From Pillar to Post
Spring is upon us and it seems that runny noses, watery eyes, coughs and headaches often abound. If your doctor has not found the cause of your suffering, it may be time to consider a third possibility: mold.
More than 100 types of household molds thrive in damp conditions, making after spring showers prime time for mold to appear in floors, walls and ceilings damaged by leaky pipes or foundation walls, soaked wood, plasterboard, or even newspapers.
Molds give off tiny spores that can get into respiratory tracts and cause allergic reactions. For most people, this results in an irritating but harmless problem. But in young children, it can be more serious.
Fortunately, you may be able to protect your family by taking these three steps:
1. Regularly check areas where mold thrives, including damp basements, bathrooms, air conditioners and anywhere that ceilings or walls may have suffered water damage. Peeling wallpaper often signals moist conditions, so check these spots carefully. Always quickly repair plumbing leaks.
2. Clean mold growth with a solution of one cup bleach to three cups water. Wear a mask and rubber gloves beforehand. If the area is larger than two square feet, hire a professional to get rid of the mold without spreading spores.
3. Prevent re-growth by using a dehumidifier in basements during wet weather. If you eliminate the moisture, then mold should never be too much of a recurring problem.
Consult your Pillar To Post® Inspector if you have concerns about mold.
|
Bathrooms are a good place to invest in for more enjoyment and to add
future home value. Here are just a few expert “do or don’t” suggestions
to help you renovate. |
- DO CHOOSE QUALITY, elegant fixtures in a classic style, as they will last longer and be more resistant to shifting trends.
- DO SELECT DURABLE, water-resistant flooring such as ceramic, marble, or stone tile. For more warmth underfoot, consider installing subfloor heating coils or choose well-sealed hardwood flooring.
- DO USE FOUND SPACE. Install a recessed storage cabinet at least three inches deep in the wall between the studs to maximize vertical storage while saving floor space.
- DON’T OVERCROWD by adding too many accessories, or by installing overlarge fixtures. A 35-square-foot bathroom only has space for an average size tub/shower, toilet, and a single-sink vanity.
- DON’T NEGLECT to vent. A 50-cfm fan is sufficient for venting a bathroom 50 square feet or less, but for spaces larger than 100 square feet, two fans - one for the shower and another near the toilet are better.
There are no perfect houses. Whether you have a new home or one that's a hundred years old, houses have cracks. Houses shift and settle into position after construction. Houses will have cracks in either the cosmetic finishes or structural components. Most of these cracks have no structural significance. Some are significant and Pillar To Post® inspectors use every technique to help their clients figure out the difference.
Shrinkage Cracks
A newly poured, concrete foundation may contain small cracks because concrete shrinks as it cures. Fortunately, a shrinkage crack in a foundation wall is not structurally significant. Here’s how to recognize a shrinkage crack in a poured, concrete foundation:
- The crack will be small, less than 1/8th of an inch wide.
- The crack will be vertical.
- The crack will not extend up through the structure. The crack is in the foundation only.
- Shrinkage cracks usually occur in the middle third of the length of the foundation wall. If the crack is located towards the end of the length of the foundation wall, it’s probably not a shrinkage crack.
This discussion relates to cracks in the concrete foundation wall in a house with a basement; this is not relevant to slabs on grade or to cracks in walls above grade level. A below-grade, horizontal crack in a foundation wall, which runs the length of the basement, is likely to be a sign that the foundation is failing under the weight of the surrounding soil. The soil outside the foundation walls exerts an enormous pressure on all the foundation walls. Foundation walls are designed to be strong enough to resist this load. Occasionally, unanticipated, additional loads exert pressure and the foundation begins to fail, resulting in a horizontal crack in the foundation wall.
Settlement Cracks
Foundation settlement cracks are vertical, extending up through the structure. For a brick home, you may see cracks following the mortar joints in the brick wall. In most cases, the settlement crack itself has no structural significance; the concern is that the house may continue to settle over time.
Settlement Crack Size
A larger settlement crack is more likely to be due to ongoing movement than a smaller settlement crack is. While there are no hard and fast rules, a settlement crack or series of settlement cracks that have a sum total opening of less than 1/4 inch are probably not because of ongoing settlement.
Direction of Movement
A typical settlement crack is vertical, starting from where the crack opens up. The bumps and crevices line up and fit together like the pieces of a puzzle. If the crack face has moved in any other direction, such as a shear crack, the quarter-inch rule described above does not apply. This can be a significant structural concern.
Repaired and Re-cracked
A settlement crack that has been repaired and has re-cracked (not just a hairline crack) could also indicate ongoing movement.
More Here:
