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MONDAY MORNING MESSENGER

Message Prepared For Home Inspectors and especially for Members of the American Institute of Inspectors®

May 24, 1999

GOOOOOD MORNING, A.I.I.™

It's a great day at Michael Leavitt & Co Home Inspections. Last week was a busy one. Once again, when I am overwhelmed the membership comes through to help me compose the MMM. Today's MMM is picture filled but very informative.

SPORTSFLASH: The NBA has playoffs have brought out all of the emotions this past week. Right now I am really apprehensive about the chances for the Utah Jazz. All of you Oregonians are on cloud nine with you Portland Trailblazers leading the series 3-1. In honor of our great Oregon Home Inspectors today's MMM is mainly authored by Betty Buckley from Midland, Oregon.

DOOMSDAY LIVING By Betty Buckley

Hello Michael & Shelly:

A few weeks ago you requested information on some of the most interesting homes that had been inspected. Enclosed are some pictures from our most interesting home. We inspected this underground house three weeks ago.

Apparently the gentleman who purchased this home wants to retire to seclusion and be self sufficient. In order to protect his anonymity I will only say that it is located somewhere in the US. The real estate agent led us to this property as most people are unable to locate the home without a guide. Besides being very remote and in an area that it is advisable to not travel alone or unarmed, I took Nathan along for the great training opportunity (I was scared to death to go alone!)

Some years ago, we think in the early seventies, someone dug a huge hole in the ground and buried this quanset hut and then proceeded to build a house in it. It was probably one of the most difficult inspections I have performed as so much of it was beyond the scope of my normal inspection and the Oregon State guidelines. This was further complicated with the current tenants being in the process of moving out during out inspection. We approached this a little differently by just noting what was present and if it appears serviceable and durable. Most of the exterior surfaces were concealed with dirt. We did bring some hazards to the buyer's attention, tried to give him as much information as we could about his purchase and were glad to be back on the road.

I apologize for not contributing to the MMM more. I feel that you and Shelly both do a wonderful job. Steve Bradley has made some suggestions on things he feels that I should contribute and now that Nathan is a full time employee I hope to have more time in the office to do some of these kinds of things. Because of my track record I won't make promises but do hope to help out more in the future.

Sincerely, Betty and Nathan Buckley

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks so much Betty for the interesting inspection experience. Betty added comments on the back side of the following photos. Her comments are in blue and red. I have added a few of my own and they are in black.

From approximately 400 yards away you cannot see the house. In the middle of the photo in the distance you can barely see a car parked near the home.

I can't believe how remote this inspection address is. I am curious how you set your fee and how much extra was added for travel.

Welcome home!..... This is the main entry. The porch is definitely below grade and there is no floor drain to keep water from ponding at the entryway.

This is the rear of the home..... It is actually the greenhouse.

There is direct earth to wood contact on the window frames. The antenna also has loose guy wires = Resecure.

We very carefully walked across the roof checking the condition of the soil and sage brush to determine the "Estimated Remaining Life"

They checked our "Green Sheets" and determined that this was an Exotic Native Vegetation roofing product.

Where did the house go???

Other than the greenhouse and the antennas there is not much view of the home.

Front Entry

I flashed to the scene of me taking Shelly out to this lot and saying..... "Honey this is the place!"

Skylight - side window - The only window on the sides.

There is a bottle of champagne in the window to toast the world goodbye when the end is finally near.

The wood stove flu was solidly supported with a wood post. Don't worry about the dents and loose fittings because any lost exhaust helps to warm the greenhouse area when they aren't growing anything.

I'm not certain, but I don't think that a 4x4 ridged flue mount meets modern building standards for clearances to flammables...... Then again...... who is ever going to know the difference if this place burns to the ground???

A wood heated hot tub in the greenhouse. Note the temperature on the thermometer at about 20 degrees.

It is kind of dark, but that is Betty lifting up the plastic solar hot tub heating cover.

Propane Stove and oven - Used for Quick Meals. Note the black burn scars around the control knobs.

Wood Cook Stove - No fire inside = "Did Not Test"

The refrigerator is wind solar powered.

Propane water heater with no propane tank connected. There is also scorching around the igniter.

This room had a brick, lodge pole pine and gravel floor. The door was the bottom half of a Dutch door with a chicken wire panel.

Rear view of the house from the greenhouse.

If you look closely you can see the built-in shower head. Note the tunbuckles and cable supporting system.

Solar and wind energy. There are 4 12 volt batteries that supply the small service panels. The power was obviously "Low Voltage"

The Toilet! We decided it was definitely a "Water Saver"

EIFS NEWSFLASH:

In regards to the EIFS training that I shared with you last week, Glenn Strong from Aptos, Ca shared......

Michael, Although the NWWCB training provides an adequate overview of the different types of EIFS systems, there are two other organizations which provide a much more intensive training & certification program.

Contact the Exterior Design Institute at exterior-design-inst.com or Nancy Roylance at the Association of Wall & Ceilings International at awci.org

Both organizations offer a four day program with an intensive exam at the culmination. The AWCI exam has an approximate 50% pass/fail rate with a score in excess of 90% in order to certify.

By the way, I've been using a Little Giant ladder for years and it's one of the most valuable & versatile tools I have. The only problem I've ever encountered was one of the small orange step edge guards falling off & being lost and Wing Industries quickly sent me a replacement.

Regards, Glenn W. Strong - Aptos, CA

Thanks for the info Glenn. I am aware of both of the other organizations and I have just been waiting for a training given by them at a date and location convenient to attend. I was very disappointed with my conversations with Nancy Roylance at the AWCI. She was curt and less than professional as I tried to enroll in their recent training put on in Los Angeles. AWCI does have another 2 day training coming up again in the Fall and I will keep you informed of the dates. Here is the Press Release for the upcoming NWCB training.

NWCB Offers EIFS Education Program

The Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau (NWCB) will offer its EIFS (exterior insulation and finish system) Education & Inspector Training Program from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Wednesday, June 16, 1999, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue, WA. While designed for training independent inspectors for EIFS projects, the seminar will benefit anyone working with this versatile cladding system.

The program covers not only the EIFS installation process, but also such critical issues as the review of drawings and specifications and the installation of wall components, including windows, flashings and sealants, adjacent to EIFS. The function of the new drainage systems and related
building code and inspection issues will also be discussed.

The instructor is Bob Thomas, an internationally known EIFS consultant and President of CMD Associates, Inc., of Seattle, WA. The cost is $295 per person for the first attendee and $245 for any additional attendees from the same company. The fee includes all course materials, lunch,
refreshments and a copy of EIFS Design Handbook. Please, contact the NWCB at (206) 524-4243 for further information.

1999 ANNUAL MEETING

The 1999 Annual Meeting will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Riviera Hotel, November 7, 8, 9, and 10th. There are several choices of seminars to attend on Monday the 8th thoughout Wednesday the 10th. The room rates for the Riviera are $85.00 single or double. The number for the hotel is 800/634-6753. The fee for the conference is $385.00 and includes all of the events and conference materials, breaks, and entrance to the Expo Hall.

The Annual Dinner will be held on Sunday night the 7th. There will be a Board of Directors meeting on Sunday afternoon. The Mobile Home Seminar for certification will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

Look for the registration packet in mid-June!!!!!