challenge. These homes sometimes have the unfortunate repercussions of an angry home owner where walls are spray painted, doors are broken, windows are damaged and anything worth value is mysteriously missing.

There is a good chance these homes will be picked up by first time home buyers. When that happens, an eye for danger and potential hazards needs to be wide open for a home inspector. Many first time home buyers could never afford a home pre-2006 the way the prices were. This is their "gem" so to speak and the condition of the home is often overlooked by simply the opportunity to finally be able to afford one.

That's where hiring a good Modesto home inspector pays off. I can't speak for all home inspectors but I know some are in this business for themselves and the agent who referred them. The perpetual wheel of collusive business practices are everywhere these days, including home inspecting. To us and many others though, it's about making sure these types of family's are safe from danger. It's about giving them reports that show clear concise details about their investment with photographs and easy to read reports. Most of all, it's about putting the interest of our clients above anything else. We can only hope our referrers understand our business is carefully, un-biased.

Hiring a good and honest Modesto home inspector who truly cares about your family's safety and well being is something to think about when looking to buy, sell or even maintain your family's home.

Stockton CA Weather

When you look at a roof top and see frost you might think it is chilly inside but on the contrary, it's just the opposite!

Stockton CA weather can't make up it's mind, neither can most of San Joaquin County. We're not sure if we should turn on the A/C or the HEATER. At any rate, this time of the year is great for determining whether or not your attic is sufficiently insulated. As heat rises in the home, it will penetrate up into the attic and out the roof, melting any ice accumulation. If the attic is insulated properly, the heat will have a difficult time breaking through the barrier of insulation in the attic and remain in the home longer. This reduces your energy bill significantly.

A keener eye will show you the cold spots on a roof as well that help indicate a lack of insulation or maybe even a spotty (or shoddy) installation job.

When Stockton CA weather turns to rain, it's also a great time to shine a light up into your attic and look for leaks. A helpful tip when looking for water leaks is to fan your flashlight from side to side and look for a reflection. If there is any water, it will reflect off the light and sparkle.

Remember the Eskimos? Just because it looked cold, their Igloo's were probably warmer than most homes around your own neighborhood. In Stockton CA weather, or (whether) or not your attic is insulated could save you some money in the Summer time, and even in the Winter time.. whichever this happens to be, I don't know.

Where is Ripon CA

It's funny how people pronounce the name, it's even funnier when you're certain people are going to ask where it is. You can almost bet on it.

Ripon, California is nestled between two decent sized cities (Modesto and Manteca) located in the central valley of California. It's a "sleepy" little town that has grown and is known primarily for it's harvesting of almonds. It's the almond capitol of the world, and has held this title for many years. Another strong influence Ripon has on the economy is fuel. Truck stops in Ripon have acquired and maintained the stretch of real estate from the Milgeo exit to the popular road Jack Tone Road, allowing truckers to either rest for the night, get some dinner or fuel up their trucks as they pass on through to their destinations. This has been a key feature Ripon has been able to provide their visitors.

Don't blink! After you pass over the Stanislaus River heading North, your almost "to" and "fro" this little town. I have to be honest though, Ripon has more going on in it's neighborhood than people might think. It's not all about Almonds and Gasoline and probably deserves a better title than Where is Ripon CA.

Mistlen Park is a fairly large public park that has a water park, softball diamonds, soccer fields, picnic area's and more. It is used for large gatherings and fairs that frequent the town on occasion. There is a lot of history here, churches in the downtown area have been ringing their bells on Sunday since I can remember. The Almond Blossom Parade is a popular attraction also, where a parade sifts it's way through downtown. Schools, shopping, businesses, it has it all.

So if your wondering where is Ripon CA Open your eyes, you might miss something!

San Joaquin County Home Inspections

Sometimes we get what we pay for and sometimes we get just a little bit more. If your home inspection results were not so good, it may be because the home inspector missed something.

As a specialty contractor in finish carpentry and a former service representative for a reputable window & door manufacturer, I have installed and serviced a lot of windows. Now that I am a home inspector in San Joaquin County, explaining window and door problems and offering solutions can be a huge money saver to my clients in the long run.

What is an imploded window?

An imploded window is when both panes of a dual pane glass window concave against each other, this is also called "hourglass". Have you ever driven by a home or business and seen the glass in a window distort like a funhouse mirror? It's not you having a bad hair day, it's probably an imploded window.

As you can see in the picture, the orange arrows are pointing to reflections in the windows. That's supposed to be a vertical drain pipe there from across the street but it looks more like a wet spaghetti noodle... But what causes it?

The term "R rating" is a term that is used to determine a products resistance to temperature changes. Argon gas is injected into the space between the panes of glass by the manufacturer during production. This is done to increase it's "R" value. Here in the San Joaquin County, the sun can produce extreme temperatures over 100 deg. The increase in rating is minimal but it's enough for the manufacturer to advertise them in a higher efficiency category, usually "energy efficient". The argon gas can sometimes escape from the seal around the glass but because the gas is lighter than air, the air will not return into the space where the gas used to be and eventually it "deflates".. for lack of a better term.

What's the big deal?

The value that you lose from the gas escaping is not enough to worry about, estimated at about 1-2 "R" value (depending on size). The only real danger is when the glass panes touch each other. When this happens, the window can break. It will sound like a loud "pop" when it does.

What do I tell my client if they ask about it?

If it's not safety glass, It can be fixed.. well.. sort of. A hole can be drilled into the corner of the glass to relieve the vacuum. The hole will need to be patched with proper adhesive and Mylar paper, and then cured with a black light. It's not common practice but it's cheaper than replacing a window when it breaks. A professional glass company should have to tools to do it, and be able to do it. This will minimize any danger to implosion under stress or continued contraction.

The Truth?

Many windows have this problem. it's the degree that they are imploded that can become a problem.

If you live in the San Joaquin County (or even if you don't), have your home inspected by a professional home inspector that also has experience in construction. The results could save you money before you buy a house because you can negotiate a better price. Getting a home inspections every 2-3 years is recommended to help maintain the value of your investment.

Andy E. Lee

Home Inspector/Carpenter