Ask A Home Inspector

Peeling Paint In Bathroom

Saturday, March 29th, 2008

Ted W writes, I repainted our bathroom a few months ago & now the paint is kind of flaking off in areas, what would cause this? More than likely Ted it is from hairspray on the walls, I have run into this problem myself & this what I did. Scrape any ... Continue reading.

White Stains On Chimney

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

Pat M writes: My new brick chimney has white streaks down the sides. Both the builder & the mason say the stains are normal & will go away on their own, but I am still concerned. Are they a long-term problem that I will have to worry about when my ... Continue reading.

A Better Asphalt Sealant

Saturday, March 15th, 2008

Evan S says, Temperatures in the 70's the other day got me to thinking about some spring time projects around the house, one if which will be re-coating my asphalt driveway. Are all asphalt sealants the same? Funny you should mention that Evan as I found my mind wandering down the ... Continue reading.

What Should I Ask A Home Inspector?

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

Owen wrote: I am thinking about purchasing a house. What questions should I ask when I'm looking for a home inspector or should I use my Real Estate agents usual home inspector? Owen, one of the big questions used to be if they are a member of one of fraternal organizations such as, ASHI, ... Continue reading.

Why Do My Lights Flicker ?

Saturday, March 8th, 2008

Andy Thomas asks, Whenever I turn on an appliance in my house the lights throughout the home flicker, why? Should I be concerned about the safety or condition of the house wiring? A slight flicker is fairly normal when a big motor load such as an air conditioner or washing machine ... Continue reading.

Reboring A Door

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

Keith D asks? I bought new doorknobs to install in my older home, but the existing holes are too small for the new locks & there is no wood to engage the pilot bit of my hole saw. How do I enlarge the holes? Keith, there are 2 ways you can ... Continue reading.

Hairline Cracks In Retaining Wall

Friday, February 29th, 2008

George B asks, Last year I poured an 8 inch thick concrete retaining wall on thick footings at the frost line with plenty of rebar. We poured the wall in a single pour & used a vibrator to settle it, the temperature that day was around 100 degrees F. Now ... Continue reading.

Best Wood For Exterior Trim

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

Charles T asks, I am going to make custom casing for a traditional wood front door & do not want to use synthetic material. I can use more expensive material in this small area, but don't want to use teak. Which wood resists rot & holds paint well. Teak doesn't paint ... Continue reading.

Problems With Stair Riser Height

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

Billy S says, We were originally going to have a vinyl floor in our addition, but have decided to go with 3/4" hardwood, the stairs have already been installed & the change in flooring means that the first step will now be 3/4" shorter than the rest of the steps. ... Continue reading.

How Often To Change Your HVAC Filter

Thursday, February 21st, 2008

Joyce M asks, How often should I change my air conditioners filter? Are the return air vents in your house covered with dirt? If so, you’re not cleaning or replacing your filter often enough! You should replace or clean the filter once a month. With forced air furnace systems, air recycling ... Continue reading.