I had the pleasure to inspect this house a few weeks ago for a fabulous client.It was built in 1902 and has been remodeled several times over the years.Of the many issue the house had, one of the most interesting was a problem with the mortar between the bricks in the pier foundation. The mortar
...
04/22/2007
Sometimes, as in real life, a loose screw can really be a problem. Like the third screw in the picture above, a loose screw can really foul things up. In life, a loose screw can lead a disturbed student to take lives. In houses, it can lead to a roof leak. I'll take the roof leak anyday!And like
...
04/22/2007
You just got to wonder when they noticed and who noticed first.Was it the bricklayer himself or his boss? Maybe it was the homeowner in a panic. I bet the local code building inspector had a headache with this one.I actually inspected this house (at an undisclosed location in southern Alabama). I
...
04/10/2007
Here in Baldwin County, Alabama, we have put lots of new roofs on houses since Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I mean, LOTS OF ROOFS!As with anything, when we do lots of them in a hurry, we tend to make mistakes. And maybe we take a shortcut or two... or three!Common mistake
...
04/09/2007
Here's the scenario...The homeowner's calendar says 9 am - home inspection. "No, problem," he thinks. "I'll just go into work a little late. Maybe about 10 o'clock. After all, how long can a home inspection take? The inspector will walk around and see right away what a great house we have. I'm ha
...
04/04/2007
In the last few weeks I have had several potential clients call me to ask about a home inspection. The call goes something like this..."Yes, we've put in a contract for a home and are having second thoughts. The house may be too (big, expensive, far away from work/family, etc). We understand that
...
04/04/2007
Fun Subject: Soccer!The 2nd Annual Mobile v. Baldwin - Battle of the Bay Soccer Showcase will be June 2 in Fairhope.Each year the best high school age soccer players from Mobile and Baldwin face off in the Battle of the Bay: Mobile's boys take on Baldwin's boys, girls the same. The South Alabama
...
03/29/2007
At least half of all termite infestations are the result of water, somewhere, some how. The little white bugs just love soft, wet wood. It's like going on a Bahamian cruise for them. But, it's the Love Boat from Hell for us! So, how can we prevent a cruise through our homes? Here are some ways:Ha
...
03/29/2007
Most house built in the south are framed with wood framing: good-old soft #2 pine studs. Under normal conditions the wood studs will last your lifetime and mine combined.But add water and their days are numbered. Wet, soft, and maybe even rotting wood is like an invitation to an all-you-can-eat b
...
03/28/2007
It's brand spanking new! It still has that "new home" smell (really just paint, carpets and cabinets off gassing). The builder offers a full year warranty. Why bother having the house inspected? Right?Well, maybe.Hear the stories:Story #1: New house. Pretty house. Big house. Reputable builder. Lo
...
03/27/2007
