Category: Jovag Home Inspection

Disconnect and Remove a Dishwasher

4/6/2018

Thermal Imaging

12/8/2017

Sleeping dog - blended thermal image on the left, digital camera image on the right.

One of the cool tools that I use during inspections is a FLIR Thermal Imaging camera. This allows me to take measurements of temperature differentials of various surfaces and objects during an inspection. Useful for finding areas of air leakage and hidden insulation problems.

I took a picture of my sleeping dog Magoo this morning to show what the camera is capable of doing. The image on the left is the regular digital camera image while the picture on the left is a blended thermal image. Relative cool areas are darker, warmer areas are brighter. Magoo is working hard at sleeping and is significantly warmer than the floor he is laying on.

Front door from the inside on a cold day outside.

Thermal image of air leaking past damaged weather stripping.

Close up of the bottom of the door. The purple color means cold air is getting past the weather stripping on the bottom of the door.

Thermal imaging works best when there is a large temperature differential between the inside and outside of the house. The images above show a front door from the inside on a cold morning. You can see a big temperature drop at the bottom of the sidelight window on the left and the bottom of the door. Looks like there is some air leakage on the bottom of the door - the weather stripping likely needs to be replaced.

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Best Cordless Drill and Driver Combo

11/24/2017

Bosch Drill/Driver Combo Kit. Best set for DIY projects. Image from Bosch website.

Happy Holidays!

Looking for a gift idea for that someone who takes care of your home improvement needs? One of the best tool sets that I have ever used for general home improvement tasks is the Bosch 12 Volt Drill and Impact Driver set. These are small and compact tools that are powered by a rechargeable lithium battery. Though they are only 12 Volt batteries these tools are more than adequate for most home improvement projects.

The combo set includes both a 3/8 inch drill (Bosch PS 31) and an impact driver (Bosch 41), two batteries and a charger. Highly recommended.

Amazon Link: Bosch PS 31 and PS 41 Combo Kit.

How To Repair A Sliding Screen Door

8/11/2017

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One of the reasons the screen door is damaged. There are a lot of holes at someone's nose height.

If your fingers can fit through the screen door it is very likely that bugs can make it through as well.

Sliding screen doors are great at keeping bugs out and allowing pleasant breezes in but they are prone to damage. Dogs trying to get in, cats trying to get out and children who try to grab on to the frame too enthusiastically can all be a problem. Follow this step by step guide to learn how to replace a damaged screen on a sliding screen door.

Tools Needed:

Screen Door Spline Tool
Phillips and Slotted Screwdrivers
Utility Knife
Tape Measure
Tape

Parts Needed:

Screen Door Spline Tool, Screwdrivers, Utility Knife, Blue Masking Tape, Tape Measure

Tools needed from left to right: Screen door spline tool, Phillips Head Screwdriver, Slotted Screw Driver, Utility Knife, Tape, Tape Measure.

This door handle needs to be removed in order to replace the screen.

Door handle removed from the outside. The inner half can stay in place.

Step 1:

Remove any hardware on the outside of the door.

Prying the spline out of the screen door.

Start in the corner to pry out the spline.

Working the spline out of the screen door.

Work the screwdriver under the spline and pull straight out.

A steady pull on the spline all around the perimeter of the door will remove it.

Step 2:

Choose a corner and start to remove the spline (rubber piece holding the screen in the channel). A slotted screw driver is a good starter to pry out the spline. Once it is started you can pull the spline out around the perimeter of the door.

Remove the damaged screen from the frame.

Removing the damaged screen from a screen door.

Pull the screen from the channel all the way around the door perimeter.

Step 3:

Remove the damaged screen from the frame. The screen should remove easily once the spline is out.

Damaged screen about 27 inches wide. You need to add an inch to each side for proper installation. The replacement screen needs to be at least 29 inches wide.

Step 4:

Lay the damaged screen out on a flat surface and take measurements. You will need the width and the length. The damaged screen dimensions are the minimum amount required for a replacement. You want to have about an inch overlap on each side when buying the replacement. The replacement screen for this door needs to be at least 29 inches wide by 79 inches long for proper installation.

Measuring the length of a damaged screen door screen

Damaged screen about 77 inches long. You need to add an inch to each end for proper installation. Replacement needs to be a minimum of 79 inches long.

Old spline material pulled from damaged door. This could be re-used or purchase new spline material when you get the replacement screen.

Pre cut rolls of fiberglass screen door screen

Pre-cut fiberglass mesh screen. This is generally the more expensive option.

Rolls of fiberglass and aluminum replacement screens.

Cut to length fiberglass and aluminum screen. This is usually the less expensive option than pre-cut rolls.

Step 5:

Find a replacement screen at your local hardware store. This store sells common pre-cut sizes in rolls and cut to length rolls in both aluminum and fiberglass mesh.

Secure the replacement screen with tape to aid in installation.

Overlap the replacement screen by an inch on each side of the frame.

The replacement screen needs to overlap the channel by an inch on each side for proper installation.

Step 6:

Position the replacement screen over the door frame. Each side needs to overlap by about an inch for proper installation. I like to secure the replacement screen in place with blue painter's tape.

Starting in the upper left corner, use the thin, convex side of the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the spline channel.

Pressing spline material into place by hand.

Press the spline material in to the channel on top of the pre-creased replacement screen.

Using the concave roller of the spline tool, firmly seat the spline in to the channel along the entire top of the door.

Step 7:

Start at the top. Use the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel. Press the spline into place over the screen and in to the channel by hand. Follow up with the spline tool to roll along the spline and firmly seat in place.

I concentrate on the top of the door frame first and try to get everything positioned evenly along the width of the replacement screen. Don't be afraid to start over if you notice the screen isn't quite level with the frame. Just pull out the spline, reposition the screen and repeat until everything is nice and even.

Right side of the door. Using the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel.

Firmly seat the spline material in to the channel along the perimeter of the door.

Step 8:

Once you are happy with the top of the door move to the right side. Once again use the thin side of the spline tool to pre-crease the screen in to the channel. Place the spline and then use the concave side of the tool to seat the spline in place.

Putting a new spline in for a replacement screen.

Keep the screen taut along the bottom and left side when placing the spline.

Spline all the way back to the start. Make sure the spline is firmly seated all along the perimeter channel.

Cutting the end of a spline with a utility knife.

Use a utility knife to cut the spline to length. Tuck the end in to the channel and firmly seat with a small screwdriver.

Step 9:

The bottom and left side of the door are a little bit tricky. You want to make sure to pull the screen tight before creasing the screen and placing the spline.

Hold the screen tight and work a few inches at a time with the spline to ensure that everything stays level and taut.

Once you reach the starting point with the spline you will likely have a bit left over. Cut to length with a utility knife.

Place the tip of a utility knife just on the outside edge of the spline.

Lightly draw the utility knife along the outside edge of the spline.

A slow and steady cut will leave a clean edge along the replacement screen.

Step 10:

Once the spline is firmly seated and the screen is to your liking it's time to trim the excess screen away. Using a utility knife, cut just outside the spline on the screen. Slow and steady will give you a nice clean edge.

Replacing the door handle on a screen door.

Replace the door handle hardware over the replacement screen.

Completed project, the replacement screen is installed.

The replacement screen is in place.

Step 11:

Replace the door hardware. Adjust the door as needed and lubricate the tracks.

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New Business Cards

2/24/2017

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I have an awesome wife. Kara has stuck with me for the past 22 years and supported me in everything that I have done. She is a very talented photographer who runs a successful business - Kara Jovag Photography, is an outstanding Mom for our 3 daughters and can still be patient with her husband.

She was nice enough to help with some of the pictures on this website and design my new business cards. Besides the business cards, Kara does portrait work, some real estate photography and has become the unofficial photographer for all of my daughters lacrosse teams. Check out the website and her blog for more examples of her work.

Business Card

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A Different Path.

2/3/2017

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"Brian, what are you going to do when you get out of the Army?" - common question I was asked in August of 2016.

I was retiring after 22 years in the Army and all my training and education was as a Physical Therapist. It seemed like I had educated myself into a corner. I wanted a break from being a full time PT but I still wanted to do something that utilized my skills and provided a challenge.

I've always loved DIY projects (and my wife keeps me busy with projects around the house). We have a rental home that I maintain and have remodeled over the past 8 years. I enjoy projects around the house and learning something new about plumbing, electrical, construction and building practices with each new problem to solve.

It hit me when we bought a college rental house in Bellingham. It was built in 1902 and had a ton of character as well as a lot of problems to fix before it was ready to rent. I walked around the house with the home inspector during the inspection and was fascinated with the process.

Looking at a house and assessing the systems, construction and how the whole thing goes together is very similar to doing an evaluation of a patient. I'm skilled at diagnosing musculoskeletal issues in patients and those same skills are essential in being a good home inspector.

I needed a change and this was it - become a home inspector. I get to use all my skills I've learned as a PT and combine them with my love of DIY with the challenge of looking at something new every day.

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