Water intrusion case study.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

I am amazed and appalled at the stereotypes professed within this thread as if they are somehow factual...

My description of the construction techniques commonly used by the members of various ethic groups in the Chicagoland area (ONLY) is factual, as any HI (or tradesman member of these ethnic groups) will testify. Sorry that this fact bothers you in some way. It is not intended (and is, in fact, not) a slam of these various ethinic groups. It just is.

Hope this helps;

[William J. Decker]

We are now, more and more, starting to see these type of problems in multiple wythe masonry buildings. Case study to follow:

4,200 SF "townhome" style building, built 4 years ago and sold for just over 2.3 mil. Lower, 1st and 2nd floors, with front and rear flat roofs, "roof decks" and a third floor penthouse with a flast roof. Client, originally, had me come out and look at water intrusion problems, water stains at wall / ceiling junctures on exterior walls, water stains on baseboards, mold formation in closets, etc.

Main problem was lack of flashing under stone parapet wall copings. This was fixed, and the client decided instead of hiring a GC to supervise the work, hired out, piecemeal, sub-contractors (drywall, insulation, roofing, trim, etc) to save money. The drywall guy took doen the ceiling drywall and found extensive water damage on the underside of the roof deck, and mushrooms growing on the trusses (the size of my hand).

The roofer, tearing off and replacing the roof decking, saw that the top chord of the roof trusses (top loaded) were all squishy and soft, so he just pried off the gussets and "replaced" the top chord. (FYI: NEVER modify an engineered truss. Leave it to a Structural Engineer. At least theyr E & O insurance is better!).

So, the client, finally, called me back and I called all the subs together and brought in an SE I know. ALL of the trusses at the rear of the building have to be replaced (and I will update).

Take away? Hire a good GC to supervise and coordinate the work. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

How is it to get put in your place by a Jew, Joe?

I am bad!

[Linas Dapkus]

I had one today that I've been to several times.(64 unit building, builder gone, bankrupt) Last time was for a roof scan that I found numerous leaks around roof drains and rooftop A/C units. Roof was repaired recently and that took care of some problems in one unit. This unit had a deck above the leaky ceiling and they caulked the masonry flashing and weeps because the water must have been coming in through the flashing and ruined the hardwood flooring. They have an engineering firm managing their repairs!!!!! I'll be back.

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by wdecker

My description of the construction techniques commonly used by the members of various ethic groups in the Chicagoland area (ONLY) is factual, as any HI (or tradesman member of these ethnic groups) will testify. Sorry that this fact bothers you in some way. It is not intended (and is, in fact, not) a slam of these various ethinic groups. It just is.

Hope this helps;

Please post those Facts that support and substantiate your assertions..

[Joseph Hagarty, CMI]

Originally Posted by jbraun

How is it to get put in your place by a Jew, Joe?

I am bad!

I guess you did not know
I am Jewish.

(problem with stereotypes)

My daughter will Bah Mitzvah
on December 10, 2011

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by jhagarty

Please post those Facts that support and substantiate your assertions..

Please read the previous posts. When the same event is observed, over and over again, this is a fact and is predictable to happen again.

When pretty much every (over 90%) house that the masons were Polish had oversanded mortar, and when pretty much every house that I have observed that had oversanded mortar was done by a Polish mason, that is a fact and it is very predictable. Please, understand, this is not "stereotyping" or pre-judging Polish masons, it is merely being descriptive of an observed fact.

I am sorry is the existence of reasonable predictability of certain groups of people's actions at certain times and under certain circumstances bothers your sense of what should be, but I didn't make the rules and can't change them. I am merely pointing out what is.

Hope this helps;

[Bob Elliott]

Upon entering I will from now on ask what ethnic and racial groups built the home and advice my clients to only buy property built by certain ethnic groups.

Had a bunch of Danes on the last one.
What should I do I do?

[Linas Dapkus]

The pollocks are known for s h i t t y masonry and Dryvit construction practices in the Chicago area. It's a known fact. They're either drunk, stupid, or don't know any better. Sad but true.

[William J. Decker]

Originally Posted by ldapkus1

The pollocks are known for s h i t t y masonry and Dryvit construction practices in the Chicago area. It's a known fact. They're either drunk, stupid, or don't know any better. Sad but true.

To be fair, it's the Irish that are, mostly, drunk, but usually only on Friday afternoons (and I say this with my maternal grandmother's name being McMahon).

Also, I am running into many Polish masons who are willing to learn new stuff, and they are building some great houses, after they are properly taught. Hard workers.

Also, I saw a house that was 4,800 SF, wooden framed with brick veneer, that was built right acros the street from me by 13 illegal Mexicans. They framed the house, from foundation to roof, in 3 1/2 days and it was the best framing job I have ever seen.

So, remember that stereotypes are not all bad.