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Add Sizzle to Your Surroundings
Is your home décor lacking that extra something that spells the difference between comfortable and vibrant or between comfortable and tranquil? Candles might be just the polish your décor needs. Take advantage of the sparkling colors, rich textures,...
Add Value to Your Home Before It’s Built
(ARA) - Building a new home involves a great deal of planning and decision-making. Making smart choices before construction begins could help protect the future property value of your home. From home design to the inclusion of energy saving...
An overview of commonly used materials in interior design
Every interior space has some unique qualities attached to it.
If you have visited a natural outdoor space like a forest, you
will notice thousands of varieties of "textures" in the form of
wooden barks, leaves, ground surfaces, stones, water...
Cooking up a Lighting Plan for your Kitchen
Your kitchen, more than any other room in your home, needs a good well thought out lighting plan. Today's kitchens have many more functions than just cooking a meal. For many families it is the most frequently used room in the house. Besides the...
Fountains of Refreshment
When hot, sticky days hit, try to use all your senses to keep cool. Sight and sound have amazing psychological effects, even when the thermometer soars.
One of the most cooling and relaxing sounds I know is that of a trickling spring. It...
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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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Preparing your house for inspection
Get the most out of your house inspection with some basic preparation
Before the inspection
Before visiting the site, check with the 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 earthquake/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 site and the building. Make note the property's overall appearance and condition. If it appears to have been well maintained, it is far less likely to have serious problems. Note the building's style and period and try to determine when it was built.
Next, examine the quality of the building's design and construction and that of its neighborhood. There is no substitute for good design and sound, durable 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 dampness and water damage. Water is usually a building's biggest enemy and a dry building will not have problems with wood decay, subterranean termites, or rusted and corroded
Cheyenne Jackson On 'Song Travels'
The Broadway and <em>30 Rock</em> star performs a stripped-down version of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream."
A Look at Sewing Machine Parts
Most sewing machines are well-built and will last for many years with only a few parts needing replacement. A great number of antique sewing machines are still in operation, but parts can be hard to find if the company is no longer in business....
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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