Contributors, Consultants, & Affiliates

for InspectApedia - the Building & Building Environment Encyclopedia

Contributors, Consultants & Technical Reviewers

In addition to individual contributors who are listed on specific articles at InspectAPedia.com, the people listed below are prime contributors of either original article content or technical review of articles found at this website.

Some of these experts have been providing technical review, commentary, or content found at InspectApedia for more than twenty years. A few of them have passed away.

InspectApedia.com Contributing Authors & Consultants

• Dr. Jess Aronstein, protune@aol.com is a research consultant and an electrical engineer in Schenectady, NY. Dr. Aronstein provides forensic engineering services and independent laboratory testing for various agencies. Dr. Aronstein has published widely on and has designed and conducted tests on aluminum wiring failures, Federal Pacific Stab-Lok electrical equipment, and numerous electrical products and hazards.
  
  Contact: J. AronsteinConsulting Engineer Bme, Msme, Ph.D., NYS. P.E. Lic. No. 39860, 909 Londonderry Ct., Schenectady, NY 12309 USA, Tel: (845) 462-6452 Email: AronsteinJesse@ieee.org
  
  At this website: electrical safety Information for homeowners, inspectors, and electricians, and industry professionals to which Dr. Aronstein has contributed include
  
  See ALUMINUM WIRING BIBLIOGRAPHY and HAZARDOUS FPE CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND PANELS - 2024 [PDF] independent research article by Jess Aronstein, supercedes older FPE hazard reports by this author.
  
  FEDERAL PIONEER PANEL SAFETY and FPE HAZARD ARTICLES, STUDIES, and BACK-WIRED ELECTRICAL DEVICES also CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES and UBI FPE CIRCUIT BREAKER TEST RESULTS also ZINSCO FAILURE REPORTS.
  
  Also see HOT CONNECTIONS, The Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire, Aluminum Wiring and the Myth of the Self-Regulating Industry [link to books at Amazon], by Jesse Aronstein, Ph.D., P.E., available at Amazon or by a web-search for book "hot connections aluminum wire"

  Introduction excerpt:
  
  The catastrophic fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky in 1977 resulted in 165 fatalities. More than 2,000 people were there, many to hear John Davidson sing, some just for dinner, and others for a variety of functions including meetings and a wedding reception. This fire ranks high among the major civilian fire losses of the 20th century.
  
  Six years before the deadly fire, at about the same time that some aluminum wiring was being installed in the club, a Vice President of Southwire, one of the aluminum wire manufacturers, wrote:
  
  A genuine crisis exists in our industry, of a magnitude that jeopardizes the entire aluminum conductor market and the life and property of consumers.
  
  This is the story of how that came to be, and how - if at all - it was resolved. The factual foundation is built primarily on information that surfaced in the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire litigation. Therefore, it is appropriate that this book be dedicated to the memory of those who perished and to the thousands whose lives were forever changed by that disaster.
  
  Also see Aronstein, J., P.E. Ph.D., ELECTRO KINDLING: Easily-Ignited Free-Burning Plastic Materials in Electrical Applications [PDF] (1996)
  
  Excerpt: The use of highly combustible plastics in the construction of today's electrical products is increasing. This is a major trend backward in fire safety. Minor electrical failures aer more likely to cause serious fires when easily-ignited free-burning plastic materials are close at hand.
  
  Fire and safety professionals should understand how easily these "electro-kindling" materials ignite and how vigorously they burn.
  
  This article discusses several examples covering a broad rangee of electrical products. Older samples of most electrical items are made of non-combustible or self-extinguishing materials.
  
  Today, many electrical products that used to simply "burn out" (become non-functional) on failure will now "burn up" (ignite) on failure because they aer made with electro-kindling. - Illustrated below

• Ralph Arlyck, Timed Exposures, Tivoli, NY. Mr. Arlyck is a documentary film maker and producer/director of Timed Exposures, an independent film production company, Timed Exposures has produced more than a dozen critically-acclaimed documentaries which span a broad spectrum of subjects.
  
  These films have been broadcast widely in the United States and Europe, and have won top prizes at American and international festivals. Email: ralph@timedexposures.com
• Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
  
  Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
  
  Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
• Jon Bolton, an ASHI, FABI, and otherwise certified Florida home inspector is a frequent contributor on HVAC topics
• Bottini Fuel service manager Ron Thomas, aquastat functions, low limit controls, oil burner short cycling causes, and boiler maintenance, reliability, and service contracts. Bottini service technicians including Bob have discussed contemporary oil and LP gas heating system servicing, maintenance & repair.
  
  Bottini Fuel is a residential and commercial heating oil distributor and oil heat service company in Wappingers Falls, NY and with offices in other New York locations. Bottini Fuel, 2785 W Main St, Wappingers Falls NY, 12590-1576 (845) 297-5580 more contact information for Bottini Fuel
  
  Anthony Alaggio can be contacted through Bottini Fuel (Hudson Valley, NY) or directly for HVAC service at 914-489-0632. Email: crackin95vtec@yahoo.com Special thanks to Mr. Alaggio, an HVAC service technician for technical suggestions regarding oil heat troubleshooting 4/12/2013.
  
• Alan Bown, Certified IAEI Electrical Inspector, Email: drangd@gmail.com  Mr. Bown contributes electrical inspection and electrical failure commentary from decades of field experience, particularly in electrical plan and permit reviews, commercial electrical system inspections and electrical grounding problems. See his comments at AFCIs ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS  and   CHALLENGER ELECTRIC PANELS and ELECTRICAL PANEL AGE and at ELECTRICAL GROUNDING in OLD HOUSES
• Scott Bradley is Laboratory Director for Aquacheck Laboratory, Inc. PO Box 87 05151 1-800-263-9596. A more brief version of this article appeared in Aquacheck Laboratory's Water Wisdom Tips and Newsletter, Issue # 6, 2007. www.Aquacheck-VT.com offers other water supply tips in its Water Wisdom section. The laboratory also provides water test kits and offers a free newsletter.
• Charles Buell, Charles Buell Inspections, Inc., 17123 22nd Ave. NE, Shoreline WA 98155 Email: charles@buellinspections.com Website: www.buellinspections.com Tel: 208-478-7371
  
  Mr. Buell is a licensed home inspector in Washington State, a licensed structural pest inspector, an ASHI Member, a member of ASHI's technical committee, a member of the WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board, and serves as adjunct faculty at Bellingham Technical College. He has assisted with the content of InspectApedia.com including RELIEF VALVE, TP VALVE TEST.
• David W. Carrier, electrical engineer, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-430-7527 davidwcarrier@earthlink.net.
  
  Mr. Carrier has conducted failures testing on electrical circuit breakers and panel asssemblies, supplementing Dr. Jes Aronstein's research into FPE and other circuit breaker performance of other brands such as GE, ITE, Murray, Siemens, Bulldog Pushmatic, Zinsco.
  
  See CIRCUIT BREAKER FAILURE RATES
• Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional HOME INSPECTION SERVICES,        HOME INSPECTION TRAINING,        Horizon INSPECTION SOFTWARE    &    PUBLICATIONS. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home.


Alan Carson is a frequent contributor of technical content and technical review of articles at InspectApedia.com


• Jennifer Church, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. advises InspectApedia on clarity and coherence of content in both written and illustrated material. She is partner with the website Editor/Publisher, D. Friedman.

• Countable Web Productions, Canada. Countable does not provide address or other direct contact information but does offer a CONTACT form . To obtain Countable's on-page Comment Box web page code and installation help see this
  
  HTML COMMENT BOX INSTALL page
  
  Countable Web Productions is a Canadian website tool developer, provides "HTML Comment Box", an on-page Comment Box code and support that permits InspectApedia.com readers to post comments, questions, suggestions, and images at our website. We have made modest financial contributions to Countable and are particularly indebted to Countable founder Clark Van Oyen and to developer Justin Carretas.
  
  Comment Box is now also available through Bawkbox, a website widget provider.
• Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a home inspector in Tampa Florida, and home inspection educator.
  
  Mr. Cramer served ASHI and the profession in many capacitines including on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards and other committees. He is a frequent contributor to and occasional reviewer of articles at InspectApedia.com. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
  
  
• John Cranor [Website: /www.house-whisperer.com ] is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-873-8534 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
  
  See CLOTHES DRYER FIRE HAZARD WARNINGS for an example.
  
  
• Thomas J. D'Agostino, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779. Tel: 631-467-4663, Cell: 631-831-2076, EmailL tdagosti@aol.com. Mr. D'Agostino is a licensed professional engineer, a professional home inspector, an ASHI member, and is a contributor to InspectApedia.com, e.g. at COPPER-CLAD ALUMINUM WIRE. Mr. Tom D'Agostino was employed at Underwriters Laboratories from 1969 to 1996 and spent a decade and a half studying and testing the safety of aluminum electrical wiring.
• Paul DeBaggis is a building inspector and certified building code official with special interest in the history of and standards for wood products. (The American Wood Standards Committee).
  
  Mr. DeBaggis has served in the Easton MA. Building Department since 2002 , has worked as a building trades instructor, and also writes about land use regulations, building regulations, and standards. He is a past president of Southeastern Mass. Building Officials and is currently writing a book on the Massachusetts building code. Email: paul@jenick.net - also see ROOF FRAMING TIES & BEAMS
• Bob Fankhauser <blueboxconst@hevanet.com>, 503 206 9824 Cell, a retired engineer / professional handyman and Habitat for Humanity volunteer who offered comments, suggestions, additions for vinyl CLTE (Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion), CPVC, PVC, cellular PVC, and vinyl (25 Feb 20-16) as well as helpful discussion concerning the wide variation in coefficients of expansion of materials given by various sources. See THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS and VINYL SIDING BUCKLED WARPED.
• Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
• Paul Galow [Website galowconsulting.com ] - technical consultant on networking, LAN design, applications support. Galow Consulting Services [Website galowconsulting.com ] , 914-204-1749, email: paulgalow@galowconsulting.com
• Mara and Andy Gieseke, Tucson AZ, are contributors to InspectAPedia.com including photographs used at SIDING EIFS & STUCCO, CONTROL JOINT CRACKS in CONCRETE and ROT, FUNGUS, TERMITES, and are family members of website publisher Daniel Friedman.
• David Goldstein - contributor and technical reviewer. Mr. Goldstein is a principal of Ambic Home Inspection in Downingtown, PA  19335 Tel: 610-269-7365. A member of NAHI, and also of ASHI since 1986, Mr. Goldstein has served as a National Officer in ASHI and on the Board of Directors, as well as President of two different chapters, and on professional committees such as ASHI Standards.
  
  David Goldstein is a New Jersey Licensed Building Inspector and Plumbing Inspector, Construction Official and Sub-Code Official and formerly licensed as a Fire Protection Inspector.  He is also a state certified Pest Control Operator and Radon Measurement Technician. Mt. Goldstein also serves as course director for BICI, Building Inspector's Career Institute.
• David Grudzinski, Advantage Home Inspections, ASHI cert # 249089, HUD cert# H-145, is a professional home inspector who contributes on various topics including structural matters.
  David Grudzinski, Cranston RI serving both Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut can be reached at 401-935-6547 fax- 401-490-0607 or by email to Davidgrudzinski@aol.com
  
  Mr. Grudzinski is a regular contributor to InspectAPedia.com - see BURIED OIL TANKS, OUTDOOR CLUES and DECK BOARD GAPS & SPACING and DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study, and BASEMENT WATER MOLD IMPACT HORIZONTAL FOUNDATION CRACKS and VERMICULITE INSULATION and SPHERICAL OIL STORAGE TANKS - the HORTON SPHERE and STONE FOUNDATION DEFECTS and TERMITE SIGNS INDOORS and OIL TANKS for examples.
• Roger Hankey is principal of Hankey and Brown Inspections, Winter Park, CO. Mr. Hankey is a past chairman of the ASHI Standards Committee and served in other ASHI chapter and national leadership roles. Mr. Hankey is a National Radon Proficiency Program certified measurement professional and a Level II infrared thermographer. Contact Roger Hankey at: 970-393-6604 - rogerhankey47@gmail.com . Website: www.HankeyandBrown.com
  
  Mr. Hankey is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com. See AIR HANDLER DUST CONTAMINATION, and ATTIC INSULATION MISSING and BUILDING INSPECTION SURPRISE PROVES NEED for SCOPE, and CONDENSING GAS FURNACE INSPECTION & TESTS, and CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS, and HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATOR FIRE, and others.
• Timothy Hemm, CREIA MCI, ASHI, ICC Certified Inspector, is a professional home inspector in Redlands, California and is a contributor to InspectApedia.com. Mr. Hemm can be contacted at (951)543-3501, timhemm@yahoo.com or tlhinspector@gmail.com , Website: www.homeinspectioninredlandsca.net
• Jay Hodgens,P.E., Hodgens Engineering Service, Rapid City, SD 57702. Email: james@hodgens.net, for assistance with links and references to regulations regarding underground storage tanks as well as comments on other topics.
  
  Jay Hodgens has been licensed as a professional engineer in eight states and has developed over 450 SPCC plans in compliance with regulations in twelve states. Mr. Hodgens can be reached at 845-496-0494 or in South Dakota at 605-350-4367. His proposed amendments to US EPA 40 CFR part 112 can be read at http://www.hodgens.net/hes/10-07comments.pdf. 4/1/2013. Mr. Hodgens is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com. [Bad website link removed 2024/01/24]
• Claudia Hudson, Asheville NC, Tel: 828-252-0644 Email: claudiahudson@charter.net . Ms. Hudson is an SEO copyrighter / content writer. She has provided background research and text for InspectApedia's articles on deck and porch construction methods & procedures. April 2013.
• Anish R. Jantrania, Mark A. Gross. Anish Jantrania, Ph.D., P.E., M.B.A., is a Consulting Engineer, in Mechanicsville VA, 804-550-0389 (2006), Advanced Onsite Wastewater Systems Technologies. Outstanding technical reference especially on alternative septic system design alternatives.
• Joshmar, Marcus, Melbourne, Australia
  See HARDBOARD & MASONITE USED in WORKS OF ART - Use of HDF & MDF in the E.U., Germany, Australia, & other and see HISTORY of MASONITE HARDBOARD in AUSTRALIA - including works of art
• The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for some articles at this website. All rights and contents of those materials are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
• Dov Ber Kahn, a home inspector in Rockland County, NY has contributed photographs of various building features to InspectApedia. Mr. Kahn is a licensed home inspector in New York and New Jersey, and can be reached at Website: Kahnbhomeinspectors, Tel: 845-445-8234, Email: kdovber@googlemail.com
  
  See BRICK VENEER WALL DAMAGE ASSESSMENT and LOG CONSTRUCTION and also VINYL SIDING BURIED at WALL BOTTOM and also CORROSION & MOISTURE SOURCES in PANELS and BLACK or GREEN ALGAE STAINS on ROOFS and Buckled, wavy, or CURLING ASPHALT SHINGLES and also see Dov's copper shingle roof photos at COPPER SHINGLE METAL ROOFING and also DECK COLLAPSE Case StudyDECK COLLAPSE Case Study and also SWIMMING POOL SOLAR HEAT, OUTDOOR DIAGNOSIS and MODULAR HOME CONSTRUCTION for examples of his contributions to InspectApedia.com. Recent additions: CLAY HOLLOW TILE CONSTRUCTION and COLUMNS & POSTS, DEFECTS and at EFFLORESCENCE REMOVAL & PREVENTION and also at PIER FOUNDATION PROBLEMS and in 2023: ELECTRICAL CONDUIT DEFECTS & DAMAGE and also DECK BEAM CONSTRUCTION and then BASEMENT STAIRS and also I-JOISTS, WOOD ROOF, FLOOR and now also DECK LEDGER BOARDS and recently at GREASE INTERCEPTORS TRAPS and at SEWER / SEPTIC PIPE CAMERAS and more-recently at PLUMBING VENT DEFECTS & NOISES and at BURIED / UNDERGROUND OIL TANK (UST), LOCATION METHODS and also LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS
• William King, US CPSC Director of Electrical Engineering (Retired). Mr. King assisted InspectApedia with information about aluminum electrical wiring hazards and Federal Pacific Electric Company Stab-Lok circuit breaker and panel hazards, CPSC history, and related information available under FOIA.
• Kenneth Kruger, RA, PE, HI Kruger Kruger Albenberg 67 Grozier Road Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel: 617.661.3812 kkruger@members.asce.org . Ken Kruger is a registered architect and a licensed professional engineer who contributed to professional education and technical research in ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, in published material at InspectApedia.com and in other venues.
• Michael W. Litchfield, Mike is a contributor to InspectApedia.com on subjects relating to home restoration, renovation, and construction. He has written nine books on home design, construction and renovation. Excerpting from Amazon.com
  
  Michael Litchfield, a founding editor of "Fine Homebuilding" magazine, has been renovating homes or writing about them for almost 40 years. He was one of the first technical journalists to go to job sites to gather information from tradespeople. Litchfield's recent title, "In-laws, Outlaws and Granny Flats" was named one of the "10 Best Design Books for 2011." Two of Mr. Litchfield's current works include:
  RENOVATION 4th EDITION: Completely Revised and Updated, [at Amazon] Taunton Press; 4th ed. (2012), ISBN-10: 1600854923ISBN-13: 978-1600854927. Review for home inspectors - prior edition: Renovation, A Complete Guide, 2nd Ed. [PDF] IN-LAWS, OUTLAWS, and GRANNY FLATS: Your Guide to Turning One House into Two Homes, [at Amazon] Taunton Press (2011) ISBN-10: 1600852513 ISBN-13: 978-1600852510
• Bob Maltempo, P.E. was a licensed professional engineer who performed building inspections and flood damage inspections in Hauppage, New York. We regret to inform readers that Mr. Maltempo passed away on 8 September 2008. Mr. Maltempo was with Cashin Associates in Hauppage Long Island in New York.
• Scott C. LeMarr is a contributor on HVAC topics and provided his file of keys to decode Furnace and Water Heater Age from the data provided on the manufacturer's equipment labels. Mr. LeMarr is a professional home inspector, Certified Professional Inspector/President, MASTER Indoor Environmental Specialist (MIES). Vice President of Wisconsin NACHI. He and his company, Honest Home Inspections [ Website: www.HonestHomeInspections.com ], LLC. can be reached at 262-424-5587 or by email to scott@honesthomeinspections.com
• Mary Margaret Minnis, Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems, Bennette D. Burks, Hogarth House 1994 - one of the best septic system books around, suffering a bit from small fonts and a weak index. While it contains some material more technical than needed by homeowners, Burks/Minnis book on onsite wastewater treatment systems a very useful reference for both property owners and septic system designers.
• Mark Morsching, Everflashing, 1715 Howard St. N., Saint Paul, MN 55109, 800-550-1667 , Email: everflashing@gmail.com. The Everflashing product comes in G-185 and Stainless Steel and is intended for use with treated lumber with copper in it.
  
  Everflashing produces a variety of specialty flashing products including flashings for use with decks at deck ledgers and deck perimeters. Mr. Morsching advises on deck and porch construction and use of PVC, synthetic, and composite building products. E.g.: Deck Flashing at Building.
• Don Norman is a professional home inspector in St. Louis MO, an ASHI member, and has served as chair of ASHI's Education Committee and as ASHI President. Mr. Norman can be contacted at Don Norman Buyers Protection Group Bridgeton, MO 63044 800-285-7006 314-291-5558 Cell: 314-504-0153, Website: http://www.bpgwi.com. Mr. Norman is an occasional commentator at InspectApedia.com and has added safety comments in the FAQs at AGE of HEATERS, BOILERS, FURNACES
• Kevin OMalley, Home Owners Network [removed bad link 2021/01/24] , Canton Georgia, Mr. OMalley is a past president OF CREIA, the California Real Estate Inspection Association, a past Board Member of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and was founder of Inspection Trainiing Associates, the first licensed home inspection schools in the nation. Mr. OMalley is currently Director of Membership for Home Owners Network, the only live technical support service for home owners. Contact Kevin OMalley at: 760-497-7742 komalley@homeownersnetwork.com
• Arlene Puentes [Website: www.octoberhome.com ] , an ASHI member and a licensed home inspector in Kingston, NY, holds five International Code Council Certifications, New York State DOS Certified Code Enforcement Official, ASHI Member 210232, NYS Home Inspector License No. 16000095212and has served on ASHI national committees (Bylaws, Standards), as well as HVASHI Chapter President. Ms. Puentes can be contacted at ap@octoberhome.com She is a frequent technical contributor to InspectApedia.com. See examples of Ms. Puentes' contributions of technical review, commentary and photographs found
  at BUILDING INSPECTION TECHNIQES - ABOVE GROUND OUTDOOR OIL TANKS - ABOVE GROUND OIL TANK WATER ENTRY - ADVANCED INSPECTION METHODS
  - ANTIQUE & OLD LOG CABINS - ATTIC MOISTURE or MOLD - AVOID SEPTIC DYE POWDER CATASTROPHY
  - BLOCK FOUNDATION & WALL DEFECTS - BUILDING DEFECTS LISTS - BRICK LINED WALLS - BRICK VENEER WALL AIR LEAKS
  - CHIMNEY MOVEMENT, ONGOING vs STATIC - CHIMNEY WET TIME & CORROSION - (Chimney) UNLINED FLUE INSPECTIONS
  - CRACKS CHECKS SPLITS in BEAMS, LOGS & POSTS - - CRAWL SPACES - CRAWL SPACE ACCESS - DECK STAIR BUILDING START - DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS
  - DRIP EDGE FLASHING for ROOFS - - DUAL OIL TANKS PIPING - ELECTRICAL CODE BASICS - ELECTRICAL GROUNDING in OLD HOUSES - ELECTRIC SHOWER HEATERS
  - FEDERAL NOARK PANELS - FEDERAL PIONEER ELECTRIC PANEL IDENTIFY - FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD
  - FPE PANEL AGE MATTERS? - FPE PANEL COVERS Stab-Lok® - FPE & FP IDENTIFICATION, HOW TO
  - GAS FIRED WATER HEATER VENTING CODES - - HOME INSPECTION ETHICAL CODES - HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT
  - HUD RENOVATION & 203K HOMES - INSULATE HOT WATER TANK? - INSULATION R-VALUE, SOLID LOG WALL
  - Lennox PULSE FURNACE SAFETY FAQs - Lennox PULSE FURNACE SAFETY WARNING - LICHENS on ROOFS
  - MOLD KILLING GUIDE - MOLD ATLAS & PARTICLES INDEX - MOSS on ROOFS -
  - OIL TANKS - OIL TANK FILL & VENT PIPING INSPECTION CHECKLIST - OIL TANK INSPECTION & TROUBLESHOOTING
  - OIL TANK GAUGE ACCURACY - OIL TANK GAUGES - OIL TANK LEAK POINTS - OIL TANK LEAKS & SMELLS - OIL TANK LEAK / FAILURE CAUSES - OIL TANK PIPING & PIPING DEFECTS
  - OIL TANK SLUDGE - OIL TANK SUPPORT - - R-VALUES & THERMAL MASS in LOG HOMES
  - RELIEF VALVE, TP VALVE TEST
  - SEPTIC FAILURE SPOTS - STAIR RISER HEIGHT FAQs - STAIR CODES & STANDARDS
  - SEALANTS CAULKS COATINGS for LOG HOMES - SHRINKAGE & HEIGHT CHANGES, LOG WALL
  - SNAG HAZARDS on STAIRWAYS - SPLINE GAPS & GASKET OMISSIONS
  - STAIR TREAD DIMENSIONS - STAIR TREAD NOSE SPECIFICATIONS - STAIR RISER HEIGHT FAQs - STEEL COLUMNS INSPECTION [article lost]
  - TUNDISH used in PLUMBING - VERTICAL FOUNDATION CRACKS - WATER HEATER TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENT CONTROLS
  - WATER ODOR TREATMENTS, CURES, SULPHUR - WATER ODOR DIAGNOSIS - WATER SMELLS or ODORS, OTHER
  - WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE - WATER STAINING CONTAMINANTS -
  
• Paul Probett, Clinton Craig, Blake Probett, Incodo Ltd, 4/511 Cameron Rd, Tauranga NZ, Email: Paul Probett, mail2us@incodo.co.nz , Tel: 027 28 000 36 (Mobile) Website: https://www.incodo.co.nz/
  
  Mr. Probett and his firm Incodo have contributed technical & forensic engineering content & critique to InspectApedia including their research into micro-drilling for in-situ timber & beam rot & damage assessment - WOOD STRUCTURE ASSESSMENT,
  
  Paul Probett, Ph: 0064 7 578 7499 - Office, Post: Incodo Ltd, Box 8202, Cherrywood, Tauranga, New Zealand, is a building expert who has also addressed building moisture investigations, UFFI insulation, and urea formaldehyde outgassing in buildings - FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS. Also see THERMAL IMAGING, THERMOGRAPHY.
• Runeberg, Ulrik, STAINING AND MICROBIOLOGICAL INFESTATION OF ACRYLIC PAINTINGS ON HARDBOARD [PDF] (2008), Ulrik Runeberg, Conservator (Dipl. Rest./M.A.), Restaurierungszentrum der Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, Germany, Email: Rune-Ulrik@gmx.de Previously Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan Presented, April 2007 conference in Richmond Virginia, sponsored by the AIC (American Institute for Conservation), this paper discusses the staining and microbial infestation of acrylic paintings on hardboard. - private correspondence, ER <->DF 2020/01/05 - 2006/09/12.
  
  in AIC Paintings Specialty Group Postprints, American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Vol. 20, 2008, original source: https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/periodicals/paintings-specialty-group-postprints-vol-20-2007.pdf
  ABSTRACT
  
  Hardboard served as a common and popular support for many modem and contemporary paintings. Some artists considered hardboard to be a stable, light and economic alternative to solid wood panels and other rigid supports, whereas others rejected the processed and compressed wood fibre boards as an inferior industrial construction material oflow aesthetical value.
  
  See PAINT FAILURE, DIAGNOSIS, CURE, PREVENTION and also see HARDBOARD & MASONITE USED in WORKS OF ART - Use of HDF & MDF in the E.U., Germany, Australia, & other
• Isabel Sanchez Luna is an engineer who studied environmental enginnering at the University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. Ms. Sanchez-Luna interned at water and wastewater treatment facilities, has worked as a consulting environmental engineer at livestock abbatoir facilities (pig slaughterhouse) in Penjamo, Mexico, and is presently employed as an engineer in the automotive industry.
  
  She has assisted in air and water quality studies & reports conducted under the aegis of InspectApedia.com beginning in 2012. Ms. Sanchez can be contacted through the website editor using the CONTACT links found on our web pages.
• Michael D. Shaw, Interscan Corporation, 4590 Ish Drive #110, Simi Valley CA 93063, USA Tel: 800-458-6153, Website: www.gasdetection.com Email: info@gasdetection.com Interscan is a provider of gas monitoring instruments designed for 21 environmental gases. The company provides gas detection instruments and record-keeping software custom-tailored to the needs of their customers.
  
  Mr. Shaw has contributed comment and opinion on gas detection and gas detection instruments discussed at InspectApedia.com, for example by corresponding with us and commenting on
  FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS and GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS and COLORIMETRIC GAS DETECTION TUBES
• James P. Simmons: 3/4/2006, 2/19/2008. Photographs contributed to this website by Jim P. Simmons, Mr. Electric, Licensed Master Electrician, 1320 Dayton Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501, 360-705-4225, Fax 360-705-0130 or by email to mrelectricoly@msn.com. Mr. Simmons is a technical contributor to InspectAPedia.com.
• Steve Smallman, Raleigh, NC, Email: steve@stevesmallman.com, Website: http://stevesmallman.com/ Tel: 919-669-3639 -
  
  Quoting: Steve Smallman Property Inspections (SSPI) inspectors have performed or supervised over 25,000 inspections since we introduced home inspections to the Triangle area in 1980. Mr. Smallman, located in Raleigh N.C., is a contributor to InspectApedia.com and has commented on or provided information on plumbing traps, electrical wiring, commercial FPE electrical panels and DIY Tests of FPE equipment, roofing underlayment, and building exteriors.
• Lawrence Transue is a Pennsylvania building scientist and consultant, a certified ASHI home inspector, a Licensed Pesticide Applicator, a BPI Building Analyst & Envelope Professional, with 18 Years of Home Inspection Experience. He can be reached by Telephone: 610.417.0763, by Email: lawrence@lawrencetransue.com as well as at his WEBSITE and at FACEBOOK.
  
  Mr. Transue is a frequent contributor to InspectAPedia.com. See some of Larry's contributions to InspectApedia.com at at ELECTRIC HEAT DEFECTS LIST and at FRANK ADAM ELECTRICAL PANELS and OIL TANK, BURIED, ADVICE and at COPPER-CLAD ALUMINUM WIRE and at ATTIC & ANTIQUE EXPANSION TANKS, HEATING and at MINERAL WOOL - ROCK WOOL INSULATION and at RADIATORS for ROOM HEAT and at SEPTIC TANKS, STEEL and SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES and ELECTRICAL PANEL FUSED NEUTRAL WIRE HAZARDS and HYDRONIC HEAT LOOPS on STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS and at TYPE L VENT CHIMNEYS and at BALSAM WOOL BATT INSULATION and at LOW VOLTAGE BUILDING WIRING (Lutron low voltage lighting in Pennsylvania).
  COPPER CLAD ALUMINUM WIRE
• Roman Tymchenko & Matan Korin, ecoLine Windows & Doors, 10905 48 St SE, Unit 151, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2C 1G8, Tel: +1 (866) 351 4096 Web: https://www.ecolinewindows.ca/ Email: hi.roman.tymchenko@gmail.com
  
  ecoLine has offices in a dozen locations in Canada in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and has sales representatives in other locations in Western Canada including Kelowna, Victoria and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, and in Vancouver BC. See the authors' contribution at DOORS, EXTERIOR FIBERGLASS vs STEEL
• Clark Van Oyen, Countable Web Productions - Cloud services design consultant for InspectApedia.com and to the public. Email: clark@countable.ca Mr. Van Oyen has assisted Inspectapedia.com with responsive website design, mobile website design features, and website performance and tuning.
• Eric Van De Ven, Coconut Creek, Fl 33066 - (954) 340 6615, a South Florida home inspector, former ASHI and NACHI member, current IHINA (Independent Home Inspectors of North America). ev@magnuminspections.com
• Steven T. Vermilye was a home inspector and general contractor who grew up in Westchester County, went to college in Texas and settled in New Paltz in 1971.
  
  Steve died on June 19th, 2001 after suffering from a glioblastoma. Steve was our close friend as well as professional associate and contributed extensively to both technical knowledge about building failures and to ethical standards in the home inspection and building contracting professions.
  
  Steve led our interest in mobile home inspections by offering us an opportunity to join with him to work pro-bono in behalf of agricultural workers in the Hudson Valley -- a service which we continue in his memory. Some of our work together and photographs of Steve Vermilye can be seen at our joint guide to the inspection
  
  of MOBILE HOMES, DOUBLEWIDES, TRAILERS
  
  at ADVANCED INSPECTION METHODS and
  
  at CHEATING ON WATER TESTS.
  
  Additional photos of Steven are at "Sailing on the Hudson River Off Norrie Point"
• Leonardo Villalobos, Director of Commerce at MOSAIC TILE OUTLET [website] 2301 NW 84th Ave Ste B Miami, FL 33122 USA, Tel: 1-833-766-7242 Website: https://mosaictileoutlet.com/collections/swimming-pool-tile or https://mosaictileoutlet.com
  See CERAMIC TILE BACKSPLASH INSTALLATION
  
  Mr. Villalobos has been involved in the manufacturing and marketing of mosaic tiles for over 20 years.
• Herman Vogel, aerospace engineer, discusses combustion of fossil fuels and the details as well as the significance (to non-engineers) of Stoichiometric Combustion
• Dave Wickersheimer, P.E. R.A. - IL, professor, school of structures division, UIUC - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. Professor Wickersheimer specializes in structural failure investigation and repair for wood and masonry construction. Mr. Wickersheimer's engineering consulting service can be contacted at HDC Wickersheimer Engineering Services.
• Cherie Wicks, '58Foundations, a U.S. foundation repair company in business since 1958, with offices along the east coast of the U.S. from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. Tel: 888-698-1958 or (865) 320-3649, Email: cwicks@58Foundations.com, Web: https://58foundations.com/
  Locations: Knoxville, TN Chattanooga, TN Tri Cities, TN North Carolina Charlotte, NC Georgia Delaware Central Virginia South Carolina Greater Philadelphia Central Pennsylvania Maryland Washington, DC South Jersey
  See BRICK FOUNDATIONS & WALLS and also CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT.

Critics & Reviewers of Various InspectApedia Articles in Prior Format

These reviewers were asked to comment on some articles prepared by Daniel Friedman and other contributors to the ASHI Technical Journal - and that later appeared here at InspectApedia.com in updated/expanded format.

• Sal Alfano - Editor, Journal of Light Construction*
• Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for technical critique and some of the foundation inspection photographs cited in these articles
• Terry Carson - ASHI
• Mark Cramer - ASHI
• JD Grewell, ASHI
• Duncan Hannay - ASHI, P.E. *
• Bob Klewitz, M.S.C.E., P.E. - ASHI
• Ken Kruger, P.E., AIA - ASHI
• Aaron Kuertz aaronk@appliedtechnologies.com, with Applied Technologies regarding polyurethane foam sealant as other foundation crack repair product - 05/30/2007
• Bob Peterson, Magnum Piering - 800-771-7437 - FL*
• Arlene Puentes, ASHI, October Home Inspections - (845) 216-7833 - Kingston NY
• Greg Robi, Magnum Piering - 800-822-7437 - National*
• Dave Rathbun, P.E. - Geotech Engineering - 904-622-2424 FL*
• Ed Seaquist, P.E., SIE Assoc. - 301-269-1450 - National
• Dave Wickersheimer, P.E. R.A. - IL, professor, school of structures division, UIUC - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. Professor Wickersheimer specializes in structural failure investigation and repair for wood and masonry construction. * Mr. Wickersheimer's engineering consulting service can be contacted at HDC Wickersheimer Engineering Services. (3/2010)
• *Some of these reviewers have not returned comment 6/1995 -> 3/2024