Side Note

Side Note: Back to the Earth

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T12:42:46+00:00 June 25th, 2015|Additional Services, Mold, Side Note|

Mold has become a big issue in recent years. It has been the subject of lawsuits, a terror to builders, subject for front page writer, and the growth of a "new" industry - - Mold Testing & Remediation. You might think its new. It is not new. You might think it is complex. It is [...]

Side Note: Crawl Space

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T12:43:45+00:00 June 25th, 2015|Basements, Side Note|

Wood + Water = BAD NEWS Exposed earth contributes a lot of water vapor into the crawl space air. The earth is damp and as that damp soil dries into the house. In climates where there are dirt crawl spaces, you can never dry the earth, and this invisible stream of water vapor from the [...]

Side Note: Just Add Water

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T11:32:24+00:00 June 4th, 2015|Basements, Side Note|

In this week's Side Note, we switch gears from basements to crawl spaces. Since air flows upward into the upper levels of your home from the crawl space, it brings the humidity from the crawl space with it. The effects on your home include: Dust Mites Sticking (swollen) doors and windows Smelly, Damp Carpets Buckling [...]

Side Note: Basement Waterproofing – Inside Strategies

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T11:16:04+00:00 April 22nd, 2015|Basements, Side Note|

In previous posts we've covered a few exterior options to protect your basement. Now let's review what options you have inside! By installing a drainage system around the inside of the basement along the wall, you can capture water at the most common point of entry - the floor/wall joint. Capturing water from the walls can prevent [...]

Side Note: Outer Limits

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T11:15:56+00:00 April 22nd, 2015|Basements, Side Note|

By now we've learned that there are two types of basements - the ones that already leak and the ones that will eventually leak. If the soil around the foundation of your home is pitched toward the foundation, it is a good idea to change the grade by adding dirt so that the soil slopes away. [...]

Side Note: Dry Basement

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T11:16:15+00:00 April 17th, 2015|Basements, Mold, Side Note|

Buyers expect a dry basement. No one wants to buy a home with a wet basement. These days most states have disclosure forms that would require the seller to details a series of questions about the property...one of which is water in the basement. Home inspectors are trained to find this sort of defect during [...]

Side Note: Basement Space

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T11:16:25+00:00 April 17th, 2015|Basements, Mold, Side Note|

Even though it may not be counted in the actual square footage of your home, your basement is VALUABLE space! What can you do with your basement? How about a Playroom for the kids, a Party Room or Family Room? A home gym to keep you fit and healthy, or maybe a craft room for your [...]

Side Note: Radon Gas & Waterproofing

By Home Inspector| 2015-06-25T11:16:59+00:00 April 17th, 2015|Basements, Mold, Radon, Side Note|

Radon Gas is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from radium deposits in the earth's crust. If present in the soil under your home, it can get sucked into your house via the basement or crawl space. DON'T PANIC! It's fairly common and easy to get rid of. Some people that know "a little", [...]