Multiple jurisdictions in the Bay Area recently have adopted ordinances that totally ban (or severely limit) the use of gas-fired equipment in new construction. Some of these cities and towns currently have targeted only new residential housing while they continue to study how to implement similar bans for new commercial buildings. The greatly differing approaches…
Do you have HVAC or mechanical system questions? Don't miss out on this Q&A session where you can ask John Proctor, a nationally recognized expert in practical energy efficiency based on field studies and performance monitoring. He has recently retired from over 37 years as a contractor, building scientist, consultant, trainer, researcher, and has written…
Inspecting waterproofing systems over living areas is one of the critical areas of a property inspection, as even a minor leak can cause significant water related damage. There are many different types of products and systems, and it's important for inspectors to be familiar with them, and know what defects to look for. Neal Goulding…
Non-ductile reinforced concrete buildings, common in buildings from the 1970s and before, are prone to brittle behavior in parts of the building such as joints and columns. Local ordinances in Southern California are requiring retrofitting, and there are rumors that such ordinances are coming to Northern California in the near future. Structural Engineer David Bonowitz…
Wildfires have caused significant damage and loss of life in recent years, and in 2020 over 4 million acres burned 10,000 structures were destroyed. The 2017 Tubbs Fire showed that such fires are not limited to forested mountain areas. Dr. Steve Quarles is an expert in the performance of buildings exposed to wildland fire and…
With the limited housing availability in the Bay Area, Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as ADUs, have become a popular way to infill housing in an urban environment. Many cities are encouraging building backyard "granny flats" and the California Residential Code even has a new appendix for Tiny Houses. With their growing popularity, it is…
Decks have become popular over the last few decades, and as many of the older decks begin to fail, the codes have been significantly updated in an effort to address common defects. In addition, many homeowners build decks because they assume it's an easy DIY project. Finally, you add corrosion issues from new pressure treated…
With an aging population, that is more likely than previous generations to live at home, Living In Home Assessments could be a new auxiliary service for your home inspection business. "Living in Place" is the practice of making all homes accessible, healthy, safe, beautiful, regardless of age or needs. 5:30pm Login and Socialize Join a…
A critical part of a home inspection, is when to call for further evaluation by a structural engineer. Having a grasp on which conditions could be address prescriptively by a general contractor, and which conditions need a design professional to evaluate before repairs are made, is an invaluable skill for a home inspector. Thor Matteson,…
Keith Weber will be discussing Polycoat polyurethane roofing and his proprietary Ribit Green Neoprene Flashing and underlayment system. 5:30pm Pre-Meeting Chapter vice president Bret Butler will review conditions from a recent inspection (Attendees with earn an additional ASHI CE) 6:45pm Comment Review Brian Cogley, past president, will provide a report writing analysis using member-submitted comments to improve clarity and…