Not an April fools joke. Been looking for some stucco inspection pics, but had 2 computers crash last year AND moved. Can’t find find the real goodies … Not just the pansy stuff that any inspector with 20-25 years experience should be able to handle, BUT the Big Boy stuff.
4 years ago we were still doing our commercial condo or hotel stucco inspections on 5 stories or more by either hanging upside down using a safety harness OR by rapelling down the building. Our competitors called for lift trucks, etc and cost the clients a bunch of $$$$$
8 years ago we were still doing 3-story homes OR a 2-story with a widows walk by opening a 2nd floor window, climbing the dormer, stadling our 13’ LG or 10 Tele-Steps across the top of the peak to get up to the REAl top or windows walk. Lots of times we found nail pops or split shakes or broken tabs you could not see from the ground. Our competitors called for lift trucks, roof contractors, etc and cost the clients a bunch of $$$$$
I don’t think we’re high … For a house up to 2,500sf, under 35 years old with 1 HVAC, 1 kitchen, using our IR and on a slab or basement / We’re very affordably priced at $700 for a home, termite and radon inspection.
OR if you don’t want radon, we can do the home and termite for $575
Most of our competitors charge less BUT we’re the only **Triple Certified **inspectors in about 300 miles, and the way I look at it / IF you want the Big Dogs you gotta be prepared to pay Big Boy rates.
Don’t call me up AND want the most experienced guys in MY area, BUT then want that experience at the rate a 6 month new guy gets.
Well, more power to ya. There isn’t a client in eight years who ever needed that level of chimney inspection and if they did, they got it for $50 from a chimney specialist. I have four children and one on the way. This “small dog” earning “small boy” rates is committed to coming home every night to a wife who knows he isn’t walking chimneys.
It is a question your assistant must weigh deeply.
I hope he or she is insured. A 5 point harness and anchorage will be a blessing is any slippage occurs.
Mr. Hagarty’s photo made me think.
I stand on concrete or masonry chimneys to view flue lateral to insure plum and to see if the bond is lost between the liners.
I will discontinue the practice when I fell my balance is in question.
Soon or I need to redeveloped my balance.
I am almost finished rebuilding chimneys. YEA!!!
Fashion a large mirror 8"/8"on a backer of 1/4" ply on the end of a pool articulate a joint. BOB’S your uncle mate!!
You can buy fish viewing and bottom structure viewing equipment.
$200 dollars or less for black and white.
I to use a video and photo bore-scope to inspect chase chimneys.
As for placing my ladder on the chase for lateral support, I am now in doubt.
Thank you.
I’ll admit that in the KC area in the past 6-10 years we’ve lost a few inspectors due to falls from roofs or chimneys, etc … One broke neck, one broke back, two or three got legs tied up in the ladders going down and broke legs, ankles or pelvis and spent a few months or so on walkers, but hey we’re in a risky business AND hopefully accidents like that keep the $195-$250 guys at home.
I’ve even had 1 guy I knew quite well in Indy getting out of attic and have framing at access hatch collapse on him, dropping him to garage floor and breaking almost everything. He was in wheelchair or walker 2 years later.
Bob - Great Photo
Last year 17.6% of my business was referrals from other inspectors or engineers to do something they didn’t wanta try for a ANAL client.
I bet this type of stuff is nothing new to guys like Russel H’s crew or some of the other heavy hitters. AND I’ll tell you another secret of the trade … You tell an agent you got a defect up there like a crack in the flue AND they never try and contradict YOU cause they NEVER / EVER say “Take me up there and show me”
Sorry Gary you missed out attend Inspection School by Dan Bowers. All his graduates learned to, not be passing off a chimney inspection but to do it ourselves.
One of our first classes was climbing a 34 foot ladder against the chimney and looking down the chimney’s throat. This was a good way to weed out the whiny inspectors up front.
We only lost one candidate from my class, poor kid lost his footing on the second to last highest rung, slipped bruised his nose on a lower rung. He did not return to class the following day.
Our 2 week Master class was grueling. After the normal 80-90 hours of classroom for normal state requirements, we put the trainee’s through another 30-40 hours of speciality stuff
Our HI training classes in KC used a PE and foundation contractor for structural stuff; a master electrician / master plumber for those 2 sections; myself on HVAC, appliances, stucco / EIFS, etc; a Haag trained roofer for the roofing classes; licensed radon, septic, lead paint and asbestos inspectors for those specialitys; chimney sweep, etc.
We did NOT do 1 homeboy teaches all / We used specialists. We put out heavy duty inspectors.
That is quite intensive Dan. State run master class?. What’$ the cost?
This sounds like State sponsored instruction that should be out there for all HI’s at a proper rate for studies if that state dictates licensing is require.
PE and foundation contractor for structural stuff. New acronym. PE? Do not want to touch that one with a ten foot poll. ALL foundation guys know where to PEE:-) but PE?
