News & Resources

Buying a Home – Structural Considerations (Encore)

Posted by in Buying/Maintaining a Home | September 14, 2015

Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase a person or a couple will make in their lifetime. If one buys wisely, the home will not only provide shelter, comfort, and sanctuary from the rest of the world for… Read More →

Which wood framed structure would you expect to be stronger?

Posted by in Construction & Shortcuts, Structural terms | August 31, 2015

Which wood framed structure would you expect to be stronger? Number 1 or Number 2? Wood framed construction built in accordance with prescriptive framing methods. (Prescriptive framing methods are established upon rule of thumb guidelines that have developed from the… Read More →

Getting Ready for Winter (Attic Ventilation)

Posted by in Attic Ventilation, Buying/Maintaining a Home, Winter Concerns | August 24, 2015

THAT time of year is just around the corner.  The time when the temperatures drop and the airborne moisture in the attic condenses on the attic framing and the underside of the roof deck causing moisture staining, frost, excessive moisture… Read More →

What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 11)

Posted by in Shingles, Simple Forensic Methods, Winter Concerns | August 17, 2015

What can we tell from THIS photo?   This photo was taken at a valley on a shingle roof. The shingles on the left are less weathered indicating that they are not as old as the shingles on the right.… Read More →

What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 10)

Posted by in Basements, Simple Forensic Methods, Water Sources | August 10, 2015

This photo was taken at the base of a basement wall. We note the following: The moisture staining on the wood stud and the cardboard box indicate that there has been water infiltration. The multiple rings of the moisture staining… Read More →

What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 9)

Posted by in Fire Damage, Simple Forensic Methods, Wood | August 03, 2015

What can we tell from THIS photo? The wood plates and staples indicate that these are very old field built wood trusses. The soot and char indicate that they have been exposed to a fire. The relatively clean separation between… Read More →

What Can We Tell from This Photo? (Case Study 8)

Posted by in Cracking, Masonry, Simple Forensic Methods | July 27, 2015

What can we tell from THIS photo? The portion of the wall on the left side of the cracking has dropped relative to the right.  This indicates that the cracking is probably from some type of earth movement, such as… Read More →

Here Are a Few Head Scratchers

Posted by in The Unusual | July 20, 2015

Sometimes I see things that just don’t look right.  Here are a few.   How did THIS happen?   No matter which way I turn, I violate a sign.    This valley flashing doesn’t look like it’ll work, does it?… Read More →