“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Sponsor a Community — What is Localism? | Register or Sign In
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?
Home Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

Blog_tag

When You Can't See the Roof for the Trees

11-07-09
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

One of the state standards of practice, in Washington state, is that an inspector must traverse the roof if it can be done safely and without property damage. The idea is that the inspector, in so doing, will have a better idea of the condition of the roof.

While in theory that is a good concept, sometimes Pacific Northwest reality and trees interfere with good intentions -- see photo below. 

 

Even though I got on that roof, the organic debris was so thick that I really could not see much. I did have this to report:

The roof is heavily obscured by organic debris. This makes it impossible to assess the condition of the roof. Additionally, heavy debris keeps a roof from drying and blocks runoff water making it more prone to leakage. Recommend that qualified party, such as a roofer, remove all debris from roof and, at that time, evaluate surface and make necessary repairs or replacement as is required.

This is further proof that, sometimes, we home inspectors cannot see the roof for the trees.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

GeoLogo207

4 Comments
Blog_tag

The Problem With A Cantilevered Deck

11-05-09
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

An inspector needs to be on the lookout for structural problems with cantilevered decks. That is especially true here in the northwest where we have so much rain.

Do you know what a cantilever is? Here is a pretty good photo that I took at a recent inspection.

See that beam: Dark on the inside and white outside where it supports an upper deck. Notice how green that beam is at the exposed outside section. That is a big problem with this design. As the wood is exposed to rain on the outside, rot forms and that will travel right down the beam. Before long you have a deck that is seriously weakened, likely to be unsafe, and you also have a repair job that takes some doing to fix -- especially if the decay gets back into the exterior wall.

The cantilever design might work great in some climates, but it creates many problems in the Pacific Northwest.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

GeoLogo207

5 Comments
Blog_tag

Bellingham Technical College -- Washington State Approved Fundamentals of Home Inspection Education

11-01-09
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

Take a look at the photos below, then I will tell you what they mean to anyone who has been involved in the Washington state approved home inspector education that is taught at Bellingham Technical College.

These photos were taken during the fourth week of the course -- field training. The first three weeks students are in the classroom, and at some labs, but generally they are tied down learning the nuts and the bolts of what it is that they are looking for. In that final week, the students go on-site with instructors and put to practical application the knowledge that they learned earlier in the course. Anyone interested in the BTC program -- a state approved fundamentals of home inspection course -- can get more information by clicking on the icon below. The next scheduled class is early in the new year.

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

GeoLogo207

6 Comments
Blog_tag

Bellingham Home Inspector (King of the House) -- It's That Time of Year

11-01-09
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

Folks, I hate to say it, but here in the northwest it is that time of year. What time of year you might ask. Well it is that time of year when you need to clean the roof and the gutters. All of the needles and leaves from all of the trees are now in valleys of your roof and down in the gutters.

Such debris blocks drainage and, frequently, leads to gutters not functioning at all. The subsequent leaks can rot structure such as the fascia behind gutters.

Bearer of bad news that I might be, the time is now -- get the gutters clean so they will function during all these hard rains. If you cannot clean the gutters and the roof yourself, hire someone who can.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

GeoLogo207

3 Comments
Blog_tag

120 Hours And Lots Of Sweat Later

10-29-09
Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector

Down below George's head, in the body of this article, is a photo of the culmination of lots of work. For three weeks these students have been enveloped by the intense home inspection training program that is offered at Bellingham Technical College. This program is one of only a few courses that are approved by the state to meet the new state requirements for a "fundamentals of home inspection" class. 

 When I say this is the culmination of their work, I mean that these students are taking their final test which consists of more than 200 questions. The test helps them begin to prepare for the next phase in their careers -- passing the state exams and getting fully licensed.

 

The Bellingham Technical College course consists of three weeks of classroom education followed by a week of field training. The Bellingham Technical College program has legs, having been in existence for nearly 15 years. It is, at this time, the only college level home inspection training in the state and the college provides graduates with a certificate showing that they have completed a state college level course. Many students choose Bellingham Technical College, when they are looking for training, due to the longterm credibility and the reputation of the program.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Steven L. Smith

GeoLogo207

14 Comments