September 2018 Reporter

ASHI

9.18

REPORTER

INSPECTION NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HOME INSPECTORS, INC.

Inspecting Old Houses Exteriors and Siding

By Dave Rushton P16

Have You Ever Seen Rain...

In The Attic?

P14

Anchored Masonry Veneers Inspection P32

Gas Fireplaces & Gas Logs P8

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Radon Gas Test kit Call For Pricing!

ASHI

9.18

REPORTER FEATURES 6 MANAGING RISK

Claim 1: Water Damage

By InspectorPro Insurance

8 TECHNICAL FOCUS

Gas Fireplaces and Gas Logs

By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

12

HOME ENERGY SCORE New Partners, More Business-Building Policies

By ASHI Staff

14 Have You Ever Seen Rain...In The Attic?

By Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc. HowToOperateYourHome.com

16

Inspecting Old Houses: Exteriors and Siding

By Dave Rushton

September 2018

Vol. 35, #9

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS: EMSL Analytical, Inc. Leadership Development Conference BVI How To Operate Your Home InspectorPro Insurance US Inspect 3D Inspection System ASHI Free Logos Target Professional Programs EBPHI American Home Warranty Allen Insurance America’s Call Center Property Inspector Insurance Sun Nuclear Corporation HomeGauge

2 emsl.com 5 HomeInspector.org 11 HomeInspector.org 15 htoyh.com 24 inspectorproinsurance.com 29 usinspect.com/join-us 29 3dinspection.com 36 HomeInspector.org/LogoDesign 37 TargetProIns.com 39 NHIEStudyGuide.org 41 ahomewarranty.com 43 allenins.com 45 AmericasCallCenter.com 46 PropertyInspectorInsurance.com 47 sunradon.com 48 HomeGauge.com

22 MARKETING FOCUS

How to Track and Test Your Marketing Plan

By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

28 Working With Real Estate Companies

By Jamison Brown, ASHI Ethics Committee Chair

32

Anchored Masonry Veneers Inspection

By ASHI Technical Committee

6

36

July 2018 Report Out

By ASHI Staff

32

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DEPARTMENTS 26

ASHI Community

By ASHI Staff

38 Your ASHI

By ASHI Staff

40 Postcards From the Field It’s Wacky Out There

44 In Memory of Ron Rusch

By ASHI Staff

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September 2018 • www.ASHIReporter.org

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ASHI National Officers and Board of Directors Educated. Tested. Verified. Certified.

A S H I M I S SIO N STATEM EN T To set and promote standards for property inspections and to provide the educational programs needed to achieve excellence in the profession and to meet the needs of our members.

Tim Buell, President Marysville, OH, 614-746-7485 tim.buell@gmail.com

Bruce Barker, Treasurer Cary, NC, 919-322-4491 bruce@dreamhomeconsultants.com

Scott Patterson, President-Elect Spring Hill, TN, 615-302-1113 scott@traceinspections.com

Michael Conley, Secretary Anna Maria, FL, 941-778-2385 FLinspector@outlook.com

Mike Wagner, Vice President Westfield, IN, 317-867-7688 mwagner@ralis.com

Howard Pegelow, Immediate Past-President Gilbert, AZ, 414-379-4186 hpegelow@yahoo.com

DIRECTORS Bronson Anderson 2018-2020 Waynesboro, VA, 540-932-7557 2inspect4u@gmail.com

Darrell Hay 2018-2019 Snohomish, WA, 206-226-3205 darrell@safesoundhome.com

Eric Barker 2018-2020 Lake Barrington, IL, 847-408-7238 ebarker@morainewoods.com

Reuben Saltzman 2017-2019 Maple Grove, MN, 952-915-6466 reuben@structuretech1.com

Bob Sisson 2018-2020 Shannon Cory 2018-2020 Boyds MD, 301-208-8289 Fayetteville, GA, 770-461-3408 shannon@rainbowhomeinspections.com Office@inspectionsbybob.com James J. Funkhouser 2017-2019 Manassas Park, VA, 571-214-4039 jfunkhousr@aol.com

Blaine Swan 2016-2018 Columbus, OH, 614-506-0647 goodeyeinspections@gmail.com

Bryck Guibor 2017-2019 Tucson, AZ, 520-795-5300 bryck@msn.com

John Wessling 2016-2018 St. Louis, MO, 314-520-1103 john@wesslinginspections.com

Richard Hart 2016-2018 Conyers, GA, 770-827-2200 Ashi1@comcast.net

Speaker, Council of Representatives Hollis Brown, 2017-2018 Manassas, VA, 703-754-8872 Inspectors@ThoroSpec.com

Publisher: James Thomas Editor: Carol Dikelsky Art Director: Kate Laurent Assistant Art Director: George Ilavsky American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. 932 Lee Street, Suite 101 Des Plaines, IL 60016

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR James Thomas, Executive Director, 847-954-3182, jamest@ashi.org

EDUCATION, CE APPROVAL, ASHI ONLINE LEARNING CENTER, INSPECTIONWORLD, CHAPTER RELATIONS Michele George, Director of Education, Events and Chapter Relations, 847-954-3188, micheleg@ashi.org MEMBERSHIP & PRODUCT ORDERS Jen Gallegos, Manager of Membership Services & U.S. DOE Home Energy Score Assessor Coordinator, 847-954-3185, jeng@ashi.org Janet George, Membership Services Project Coordinator 847-954-3180, janetg@ashi.org George Herrera, Membership Services Coordinator 847-954-3196, georgeh@ashi.org Michael Krauszowski, Membership Services Administrator 847-954-3175, Michaelk@ashi.org Gaby Nava, Membership Services Administrator 847-954-3176, Gabyn@ashi.org ACCOUNTING Toni Fanizza, Accounting, Purchasing & Human Resources Manager 847-954-3190, tonif@ashi.org Beverly Canham, Financial Assistant, 847-954-3184 beverlyc@ashi.org WEBSITE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, DATABASE Mike Rostescu, Assistant Executive Director & Director of IT 847-954-3189, miker@ashi.org COMMUNICATIONS Dave Kogan, Director of Marketing & Business Development Advertising, Marketing, IW Expo Hall, Public Relations 847-954-3187, davek@ashi.org Kate Laurent, Design & Digital Strategy Manager, “ASHI Reporter” Art Director, 847-954-3179, katel@ashi.org

847-954-3179 Reporter calls only 847-299-2505 (fax) Reporter only Email: jamest@ashi.org Advertising: Dave Kogan Phone: 847-954-3187, Email: davek@ashi.org

ASHI REPORTER – ISSN 1076-1942 – the official publication of the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. (ASHI), 932 Lee St., Suite 101, Des Plaines IL 60016, is published monthly. Annual subscriptions: $44.95 to non-members. Periodical postage paid at Des Plaines, IL 60016 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ASHI Reporter, 932 Lee Street, Suite 101, Des Plaines, IL 60016-6546.

Copyright© 2018, ASHI. None of the content of this publication may be reproduced, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the publisher. Inclusion of or specific mention of any proprietary product within does not imply endorsement of, nor does exclusion of any proprietary product imply non-endorsement, by the American Society of Home Inspectors, Inc. Opinions or statements of authors and advertisers are solely their own, and do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of ASHI, its agents or editors. See above for information pertaining to submission of articles, advertising and related materials.

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Main Phone: 847-759-2820, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Mon. - Fri., CST

Bonnie Bruno-Castaneda, Executive Assistant, Human Resources & Project Coordinator, 847-954-3177, bonnieb@ashi.org

OFFICERS

Skip Walker 2018-2019 San Bruno, CA, 650-873-4224 homeinspection@sanbrunocable.com

ASHI STAFF

Chris Karczewski, Social Media & Digital Strategist 847-954-3183 chrisk@ashi.org George Ilavsky, Graphic Designer & Free Logos, “ASHI Reporter” Assistant Art Director georgei@ashi.org THE ASHI SCHOOL Michele Cohen, Director, 847-954-3178 MicheleC@theashischool.com Michelle Santiago, Education Manager, 847-954-3198 Michelle@theashischool.com Tracy Vazquez, Education Coordinator, 847-954-3181 Tracy@theashischool.com

CONFERENCE

DEVELOPMENT

LEADERSHIP

CONFERENCE

MOVING FORWARD

DEVELOPMENT

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

MOVING FORWARD

EADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

MOVING FORWARD

MOVING FORWARD

September 2018 • www.ASHIReporter.org

5

LEADERSHIP

Managing Risk

Managing Risk

Claim 1: Water Damage

By InspectorPro Insurance

Note: In this series of Managing Risk columns, InspectorPro Insurance will educate home inspectors about the most common allegations in the industry. These tips should make inspectors better equipped to prevent claims.

Of all the allegations we receive at InspectorPro Insurance, claims of water damage are the most common claims against home inspectors.

WHY IS WATER DAMAGE SO COMMON?

WATER INTRUSION IS THE NUMBER 1 ENEMY BECAUSE IT ATTACKS FROM ALL POTENTIAL ANGLES OF THE HOME, FROM THE ROOF DOWN TO THE FOUNDATION, explained Hank Spinnler, owner of Harmony Inspection Services in Georgia. “It degrades materials like sheetrock and drywall, it rots wood and it can lead to microbial growth.”

Todd Miller, owner of HomeSpec Certified Inspections, Inc., in Florida, agrees. According to Miller, inspecting for water damage goes beyond fulfilling a home inspector’s requirements because it’s one of the most common types of damage uncovered in inspections. Miller estimates that eight of every 10 homes he inspects have water intrusion or water damage issues.

“It’s water, water, water all the time, so to keep the house safe and secure, you have to inspect for it. You have to try to find it as best you can within your SOP and certainly report on it,” Miller said.

WHERE IS WATER DAMAGE COMMON?

Finding where water intrusion may have started (or where it has already left its mark) begins with knowing where to look. Here are just a few of the common problem areas: eaky or Burst Pipes: Homeowners who don’t maintain their pipes can L run into trouble. Aged pipes and hoses may rust, crack or deteriorate, making room for water leaks.

YOU’RE GOING TO FIND LEAKS UNDERNEATH SINKS. YOU’RE GOING TO FIND LEAKS IN ATTICS—ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH – MILLER SAID. 6

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Malfunctioning Appliances: As household appliances (for example, washing machines, refrigerators, water heaters and dishwashers) age, so do their pipes and hoses. And even if homeowners keep up with pipe and hose maintenance, insecurely connected fittings and improper seals alone can lead to leaks.

In addition, homeowners who avoid regular service dates may find that their seemingly operational appliances were malfunctioning out of sight. (Think moisture buildup within an air-conditioning unit damaging drywall.)

Poor Planning: Although many water intrusion issues result from neglect or age, others result from poor planning. Here are some examples: • If lawn sprinklers are angled in such a way that they spray the property every morning, the sprinklers may damage the exterior and then the interior of the home.

• Indoor plants with uncovered holes at the bottom of the pot can damage floors.

• Recent construction may give water new ways to enter and damage the home.

WHAT INSPECTORS CAN DO

As with all types of claims prevention, it’s important to have a thorough pre-inspection agreement and inspection report (that includes photographs). In addition, there are some specific ways to avoid water damage claims.

Here are some methods that fellow home inspectors recommend:

CLAIMS PROTECTION After you’ve established that there’s a water intrusion issue or water damage in a home, it’s important that you communicate your findings clearly to your client. Experienced inspectors recommend emphasizing the limitations of an inspection and explaining your findings in terms that clients can understand.

Even if you do everything right, you can still get a water damage claim. That’s why it’s essential to carry errors and omissions (E&O) insurance for defense and payout help. Contact your InspectorPro broker or submit an application to receive a quote from InspectorPro Insurance at no obligation.

• When trying to spot a leak, think like water.

• Look to the places you’d expect water intrusion and leaks to occur (for example, beneath dishwashers, under jetted tubs, beneath shower pans and under the kitchen sink).

• Note any areas that look discolored, stained, swollen or moist.

• Pay special attention to basements and attics because these are common areas where water intrusion can start. Careful inspection of these areas also can reveal signs of water damage faster than by looking at the exterior of the house.

• Be sure to look for signs of water intrusion outside of the house.

In addition, you may want to consider using technology, such as an infrared camera and a moisture meter, to augment your ability to spot water damage.

Up next month: Roofing claims InspectorPro Insurance is ASHI’s one and only Premier Insurance Partnership.

Through risk management education, pre-claims assistance and straightforward coverage, InspectorPro gives you peace of mind and unparalleled protection.

Learn more and apply for a quote at inspectorproinsurance.com.

7September 2018

• www.ASHIReporter.org

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Technical Focus

TECHNICAL FOCUS

GAS FIREPLACES AND GAS LOGS

By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

G

as fireplaces are popular with homeowners. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), 40% of homebuyers would be willing to pay extra for a home with a fireplace. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports that 49% of respondents to a survey ranked gas fireplaces as essential or desirable as a decorative feature. Gas fireplaces are appearing in one of every two new homes built in the United States. Gas fireplaces are now slightly more popular than wood-burning fireplaces with consumers. We expect that trend to continue, as people emphasize speed, convenience and, in some cases, modern style.

Although these may more properly be called decorative gas appliances, the term gas fireplace is broadly used and understood by homeowners. Many gas fireplaces do provide heat for rooms.

Fireplaces with heat circulators and direct-vent fireplaces are more likely to be heating appliances. They may be rated as space heaters as a result. The heat circulators can be convection or fan-forced. The burner systems can be controlled by a pilot or electronic ignition system.

TYPES OF GAS FIREPLACES

There are three basic types of gas fireplaces: • Inserts are designed to fit inside existing masonry wood-burning fireplaces. An insert can be a full gas fireplace or a gas log.

• Factory-built fireplaces or “zero-clearance” fireplaces are typically built-in and may have a chimney or a sidewall venting system. These units may be direct-vent, taking combustion air from outdoors.

• Freestanding units are reminiscent of wood stoves.

In some areas, unvented gas fireplaces are or were permitted. We will not address these controversial units in this article.

MORE LIKE A GAS SPACE HEATER THAN A WOODBURNING FIREPLACE

Gas fireplaces and gas logs may be installed in wood-burning fireplaces. However, gas fireplaces have more in common with gas furnaces and space heaters than with wood-burning fireplaces. Gas fireplaces designed to fit into masonry fireplaces are often referred to as fireplace inserts.

FLAME COLOR

Gas flames are generally blue on heating appliances, suggesting relatively complete combustion. Gas fireplaces and logs typically have intentionally yellow flames to mimic the flame from wood fires. The yellow color may be induced by flame impingement on solid materials and does not necessarily indicate incomplete combustion.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

GLASS DOORS

Some systems have glass doors that cannot be opened. Others have glass doors that can be kept open or closed. Consumer Reports indicated that 80% of all gas fireplaces sold in 2017 had fixed glass panels.

LISTED, CERTIFIED OR APPROVED

As when inspecting all gas appliances, home inspectors should be looking for a label that suggests that the system has been tested by a recognized agency.

COMBUSTION AIR

Combustion air for these devices may be taken from house air or from outside.

COMBUSTIBLE CLEARANCES

Typically, combustible clearances are smaller than for wood-burning fireplaces and are determined by the manufacturer’s instructions on the label of the units. Combustible clearances around the openings of fireplaces often can be smaller than that required for wood-burning fireplaces.

LOCATION RESTRICTIONS

Generally speaking, gas fireplaces are not permitted in bathrooms unless they are direct-vent systems.

Technical Focus

In some jurisdictions, gas fireplaces are not permitted in bedrooms or in sitting rooms unless they are direct-vent systems or specifically approved for bedroom use.

VENTING

Vented gas fireplaces and gas logs must be vented, either through a chimney or through a direct-vent system. Often, direct-vent systems go out through a side wall rather than up through the roof.

This reduces installation costs.

GAS LOGS

Gas logs may be installed in some existing wood-burning fireplaces.

Some wood-burning fireplaces that have metal fire boxes or glass doors may not be suitable for gas log inserts.

DAMPER SEALED OPEN

Where gas logs are installed in an existing fireplace, the fireplace damper must be permanently opened or removed so that the exhaust can go up the chimney. The required vent area is specific to manufacturers and BTU-per-hour ratings.

DIRECT-VENT SYSTEMS WITH OUTSIDE COMBUSTION AIR

Direct-vent systems have an integral outside air intake. Those with conventional venting systems also may have outside air provision.

This is an option on some systems.

COMBUSTIBLE CLEARANCES FOR VENTS

Combustible clearance requirements for vents vary with manufacturer. In many cases, the required clearance is 1 inch or less.

DIRECT VENTING WITH NO FAN

Most central furnaces that are direct-vent systems use an induced draft fan to remove exhaust products from the home. Some direct-vent gas fireplaces rely simply on convection. There is no fan to induce exhaust gases to leave the building. Similarly, there is no fan to draw combustion air in. This all takes place on a convective basis.

Gas logs must be rated for use in a masonry fireplace. The fireplace itself must be a noncombustible unit properly designed for burning wood.

IGNITION SYSTEMS

Gas fireplaces and gas logs can have either electronic ignition or continuous pilots.

REMOTE CONTROLS

Remote controls are available to turn the fireplace on and off, and to control circulating fans. Fans may be manual or thermostatically controlled. Some systems have modulating burners with variable flame levels.

VENTING OPTIONS

These systems can be vented through a conventional B-vent, or can be direct-vent systems with special venting. Typical requirements for B-vents apply—clearance from combustibles, height, offsets, termination, insulation shields and fire stops, for example. Also, single-wall metal liners in masonry chimneys are allowed in some areas.

Some systems with B-vents have an automatic vent damper, similar to the efficiency upgrades on gas furnaces. These vent dampers automatically open when the fireplace comes on and they close when the fireplace is shut off. Some systems are power-vented. Power-vented systems can be sidewall-vented.

Gas vent terminating directly under the soffit is a poor location; vent termination requirements are manufacturer-specific.

HEAT EXCHANGERS BUILT IN

Some gas fireplaces contain a heat exchanger to help transfer heat into the house air. Heat is transferred into the house by a combination of radiation and convection. Gas fireplaces that act as room heaters claim efficiencies of 75% or even higher.

TYPICAL COMBUSTIBLE CLEARANCES

A gas fireplace might require a 1-inch combustible clearance behind it, 6 inches at the sides, 36 inches out in front and 36 inches above.

The required clearance to a 6-inch-wide mantel shelf above the fireplace can be as little as 4 inches or as much as 16 inches. Watch for evidence of overheating above the firebox. Hearth extensions may or may not be required.

September 2018 • www.ASHIReporter.org

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Technical Focus

Note: Gas fireplaces and logs are often shut off during warm seasons, and inspectors may not be able to operate the unit.

Inspectors should not activate pilots or open gas valves. The inspection limitation should be documented in the report.

This introduction of the topic of gas fireplaces and gas logs outlined a few of the conditions that are typically found during home inspections. More information on the causes, implications and strategies for inspection can be found in the ASHI@ HOME training program.

HEATING CAPACITY

Gas fireplaces often have input rates of 5,000-40,000 BTU/hour.

Outputs may be 75% of this, although some direct-vent units claim to be more than 90% efficient. Care should be taken with efficiency numbers, because there is more than one way to calculate these numbers. Steady-state efficiencies tend to be higher than seasonal or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiencies.

Vented gas logs put into an existing masonry fireplace can have ratings up to 90,000 BTU/hour. These units are typically the least efficient gas fireplace systems.

FIREPLACE SCREENS

Effective January 1, 2015, regulations require that a fireplace barrier (screen) must be sold with every glass-fronted gas fireplace and gas stove. The goal is to prevent children and pets from burning themselves by touching the hot glass. The glass temperature can exceed 500° F and can remain dangerously hot for an hour after the unit is shut off.

Attachable screens are available for some units, provided by the manufacturer or third parties. After-market units need to be approved by the manufacturer. Many manufacturers are focused on providing low-visibility screens that do not visually detract from the fireplace.

Conventional freestanding fireplace screens commonly used for wood-burning fireplaces are effective and recommended for older units. Freestanding safety gates are also acceptable.

All of the standard problems with gas appliances apply. Here are some issues specific to gas fireplaces and logs: 10

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

• Not suitable for use in a bedroom or bathroom: Where you see a gas fireplace in a bedroom or bathroom, it should be a direct-vent system or approved for use in bedrooms or bathrooms.

This only applies to some jurisdictions—you will have to check with your local authorities.

• Damper in existing fireplace not fixed open: In places where there are vented gas logs in a masonry fireplace or in an approved factory-built fireplace, the damper should be permanently fixed open. Damper clamps are often provided with the log set so they can be attached to the damper.

• Glass door problem: Some direct-vent natural gas fireplaces with permanently sealed glass fronts have had problems. There have been some cases of gases accumulating inside the firebox and exploding, shattering the glass doors.

• Soot: Soot indicates incomplete combustion and may suggest inadequate combustion air. Home inspectors should recommend further evaluation by a specialist.

Thank you to Roger Hankey for his assistance and contributions. We are looking forward to working with the ASHI Technical Review Committee to review these articles prior to publication.

Carson Dunlop - Consulting engineering firm devoted to home inspection since 1978. ASHI@HOME Training Program, www.carsondunlop.com, Carson@carsondunlop.com.

A DETAIL CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE...

SIGN UP TODAY! WWW.HOMEINSPECTOR.ORG/MY-MEMBERSHIP/BACKGROUND-VERFIED-INSPECTOR

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HOME ENERGY SCORE

NEW PARTNERS, MORE BUSINESS-BUILDING POLICIES

By ASHI Staff

Key industry players and state lawmakers continue to take notice! The Home Energy Score is scoring a “HIT” with the leading tranining firm in the industry.

Covering not just technical aspects but also business development and marketing, AHIT instructors bring industry veterans’ perspectives to the equation by noting that “a full energy audit isn’t realistic in the context of a home inspection. The Home Energy Score strikes the right balance between offering credible, salable information while making only minimal demands upon on-site workload.”

American Home Inspectors Training (AHIT) is the country’s foremost training institution, with a mission to prepare graduates with technical expertise and business knowledge to launch and grow successful inspection businesses. As the industry evolves to encompass an ever-broader array of services that are expected from a credible inspector, it’s critical that new inspectors choose the right services to offer—services that are marketable and profitable and don’t require too much time or up-front expense to get started.

Although AHIT has always included “energy audit”−oriented trainings among its extensive offerings, it’s the Home Energy Score that has the attention of their instructors and business advisors now, due to the Score’s in-demand information and easy accessibility for new inspectors. An AHIT instructor named Brad Tusing told us,

OUR STUDENTS LEARN A LOT OF BUILDING SCIENCE, INCLUDING ABOUT THE HOME SYSTEMS— HVAC, INSULATION LEVELS, WINDOW QUALITY, AIR LEAKAGE—THAT DETERMINE A HOME’S ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

As inspectors across a range of business models and experience levels use the Home Energy Score to improve their businesses, AHIT’s blank-slate clients seem especially excited about the idea of delivering actionable information to their homebuyer clients by detailing how comfortable their home is going to be and how much it’s going to cost to actually live in.

“We’ve always offered a wide range of ancillary service training beyond our core inspection curriculum,” Brad told us.

It’s an important decision when building a business, and we’re seeing a definite increase in the number of applicants who are interested in providing energy information.

With competition increasing in the industry, being able to co-brand with a trusted entity like the U.S. Department of Energy brings marketing benefits that new inspectors need, perhaps even more than more experienced inspectors.

AHIT’s leadership team recently saw an opportunity to meet that need by partnering with the DOE’s key industry ally in the inspection industry, ID Energy, with whom they are now delivering Home Energy Score training and support services within AHIT’s effective and time-tested learning system. “They see it like we do,” Brad said of his new partners at ID Energy. “It’s about staying on the front end of a changing industry and providing outstanding service to every student, every time.”

AHIT is now offering ID Energy’s “Fast Track” Home Energy Score training online and is considering expanding the training to its classroom offerings as well. Visit www.ahit.com for more information.

Home Energy Score Update

IT WAS “BOUND” TO HAPPEN. HOMEBINDER SEES SHARED MISSION, HAPPIER HOMEOWNERS THROUGH HOME ENERGY SCORE.

Huntress sees another connection with the Score in the way that it allows inspectors to provide value to their clients as part of a long-term relationship. “Inspectors are seeing value in delivering what we call an Annual Property Review (APR) to today’s homeowner,” he said.

“The APR describes a structured means of attaining repeat business by helping the homeowner identify and prioritize a home’s ongoing maintenance needs before they become neglected (and expensive). “The Home Energy Score is a perfect follow-up service,” he told us. “Since homeowners have some experience of the home, its comfort levels and operating expenses, they better understand things and become more receptive to credible guidance backed up by the DOE and delivered by someone they already trust.”

Summing up the most recent of many strategic alliances that Huntress has established within the industry, Huntress says that “with HomeBinder’s efforts to be the ‘hub of the home’ for the homeowner, we have to have energy as a component given the consciousness of today’s buyer. Furthermore, we have to make it simple, and we have to make it action-oriented so there is a clear path forward. And that is what the Home Energy Score provides.” Visit HomeBinder at www. homebinder.com.

A big part of HomeBinder’s mission is to broaden the inspection experience, to transform it from a one-and-done transaction into the first step of a long-term relationship between homeowner and home expert. Founder and CEO Jack Huntress sees in today’s market a sizable pool of homebuyers who are busier than ever and whose largest contingent is less willing (and maybe less able) to take on the inevitable home improvement projects that tend to follow quickly on the heels of the home purchase.

These typically younger buyers are accustomed to finding solutions to every problem in a matter of a few mouse clicks and the more “curated” those clicks, the better. An expertly designed, comprehensive electronic “binder” of home and contractor information checks all these boxes for the homeowner clients of HomeBinder’s rapidly growing inspector network, but like his counterparts at the Home Energy Score, Huntress isn’t interested in delivering merely an attractive leave-behind.

Unlike a hardcopy binder, HomeBinder offers an always-available central storehouse of actionable information for when homeowners want to make the intimidating shift to becoming home improvers; it is a confidence-building repository that turns out to be as well suited to the energy improvement information included with each Home Energy Score as it is to roof repair details or appliance replacement timelines.

An expert observer of the inspection industry with a background in environmental services, Huntress easily recognized the potential of a tie-in between the two services. “The Home Energy Score is an easy fit with HomeBinder,” he told us recently. “Since it’s not just a snapshot but also a list of recommendations ranked by cost-effectiveness, it’s exactly the kind of actionable information that we’re able to centralize for homeowners whenever they want it.” And like all items in HomeBinder, when Home Energy Score−generated improvements are made, they are entered back into the binder to educate future buyers and to add value to the home.

HOME ENERGY AWARENESS IS GROWING IN THE GARDEN STATE: NEW JERSEY CONSIDERS POINT-OF-SALE LEGISLATION.

It seems that nearly every month, we have a new policy development to report relating to cities or states requiring that energy information be delivered to homebuyers as part of the homebuying transaction.

The State of New Jersey fits that bill this month, as legislators there are set to vote on an ordinance that would require energy analysis on every pre-2014 home across the state. In an effort to support the financial well-being of its residents, lawmakers are recognizing what home inspectors already know—that many energy-gulping homes are monthly budget−busting disasters waiting to happen and that alerting buyers to that fact ahead of time is to everyone’s benefit.

ASHI members whose business region includes New Jersey will obviously be paying close attention to the status of this bill in Trenton and the Home Energy Score team tells us that they will be keeping close tabs as well if inspectors are looking for updates.

Regardless of the outcome during this voting cycle, however, the overall implication is clear: The disclosure of energy performance information at the point of sale is becoming mainstream and it represents a significant business opportunity for home inspectors. ASHI will continue to work with its partners around the country to build that opportunity, but members can start now with the Home Energy Score to make sure that they’re ready to strike as this iron continues to heat up.

Get started now!

To include the Score in your business plan, contact Jen Gallegos at ASHI HQ, jeng@ashi.org. Or head right to ID Energy to get signed up. They’re waiting for your application at energyscoreusa.com/sign_up.php.

13September 2018

• www.ASHIReporter.org

13

SMART INSPECTOR SCIENCE

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN RAIN…IN THE ATTIC?

M

any home inspectors who work in cold climates have seen signs of moisture and condensation in attics. These signs include water stains on roof framing and the roof deck, and organic substances or other materials that create black stains.

WATER IS WEIGHTY

One large condominium complex had quite an interesting situation, although “interesting” probably wasn’t how the owners viewed it.

BUT HAVE YOU EVER SEEN “RAIN” IN AN ATTIC? I’m not talking about a roof leak. I mean excessive ice and frost that suddenly melts during a thaw to create what seems like rain in the attic. During the winter of 2017-2018, Wisconsin experienced a twoweek cold spell with temperatures at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, one weekend, temperatures quickly warmed to 55 degrees and stayed there for several days. I’m a moisture consultant and my phone rang and rang with calls from homeowners:

WATER IS LEAKING

INTO MY HOME! I fielded these calls and investigated several serious incidents. Each of them involved excessive air leaks into the attic from heated sections of the home. The leaks carried warm air and lots of moisture into the attic. Because the attic temperature was below freezing (and below the dew point), moisture turned to ice on the roof deck and framing.

When the outdoor temperature warmed to 55 degrees, this ice melted and it “rained” in the attic.

Ceiling collapse; water above.

These ranch condos had leaks into overhangs, bath fans, range hoods and skylights. One area of ceiling that was just below improperly vented fan ducts was so wet that it collapsed. Water had collected on the plastic vapor barrier because of improper venting of bath fans, dryers and ranges. The condos also lacked proper attic ventilation.

One brand-new $600,000 condo had leaks so severe that they soaked ceilings, opened drywall joints, rained out of light fixtures and shorted out the garage door operator. In this case, the excessive use of insulation contact air-sealed (ICAT) can lights was the likely culprit, along with a lack of attic ventilation. The can light, properly installed with a gasket to the drywall, still had a large visible gap around the fixture

Can light air leaks.

Ice on attic roof deck.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

“Sealed” can lights are not really sealed—notice how light shines through the gap around the fixture.

Tom Feiza has been a professional home inspector since 1992 and has a degree in engineering. Through HowToOperateYourHome. com, he provides high-quality marketing materials that help professional home inspectors educate their customers. Copyright © 2018 by Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc. Reproduced with permission.

By Tom Feiza, Mr. Fix-It, Inc. HowToOperateYourHome.com

LESSONS LEARNED? During your inspection, always report signs of moisture that, in your professional judgment, are significantly deficient. This would include excessive stains, organic growth, improper fan venting and improper attic venting.

YOU DON’T NEED TO DETERMINE A FIX— JUST RECOMMEND FURTHER EVALUATION.

To learn more, attend Tom’s technical presentations at educational sessions for ASHI chapters.

Tom will be presenting “Describe That Defect” and “The Practical Science Behind Great Home Inspection” at InspectionWorld® 2019 in San Diego.

Tom can also provide his knowledge for your educational event; contact him at Tom@HTOYH.com.

Promote your business with customized books!

Your information on the front, back and spine of our comprehensive guides.

A high-quality, customized book sets you apart from the competition.

The content-rich book helps your customers, impresses the realtors and reflects the quality of your inspection.

Cost as low as $2.40 per book.

mail@htoyh.com

262-303-4884 15September 2018

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Inspecting Old Houses

Inspecting Old Houses Exteriors and Siding

By Dave Rushton

With this article, I continue this series, “Inspecting Old Houses,” Which highlights the unique aspects of old homes and the importance of taking the age of the home into consideration during a home inspection. Inspecting the home exterior is an important part of the process; this is the third article of the series that explores this topic.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Inspecting Old Houses

September 2018 • www.ASHIReporter.org

17

Inspecting Old Houses

The siding on any home should limit water and air infiltration into the structure. The current technique is to limit any water infiltration into a home and seal the home up so tightly that exterior air needs to be brought inside with mechanical means. Technology is now being used to achieve these goals with house wraps, sealants and tapes; however, in the past, people used common sense principles to achieve these goals and good enough was good enough. If a masonry wall became damp, the thinking was that it will dry out when it stops raining. If it kept raining, the wall would stay wet, no big deal. Walls could be protected with overhanging roofs if the nature of the climate dictated the need to keep the wall dry.

WOOD Wood siding is one of the simplest sidings to install and was most commonly used in parts of the country that were forested or, with the advent of rail transportation, in any place with a rail line. The virgin forests that were harvested produced siding with tremendous decay resistance. The sidings were installed to minimize water penetration naturally with the shapes and installation methods used. Horizontal sidings were lapped to shed water and vertical sidings had enough overlap to limit water infiltration on the vertical joints. Trim was lapped and beveled to drain moisture away from the building. In some situations, the wood siding was the exterior sheathing; in other situations, there was a board sheathing and possibly asphalt felt paper (remember that?) to provide additional water and air tightness. Air circulation was designed into many siding shapes to promote drying.

Wood sill directing water into the wall.

Log structures were chinked for weather tightness, but then, as soon as time and resources were available, they were covered with a wood siding. The wood siding protected the log walls, provided weather resistance and showed the wealth of the owner. Exterior log walls on a home were a sign of “new arrivals� or those who could not afford a better siding.

Logs into the dirt showing extensive repairs and significant deterioration.

MASONRY

Beautiful wood siding with details designed to shed water.

The modern addition is designed to fail.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Masonry exterior walls are found throughout the country on the oldest homes (adobe Indian pueblos) and in modern construction as veneer. Solid brick and stone walls are the earliest structural masonry walls, and the masonry was the siding. If you had clay and low-cost labor, it was relatively easy to make bricks in a kiln on the property. If you had stones (lots of stones, that is), it was

Inspecting Old Houses

Concrete block exterior walls and slate gable siding.

logical to make your walls out of them, but I hardly think it was easy. How people and draft animals got huge stones high into the walls and chimneys is still mind-boggling to me. Still, if you were getting the stones out of your newly cleared field to plant crops, stacking them up to make your walls was the next logical step and the log house was passed on to the next generation of children or the workers on the farm.

bricks, but they were still structurally sound. Unless the cavities were filled with insulation, there was little increase in energy efficiency. With the advent of industrial building material production, people used concrete block or clay tiles for faster construction, which affected the home’s permanence and durability.

Stucco is a masonry siding that has been used for thousands of years all over the world. Putting a layer of mortar on the outside of a wood home provides the durability of masonry. Stucco on masonry walls is for decoration and greater weather-resistance. In the 1920s and 1930s, the “stucco man” came down the street selling low-maintenance exterior wall coverings to minimize the

Brick walls over stone foundation.

Flat brick shelf diverts water into the cellar.

The permanence of masonry structures was a big consideration in their construction. When you built a stone or brick home, you were building it for many generations of your family to come, not just for a few years. If you decided that your home wasn’t large enough or fancy enough, you could construct an addition to accommodate your growing family or to showcase your increased wealth.

Masonry walls were one of the earliest low-maintenance sidings. If you repointed the walls every 50 years or so, you were good to go for another generation or two in the home. Brick cavity walls were designed to reduce water infiltration into the home and use fewer

Stucco over wood clapboard siding.

The stucco runs to the ground.

No flashing at window head trim.

Leaks are visible through the trim.

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Inspecting Old Houses

maintenance of painting the wood. The stucco could be made to look like almost anything (Formstone), so your house could have a completely different appearance from your neighbor’s house, but it would still have the same siding. In the southwest United States, the sun and heat are tough on wood and because there were fewer trees, masonry exterior walls were the most practical and durable.

METAL, ASPHALT AND VINYL Metal (steel and aluminum), asphalt and now vinyl sidings were and are commonly used to cover older sidings or masonry to update and reduce the maintenance of the homes. Usually, these sidings are considered to be at least minimally breathable, but many times these sidings were installed over foam, plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) sheathing materials. These underlayments can trap moisture that potentially could move more than one direction in an exterior wall. Condensation problems can develop in the walls and these can be difficult to detect. If you suspect there Metal siding over wood down into the ground.

Asphalt siding over wood. Water penetration at the roof trim.

Water penetrating into the sill trim and draining out the siding below.

Don’t miss items like this!

Metal head trim flashing above wood drip cap. No leaks here 80 years later.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Water penetration behind the vinyl siding at the roof and at the rake trim.

Inspecting Old Houses Stone veneer with no flashing produced long-term consequences.

may be an issue with hidden condensation trapped in walls, especially with damp basements or crawl spaces below, it is your job to raise the question and suggest that the client consult a specialist to further evaluate the situation. The consultation may involve thermal imaging or destructive testing (that is, opening up the wall to look from the interior or exterior).

FLASHING DETAILS Exterior flashing details are always critical issues, but they assume even greater importance when an older home has been re-sided. Details that permit moisture to infiltrate through a window sill and into a wall—especially behind foam exterior sheathing—can lead to significant damage, rot and the horrible “m” word, mold. These issues are similar to the problems caused by artificial stucco in newer homes. It is important to look for and call out these issues in your reports. Caulk is not a permanent repair for water penetration concerns.

Sidings extending below or close to grade are always a concern. I always note these situations as significant concerns, especially if the interior inspection is limited in these areas.

CONCLUSION If a situation turns out to be a non-issue, you may be labeled the “deal killer.” If the situation turns out to

Everything will be all right.

be significant, you are a hero—at least to your clients—and you have saved them from potentially thousands of dollars in repairs. If problems are found after closing without being called out in your report, no one is happy.

In my next article in the “Inspecting Old Houses” series, I will describe antique roofing materials and systems. If you have any questions or comments on my articles or would like me to speak at your chapter’s educational conference, please contact me at 540-636-6200 or ableinsp@centurylink.net.

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Marketing Focus

HOW TO TRACK AND TEST YOUR MARKETING PLAN

By Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, www.carsondunlop.com, 800-268-7070

O

nce you start to implement your marketing plan, you can evaluate how your marketing strategies are working. As I described in last month’s issue of the Reporter, your marketing plan is a dynamic document. Be critical, particularly of where you spend your marketing dollars. If a particular strategy is not performing, abandon it. If another strategy is doing well, do more of it.

THE GOAL IS TO OPTIMIZE THE RETURN ON YOUR MARKETING INVESTMENT. How do you know if your strategy is working? Tracking and testing will help you find out.

DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO EFFECTIVELY TRACK YOUR MARKETING EFFORTS.

Tracking means determining exactly how much profit you gained from a particular strategy.

EXAMPLE: You decide to distribute flyers to every house in your area

that comes up for sale, believing that if the homeowners are selling their house, they are probably going to buy another house. At the end of six months, you are trying to decide if you should continue with this strategy, but you don’t know if these flyers brought you inspections or whether your clients are getting to you through another channel.

This example illustrates that you need to track the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. There are so many ways to grow your business; it doesn’t make sense to spend money on strategies that are not paying off. The tracking procedure has to be built into the design. Some strategies are easy to track, but others are difficult.

WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRACKING METHODS?

One easy-to-track strategy is coupons—you just count the number of coupons that come in.

Another effective and inexpensive way to track advertising is to ask every customer or client how he or she heard about you. You can do this when they book the inspection, on site at the inspection or both.

We recommend both. You then need to keep track of this information.

At the end of the month, you will have a list of all of the ways your clients heard about you. If you know where all your clients heard about you, it is easy to find out which marketing strategies are working.

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Carson Dunlop is Canada’s oldest and largest home inspection firm. Our clear, image-rich inspection reports are the best in the industry. Backed by over 40 years of experience, our knowledge and uncompromising standards have become the benchmark for our profession. In fact, we literally wrote the book on home inspection.

Another style of tracking you can use is the questionnaire. Some inspectors ask clients to fill out a simple survey and one of the most important questions is to ask how the client heard about you.

You may also choose to have a separate phone number installed. For a major promotion or marketing strategy, you may even want a number with a distinctive ring. You will know that all the calls that came in on that number are from that strategy.

Tracking business volume is less accurate for pinpointing effectiveness, but it may give you a general idea. We have used this method to track the effectiveness of office talks. We track how much business is referred from a particular real estate office so we know approximately how much business we can probably expect from the office in the upcoming months. We then unleash a marketing campaign on that office, such as making a series of presentations in the office. We can then monitor the increase in business as a result of the campaign. We use the same strategy when targeting top agents, one on one.

Marketing Focus

DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR ONLINE MARKETING EFFORTS! In 2018, you need an online marketing strategy, but thankfully, the success of these efforts can be easily tracked.

For website content, look at goal completions. With free applications like Google Analytics, you can easily track website traffic, how many people filled out a form, the pages they visited before they filled out the form and how many people watched a video.

Tracking also enables you to review each lead and identify where they came from, how they got to the site, what were they looking for and much more.

All of this information can be used to find out what strategies are working and how to find more leads using them.

WHAT ABOUT THE MARKETING STRATEGIES THAT CAN’T BE TRACKED? How do you deal with such a strategy? You don’t use it! Don’t participate in marketing efforts that can’t be tracked with a high degree of reliability. Most good marketing strategies can be tracked, although it might take some creativity.

HOW DOES CARSON DUNLOP DO IT? At Carson Dunlop, we track our business as a percentage of all the real estate transactions in our area every month. These figures are available from the local real estate board. This allows us to track our increase in market share rather than absolute numbers. This can help make good decisions.

For example, if home sales in your area are up 30% in a month and your sales are up 10%, you may actually be losing market share. On the surface, a 10% increase in business is encouraging and you decide to continue your current marketing efforts. The reality is you are inspecting a smaller percentage of the sales and your marketing program may not be working.

The same thing may be true in the other direction. If you try a marketing strategy and your sales stay flat, you may be discouraged. But if you know that area real estate sales dipped 20% during that period, you are gaining market share and your marketing program may be working very well.

You should also have a list of inquiries you can cross-reference with your client list. You can find out which strategies generated the most inquiries and which actually produced results. For example, you may discover that the leads you get through your website are more price-resistant—they are price shopping. But the leads you get from the mortgage broker convert easily to inspections. This is the kind of information you need to track.

Test different strategies and see what works and what doesn’t work.

Once you become proficient at tracking, it’s time to add another level of sophistication to your marketing mix: testing.

THE MANTRA IS: “TEST EVERYTHING.”

If you launch a marketing campaign that seems to be paying off well, don’t be satisfied. Try tweaking it a bit and then track it closely to find out if your tweaking made the strategy work better or worse. If it works better, throw out the old way and use the new. Interestingly, small changes can have a big impact.

If you are trying something new and feel unsure, test it in a market that is not going to hurt you if it fails.

Let’s say you are thinking of testing a completely new pricing strategy or a new inspection report format. Try it on a segment of your market rather than on all of your clients at once. Maybe you would use the new format for five referring agents only. Then monitor the reaction.

Because it is difficult to predict the reaction, take it slowly.

Sometimes, you are excited about trying several new marketing strategies. Resist the temptation to implement them all at once because you won’t be able to tell which is effective.

For example, you introduce new features and your market share goes up 10%. That’s great, but maybe one of the strategies alone would have caused this jump. Worse, maybe one of the strategies would have caused a 15% jump, and one of the other strategies is actually driving people away.

Measuring one thing at a time is effective. Measuring several strategies at once is impossible.

Carson Dunlop - Consulting engineering firm devoted to home inspection since 1978. www.carsondunlop.com

23September 2018

• www.ASHIReporter.org

23

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ASHI Chapters and Council News

NORTH CENTRAL ASHI Central PA

www.ashicentralpa.com Second Monday, 6 pm, except Jan. & July, Hoss’s Steakhouse 1151 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle, PA Kevin Kenny, 717-226-3066 info@midpennhomeinspections.com

Keystone (PA)

www.keystoneashi.org First Monday, 5:30 pm Double Tree, 10 N. 5th Street Reading, PA 19601 Robert H. Conner, 610-375-9675 rhconnerbcs@yahoo.com

Ohio

www.ohioashi.com Ken Harrington, 614-507-1061 ohioashi@yahoo.com

North Central Ohio

www.ncohioashi.com Paul Wancata, 216-571-1074 inspectionsunlimited@cox.net

OHIO SOUTH ASHI Meeting: Third Tues. every month, 6:30pm @ Kriemer’s Bier Haus, OH-128, Cleves, OH 4500 P.O. Box 532197 Cincinnati, OH 45252 Chris Green, 513-939-4036 Email president@ohsoashi.com

Pocono-Lehigh (PA)

www.pocono-lehighashi.org Third Tuesday, Tannersville Inn Tannersville Ronald Crescente, 570-646-7546 amerispec@pa.metrocast.net

Heartland (IA, MN, ND, SD, WI) www.ashiheartland.org Reuben Saltzman, 612-205-5600 reuben@ashiheartland.org

Indiana ASHI

www.inashi.com Quarterly Danny Maynard, 317-319-7209 danny@inspectinc.net

Iowa ASHI

www.iowaashichapter.org Fourth Tuesday, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Iowa City Area Assoc. of Realtors Education Center 847 Quary Road, Coralville, IA Craig Chmelicek, 319-389-7379 elitehomeandradon@gmail.com

Kentuckiana (IN, KY)

www.ashikentuckiana.org Allan Davis, 502-648-9294 elitehomeinspections@ insightbb.com

Mid-Missouri

www.midmoashi.com Second Thursday, 12:00 pm, even months of the year; Columbia Board of Realtors office: 2309 I-70 Drive NW, Columbia, MO Mark Kelsey, 573-356-5305 mark@inspectcolumbia.com

Northern Illinois

www.nicashi.com Second Wednesday (except Dec.) 5:30 pm - 9:00 pm Allegra Banquets, 237 W St. Charles Rd. Villa Park, IL 60181 Joe Konopacki, 630-283-2248 joe@insightpsinc.com

PRO-ASHI (PA)

www.proashi.com Second Wednesday of Jan., March., May, Sept. & Nov. Ray Fonos, 412-461-8273 southpittsburgh@hometeam.com

Arkansas

Tri-State (DE, NJ, PA)

Great Plains (KS, MO)

www.tristateashi.org Second Tuesday except April, Aug. & Dec., Dave & Buster’s Plymouth Meeting, PA Jules Falcone, julesfalcone@me.com

SOUTH MIDWEST

Great Lakes (IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, OH, WI) For monthly meetings: www.greatinspectors.com/ schedule-of-events/ Carol Case, 734-284-4501 carol@greatinspectors.com

Greater Omaha (NE)

www.ashiomaha.com Jon Vacha, 402-660-6935 jon@hsinspections.com

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Arizona

www.azashi.org Bryck Guibor, 520-419-1313 bryck@msn.com Quarterly education on azashi.org

New Mexico

www.ashinm.org Bi-monthly meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at Drury Hotel (Jan., March, May, July, Sept.) located at I-25 and Jefferson in Albuquerque.

Meeting starts at 8:30 am.

Lance Ellis, 505-977-3915 lellis@amerispec.net

Northern Rockies (ID, MT) Steve Jenicek, 406-949-6461 Steve@taskmasterinspections.com Secretary: Kelly Campeau 877-749-2225 Kelly@inspectormt.com

Rocky Mountain Fourth Tuesday, 6:30 pm Bob Kadera, 303-588-2502 bob@360degreeinspections.com

Southern Colorado

www.ashi-southerncolorado.org Second Thursday each month, 6:30 pm Valley Hi Golf Club, 610 S. Chelton Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80910 Aaron Hunt, 719-334-5455 aaron@huntproperty inspections.com

Utah

www.ashiutah.com First Tuesday, 7 pm Marie Callender’s, Midvale Fred Larsen, 801-201-9583 Fred.larsen@pillartopost.com

Lonnie Moore, 479-530-5792 mhinsp@cox.net www.ashikc.org Second Wednesday of even months The Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City Doug Hord, 816-215-2329 doug@firstchoice.com

Midwest PRO ASHI (KS)

MIDWEST

MOUNTAIN

David Mason 316-393-2152, david@allprohomeinspec.com

St. Louis (MO)

www.stlashi.org Second Tuesday, 5 pm Creve Coeur Government Center Multi-Purpose Meeting Room 300 N. New Ballas Creve Coeur, MO 63141 Mark Goodman, 636-391-0091 mark@homeinpectstl.com

PACIFIC Alaska Meeting dates: Jan. 1, March 1, Aug. 1, Nov. 1 Location varies each meeting David Mortensen, 907-243-4476 dave@discoveryinspect.com

ASHI Hawaii

www.ashihawaii.com Alex Woodbury, 808-322-5174 Woodburya001@hawaii.rr.com

California Randy Pierson, 310-265-0833 randy@southbayinspector.com

Central Valley CREIA-ASHI Peter Boyd, 530-673-5800 Boyd.p@comcast.net

Golden Gate (CA)

www.ggashi.com John Fryer, 510-682-4908 johnfryer@gmail.com

Inland Northwest (ID, WA) Vince Vargas, 208-290-2472 vince@vargasinspections.com

Orange County CREIA-ASHI (CA) www.creia.org/orangecounty-chapter Third Monday, 5:30 pm Hometown Buffet 2321 S. Bristol, Santa Ana Bill Bryan, 949-565-5904 bill@rsminspections.com

Oregon

www.oahi.org Fourth Tuesday, 6:30 pm 4534 SE McLoughlin Blvd.

Portland Jon Nichols, 503-324-2000 housedetective@hotmail.com

San Diego CREIA-ASHI First Tuesday each month Elijah’s Restaurant 7061 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard San Diego, CA 92111 Ray (Cliff ) Sims Jr., 619-334-1138 cliffsims@cox.net

San Joaquin Valley (CA) Third Thursday, 6 pm 1736 Union Avenue, Bakersfield, CA Raymond Beasley, 661-805-5947 rbinspector@aol.com Mail: 3305 Colony Oak St. Bakersfield, CA 93311

Silicon Valley ASHI-CREIA (CA) www.siliconvalleyinspector.com Tammy Nicholas, 408-771-4939 tnicholas490@gmail.com

Southwestern Idaho Second Monday David Reish, 208-941-5760 dave@antheminspections.com

Los Angeles-Ventura County ASHI-CREIA Third Wednesday, 5 pm Holiday Inn, Woodland Hills Bob Guyer, 805-501-0733 guyerinspections@roadrunner.com

South Bay (CA) Webinar meetings Randy Pierson, 310-265-0833 randy@southbayinspector.com

Western Washington

www.ashiww.com Chapter Meetings held at chapter seminars in March and Sept.

Karl Nueffer karl@G4inspections.com

NEW ENGLAND Coastal Connecticut

www.coastalctashi.org Third Thursday, 6 pm, Westport VFW Lodge, 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport John Hamlin, 203-912-1917 john.hamlin@pillartopost.com

New England (ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) Third Thursday (usually), 5 pm Hilton Garden Inn, Waltham, MA Michael Atwell, 617-630-5629 mike@jmhi.com

Northern New England (NNEC) (ME, MA, NH, VT) www. ashi-nnec.org Third Thursday of Jan., April, June and Sept.

Tim Rooney, 603-770-0444 homeviewnh@comcast.net nnec.ashi.2016@gmail.com

Hudson Valley (NY)

www.novaashi.com Fourth Tuesday, Associate hour 6-7 pm, Membership meeting 7-9 pm, Northern Virginia Resources Center, Fairfax Tony Toth, 703-926-6213 tony_toth@msn.com

Long Island (NY)

Piedmont ASHI (VA)

www.liashi.com Third Monday, 6 pm, Domenico’s Restaurant, Levittown John Weiburg 516-603-5770 john@greenlinkhi.com

New York Metro

www.nyashi.com Last Thursday, 5pm Travelers Rest 25 Saw Mill River Road Ossining, NY 10562 Chris Long, 914-260-8571 pres@nyashi.com

Southern New Jersey (NJ)

NEW YORK/JERSEY/ DELAWARE Capitol Region (NY)

www.goashi.com Richard W. Askew, 518-383-4804 rondack1@gmail.com

Central New York

www.cnyashi.com Third Wednesday each month, 6 pm Tony’s Family Restaurant, Syracuse Richard Alton, 315-415-4847 dick@altoninspect.com

First State (DE)

www.firststateashi.org Third Wednesday, 7 pm The Buzz Ware Center 2121 The Highway, Arden Mark Desmond, 302-494-1294 mark@delvalleyhome.com

Garden State (NJ)

www.gardenstateashi.com Second Thursday The Westwood, Garwood Ernie Borsellino, 973 761 0050 gsashipresident@gmail.com

Greater Rochester (NY)

www.ashirochester.com Second Tuesday, 6 pm Jeremiah’s Tavern, 2200 Buffalo Rd. Gates, NY 14624 Jim Brennan, 585-520-5575 jbrennan@independentinspectionservice.com

NOVA-ASHI (MD, VA)

Second Tuesday, 6 pm Daddy O’s Restaurant 3 Turner Street Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 Michael Skok, 845-592-1442 ashistatewide@yahoo.com

www.southernnjashi.com Third Wednesday, 6:30 pm Ramada Inn, Bordentown Rick Lobley, 609-208-9798 rick@doublecheckhi.com

Western New York Second Thursday, 6:30 pm Tony Rome’s, West Seneca Andy Utnik, 716-636-9676 esimail@aol.com

MID-ATLANTIC Central Virginia

www.cvashi.org Second Tuesday, 6:30 pm Independence Golf Course 600 Founders Bridge Blvd.

Midlothian, VA 23113 John Cranor, President 804-873-8537 cranorinspectionservices @gmail.com

Hampton Roads (VA) Second Thursday, 7 pm, Cypress Point Country Club, Virginia Beach Gregory Murphy, 757-535-4355 gmurphy@coastalinspect.com

MAC-ASHI (MD, VA)

www.mac-ashi.com Second Wednesday, Rockville, 6 pm Senior Center, Rockville Mark Mostrom, 301-536-0096 pivotalinspections@comcast.net

Robert Huntley, 540-354-2135 rwhuntley@cox.net

SOUTH ATLANTIC ASHI Georgia

www.ashigeorgia.com Shannon Cory, 404-316-4876 shannon1943@comcast.net

East Tennessee

www.etashi.org Third Saturday of Feb., May, Aug. and Nov. Paul Perry, 866-522-7708 cio@frontiernet.net

Mid-Tennessee Ray Baird, 615-516-5511 bairdr@comcast.net

Mid-South (TN) Steven Campbell, 901-734-0555 steve@memphisinspections.com

North Carolina

www.ncashi.com Meeting TBA Bruce Barker, 919-322-4491 bruce@dreamhomeconsultants.com

South Carolina First Saturday of Feb., May, Aug. & Nov., 8 am Roger Herdt, 843-669-3757 herdtworks@msn.com

GULF

Louisiana Quarterly Meetings Michael Burroughs 318-324-0661 Mburroughs2@comcast.net

Suncoast (FL)

www.ashisuncoast.com First Tuesday, 6:30 pm; Please see our website for meeting locations.

Steve Acker, 727-712-3089 buyersally@gmail.com

Southwest Florida

www.swashi.com Serving Manatee, Sarasota & Charlotte Second Wednesday, 6 pm Holiday Inn, Lakewood Ranch 6321 Lake Osprey Drive, Sarasota Michael Conley, 941-778-2385 FLinspector@outlookcom

CANADA CAHPI Atlantic

www.cahpi-alt.com Lawrence Englehart 902-403-2460 inspections@eastlink.ca

CAHPI Ontario

www.oahi.com Rob Cornish, 613-858-5000 robc@homexam.ca

Alberta Professional Home Inspectors (APHIS) www.aphis.ca Meetings held 3 times a year Alan Fisher, 403-248-6893 admin@aphis.com

Quebec AIBQ

www.aibq.qc.ca Pascal Baudaux, 450-629-2038 info@almoinspection.ca

ASHI South (AL)

www.ashisouth.org Quarterly, Homewood Library Homewood John Knudsen, 334-221-0876 jgknudsen111@gmail.com

Florida Wiregrass

www.ashiwiregrass.org Second Wednesday, 6:30 pm Sleep Inn Hotel, Wesley Chapel Nancy Janosz, 813-546-6090 ProTeamInsp@aol.com

Gulfcoast (FL) First Thursday, 7 pm, The Forest Country Club, Fort Myers Len Gluckstal, 239-432-0178 goldenrulehi@comcast.net

Lone Star (TX)

www.ashitexas.org Bud Rozell, 214-215-4961 goodhomeinspection@att.net

27September 2018

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27

Request for Interpretation: Ethics for Home Inspectors

Working With Real Estate Companies

By Jamison Brown, ASHI Ethics Committee Chair

In this and future issues of the Repor ter, ASHI’s Ethics Committee will address dilemmas faced by home inspectors.

QUESTIONS

1. Is it inappropriate or unethical for an inspector to pay a fee back to a realty company for work referred by that company?

2. Is it inappropriate or unethical for an inspector to pay a real estate company to advertise as a marketing partner or a preferred vendor?

Jamison Brown is the owner of Home Inspections

by Jamison & Company, Poquoson, VA. Before becoming an ASHI member in 1988, Jamison was a project manager and supervised the construction and remodeling of more than 10,000 housing units for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Jamison is a former member of the Carpenters and Joiners of America and a former licensed plumber in the state of Virginia. He is a member of the International Code Council, International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), and a certified member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). He has been a member of ASHI’s Technical and Membership Committees, and was chair of the CEPP Committee. Currently, he chairs the ASHI Code of Ethics Committee.

Jamison has personally inspected over 18,000 residential and commercial properties. Contact him at jamison.brown@gmail.com.

INTERPRETATIONS BY THE ASHI CODE OF ETHICS COMMITTEE

1. Is it inappropriate or unethical for an inspector to pay a fee back to a realty company for work referred by that company?

YES. Paying a real estate company for referrals generally deceives or misleads clients who would assume that a referral is based on competence, not on hidden payment. Participating in such deception is inconsistent with acting in good faith toward each client, as required by the ASHI Code of Ethics (http://www.homeinspector.org/Code-of-Ethics).

The client is best served when the inspector’s relationship with the real estate company handling the transaction is at arm’s length.

Any agreement or understanding between an inspector and a real estate company that restricts open disclosure to consumers about hidden referral fees or other pertinent financial arrangements is unethical because it compromises the consumer’s legitimate interest to know the circumstances behind the referral that could impact the integrity of the inspection.

2. Is it inappropriate or unethical for an inspector to pay a real estate company to advertise as a marketing partner or a preferred vendor?

YES. Paying for endorsements or paying to be on an “approved” or “preferred” list (even if it is being called “advertising” or “marketing”) is generally similar to paying for referrals and is inconsistent with the ASHI Code of Ethics for the reasons described in the answer to Question 1. Furthermore, giving an “up-front” payment to a real estate company for an endorsement or a listing is inconsistent with the Code of Ethics, which calls for impartiality. Inspectors’ fidelity to their clients and the interests of their clients is paramount; inspectors should avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest created by such arrangements.

28

ASHI Reporter • September August 20182018

Paying to advertise as a partner or as having a special relationship with a real estate company, or paying to use the logo, trademark or other property of a real estate company is (a) inconsistent with the Code of Ethics because it shifts the inspector’s allegiance away from serving only the client and (b) inconsistent with acting in good faith toward each client, as required by the Code of Ethics.

FURTHERMORE, SUCH ADVERTISING HAS THE APPEARANCE OF HAVING AN INTEREST IN A BUSINESS THAT MAY AFFECT CLIENTS AND THE CODE OF ETHICS STATES THAT THIS INTEREST MUST BE DISCLOSED. The impartiality of the inspector and his or her absolute duty of loyalty to the client would have the appearance of (if not an actual) conflict of interest from such an arrangement. Such an arrangement also could mislead and confuse the client about the distinction between the inspector and the realty company handling a transaction.

Finally, any undisclosed understanding that is hidden or disguised from consumers—involving referrals, endorsements or other agreements from real estate companies that are quid pro quo for any action or appearance that would compromise full and honest inspection and reporting—is inconsistent with the Code of Ethics. The separation and independence of the home inspector from the real estate company handling the transaction is a cornerstone principle intended to protect consumers.

INTRODUCING THE 3D MOBILE INSPECTOR

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We are planning a Reporter article that will feature stories of ASHI members who are or have been active service members in the military. If you’d like to participate, please email your name and contact information to stories@ashi.org.

Thank you for your service!

29September 2018

• www.ASHIReporter.org

29

ASHI CHAPTER EDUCATION Southeastern Home Inspector Conference

When: September 6-8, 2018 Where: Infinite Center, Duluth, GA CEUs: ASHI 20 CEs Contact: Shannon1934@comcast.net

OHSO ASHI Chapter Fall Seminar

When: Sept. 8-9, 2018 Where: American Legion Post, Cincinnati, OH CEUs: 16 ASHI CE hours Contact: info@ohsoashi.org

ASHI New England Chapter

Where:September 17 & 18, 2018 Westin Portland Harborview 157 High Street, Portland, ME CEUs: Earn 12 ASHI CEs (6 CEs per day) Contact: mattgatzke@cornerstoneam.com

Northern New England Chapter Event

When: September 20, 2018 Where: Puritan Backroom Restaurant 245 Hooksett Road Manchester, NH 03104 Topic: Water Energy’s Installer, Troubleshooting and “Standing Column Well” Workshop presented by The Water Energy Distributors Inc. CEU’s: 7 ASHI CEs Contact: nnec.ashi.2016@gmail.com To have your chapter seminar listed here, email all information about your chapter seminar to: micheleg@ashi.org.

BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL INFORMATION: seminar subject, when, where, CEUs & a link for more information or contact information.

30 30

ASHI ASHI Reporter Reporter •• May September September 2018 2018 2018

North Central Ohio ASHI Fall Seminar 2018

When: Sept. 21-22, 2018 Where: Akron/Fairlawn Holiday Inn Akron West, 4073 Medina Rd. Akron, OH 44333 Topic: Radon measurement - 8hrs, Electrical with Mike Twitty - 4hrs CEUs: 8 ASHI CE hours per day

ASHI Western Washington Fall Seminar When: Sept. 28-29, 2018 Where: Mountaineers Club, Seattle, WA Speakers: Mark Parlee, Clay Lamb, Charles Buell CEUs: 16 ASHI CE hours Contact: Joanne MacKintosh, joanne.ashiww@gmail.com

Rocky Mountain Chapter of ASHI-Education

When: September 29, 2018 Where: 2200 S. Monaco Pkwy., Denver, CO 80222 Topic: Report Writing, Water Intrusion Into Buildings, the Practical Science Behind Great Home Inspections, Boilers Speakers: Tom Feiza (Mr. Fix-It) and Tom D’Agostino CEUs: 8 ASHI CE hours Contact: Mike Dryer, 303-717-6178 IMPORTANT REPORTER DEADLINES: • OCT 2018 ISSUE - 8/7/18 • NOV 2018 ISSUE - 9/7/18 • DEC 2018 ISSUE - 10/7/18 • JAN 2019 ISSUE - 11/7/18 The Reporter is produced 6-8 weeks ahead of the week it arrives in your mailbox.

ASHI Great Lakes Chapter Fall Conference

When: October 5-6, 2018 Where: Holiday Inn, 8555 Stansted Road, Indianapolis, IN 46241 Topic: 10/5 - Peer Review/Education Review & Hospitality Suite 10/6 - Chimney Safety Institute Tour, Phone Skills & Handling Complaints, Protecting Your Business & Increasing Revenue CEUs: earn up to 16 CEs Contact: Carol Case, 773-2844501, www.greatinspectors.com

Mid MO ASHI Anual Meeting

When: October 5, 2018 8am-5pm Where: Boone Electric Cooperative North side of building in community room is located at 1413 Rangeline Street Columbia, MO 65201 Registration from 7:30-8:00 (coffee and donuts) Or pre-register online at midmoashi.com Topic: Heating and A/C EIFS and Synthetic Stone, Roofing and Siding Speakers: Jason Brozen Master Electrician National ASHI Speaker Contact: Keith R. Proctor 573-289-7077

Keystone ASHI Educational Event

When: October 12 & 13, 2018 Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 701 Penn St., Reading, PA 19601 CEUs: 16 ASHI CE hours Contact: amanda@brsinspect.com

DIVE IN!

Explore New Opportunities to Grow Your Business by Offering Specialty Services Register online for these Pre-Conference and Post-Conference sessions today.

You’ll receive quality training and earn additional continuing education units from ASHI. Courses run before and af ter INSPECTIONWORLD ® 2019 and will be held at the Town and Country Convention Center, San Diego, CA.

PRE– CONFERENCE COURSES FEMA P-50: Simplified Seismic Assessment of Detached, Single-Family, Wood-Frame Dwellings and Seismic Retrofit Guidelines Friday, January 18, 8 am–5 pm Instructor: Skip Walker Free tuition!

Level 1-Certified Thermographer Live Class Saturday, January 19, 8 am-5 pm

Infrared-Certified Residential Thermographer Class (2 days) Friday, January 18, and Saturday, January 19 Class meets 8 am-5 pm both days.

Instructor: Bill Fabian, Vice President, Monroe Infrared Technology, Inc. – Level 3-Certified Thermographer

National Home Inspector Exam Prep Class Sunday, January 20, 8 am-Noon Tuesday, January 22, 2-6 pm Class meets for two 4-hour sessions; 8 hours total.

Instructor: Bruce Barker, ACI, author of NHIE Home Inspection Manual. Approved by ICC.

Part 107 Test Preparation Course Saturday, January 19, 8 am-5 pm Instructor: Colin Romberger, Dart Drones U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Home Energy Score Certified Assessor Training Saturday, January 19, 8 am-5 pm Instructors: Brent Loya and Ken Slattery

Class involves 32 hours online pre-class work, plus 8 hours hands-on training and exam.

Instructor: Peter Hopkins, Level 3 Thermographer

NADRA Deck Inspection Certification Class Sunday, January 20, 8 am-Noon Instructor: Jim Mailey, NADRA National Instructor and Training Manager, Simpson Strong-Tie Rapid Growth Formula Training Sunday, January 20, 8 am-Noon Instructors: Greg Bryan, IEB Lead Inspection Coach, and Dirk Van Reenen, IEB Lead Business Coach

POST– CONFERENCE COURSES Sewer Scan Training Wednesday, January 23, 5-9 pm Instructor: Peter Hopkins, United Infrared, Level 3-Certified Thermographer

Commercial Building Inspection Course (3 days) Thursday, January 24; Friday, January 25; and Saturday, January 26 Meets 8 am-5 pm each day To register, contact www.theashischool.com Instructor: Richard Weldon, PEng, LEED AP

Visit www.inspectionworld.com for details 31September 2018

• www.ASHIReporter.org

31

Anchored Masonry Veneers Inspection

ANCHORED MASONRY VENEERS INSPECTION

By ASHI Technical Committee

The ASHI Technical Committee includes Charles Buell, Mike Casey, Mark Cramer, Pete Engle, Victor Faggella, Bryck Giubor (Board Liaison), Steve Nations, Randy Surette, Mike Twitty and Kevin Westendorff (Chair). The Technical Committee reviews articles as requested by ASHI, brainstorms topics, and creates and reviews their own articles for submittal to the Reporter.

E

xterior cladding veneers can be made of just about any material, but typically, they are masonry, including brick or stone. Some veneers are adhered, others are anchored. In this article, we address only anchored veneer, the most popular being brick masonry attached to wood framing.

Anchored veneers are heavy materials such as full-thickness brick and they require an individual foundation. Most often, this foundation is a concrete ledge, formed with a piece of removable foam, which is placed inside the form at the time the foundation concrete is placed. This configuration creates a ledge on which the veneer rests. Sometimes, this ledge has through-wall flashing installed under the veneer and sometimes we’ve seen the concrete foundation alone relied on as the path for moisture to the weep holes. The Brick Industry Association (BIA) and the International Residential Code (IRC) require throughwall flashing at the weep holes and above other supports such as lintels.

Other veneer foundations could be concrete masonry units. As home inspectors, most of the time we can’t see the veneer foundation, so we’ll not spend much time on that topic.

Veneer support ledge on concrete foundation.

32

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Through-wall flashing installed the right way.

The veneer is anchored to the wood-frame walls with metal straps placed at approximately 18 to 24 inches on center each way. The metal straps are embedded into the veneer mortar joints and provide anchorage as a redundant system to help hold the veneer in place. Typically, these metal anchors are installed over a house wrap, or type-D or better building paper.

Veneer showing anchor straps and air gap.

Anchored Masonry Veneers Inspection

In general, anchored veneer materials are installed with an approximately 1- to 2-inch air space between the materials and the woodframe walls. This allows moisture to weep toward the bottom where it may exit the wall through weep holes. Weeps typically are placed a maximum of 33 inches on center per the IRC; however, the BIA recommends 24 inches for weeps (open head joints), and 16 inches for wicks or tubes (some tubes have porous wicking material inside, designed to help prevent pests from entering and to improve moisture movement out of the wall).

These weep openings should be above-grade. Sometimes, the weeps are installed a few courses up from the bottom of the wall because the first course or so of the air space fills up with the mortar droppings during installation. We have seen installations where there is a flashing exiting the veneer below the weep openings. This would be the most correct installation per IRC and BIA documentation.

Occasionally, inspectors will encounter anchored veneer walls with displaced or bulging sections when moisture behind the wall was unable to exit and freezing caused movement—obviously, this is a reportable condition. We have even seen cases where a homeowner, thinking that the weep tubes were allowing ants into the home, filled the weep tubes with caulk. Although the homeowner’s thinking might have been correct, it’s more important to let the moisture out.

Metal “lintels” typically are installed to support the masonry veneer above the penetrations. These lintels typically may develop surface rusting, which is a normal occurrence. Excessive rusting or movement of the veneer should be noted for further evaluation. There is almost always cracking of the mortar at the metal lintel—this is normal and should not be filled with caulking because it is the exit for moisture.

In contrast, step cracking caused by heavy rusting at the lintel is certainly an item to report.

The elusive weep hole in its natural environment.

Veneers can be installed in multiple stories; usually, approximately 30 vertical feet is the limit, depending on the seismic zone, wind zone or both. In seismic zones, the veneer material should have separation from the building at the top and sides to prevent damage during building movement.

To learn more about anchored veneer installation, refer to the BIA’s Technical Note #28 (http://www.gobrick.com/docs/default-source/ read-research-documents/technicalnotes/28-brick-veneer-wood-studwalls.pdf?sfvrsn=0).

Typical conditions requiring evaluation and repair found in anchored veneers include the following:

• lack of weep (or not visible) holes

• moisture intrusion into the house due to this lack of moisture exit

Lintel rusted needing repair.

Although it is not required by the ASHI Standard of Practice (SoP), part of a veneer inspection could include pushing gently on the veneer walls to determine rigidity. If the veneer moves, this would not be a normal condition. Further evaluation by a mason would be prudent if movement occurs. This situation could be indicative of corroded or missing veneer ties. Looking along the wall from a distance also can reveal bulges that may indicate failed veneer ties.

• blocked weep holes

33September 2018

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Anchored Masonry Veneers Inspection

One of the most common questions about masonry veneer relates to the “limit” for cracking. There really is no single, all-applicable number or answer, as the inspector should consider the whole-house picture when making judgment. Examples of questions to ask are as follows:

• Is there evidence of distress inside the house or anywhere else?

• Is there lateral movement?

• How big is the crack (or cracks)?

• Has the crack been repaired and re-opened?

Keep in mind that veneers are non-structural (except for holding up themselves) and generally will always have some cracks, just like stucco or other rigid cladding materials. Often, cracks in veneer look worse than they are because someone attempted to repair or “point” the crack, making it more visible than if it had just been left alone. In modern construction, wide walls (usually at least 40 feet wide) would have vertical expansion joints installed to allow for movement.

Typical cracking of veneer.

Significant cracking in veneer (the flashing is missing).

Significant movement of veneer.

34

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Unusual cracking of veneer.

Anchored Masonry Veneers Inspection

When describing cracks in veneers, it is always best practice to inform the client that you can’t predict the potential, if any, for future movement. Here’s an informative article to consider when describing cracks: https://jadeengineering.biz/the-real-truth-about-brick-veneer-cracks/.

Often, home inspectors see efflorescence, which is caused by the minerals left behind from moisture evaporating through the masonry. (Don’t confuse this with effervescence—those are the bubbles in your drink.)

Some efflorescence would be considered normal, with new veneer and/ or near weeps, in particular. Heavy efflorescence—meaning you can grab some in your hand—might mean that too much water is staying behind the wall and can’t get out.

LOOK FOR A LACK OF WEEPS OR CLOGGED WEEPS AND RECOMMEND EVALUATION BY A MASON. We have seen veneers completely botched by repointing gone wrong.

The best mortar joint would be concave and just set back from the surface. When amateurs fill the mortar joint to or beyond the surface of the veneer, they can cause water retention and other issues, as can the use of the wrong mortar. Older mortar did not contain cement and is very soft. When repointed with modern hard mortars, damage is inevitable.

As always, the best strategy when you are unsure about conditions you find is to recommend that an expert evaluate the situation and determine if repair is necessary.

35September 2018

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2018

REPORT OUT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

MOTION: That ASHI hold IW 2021 at Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. PASSED MOTION: That ASHI hold IW 2022 at the Rio All Suites in Las Vegas, Nevada. PASSED MOTION: To accept Welmoed Sission as PR Committee Chair. PASSED MOTION: Canadian Chapters be recognized as a region with their own group leader. PASSED MOTION: Revise Section 5.1.1 of the ASHI Policy Manual. PASSED MOTION: Revise Section 7 of the ASHI Policy Manual. PASSED MOTION: Revise Section 8 of the ASHI Policy Manual. PASSED MOTION: Revise Section 16.2 of the ASHI Policy Manual. PASSED

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018

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39September 2018

• www.ASHIReporter.org

39

Postcards from the Field

NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org Note: By sending in your postcard(s), you are expressly granting ASHI the right to use the postcard and your name with it in the ASHI REPORTER and in other publications ASHI may select.

To “B” or not to “B”

No One Puts Baby in the Corner

Stephen Tyler STAT Home Inspections New York State

Matthew Steger WIN Home Inspection Lancaster, PA

“For the person who has everything”

I’m all 4 nails

Matthew Steger WIN Home Inspection Lancaster, PA

When Draino meets particle board

Lawrence Transue IntegrityInspection Easton, PA

Searching in vain…

Matt Leahy The Edge Home Inspections Tuscon, AZ

40

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Sam Lloyd The Pearce Group Woodbine, MD

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Postcards from the Field Must have been a sale on fasteners…

Jeremy Prevan Pro Vantage Home Inspections Columbia, MD

Levitating Water Heater (ALTERNATE)

NEW POSTCARDS EMAIL!! Please send your name, city, state, photos, headings & captions to: postcards@ashi.org Note: By sending in your postcard(s), you are expressly granting ASHI the right to use the postcard and your name with it in the ASHI REPORTER and in other publications ASHI may select.

This photo’s got us stumped

Chris McDougall Apex Home Inspection Aromas, CA

Camouflage Light Switch

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Fish Fry

Alexander McKenzie Lakeland Home Inspection Service Lakeland, FL

Do you think I’m missing something?

Francis Glynn Reliable Home Inspection Service Wilmington, DE 42

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

Lon Grossman Technihouse Inspections, Inc. Bloomfield Hills, MI

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September 2018 • www.ASHIReporter.org

43

In Memory of Ron Rusch I

t is with great sadness that I have to report that Ron Rusch, a great friend to all of us, a mentor, an fellow home inspector, has passed away.

Ron was on vacation with his family, children and grand children in the Mountains of Colorado. He was having a great time branching out from Colorado Springs, they visited Garden of the Gods, and made it to the top of Pikes Peak, had dinner with all the family, went to bed Tuesday evening and expired in his sleep.

Ron Rusch Biography: • Retired ASHI, Manager of A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections • Active in local Great Plains ASHI Chapter • 2000 Treasurer • 2001 Secretary

Ron was an phenomenal individual, generous with his time and talents. He was responsible for our Chapter’s strength for many years, serving as secretary, treasurer, membership chairman and winning the Great Plains ASHI Chapter Outstanding Member Award. He served at the national level on the Chapter Relations Committee and on the Council of Representatives and then on the ASHI National Board of Directors giving back to the profession that was his passion.

• Outstanding chapter member award for his work in updating

the chapter bylaws • 2002-4 and 2010-11 Membership chairman • 2005-7 Council of Representatives • National ASHI • 2007-9 Board of Directors • 2002-6 Chapter Relations Committee • Civil Engineer from University of Missouri-Rolla • Avid golfer • Retired Army

Ron retired a few years ago, which was not an easy decision for him, but did not drift away from us. He attended our annual conferences every year and continued to go to the ASHI National conferences.

He spent his retirement years traveling the world with his wife, Alice of over 50 years.

- Miki Mertz & Tom Lahoun

“Ron will be sadly missed by anyone who had ever had the privilege of meeting him.”

Great Plains ASHI Chapter announces:

The Ron Rusch Memorial Award Ron Rusch, passed away July 2018. He was a long time ASHI member, serving on Chapter and National Committees and on the National ASHI Board of Directors.

Ron was passionate about attending Inspection World every year and encouraged all to attend. He felt he gained so much more value than the cost of attending.

Ron said he always learned new things, networked with fellow inspectors from across the country, picked up ideas that resulted in income increases for his business.

The Great Plains ASHI Chapter Board wants to continue his passion for Inspection World by paying for a newer inspector to attend.

They must be: • Chapter members who have passed the NHIE Exam •

Relatively new to the business

•

Never attended Inspection World

Applications may be submitted starting in September and will be due by Nov. 1.

44

ASHI Reporter • September 2018

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25TH

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24TH Arrivals in afternoon

5:00 - 6:00 pm Wyndham Hotel “Meet and Greet” Kick-off Reception Beer and Wine, appetizers

Breakfast at Wyndham Hotel for guests Fountain Blue Conference Center 8:00 - 10:00 am Websites, Social Media 10:00 - 10:30 am Visit the Vendors - Raffle 10:30 - 11:30 am Webcasting , Meeting Groups, Go to Meetings 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Lunch - Raffle 12:30 – 1:30 pm Planning and Holding a Chapter Peer Review 1:30 – 1:45 pm – Break & Raffle 1:45 – 3:45 pm Strategies for Chapter Success from Successful Chapter Leaders 3:45 – 4:00 pm – Break 4:00 - 5:00 pm “Shifting Trends” Discussion Panel 5:00 pm Reception Beer and Wine, appetizers Visit the Vendors 6:00 - 7:00 pm – Dinner Evening On Your Own

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26TH

Breakfast at Wyndham Hotel for guests Fountain Blue Conference Center 8:00 - 9:30 am Motivational Speaker – Kevin McCarthy 9:30 - 10:00 am Break – Visit the Vendors - Raffle 10:00 – 11:00 am Leadership Workshop 11:00 - 11:45 am Planning a Successful Chapter Educational Event 11:45 am - 12:45 pm Lunch – Visit the Vendors – IW Raffle 12:45 - 1:45 pm Effective Leadership – Panel discussion 1:45 – 2:30 pm Planning an Educational Event - Workshop 2:30 – 3:00 pm Mechanics of Running a Meeting 3:00 pm Conference concludes

TO RSVP GO TO

www.homeinspector.org/Education-Training/Leadership-Development-Conference-RSVP

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ASHI Reporter • September 2018