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Building a Home Additon
Besides providing your home with more living space, a home addition can be a terrific investment. However, before embarking on such a project the homeowner should first consider several important items. These items include: home market values in the...
Candles
A candle is a light source usually consisting of an internal wick which rises
through the center of a column of solid fuel. Typically the fuel is some form
of wax with paraffin wax being the most common. Prior to the candle being
ignited,...
Installing A Steam Bath – Part One
Do you love steam baths? Feel that you can't survive without them? If you are one of those who live for steam, consider getting a steam bath installed in your home. Having your own is the ultimate for many steam bath lovers and...
Plan Your House By Following Some Simple Steps
Custom-home designs and specifications typically are created through a four-step process, as follows:
1. The buyer brings his or her ideas for the home to the table or the buyer and builder develop some preliminary ideas together. Very often,...
Power Outages: How Can Homeowners Prepare?
Power Outages: How Can Homeowners Prepare?
(ARA) - When tropical storm Isabel swept through the East Coast in September, it left widespread flooding, countless downed trees and 6 million people without power. Everything ground to a halt: of those...
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Schreiber, Johansson Build A 'Bridge' To A Classic
Liev Schreiber and Scarlett Johansson are starring in a widely praised revival of Arthur Miller's <em>A View From The Bridge</em>. They tell reporter Jeff Lunden that as in all great tragedies, this one's clashes and catastrophes have something of the inevitable about them.
Stargazing At The Opera
The Hayden Planetarium in New York takes opera to the moon with a new production of <em>Il Mondo Della Luna.</em> Diane Paulus and Philip Bussmann talk about merging cosmos footage with music, how science can enhance the arts and the future of technology and theater.
Obama 'The Musical' Opens In Germany
A new theater production <em>Hope: The Obama Musical Story</em> opened this week in Frankfurt, Germany. It tells the story, in song and dance, of America's first black president. It is likely to be a big success in a country where President Obama is still immensely popular.
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Prepare your home for inspection
Get the most out of your inspection with some very basic preparation
Before the inspection
Before visiting the site, check with your local jurisdiction to determine:
·The site's zoning, setback, height, and building coverage requirements,
·Grandfathered uses and conditions, proffers, liens, and applicable fire regulations.
·If the site is in an seismic zone.
·If the site is in a hurricane or high tornado-risk region.
·If the site is in a flood plain or other flood-risk zone.
·If there is any record of hazards in the soil or water on or near the site.
Conducting the on-site inspection
Once you are at the site, conduct a brief walk-through of the building and the site. Make note the property's overall condition and appearance. If it appears to have been well maintained, it is far less likely to have serious problems. Note the building's period and style and try to determine when it was built.
Next, examine the quality of the building's construction and design and that of its neighborhood. There is no substitute for good design and durable, sound construction. Finally, do an assessment of the building's functional layout. Does the building "work" or will it have to be significantly altered to make it usable and marketable?
Look for signs of water damage and dampness. Water is usually a building's biggest enemy and a dry building will not have problems with wood decay, subterranean termites, or corroded and rusted
Study: Colonoscopy Prevents Colon Cancer Deaths
Removing precancerous growths spotted during the test can cut the risk of dying from colon cancer in half, the study suggests. Doctors have long assumed a benefit, but research hasn't shown before that removing polyps would improve survival rates.
Building Your Dream Home - Part 2
Razing the Cottage
With new house plans and permits in hand, subcontractors hired and a Septic Design in process, it was now time to raze the existing cottage. I considered employing the local fire department to burn it down, however I chose the...
equipment.
The formal inspection
After completing the initial walk-through, begin the formal inspection process:
·Inspect the site, building exterior, and building interior
·Record pertinent information as needed.
·Inspect the structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems
·Record the size, capacity, and other relevant information about each system or component as needed.
While most inspections consist of observing, measuring, and testing building elements that are exposed to view, there are conditions that require the removal of some part of the building to observe, measure, or test otherwise concealed construction. Such intrusive inspections require some demolition and should be performed only with the permission of the owner and by experienced, qualified mechanics.
Record general building data and site layouts, elevations, and floor plans first. This information will form the basis for later rehabilitation decisions. Then record the size, capacity, and condition/needed repairs information for each building component. This will highlight what needs to be repaired or replaced. The inspection may be completed in one visit or over several visits, depending on the property's condition, the weather, problems of access, and the need for testing or expert help.
About the Author
Larry Westfall is the owner of
http:://www.AboutCarpentry.com
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