Kyle Miller from an exterior general contractor called All Around , joins today's show to talk about roof problems. Bill opens the discussion by describing their neighbor's roof damages and inquires about the responsibilities of homeowners and contractors in fixing the damages. Kyle shares that most damages are caused by installation problems. He mentions that the contractor and homeowners are both responsible for the issue. While it's very uncommon, Kyle mentions that damages can also be caused...
Jan 24, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 24
In today's show, Tessa, Bill, and Reuben talk about the hazardous locations for glass windows. Reuben shares the hazardous places to install glass and discusses the use of tempered glass and safety film for glasses. Bill confirms that using safety films is more cost-effective than replacing broken windows and sash. Tessa agrees that commercial establishments and other high-traffic areas should use tempered and safety glass. Reuben talks about the 4 criteria that must be observed in the installat...
Jan 17, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 25
In today's show, Reuben, Bill, and Tessa talk about urinals, spray form, and tiled showers. Bill shares that his cabin is in the phase where they are finishing the bathrooms. Reuben remembers that the urinal ( http://www.structuretech1.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Urinal.jpg ) he installed in the basement of his last home helped sell the house. They discuss using a waterproof foam board and a cement board behind the surrounding tiles and how they can potentially be damaged. Also, Reuben mentio...
Jan 10, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Today's show is about carbon monoxide (CO). Improperly ventilated appliances in enclosed spaces may allow CO to accumulate to dangerous levels. Reuben shares that Appendix D of the International Residential Code (IRC) stipulates the standards in testing fuel gas-fired appliances for safety. Tessa mentions that there are various methods and variables in testing appliances, however, home inspectors are not required to do a back-drafting test or a combustion gas analysis on appliances. They also ta...
Jan 03, 2022•44 min•Season 3Ep. 22
Happy Holidays! In today's show, Reuben shares his toptech tips and hacks that help improve productivity and security in everyday life. Reuben has always been tech-savvy with influence from James Bond and Back to the Future films. He shares that he spends the entire day on the computer and enjoys a high-resolution monitor . He also uses a screen clipper and a split keyboard. He uses chrome plug-ins like Video Speed Controller and password managers such as Lastpass, Dashlane, or Roboform that sto...
Dec 27, 2021•45 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Today's episode is part 2 about mold conversation. Vickie Swenson shares the top 10 areas where mold usually hides. According to Vickie, molds mostly grow in the base basement carpet, rim joist insulation, air exchanger intake ducts, attics, cement walls and basements, leaks under sinks, dark crawl spaces, insulation in newer homes, in-slab ductwork, and many splits in window air conditioners. She shares whether condensation and humidity or plumbing leaks cause more molds. Neil Saltzman also sha...
Dec 20, 2021•47 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Minnesota is a moldy state and there are around 59 places where mold can hide! Today, Vickie Swenson from Minnesota Mold Inspections, LCC and Neil Saltzman from Inspection Services, help us unpack some questions about mold. They talk about how to find mold, how it develops, and how to prevent it. Vicky mentions that molds usually grow within 72 hours. Then she discusses the standards in inspecting and testing it. She highlights that the most common places where mold can hide is behind the bathtu...
Dec 13, 2021•51 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Today, Reuben, Bill, and Tessa go over a checklist for the winter. How well are you prepared for the winter? Reuben shares his recommendations for the use and disposal of batteries. They talk about preparing salt in the garage, disconnecting and draining hoses, daylight savings, and batteries for smoke alarms. They also talk about clearing the gutters and the lawn. Bill and Reuben discuss different snow blowers and lawn mowers. Tessa shares about maintaining the ARVs and HRVs. Reuben also shares...
Dec 06, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 18
Today's show is about mysterious siding stains and air exchangers. Bill raises his concerns and clarifications about air quality as it is one thing that homeowners must start working with starting the fall season. Reuben names and distinguishes the three types of mechanical ventilation: positive ventilation strategy, exhaust-only or point-source strategy, and balanced ventilation strategy. Tessa then adds the differences between these strategies, how they work and where they are most beneficial....
Nov 29, 2021•31 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Today, Jason Brozen from Electrical Power Safety Company (EPSCO) joins the show to talk about electrical safety. He shares his experience of surviving an arc flash accident. Check out live footage from his accident at https://youtu.be/oFhssQtv0tY. Jason starts by narrating what transpired during the incident and describes the injuries he sustained. He compares his experience to possible electrocution accidents in residences which are more fatal. Then, he further discusses the horrors of shock an...
Nov 15, 2021•46 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Kevin Strandberg, one of the owners of BWS Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning joins today's show to talk about the industry supply chain. He discusses the shocking price increase as well as the difficulty in sourcing some parts and products. Reuben notes that there is around a 47% increase in prices over one year. Bill and Tessa ask about the common parts with sourcing issues, their order lead time, and the organic cause of the price increase. Kevin talks about furnace efficiency, maintena...
Nov 08, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Today, Leonard Segal joins the show to talk about Covid-19 vaccine mandates. How will this affect the home inspection industry? Is vaccination required among inspectors? Can clients deny services from non-vaccinated providers? Reuben highlights that vaccination against Covid-19 is a common subject among small business owners and employees. Leonard shares that the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing and reviewing the mandate to require vaccinat...
Nov 01, 2021•36 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Ryan Carey from My3quotes.com joins the show to talk about different window types and manufacturers. His company provides customers with an unbiased review of different products from different stores and contractors. Reuben recalls one of the most popular blogs by Ryan about Andersen vs Pella Vs Marvin . Then, Ryan talks about the pros and cons of their window products. He also discusses his preferred materials and the differences between vinyl, wood, fiberglass, and aluminum. Moreover, he highl...
Oct 25, 2021•45 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Today's show is about household maintenance that needs to be done before a long winter. Bill, Tessa, and Reuben talk about what to check and clean. They highlight the under-maintained areas of a house. They start by discussing the water system from sprinklers or lawn irrigation systems; how to properly disconnect garden hoses, sump pumps, drain exterior faucets, drain traps; and how to avoid sewer gas leaks. Reuben shares his experience about what can happen when you forget to disconnect the cor...
Oct 18, 2021•50 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Today's show talks about how home inspectors go beyond the call of duty and help homeowners more than expected. Reuben explains wood foundations and moisture testing, polybutylene plumbing and leaking. Tessa talks about health and safety issues such as drafting at combustion appliances, microbial growth in houses and elevated levels of moisture. Bill shares his experience with carbon monoxide during inspections. They also discuss aluminum wiring as the worst and most expensive electrical problem...
Oct 11, 2021•34 min•Season 3Ep. 8
It's Fire Prevention Week! Skip Walker , the owner of Walker Property Evaluation Services from San Bruno, California, joins today's show to talk about fire safety. He is one of the authors of the Code Check series and is well-rounded about home inspections and building codes, and is multi-awarded by ASHI. Skip mentions that there are roughly 3,000 fire-related deaths in US homes. He discusses the types of smoke alarms such as ionization and photoelectric alarms. These have different purposes, cr...
Oct 04, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Today Ryan Carey , the owner of My 3 Quotes , joins the show to talk about getting the best provider for your building needs. Ryan shares how he provides customers an unbiased review of different products with 3 quotes from 3 different contractors. They fill the space between a homeowner and a contractor by guiding them to have an informed decision. Moreover, they discuss the differences not only in the costing but as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the building methods and practices...
Sep 27, 2021•44 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Cladding is an exterior siding of a building. It can be stone, brick, steel, vinyl, or an Exterior Insulating Finishing System (EIFS). And it’s definitely pronounced “EEFS”, not “EEFUS”. According to Mark, the best cladding that will give the least potential for failure depends totally on how it’s installed; and there are specific instructions for each type of material. However, water problems are caused by simple details that are overlooked during installation. Reuben asks for advice on how to ...
Sep 20, 2021•57 min•Season 3Ep. 7
The northern part of the USA has a different situation in terms of pests. Scott Dorn, the owner of BOGO (Buy One Give One), Pest Control , joins the show to talk about managing pests. Scott talks about the history and foundation of their company. He hates using poison, and suggests going over a checklist of all the different things that you have tried before resorting to poison. Reuben also shares how their partnership with BOGO started, which inspired them to participate in philanthropic work. ...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Today we are joined by the friends and colleagues of Rick Norling to honor and remember him. Rick Norling was one of the original founders of Structure Tech, back in 1987. Before he passed away, he was a full-time radon technician. He also founded Operation HighGround , an organization that identifies and implements strategies to help Veterans with housing, employment, education, and transportation.
Sep 06, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Bill is thinking about installing a tongue & groove ceiling at his cabin, but Tessa and Reuben give his idea no love. Tessa shares that air leakage and moisture getting into the attic can be prevented in multiple ways. However, the climate zone, amount of air leakage, humidity levels in the house, size of the attic space, and the volume of air in the attic are major factors in how the ceiling will perform.. One way to test the efficiency is by de-pressurizing the house and using an infrared ...
Aug 30, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Carbon monoxide (CO) leaking inside the house is a serious concern. How are they tested? What harm will it cause? How do you properly manage a furnace? According to Reuben, experts in the field conflict with each other on how to properly test CO on furnaces. While it is not required in the standard inspection process, he shares the common and right way to do it. Tessa discusses the types of furnaces, how they work, as well as how to test them. They also talk about the proper equipment to use and...
Aug 23, 2021•30 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Fireplaces are decorative and give beautiful ambiance, but what are the safety issues? How do we address and prevent them? How do we inspect fireplaces? Reuben mentions that gas log fireplaces are the closest to the real thing. However, he doesn't recommend this kind of fireplace. He discusses the differences between gas fireplaces, going over the key differences in such items as a gas log, log igniter, gas insert, and gas fireplace.Tessa highlights potential safety issues, especially with carbo...
Aug 16, 2021•38 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Today's episode is about windows. How easy is it to identify window problems? What causes these problems? How are they inspected? Do you need new windows? Reuben and Tessa discuss their observations about the kinds of windows that are usually damaged due to poor moisture control, condensation, and temperature or weather conditions. Reuben also shares his experience with his failed windows which were degraded by humidifiers. Reuben and Tessa notice that the common damages are rotted sashes, faile...
Aug 09, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 1
It's the final stretch for the talk about Structure Tech's home inspection process series. Tessa, Reuben, and Bill start by talking about the top 5 things that they specifically look for when walking inside a house. They follow a step-by-step flow process that they stick to, in order to avoid being distracted and missing things. Tessa talks about checking outlets, windows, and bedrooms, which are the easiest part of the inspection. She highlights that they also take time to check the bathroom wa...
Aug 02, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Today's episode is a continuation of Structure Tech's home inspection process. Bill opens the show by asking about getting permission from the homeowners to open attics. He also touches on the topic of having minors in the house during the inspection. Reuben highlights that the real estate contract in Minnesota defines intrusive inspections as when the property has changed. Reuben talks about the entry to the attic access panel, electrical panel, checking the utilities such as the water and gas....
Jul 26, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Today's episode is part one of Structure Tech's home inspection flow process and why we do things this way. The standard process has been developed and enhanced since the start of the company. Tessa shares the process flow which starts from a pre-inspection call. Tessa continues to share that from a quick walk outside the house, the team will proceed to wake up the house and use infrared cameras to take photos. Reuben highlights their learning experiences from failed and winning inspection steps...
Jul 19, 2021•33 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Today, Josh Kerber from the Minnesota Department of Health will talk about radon gas. He is a research scientist who does applied research in building construction, specifically with indoor air. Tessa checks the statistics of existing vs newly constructed homes that have radon. Reuben clarifies the action level to which one is encouraged to do something to fix it. While Bill confirms the licensure requirement for proper radon testing and installment of mitigation systems. Josh shares that 45% of...
Jul 12, 2021•49 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Reuben Saltzman joins Waypoint Real Talk as a guest. He talks about how Structure Tech started and how its online presence since 2008 has helped the company grow. He shares that blogging on the company website allowed them to reach their market as well as other home inspectors. He also allows guest-blogging by inviting trade professionals to co-author. He highlights keeping content up-to-date by being consistent, committed, and upholding accountability with your partners. Reuben shares how he le...
Jul 05, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Welcome to Structure Talk episode 100! Kevin Wagstaff , one of the founders of Spectora, joins today's show to talk about their company. Spectora is the fastest, easiest, and advanced home inspection software that is currently assisting around 5,000 home inspectors in the US. He shares that their focus is making reliable, understandable, and useful information for inspectors and homeowners. Reuben discusses the concept that in the future, home inspections might be a loss-leader. The real money m...
Jun 28, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 48
