Michael's View: February 2009

Bubba and his band of bumbling buffoons

Living here in Music City, USA, we are privileged to have the opportunity to see many great country music legends and artists from the oldies like Porter Wagner and Roy Clark to the newer high energy youngsters like Travis Tritt or Keith Urban just to be a name dropper and drop a few myself.The country music artists that live in this area are real class acts and Nashville is not lacking in the number of talented musicians that accompany these named artists. One group that you certainly will not see in the top 10 but may be playing in a rehab in your town is Bubba and his band of bumbling buffoons.

You know these dolts. Although they may not play musical instruments, they certainly play havoc on your property and pocket book with all their whimsical inept repairs that typically include at least one roll of duct tape somewhere.

While inspecting a rehab here in “Twang Town”, Bubba and his boys really had fun with this installation of a range hood duct system. Yeah Buddy!!! Needless to say, as long as these boys are playing on the main venue, there will be plenty of blog fodder for this “good ‘ol boy”.


Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)


If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter
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9 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 24 2009 06:04PM

My Name is Bond...

My name is Bond. Although I am not as famous as my counter part, James, I can just as deadly as any of 007's gadgets or his beloved 7.65mm Walther PPK. No I am not in Her Majesties' service, nor do I have the opportunity to see exotic places, kiss the pretty babes or hobnob with the rich and famous like James. No, I am stuck at home and put in the position to protect you and your loved ones from potential danger and even death. My name is Bond - Panel Bond.

My purpose is entirely for safety/emergency purposes only. I am never to be used to carry current during normal operations.

In the event of electrical mishaps, static discharges, lightning strikes, etc., I am here to provide a better path to ground than you. And, we all know that it only takes a small amount of current to stop your heart.

That being said, I can only work to serve and protect you if I am installed correctly. In this electric panel in a new construction property in Brentwood, TN., not only did the licensed electrician fail to install this item properly, but the codes department did not catch the missing bond screw as well. Can we say OOPSIE!.

Many folks forgo the formality of having new homes inspected because it has been inspected by codes. Right? A good thorough home inspection is just another set of eyes to ensure quality control. All homes - new or experienced need to be inspected. Need I say more?


Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)


If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter
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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

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30 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 24 2009 05:38AM

Speechless Sunday... The Door Stop


If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter
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17 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 22 2009 05:49AM

Photo of the Day - What the...

It has often been said that the last thing that goes through a bug's mind as it impales itself on your windshield is its... Well you know. I kinda wonder if the same thing was going through this workman's mind while he/she was installing this smoke detector in a fairly new constructed property in an upscale area of Franklin, TN? BTW it was functional...

Can we say C'est la Vie?


Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)


If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter
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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

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31 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 21 2009 05:42AM

Are You a Stripper?

It is not unusual for older properties to lack an adequate number of outlets to meet todays appliance demands. Years ago, there were not the "modern" connivance appliances like microwaves, plasma TV's and the like. However, as appliances are added to meet the demands of today's lifestyles, the typical solution for most home owners are ganged outlets or computer power strips. Although these are fine for low current applications, they are not designed for high current appliances like refrigerators or washing machines. .

While inspecting an "experienced" property in the east Nashville, TN area the other day, I saw several of these computer strips used to run appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves and washing machines. Along with these appliances, were also connections to lamps, toasters and what have you. Use of these strips for these applications are potential fire hazards.

I know that it is far cheaper to purchase a $10 power strip to meet demands v/s $150-$200 to have an electrician to install a new circuit, but is the potential for a fire worth it? Smoke, water, and fire damage along with loss of use of your property far exceeds this cost. Keep this in mind before you decide to become a stripper...

Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)


If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter
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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

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13 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 19 2009 06:15AM

Some Shortcuts Can Be Safety Hazards or Downright Deadly...

Remember when we were kids and often took a shortcut through the neighbors yard to get somewhere? Sometimes we would get in trouble for doing it especially if we were not careful and stepped Mrs. Jones' flower bed. However some shortcuts can be safety hazards or down right deadly.

While inspecting a property in the Franklin, TN area, I came across a rather unusual situation. As part of our test for the furnace, we are required to throw the electrical shut-off on the furnace/air handling unit to ensure that in the event of an emergency or while the unit is being serviced, the unit will be de-energized to prevent potential injury to the service technician. This switch can be used as an emergency shut down. This safety feature is required for all residential homes in the Davidson Metro, Williamson and surrounding counties of Middle TN.

The safety switch is generally located on the side of the air handler/furnace although it can be located elsewhere usually within 6 feet of the unit. Most homeowners do not know that this switch even exists. However, for your own personal safety, you should know the location or the location of the breaker that provides power to your unit.

Getting back to the shortcut... Well it appears as if there may have been a problem with the switch, and the service technician, instead of installing a $1.59 switch, decided to bypass it. Who's to know? The homeowner just wanted the furnace to work. The sad thing is that this short cut probably cost the customer a service call of $75.00 plus parts...



If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Your building consultants for life...

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5 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 15 2009 07:05PM

Speechless Sunday...



Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat weekend... 8-)


If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Your building consultants for life...

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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

Large enough for excellent service... Small enough to care...
9 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 15 2009 05:06AM

Photo of the Day ~ Getting That Sinking Feeling...

Older, "experienced" properties like older "experienced" people have a lot of baggage. As I tell my clients, older, experienced houses are what they are. Although not perfect, they certainly have stood the test of time. However; many repairs to older properties do not.

It is not uncommon to see rehabbers or less than desirable tradesmen cut corners and put "band aids" on structural issues that are only temporary "fixes" because they do not want to spend the money for proper repairs. Heaven forbid that that they might loose a little profit. Thin solid core blocks laid on the ground are no match for the tons of weight being applied by screw jacks. Equate this to a women walking across soft ground in high heels. Gravity and time will take their toll, and the only fix is to get someone out to do it right.

I explained to my client that because the repair was under a main support beam, an adequately sized bearing pad needed to have been installed before these supports were installed. A professional would have installed a solid steel or block bearing point - not a home improvement store screw jack on this pad. Depending upon the building jurisdiction, typically an 18x18 pad will suffice. However, ALWAYS check with your local building department, as their requirements will vary. Professional contractors who know what they are doing will know what is appropriate.

Most new home owners are trusting souls and they rely on the professionals that are doing the work. They trust that they are doing it right. My advice is to always check the qualifications of the tradesmen who are working for you and get a licensed professional to do your home inspections.

Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)

If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Your building consultants for life...

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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

Large enough for excellent service... Small enough to care.
11 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 07 2009 05:28PM

Photo of the Day ~ At a Loss For Words...

Lordy, Just when you think you have seen it all, someone comes up with a new wrinkle or a new application for products we use in our everyday lifes. While inspecting an upper end property in the Franklin, TN area, the prospective home owner and I were checking out the cabinets and much to our surprise, we found this interesting little diddy. Never in all my days of inspecting, have I seen cabinet doors held in place with velcro strips. Certainly one for the books and a good laugh.

Goes to show you that even high end houses have issues and they need to be inspected.

Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)

If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Your building consultants for life...

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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

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25 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 07 2009 06:31AM

Photo of the Day ~ Inventions I Wish Had Not Been...

Lordy, I wish that some things had not been invented. It was not uncommon for older homes to have limited circuits and outlet so these so called "circuit" expanders were invented to add more loads to already overloaded situations.

A funny thing happened on my way to the attic...

While inspecting an experienced property in the Franklin, TN area, I ran across one of these modern inventions in the attic. I was wondering why the pole lamp in the front yard was not working. Come to find out, the pole lamp was plugged into the adapter and run through the attic to the lamp in the front yard.

I had to scratch my head on this one because when I pulled the chain, the outside light worked. Sigh... I am sure that the one thing that my clients did not want to do is to lower the attic ladder every time they needed to turn on the outside light. Talk about non compos mentis...

My advice to folks purchasing older homes is to get it inspected by qualified home inspectors.

Wishing all my fellow drips and tweeps a G-r-r-r-reat day... 8-)

If you or someone you know is purchasing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Your building consultants for life...

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© 2009 michael thornton | complete home inspections, inc. | brentwood, tn | 615.661.0297 | www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com

Large enough for excellent service... Small enough to care.
10 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • February 06 2009 07:07PM