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Texas A&M University
Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. They cause more than $2 billion in damages each year.

Real Estate Inspections

Is ASHI Dead in Texas?

During a discussion with a fellow inspector today regarding the TREC Standards of Practice, (SOP), I was informed that ASHI and other such inspector trade organizations have been relegated as ineffective and unnecessary in regulation and growth of the inspection industry as a result of state licensing and the development of the SOP. (Actually [...]

SOP Update Files

Bruce Carr sent [revisions to the SOP] out and I thought you may be interested in reviewing them. Click the link in this paragraph to download. I am also including an email from John Cahill which was sent out shortly after. Although I do not support Cahill’s opinions 100% I do believe [...]

SOP Public comment number 072008

My comments are included as a word document click here to download. The Word file is in color and easier to read if projected or printed in color. My comments are to long to add to this blog as a readable comment. I cannot be at the meeting but will review [...]

Public comment for the Home Inspection Standards of Practice

Opening statement:
The quest for specificity and safety in the proposed Standards is gigantic. Most persons will admit the task of Standards revision cannot be accomplished in a single revision cycle. The problem with current TREC rules is that a formal revision process does not exist. The problem is further complicated by [...]

Garage Doors and How To Test Them

I was reading the June ASHI Reporter and came across an article on the testing of garage door openers. The article basis was that inspectors were improperly testing door openers and causing damage to the overhead doors that the inspectors should presumably be responsible for due to an improper testing methodology.

TREC SOP Update

Bruce Carr sent this out today. I have indented the email as recieved. I did remove the header and footer:
Here is an update from Brian Murphy regarding the status of the TREC SOP:
The Inspector Committee (IC) met June 16, 2008 to review the changes submitted during the SoP posting period to [...]

TREC Proposed Standards for Inspectors Reconsidered

Like the rest of you in the inspector community I have been awaiting good information about what went on at the inspector committee meeting on June 16th related to the comments on the proposed Standards of Practice (SOP). Jim Hemsell was present and provided some feedback to the Lone Star ASHI secretary Bud Rozell [...]

Creative Structural Repair

I week or so ago I got to speaking with an inspector in Dallas about some non-conventional repairs to the foundation in a crawlspace he was inspecting. This made me think of one I had seen and thought was worth posting.
This photograph included with this posting shows a chain hoist used to repair the [...]

Getting It Right

Well, there is a builder paying attention to detail in Houston. I was doing an inspection on a Trendmaker home in the Woodlands this week and found they were following the flashing details for installation of brick window ledges that have been recommended for years and which are detailed in the IRC 2000. [...]

Corrsion of Fasteners in Treated Wood

Corrosion of steel structural connectors such as hangar straps or nails can be a significant issue when using treated wood for structural members. The use of treated lumber is common in crawlspaces, decks, and equipment supports in my area.
Recently I have seen significant corrosion at connectors and their nails in construction using treated lumber. [...]