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Home Inspector Tells All
I have a couple doors in my home that swing open on their own. What causes this and can you suggest a way to fix it.
Most of the doors we install inside our homes today are very light duty. We call them hollow core doors. The frames on these doors are also light and it is easy to twist them when installing them. By simply over tightening a screw in the frame you can pull the entire...
Why should you install to the manufacturers instructions?
A quick view of this radiant heater might not look like anything is amiss. In this case I noticed the missing heat shield. Knowing the critical importance of this shield to diflect the heat away from the ceiling I decided it would be a good idea to check with...
What is so special about a thermal camera?
Here is a home that has a hidden block wall that was not fully insulated, without the thermal camera it would have never been detected and the customers heating bill would be high with no explanation. Everything looks normal with the naked eye. ...
Why is it important to insulate the rim joist.
Here is a very common problem that is often not easilly fixed. This home has not been insulated along the sill plate where the main floor rests on the basement wall. As you can see from the thermal image there is a lot of heat loss from this area (dark orange...
Whats wrong with my eaves troughs?
The downspout in this picture is plugged and has been for some time. As a result the eaves trough has been overflowing for some time and has rotted out the soffit. Chances are the outside corner of this home is also moisture ladden. These kinds of issues can...
How do trees affect my roof?
Tree branches rubbing on shingles here are a bad combination. Here is a photo of the results of a few years of the action of the wind in the willows so as to speak. You can see the difference between where the shingles have been worn by branches and where the branches...
Why is my roof sagging?
This photo shows a transition point where two rooflines come together. The resulting valleys that are created here have to be constructed to withstand the extra snow load in these areas. In this case the valleys have sagged considerably and an abnormally heavy...
Why do I have mold?
This is the case of a very severe mold development. Hopfully someone would move towards getting this issue cleaned up before it is allowed to go this far. The problem with mold beyond the obvious look is the effects of mold spores on the body. Most of us have been...
Why do I have Moss on my roof?
Here is a common issue most home buyer will not be aware of until they see the damage coming trough the drywall below. The real issue here is that the wall cladding is too close to the shingles and is absorbing the miosture from the roof. The best practice is to...
What is Vermiculite?
This bag shows the name of the insulation ZONOLITE also known as Vermiculite that was used in many homes in the Midwest including Lloydminster. Most of this type of insulation in our area is know to contain some asbestos which can be harmful to Humans. ASBESTOS...
Corroded Copper pipe
If your home was built in the 60's you might have copper vent stacks. This is one example of what happens to copper when it has been exposed to sewer gases for 50 years. If you have a smell in your home that you cannot explain and you have copper vent piping, I...
My toilet is loose and rocks back and forth on its base. Do you have any suggestions for correcting this?
A tippy toilet is a cousin to a leaking toilet, if left alone it will begin to leak soon. I usually recommend tightening the floor bolts first to see if this helps. A word of caution here, do not over tighten the bolts or you may crack the base of the toilet flange...
The linoleum around my toilet is turning dark, I am afraid the wax seal is leaking. Can you explain how to change a wax seal?
Yes you are likely right about the wax seal. I have also seen sweating toiler tanks and leaking tank bolts cause wet floors so have a close look there before removing the toilet. To change the seal start by turning off and disconnect the water supply, hopefully there...
I have been given conflicting information about grout sealing my tiled shower stall. Can you explain the best approach?
I recently read an article by a prominent inspector that confused this issue as well. My understanding and opinion is that you want to initially seal the tile with a proper deep penetrating grout sealer during the install. There are many polymer type grouts out there...
I want to install ceramic tile. Someone said the preparation and base material are critical to a successful job. Can you explain?
Tile is a great product and when installed properly will last a very long time. It costs a bit more to install but the initial investment will likely out last other softer products many times over. As you suggested, the base is critical to installing tile. I am not an...
I hear a clicking noise near my pressure tank. It happens about every 2-3 minutes, what could this be?
My best guess is that the clicking you hear is the pressure switch. I assume your water pump is in the well or you would hear more than a clicking noise. Each click you hear is the starting and stopping of the pump. The fact that the clicks are close in time, 2 -3...
How often do I need to shock my well? Can you explain how I go about this?
I personally shock my well once a year to keep the bacteria count to a minimum but I have tested wells that have been ten years without a shock treatment and still had no health concerns. None the less I recommend a yearly treatment. The goal is to kill all the...
My shingles are not that old but they are curling. What causes shingles to cup and curl?
I have seen shingles that curl due to a manufacturers defect but most often the problem is due to an overheated attic space. I have been in attics that are over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When the attic is poorly ventilated it creates an air trap and acts more like an...
My eaves have a build-up of ice. Why is this happening and how can I prevent it?
Ice on a roof can happen naturally with quick changes in the weather but more often than not the problem starts in the attic. When ice forms on the shingles near the eaves it is generally due to heat buildup in the attic that melts the snow on the roof causing ice...
Is it critical that my attic be vented, if so why.
Recently I spent some time in a very wet attic space of a new home. The problem was a lack of adequate venting. Older homes tended to be able to get away with less venting because of the type of construction as there were a lot of drafts throughout the home, newer...
My home has asphalt shingles. I’ve been told I should check the shingles for potential leaks, how should I do that?
First of all anytime you plan to get off the ground be prepared and don't work alone if possible. On a low slope roof I generally climb on the roof if possible. Getting a top view of the shingles and roof penetrations is best but if you are afraid of heights you...
I’m buying a home with hot water heat. What are some things I should check on the boiler?
First of all boilers use water to distribute heat. Anyone who has been a homeowner for any length of time can tell you how destructive water can be. This is also true in a builder system. The water in the lines can ruin the boiler in short order. If you live in a...
There is a hinge on the door to my garage that closes the door automatically, can I remove it?
It's your house so you can basically do as you please, but before you do you should understand why the self-closure rule is in place. There is a possibility that this door will be left open without the loaded hinges. The problem with this is that the door is a safety...
My garage door reverses all the time. Is there a way to correct this?
Yes and it is usually not difficult to adjust. Most likely one of two problems is occurring; the door is either traveling too far causing a binding situation or the down force is set too light. Both of these conditions can usually be corrected by making small...
I have a 16′ wide garage door. Recently the door has been binding and does not open properly. I notice it bends a lot when it first opens. What should I do?
One thing to remember is that these wide doors are heavy and require several components to work in tandem to ensure proper and smooth operation. In general when the opener begins to pull the door up it puts a tremendous amount of force on the top center panel. Usually...
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