October 1997 Edition-PDF - Christian Building Inspectors

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Home Tips
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CHRISTIAN BUILDING INSPECTORS, INC., 1003 STAR COURT, NORCROSS, GEORGIA 30093, (770) 925-8518 OCTOBER 1997 
Q&A
Georgia Pacific Siding Class
Action Lawsuit?
We heard about the Class Action against Georgia Pacific
on their lapped siding. Can you tell us what siding is
covered and how to identify it?
Under the Class Action Settlement approved by the court,
Georgia Pacific has agreed to establish new procedures for
resolving product warranty claims on their Jarratt and
Catawba hardboard siding. GP is informing homeowners of
procedures to use to identify and make warranty claims on
their hardboard siding. The company issued detailed
guidelines to help its hardboard siding consumers identify
and evaluate damage, submit claims, and receive fair and
adequate compensation for damaged siding materials.
JARRATT SIDING IDENTIFICATION
The lapped siding has a bead along the bottom of the
boards. GP did not say whether the siding was all smooth
finished or if some had a texture on the face of the boards.
Round
Bead
PANEL CONFIGURATION
You may be able to see the back of the siding from either an
unfinished basement or attic area. If not, you may need to
remove a piece to properly identify it.
REAR PANEL TEXTURE
Jarratt Siding may be identified by one or more of the
following mill stamps. Each board should have a Mill Mark
printed on the rear side. If it has a LWP stamp, this stamp
must reference MILL NO. 002.
A five or six digit numeric code containing the letter “J” may
also be used. For example:
MILL MARKS
CATAWBA SIDING IDENTIFICATION
Catawba Siding is assumed to be the same configuration as
the Jarratt Siding. Catawba has a smooth finish on the rear of
the panel and may be identified by one or more of the
manufacturing stamps or numeric codes similar to those
illustrated below:
A numeric code that may contain the letters: “GP” or “USP”
Or numeric codes similar to the following:
2 21: 38 257 89 GP
2 21:38 257 87 USP
13:25 365 96 GP
07:11 10 04 96
Damage is the result of unwanted moisture in the siding. All
current or former owners of structures using Georgia Pacific
hardboard siding may be eligible to file claims or register
their property for future claims and receive benefits under a
proposed class-action settlement, which still must receive
final court approval.
The performance and longevity of any wood based siding is
highly dependent upon proper installation and careful
maintenance. Improper installation and inadequate
maintenance can lead to exterior hardboard siding
deterioration.
Homeowners who wish to participate in the settlement must
file a claim form or a registration form for future claims by
August 18, 1998. To receive a claims package, call 1-888882-5246, or for more information visit the Internet site at
http://www.gpclaims.com. If a future claim form is received,
eligible claimants will have until January 1, 2001 to file for
compensation for Jarratt siding and January 1, 2007 for
Catawba siding. Compensation is based on the home or
structure, the average replacement cost for the applicable
state, and whether or not any compensation previously has
been received by the claimant. In addition, claims for
Catawba siding will be subject to further evaluation as to
whether or not the siding was properly installed, finished and
maintained. The average cost per square foot to replace
hardboard siding in Georgia is $2.73.
that would limit or prevent the buyer from having their
new home inspected.
The Municipal inspectors are overworked and normally
spend less than 10 minutes inspecting a home. Private home
inspectors are able to throughly go over the construction and
make notes on anything not meeting the State of Georgia
minimum building requirements. Most builders are proud of
their work and welcome home inspectors. Those that do not
should be approached with caution.
How To Determine The Age Of
A House?
Our home is approximately 15 years old. Is there any way
to determine the exact age?
If you have the original furnace and air conditioner
condenser, sometimes the date is on the manufacturer’s
identification label. The date may be hidden in the serial
number or actually printed on the label. Gas furnaces and air
conditioners normally last around 15 to 18 years.
The next place to check is the water heater. The
manufactured date of a water heater can normally be found in
the first two or second two numbers of the serial number. For
example 852365988 would be 1985 or 368625-66 would be
the 36th week of 1986. As a rule water heaters do not last
longer than 15 years.
If your major equipment was replaced, the next most likely
place to check is inside the toilet tanks. Most manufacturers
will stamp the manufacturing date inside the tank and on the
bottom of the lid. Also, old cast iron sinks frequently have the
date of manufacture stamped or in raised letters on the
bottom. Some cast iron bathtubs have similar markings.
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If you have a question, change of address, comment, home tip or would
like to send Home Tips to your clients, send your letter to Home Tips,
Christian Building Inspectors, Inc., 1003 Star Court, Norcross, Georgia
30093. You can E-Mail your questions to us at rodharrison
@mindspring.com/. We reserve the right to edit questions for length.
Quote Of The Month
“One cannot change yesterday, but only
make the most of today, and look with
hope toward tomorrow”
- Unknown
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Builders Preventing Buyers
From Having Home Inspections?
Art Worley
We recently signed a contract for a new home and when
we decided to have the home inspected, we were told the
contract, we signed, did not allow it. Is this legal?
Re/Max North Atlanta Affiliates
Roswell, Georgia
Unfortunately, it is legal. We have found only a few builders
doing this in the Atlanta area. Buyers and Real Estate Agents
should read the contract carefully and not accept wording
Thank You

CHRISTIAN BUILDING INSPECTORS, INC. 
 Member: ASHI, GAHI, MAIA, SBCCI 
SBCCI C ODE C ERTIFIED CABO O NE & T WO FAMILY D WELLING I NSPECTOR N O . 1619 
 For Additional Information, Contact Rod Harrison or Leslie Noah-Smith 
O f f i c e : M on d a y - F r i d a y 7 7 0 - 9 2 5 - 8 5 1 8 , F a x 7 7 0 - 9 2 5 - 7 3 5 3 , D i g i t a l P a g e r 7 7 0 - 8 9 0 - 4 5 0 3 
Web Page: http://www.mindspring.com/~rodharrison/
E-Mail: http://[email protected]/ 
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CHRISTIAN BUILDING INSPECTORS, INC. 1003 STAR COURT, NORCROSS, GEORGIA 30093, OFFICE 770-925-8518, FAX 770-925-7353