B4U Close Blog by Erby, the Central Kentucky Home Inspector in Lexington, Kentucky

  Got chimney.  Where's your saddle? You wonder about chimney guys and roofers?  Whose responsible for ensuring there's a saddle (aka cricket) behind wide chimnmeys to force the water running down the roof to go around the chimney instead of overrunning the chimney flashing and leaking into the h...

How To Repair Leaky Duct Work! NOT like this!  Kroger grocery store plastic bags & cloth duct tape are not generally consider an acceptable means of repairing duct work!  Well, except by whoever repaired this leaky duct. Of course, you couldn't prove that by looking at the duct work in the house ...

For those who celebrate it with me:   MERRY CHRISTMAS For those who celebrate in other ways: HAPPY HOLIDAYS          And Here's an neat slide show about Christmas   "So This is Christmas" Song & Slideshow I don't know how to start it automatically so it's a download from my file manager on my web...

Surprising Inspection Companions! Okay, we've all had the odd ball inspection companions.  You know, the cat that darts from room to room but never sticks around long enough to say hello; the dog that follows you way too close; that dog that wants to tear you a new one; even the pet bunny hopping...

Two lawyers are standing in line at a bank when armed robbers burst in. While a few of the robbers take the money from the tellers, the others line the customers up against a wall and proceed to take their wallets, jewelry, and any other valuables they may have. While this is all taking place, on...

The other day, during a Kentucky Home Inspection, I found this painted over water stain on the ceiling of the wall behind the toilet (visible in the ceiling of the closet on the other side of the wall from the toilet).                             On the roof, the plumbing vent boot flashing looks...

The other day, I'm doing a Kentucky Home Inspection in Georgetown, KY on a 13 year old house.  The seller was home.  I asked her if there were any problems she was aware of before I got started.  She said, "the heating bills are a bit high but that's all". Lot's of tall walls (vaulted ceiling) in...

Did you ever play with a glass of water and a straw. Put your finger over the end of a straw and raise it. The water comes up with it. Let go of it and the water runs out. Did you know your house drainage system also has a "top of the straw" that needs to be open for proper drainage. Plumber forg...

It's been a very busy time for me lately but I had to share the egg story. Three times in the last three days I've had Robin's nests at the inspection.  Two were right on a window sill.  One was in a bush in the backyard. Gotta love that Robin's egg blue.  

Got a moldy spot in your ceiling. This could be the cause. Keep an eye on your plumbing vent boot flashings. Cracks should be repaired before water damage and mold growth starts. Click the picture for a full size image!