Structure Talk

Reuben and Tessa share some advice, recommendations, and guidance for new home inspectors and business owners.  Reuben shares that home inspection certifications and licenses aren't enough to become a good inspector. Tessa mentions shadowing and learning from seasoned practitioners in the industry will help inspectors get good at the job and know what to do. They highlight that it's impo...

Today we discuss direct and power vents and combustion air.  Reuben and Tessa discuss an inquiry about a contractor's advice to install a direct vent for their water heater replacement. Reuben explains that this was extremely unusual. He defines a power vent and a direct vent. Tessa inquires about changes in the building code. They also talk about combustion air. Reuben highlights that combus...

Today we talk about the recommended must-have tools from podcast followers.  Reuben and Tessa go over the list of suggestions. They talk about Channellock vs Robo Grip pliers, an impact driver vs a drill, electric vs gas-powered saws, as well as various hand saws and reciprocating saws, wet-dry vacuums, pry bars and putty knives, 2ft or 4ft level, stud finders or stud buddies, vice grips, and mall...

Reuben and Tessa go over a list of tools every homeowner must have in the house.  They talk about flashlights, drills and bit sets, socket sets and wrench adapters, screwdrivers and wrenches, tape measures, utility knives, hammers, pliers, and ladders. Reuben highlights that these tools are very useful for DIY projects while Tessa mentions that the tools are not for everyone.  Read Reuben's b...

Today we talk about tips on how to manage melting snow and basement water. Reuben discusses where melted snow goes and how they penetrate through the basement or even the sewers. Tessa mentions that newer houses in Minnesota have a drain tile system then she explains how a sump pump works. They share tips to reduce the potential for water problems without a drain tile. Reuben shares a story about...

Reuben recently received a message from a podcast follower who encountered an insulation scam. He shares that the company reportedly had a free dinner and offered multi-layer insulation and solar-power attic fans that are supposed to fix iced dams. Tessa highlights the red flags about the products.  Reuben describes and defines the products and their cost. Tessa shares the code requirements and ho...

Reuben talks about his electrical experiments. They discuss how much current it takes to overload a circuit and the effect of the panel's loose connections in circuits. Tessa mentions that the common melted wires are made of aluminum conductors. Reuben talks about the renewal of real estate agents' licenses and submitting their CE. He announces the availability of Structure Tech's i...

Signs and notes are a great help to warn and inform the inspectors about the house.  Today, Reuben shares their compiled notes, signs, and warnings that were left by home sellers during inspections from the last 15 years. They talk about hilarious signs and notes on toilets, switches, doors, panels, among others.  Checkout the entertaining blog post here Signs, warnings, and notes left by sellers...

Phantom loads, also called standby power, is the electricity used by appliances even when they are turned off.  Reuben talks about the experiment he did at home with the Sense Home Energy Monitor. He shares using Kill A Watt meter, a device that measures the power consumed by an appliance. He then discusses the results and computed the monetary cost for the phantom load.  Tessa mentions that the a...

What should you do with your house if you're leaving for a long time?  Reuben first talks about plumbing. He recommends turning the water off and keeping the house humidifier and water heater running. Tessa highlights how some homeowners misuse humidifiers. They also discuss avoiding sewer gas from leaking into the house as well as what doesn't have to be done. In terms of electrical, ph...

Today Reuben and Tessa talk about how to determine the electrical service size at a home, mostly related to inspecting the main panel. Reuben explains that new construction homes use 150 to 200 amps service size panels, and which service sizes are no longer acceptable today. Tessa highlights the different things that home inspectors need to determine: the service size, what the panel is rated for,...

Today, Reuben and Tessa touch on some key points about radon.  Reuben discusses what radon is, and addresses the biggest arguments about testing, and myths about it. He mentions that health authorities have claimed that radon is a silent killer that causes lung cancer.  They talk about the statistics of radon elevation, as well as the normal and acceptable levels and standards in the US vs Canada...

Today is part 4 of the Window Replacement series. Today we're gonna talk about the big three window manufacturers. Ryan Carey first talks about a Minnesota company, Andersen, which is a more popular brand. He discusses the type of windows that Anderson makes: the 400 and 100 series, the regular, and the Renewal products. They talk about direct competition, Marvin, and why they have exclusive...

Another week with Ryan Carey ! In today's show, we're going to talk everything about window replacement. Ryan discusses the two main types and the difference in window replacements: the insert or retrofit window and the full frame. He also explains the window replacement process and which type is best for each window or type of house. They talk about replacing windows to address water in...

Ryan Carey   of My 3 Quotes joins us for another week to discuss which type of window is the best. Tessa asks about low emissivity or low-E windows and the layers of coating. Ryan explains its effect on houses, the light, and the heat that comes into the house, especially in the winter. He discusses the cost of double and triple-pane windows as well as gas fills like argon and krypton. They highli...

Ryan Carey discusses the sales process of window companies and the mind-game tactics they use. Reuben and Ryan also reminisce about Department Supervisor Training from Home Depot, where they learned how to deal with different types of customers.  Reuben inquires about the important stuff to understand and look for when choosing a window. Ryan discusses the U-value, EnergyStar rating, and highlight...

Reuben and Tessa advise looking for a good, competent, and qualified contractor by getting help from trained and certified professionals through Building Performance Institute ( BPI Contractor and Test Center Locator | Building Performance Institute, Inc. ). Tessa highlights that a good contractor should discuss air sealing, attic bypasses, and attic ventilation with the homeowner.  They review cr...

Snow was heavy in Minnesota last week. Today, we will talk about what causes ice dams, and how to prevent and fix them.    Tessa explains what an ice dam is and how they are formed. She shares that most houses can fix this through proper air sealing and insulating of the attic space. Reuben adds that most people think this can be improved by adding ventilation to the roof but this is different.   ...

Dr. Ben Franske joins the show to speak about the internet of things and technology around your house.    Ben discusses home automation and the software that helps him control various disparate devices such as HVAC control and thermostats, security and alarms, and door locks, among others. He also talks about devices that communicate through the cloud and localized systems. Reuben asks about insta...

Welcome 2023! It's a new year, a new podcast. The two-legged ladder, Reuben and Tessa, host the show.    Tessa shares her journey with Structure Talk and leaves the company after 7 years. She shares about her new adventure.    Reuben talks about how the new show will go. He highlights that there will be shorter episodes and shares exciting topics in the coming weeks.    Check out our recent b...

The home inspection industry is male-dominated. Today, Uli Sommers and Jaymie Paternoster join the show to talk about the presence of women in the field.   Reuben recalls the multitude of feedback he received from his blog post entitled '' Home Inspectors don't have to be old white guys' '. In the blog, he mentions that there is a huge demand for female home inspectors in...

Today we're going to talk about new construction inspections and why it's different from the standard home inspection.    Reuben shares about their team inspection experience with a new house. He talks about pre-drywall inspections which require knowledge in codes and blueprints. He highlights that home inspectors look at a completely different list and specialized inspectors in other st...

In today’s show, we talk about specialized and expensive home inspection equipment and our preferred brands. Eric Houseman , inspection manager at Structure Tech joins the discussion.   They talk about telescoping ladders, Xtend+Climb ladders, and Little Giants. Eric shares about his preferred brand, the Werner 28-foot fiberglass with the Glidesafe technology. Then they talked about combustible ga...

This week, we continue to talk about home inspection mishaps, misadventures, and costly mistakes which we learned valuable lessons from. Reuben starts by sharing a shocking story about finding valuable items before or during the testing of dishwashers and ovens, changing thermostat settings in appliances, and getting locked out of the house. He and Tessa also talk about testing GFCIs and remember...

Structure Tech is reaching its 25-year milestone! Today we're joined by Neil Saltzman and reminisce about great stories and learning experiences from Home inspection flubs. Neil shares about inspecting bad electric panels and furnaces. He talks about a poor judgment call in entering a house with a gas leak and leaving running water. Neil and Tessa also talk about inspecting a roof, getting st...