Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, WA Home Inspector (King of the House)

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Nice Plumbing Repair

My friend Charles Buell is always very critical of duct tape -- the miracle cure of last century and still a hot commodity today. I have seen everything from the skins of mobile homes and fuel tanks to shoes repaired with the stuff. I always love it when I open a cabinet and find it at the drain under the sink. Come on folks, the stuff really is not very waterproof and let's be honest it is a really lousy way to repair a leak. The photo below does a wonderful job of capturing a leak in progress. What --- a leak from a sink that has been repaired. Yeah, afraid so. Check out the big droplet of water. It is as big as the tear that will be coming from Charlie's eye when he finds out that I have done one more blog this week than he has done so far.

Steven L. Smith

Bellingham WA Home Inspections

 

        

        

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10 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • April 17 2008 10:41PM

Comments

I guess this goes to show that Duct tape really doesn't fix everything!
Posted by Jeremy Blanton (210 Consulting~ Social Media Advisors) almost 4 years ago
Steven How did you get in my house while I wasn't home? Isn't it ok if it's a bathroom sink? hehehe. I just love these kinds of projects...remember... "you can do it, we can help"!
Posted by Your Financial Coach almost 4 years ago
Funny thing is how easy, and inexpensive, it is for almost anyone to do a better fix than that. Those plastic plumbing parts are not gonna break the bank.
Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) almost 4 years ago

My dad used to say " if it cant be fixed with plyers, a screwdriver and a hammer, it cant be fixed"  I would add duct tape to the list.  

In 1968 I did the body work on a 10 year old  VW delivery van with duct tape. I taped  over all the rust spots and holes (it took several rolls) and then painted  the whole thing (duct tape and all) canery yellow. We used brushes and a roller. It looked like this (without the black stripe) when we were done.

The point is:    if you want your repairs to look like some stoned hippy did the work, then duct tape is for you, otherwise hire a licensed contractor

Posted by Ron Parise (LocateHomes.com) almost 4 years ago
Funny Ron. Looks pretty good, shrunk down to the size of a Tonka toy.
Posted by Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector (King of the House Home Inspection, Inc) almost 4 years ago

Ron    looks like some stoned hippie did do the work...hehehe

Steve   some stoned hippie did the work? and that is the view from their eyes....

Posted by Your Financial Coach almost 4 years ago

This is great now we have 101 uses for duct tape. : )

 

Posted by Patty Carroll almost 4 years ago

WOW ... you be dissin duct tape, next thing you be dissin will be WD40, which by the way is a great fish attractant for Crappie. Nice photo, I think I've seen a similar repair like that before myself.

Sean Allen

 

Posted by International Financing Solutions almost 4 years ago

As near as I can tell there are probably an "infinite" number of places duct tape can be used.  If there is a place to stick it---it will get used.

Posted by Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com) almost 4 years ago
Don't you be dissin WD40....I had ta melt soma dat snow dis mornin...and it work real good...just took me awhile ta find a lighter...
Posted by Your Financial Coach almost 4 years ago

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