Look closer at those images!

In ScribeWare 5.70, you can now call out a particularly important detail of an image with our new Magnifier functionality! Simply edit an image, and click on the new “Magnifier” tool. Add the highlighted area, using your mouse to pan to the right section and your mouse wheel or the zoom handle magnify the area of interest. Then, select “done” to have this placed as an overlay image on the original: To change the border size...

Introducing… Report Review!

In ScribeWare version 5.68, we’re introducing an often requested feature we’re calling “report review”! Let’s say you’re out in the field, busily filling out a report while your client is talking your ear off, and you make some quick notes that you want to review later. Sound familiar? Well, simply hit the new “flag” button on the observation toolbar: Then, when you’re putting your final touches on the report, hit the “Review Flagged Items” button, and walk through each...

Sub-Panels Can Be Confusing: Don’t Let Them Be!

Use This Flow Chart To Get Them Right! The way most home inspectors are trained to understand the difference between sub-panel wiring and main panel wiring is that once you have a sub-panel, the equipment grounds (green covered or bare wires) should be separated from the neutral conductors (the white ones) and the neutrals should not be bonded to the panel and would remain “floating,” while the grounds should be bonded to the panel. This is not a half-bad place...

Cold Roof Condensation

Is My Roof Leaking? If you are a home inspector, you have experienced the amazing reflective properties of PVC and EPDM, white roofing membranes. In the summer heat, with some of the more traditional (older) modified bitumen black roofing membranes, you could burn your hand when getting onto the roof for inspection. By contrast, I have climbed onto a PCV membrane roof on a nearly 100-degree F day and the roofing membrane was still nearly cool to the touch. Needless...

Architectural Grade Composition Roofing

Architectural Grade Composition Roofing Developed in the 1970s for use on high-end homes, dimensional shingles are offered for homeowners who want a shingle that retains the architectural appearance of a cedar shingle with the high performance of asphalt. Layered construction lends an appearance that is a lot like cedar shakes. These shingles are also sometimes referred to as laminated architectural shingles, or as dimensional or composite shingles. This type of shingle is constructed with a heavy base fiberglass mat affixed...