I always note the presence of ordinary cloth type duct tape when it is being used to hold ducts together. I include a general CYA about the potential demise of the material. My feeling is that even if it is in place at the time of inspection it won’t be forever. This picture shows what happens----sooner or later-----to duct connections that rely on duct tape. One can see that the duct has fallen away from the vent fan above. Now all that moist bathroom air will vent directly into the attic. This flexible, plastic, insulated ductwork has an inner plastic liner surrounded by insulation and then the outer black plastic covering. While I am not a huge fan of this type of ductwork, it can perform satisfactorily for this application----venting a bathroom exhaust fan. The inner liner should be mechanically fasted to the metal/plastic adaptor on the fan unit and then the insulation and outer covering should be pulled over that inner attachment and again attached with a mechanical type fastener to the adaptor. Just another duct tape story. Charles Buell Seattle Home Inspectors, ASHI Home Inspector, Structural Pest Inspector, Charles Buell Inspections Inc, Seattle, WA
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I am really disappointed in the durability of duct tape. You would think that with "duct" in the name it would be an ideal tool - even invented for that purpose! I am really just being sarcastic. Good advice for us DIY types as well!
Cloth duct tape should be named something different. The stuff doesn't hold up at all. Crap tape.
Gary, duct tape is a good thing to be sarcastic about:)
James, I kind of like "Yuct Tape."
You can add that to the duct tape daily calendar. Scratch that . . . maybe they should have a photo calendar witht he most artistic uses of duct tape?
1001 uses and the list keeps growing.
I'd substitute cloth duct tape with blue tape. It is extremely durable and NEVER pulls off paint. Kate (another reliable do it yourself tip)
I have to dispute Gary's contention about duct tape. The original 3M duct tape was the mainstay of our band-aids in the Navy. Under the harshness of heat and humidity the original 3M tape was excellent for many repairs. I was on a submarine and staked my life on it's durability. The new stuff from China, I don't think I would want to put to that test...
Duct tape and a hammer. those are all the tools in my tool kit!
Without those, I'd have to hire people to do all my home repairs!
OK, just kidding. But duct tape is an amazing product. And when used properly it serves dozens of uses.
Mr Charles,
No offense please, but I wish you would write more about squirrels and less about ducks.
Nutsy
Statistics prove Nutsy is dumber than previously believed.
I can feel a trip into my attic in my near future to check this out. Charles, you keep me busy checking on things. My home and my office should be inspection ready at any given time.
Melissa---too funny, I love the idea:)
Angelia---it might have to be the 10,001 uses:)
Kate would that be the "Blue tape of death?"
Paul, I hear you and actually agree with you except that most people forget that duct tape is not meant to be a "Permenant fix" for anything:)
Craig---make perfect sense to me----I do after all, own rolls of duct tape:)
Nutsy....................
Kate, I have a favorite saying that I have applied to Nutsy many times----that he is "dumb as a bag of hammers." I am thinking I may have to change that to "dumb as a bag of squirrels."
Tammy, I love keeping you and Barbara running all over the place:)
I think the things that is holding mine in place, and it looks like it's made of sheet metal, are called brads. They are little metal circles holding pieces together, hopefully that will last. It was VERY hot in my Georgia attic today Charles. I glistened some while I was up there. Us southern gals don't sweat you know.
I was over at a house today that had been inspected in May. I'm not sure what the inspector was thinking, not thinking, maybe he never even looked ... several duct were down and the duct tape was hanging in various location. I wish they would put caution signs on duct tape ... not to be used by dummies.
Tammy, yes "glistening" is just fine:)
Suesan---I think you have hit on an idea for a book "Duct Tape for Dummies."
Mr Charles,
In looking at the comment above, addressed to me -- Nutsy S. Wallenda -- you seem to have forgotten to write anything. Absent minded perhaps?
Let me reiterate Nutsy........................
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Oh no! GASP and Double GASP!! You mean I'm going to have to tell my husband that duct tape does not fix everything after all??? The world will end in about 20 minutes!
~Renae
Renae, sorry about that:)
Just duckie...