Salem, Oregon Home Inspection Blog

I have not determined the exact percentages for how often I see this flashing is installed incorrectly during a home inspection, but it is probably more than 5% here in Salem, Oregon.   It must seem like a good deal to put the metal on the top.  Maybe it seems like a good thing to cover the edge ...

 Home owners are very creative people.  This is especially true of people from previous generations. If I had a nickel for every automotive part used in plumbing repairs that I have seen....I would have enough for a happy meal....maybe. Recently while diligently checking a home's heating system d...

We do get a fair amount of rain during the winter months in western Oregon.  All of that precipitation can sometimes lead to a high water table.  That is one reason there are so many crawlspaces in this area.  If water does come up out of the ground it is hopefully safely covered with a nice plas...

Being an inspector equipped with a highly advance thermal camera I have been called upon to find quite a few leaks.    Leaks can be very frustrating and challenging.  Our modern, climate controlled, super insulated and immaculately finished homes do not respond well to storm water on interior sur...

Crawl space maintenance is like going to the dentist.  With a few simple and relatively easy maintenance steps you can keep the underside of your home from needing a root canal.   One very popular issue I find is wood debris.  When a home is built, some of the wood framing or sheathing members wi...

Ah mold.  It is such a hot button.  I know just by putting the word MOLD into my title this post will get attention. People are interested, but I am still surprised at the lack of knowledge or the inaccuracy of knowledge (even you agents, who need to know the basics). This is not intended to be a...

Here is a photo that just reminded me of Charles.  I just thought he would get a kick out of how this particular can had taken on a life of its own.  This can of extruded foam was in the crawlspace of a home that, "had been totally remodeled (re-muddled)."  Spray foam seams to fill that gap betwe...

Although in Salem Oregon water heaters do require a Minor Label for professional water heater installation, many handy home owners tackle this job on their own. Here are just some of the things that well meaning installers can get totally wrong: Lack of Straps:  Water heaters in this area should ...

Here is a good post with some good general radon knowledge.  I was about to write about radon myself when I discovered this: RADON AND REAL ESTATE    What is radon? Radon is a radioactive gas. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Unless you test for it, there is no way of telling how much i...

This is my tribute to all of those hard working plumbers, heating and air contractors, electricians and less than knowledgeable homeowners who just don't care about their job and how it affects the structure of the building they are working on.  Without you guys, us home inspectors would have a l...