Foundation removal for HVAC

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

Originally Posted by roconnor

Actually it doesn't really work like that. Three (3) flatwise 2x4's would have a strength/stiffness of about 3.0 in^4, while a 4x4 would have a strength/stiffness of about 12.5 in^4. They would need to all be prepared and glued together under pressure, like with a Glulam ... http://www.apawood.org/level_b.cfm?content=prd_glu_main, in order to get that extra strength (plate nailing isn't nearly enough).

Four flatwise 2x4's (6" of almost solid wood) has a strength of about 5.9 in^4, which still wouldn't even be close to the strength of a double 2x10 header at around 197.8 in^4 ... ... And there is the possibility of plate splices in the area which make that even more unreliable as support.

Funny thing about structures is that they can be very weak but look perfectly fine ... right up to the point where they fail or collapse from an unusual event ... sometimes every 50 - 100 years apart on average, sometimes more often. It happens all the time.

NEVER soft sell structural issues or make an assessment on strength or longevity from a visual inspection. You can end up with your butt in a sling. From industry studies there is a reason that the highest liability area for HI's is the structural part of an inspection. Repairs can be expensive and it's more complicated than it appears on the surface

JMO & 2-Nickels ...

I understand, and I agree, that's not how I'd present it to a client. I'd recommend correction. I was just responding to the original post and thinking of the homes that I've demo'd and how sometimes they're difficult to make fail when you want them to. Beat on a wall, rock it back and forth and finally find one 8d nail that's holding the whole thing together...

Good information, Robert, thanks.

[Robert J. OConnor]

What I find really amazing is how difficult it is to tare apart older wood framing with nails like mini rail spikes, but how weak the structure is compared to Mother Nature without modern anchors, tie downs, and shear walls.

P.S. Good job on the initial article on concrete inspection. Should be a good series of articles ...

[Sean Fogarty]

Originally Posted by ryoung7

If you look up at floor joist above that restricted ) squeezed and bent ) HVAC branch line it is not moisture. It is wet. Dripping wet.
Ready for organic life to take hold. The type of life that likes wood cellulose.
Boot clamp may be loose.

Controlling crawl space humidity.
Vented, vapor barrier in contact with the ground.
Vapor barrier.
Most of the moisture in the crawl space is not coming from the ground. Since some
moisture does, it is a problem that has to be addressed.
Vapor barrier.
Venting
Unassisted airflow in and out of the crawl space via foundation vents is minimal, and not much of a factor in controlling crawl space moisture.
The Standard Building Code specifies a ratio of foundation ventilation area to crawl space area.

Mechanical pressure control
The average relative humidity in the home without the vapor pressure controlled
device is 70%, whereas the home with the device averaged 52%. Using a fan only at
the right time becomes highly beneficial.
The problem becomes when to ventilate? Ventilation should occur only when
outdoor vapor pressure (moisture) is lower than crawl space vapor pressure.
Only mechanical ventilation can fulfill this requirement.
vapor pressure controlled device
They have a high efficiency HVAC to climate control the living area Mr. Fogarty.
The same has to be done to the crawl space.

So quick snark remarks and knee-jerk comments like Linas uses on me or I used in the past at times only places you inside the very same circle of conduct.
The one you are making lite of sir.
At certain times of the day I am rushed to cram as much information as I can.
Too do the most I can. It will be digested when I have quite time.
Yes I make mistakes. Be patient.
I have several screens open to web sites, documents, my photos and things that are old school to experienced home inspectors.
Not to me sir.

Cramming in as much information as I can before the regular routine of the daylight hours or uneventful times enter life. That's all.
I am caring for an elderly blind family member in poor health that has had her 4th stroke and just returned from rehabilitation.
So I am busy, to say the least.
Daylight hours
Then I am removed from my work or studies. Simple as that sir.
So the hypothetical at the moment is absurd and insulting.

I take it as an offense and ask you as a gentleman to avoid using slanderous comments at any INACHI MEMBER PLEASE.
It is a simple request.

Not many crawl spaces in Montreal Quebec by the way sir.
I have done 3 in 4 years of home inspections. Under 100.

The humidity and moisture in the atmosphere is is as great I suspect.
RH Averages mid 80's in the summer months.
At times a frequent freeze and thaw cycle , with a 6.5 foot deep ground frost zone are our observations to hypothesize when doing inspections in Montreal Quebec.
So our atmospheric humidity levels are similar I suspect.

All I know Mr. Fogarty is that if those conditions exceeded in my region ( they do, but the seasonal temperature differences ) I would do everything in my power to understand, explain, and help my client understand.
If I was preforming a maintenance inspection, I would try to help him reduce the high humidity's possible negative effects.

As for you comment about drugs.
America is the biggest pusher of drugs in the world. Monsanto that is poisoning the world and the Big Pharma that is eating away at your medicare social system with there intense greed and lobbing power.

1/3 of your jails are full of young black American men and native American men.
It is not a war on drugs. It is a business industry created by the wealthy.
To bad.
America could learn lessons from European counties and how they deal with substance abuse.

The wood was wet because the ducts have been wet all summer from humidity..

I will go with cocaine since you seem to ramble in long paragraphs..

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

As he finally admits to moisture.
The wood was wet. HA HA HA
Boot problem. Hmmm. I thought some one mentioned that.
Gee you tell your client how to elevate the problem.
Go ahead use my information.
Small men see or hear nothing in life but there own common words.
Amazing how small a man you really are sir.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Originally Posted by sfogarty

The wood was wet because the ducts have been wet all summer from humidity..

I will go with cocaine since you seem to ramble in long paragraphs..

Now here is what I will do seeing I am tolerant AND HAVE UNFORTUNATELY disused home inspection questions on threads with negative INACHI members like yourself.
When I acted badly when I first arrived on the MB I though it was the noror. As the months went bad I saw others doing ot. Hmmm.
Then I saw one member being taken apart by all. He was a nice man I thought, so I changed my perception of the MB the members and my standings on the board and went to his defense.
2 sides to every coin Mr.F.
I woke up and apologies to all personally and several times admitting I was in error. I was an azz. Complete and utter fool.
No excuses.
Seeing you have a closed and unprofessional attitude at the moment, I will try to wake it up for your own sake.
OK MR. Fogarty?

You can make a formal apology.
Retract the statement with full apology to myself and any other member you have attacked with slanderous comments like this or I go forward and make a formal complaint against you.
12 years sober and clean sir.
No police convictions for drugs and will open my life to any one whom asks in a positive way. Non of your business but there I am sir.
I have nothing to hide sir.
I an conscious being, tired, and had enough from insulting members like you..
I have recorded your post with that sipping thingy on the windows computer. I think I took a photo of the page too. Well yes I did.


I will use it as evidence when posting my complaint against you to state officials that regulate HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING AND THEN INACHI ETHICS BOARD TO SEE HOW THEY WISH TO PROCEED.
all is being said without prejudice.

I do hope your insurance is paid up and your state license is in good standing without any blemishes.
Because people like you have have to make decisions to act professional and stop. For me there is no place on the INACHI MESSAGE BOARD SIR when such vile accusations are mad against a fellow home inspector.
You take lite of the American laws that have been past sense 911 to stop innocent people from fling.

You are unaware of what actions like your slanderous remarks can do to an individual trying to cross state lines.
No more sir.
I asked you as a gentlemen to stop.
You decided to proceed and defend a post you made incorrectly or without completing it and by admitting there was moisture and a remedies to elieveate the high RH.
WOW is all I can say at this time..
Now you have gone to far.
So now the ball is in your court so to speak.
all is being said without prejudice.

Enough rambling for you Mr. Fogarty?
I await your reply.

[Sean Fogarty]

Originally Posted by ryoung7

As he finally admits to moisture.
The wood was wet. HA HA HA
Boot problem. Hmmm. I thought some one mentioned that.
Gee you tell your client how to elevate the problem.
Go ahead use my information.
Small men see or hear nothing in life but there own common words.
Amazing how small a man you really are sir.

Obviously you can't take any type of kidding.
and for the record you personally were not there so you have no clue what condition that crawlspace was in. Big whoop it had some moisture on the wood. All the ductwork was dripping with condensation as well. Most older crawls are always wet to some degree.

My initial question had nothing to do with water issues..

Maybe its a drinking habit instead..

[Sean Fogarty]

Originally Posted by ryoung7

I will use it as evidence when posting my complaint against you to state officials that regulate HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING AND THEN INACHI ETHICS BOARD TO SEE HOW THEY WISH TO PROCEED.
all is being said without prejudice.

I do hope your insurance is paid up and your state license is in good standing without any blemishes.
Because people like you have have to make decisions to act professional and stop. For me there is no place on the INACHI MESSAGE BOARD SIR when such vile accusations are mad against a fellow home inspector.
You take lite of the American laws that have been past sense 911 to stop innocent people from fling.

You are unaware of what actions like your slanderous remarks can do to an individual trying to cross state lines.
No more sir.
I asked you as a gentlemen to stop.
You decided to proceed and defend a post you made incorrectly or without completing it and by admitting there was moisture and a remedies to elieveate the high RH.
WOW is all I can say at this time..
Now you have gone to far.
So now the ball is in your court so to speak.
all is being said without prejudice.

Enough rambling for you Mr. Fogarty?
I await your reply.

You obviously have metal issues. I poke fun with you and you threaten me?
Members are not moderated.

Va te faire foutre..

Was this clear enough??

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Sir I can be ribbed and enjoy kidding around.
Its the accusations that have to stop.
This to me and other members is a place to openly accept one another.
To accuse member of drug problems.
The negativity is contagious as HEII. I see it and hate it personally.
I asked you as a gentleman to stop.
By pushing the up on notch to an accusation of drug addiction or use is comical to you?
Ether you have no idea of the seriousness of your words in todays world or you are truly blind to all the litigation that can come by slanderous remarks.
That being said;
I have not come to any conclusion.
You made your bed sir.


Right.
So again sir.
I will leave the ball in your court.

[ROBERT V. YOUNG]

Va te faire foutre is surely the way I see you after a complaint I make against you.
This is no threat now sir.
I know little of the procedure but others will help.
It is your bed you made all by yourself. Now sleep in it.
I will take no insults by some heyseed.
Amazing you get work at all with an attitude like that.

You are small sir.
It people like you that turn others off of the message board.
You arrogance will be your own demise.
Have a great week.
I surely will.