17 Common Household Problems and How to Fix Them Yourself July 7, 2020 by Julia Weaver The warm summer months bring long days filled with outdoor activities and cherished moments with your loved ones. But nothing ruins a good day...
17 Common Household Problems and How to Fix Them Yourself July 7, 2020 by Julia Weaver The warm summer months bring long days filled with outdoor activities and cherished moments with your loved ones. But nothing ruins a good day...
by Nick Gromicko One of the easiest ways to reduce solar heat gain and subsequent energy costs is as simple as planting a tree. The strategic placement of trees, known as landscape shading or tree shading, is a technique used to provide...
by Eric Murrell Whether you’re buying a new home or looking at some upgrades for your current living space, the chances are that a few smart home upgrades have crossed your mind as part of the process. It’s easier than ever to build...
Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind but, depending on the findings, it may have the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information over a short period of...
by Nick Gromicko Solar energy offers considerable advantages over conventional energy systems by nullifying flaws in those systems long considered to be unchangeable. Solar power for home energy production has its flaws, too, which are outlined in...
by Fran J. Donegan of The Home Depot Many homeowners who are unfamiliar with construction and wiring are timid when it comes to electrical work. It makes perfect sense to have a healthy respect for electricity—it can be dangerous if...
10 Rental Tools for DIY Home Projects by Fran J. Donegan for The Home Depot If you don't own the right tools for tackling a remodeling or maintenance project, you have the option of renting them or buying them outright. The decision is usually...
by Mark Cohen, J.D., LL.M., InterNACHI General Counsel, and Nick Gromicko, InterNACHI Founder Some sellers – often, those working without an agent – want to sell their home “as is” so they don’t have to invest money fixing it...
by Nick Gromicko and Ben Gromicko Building orientation is the practice of facing a building so as to maximize certain aspects of its surroundings, such as street appeal, to capture a scenic view, for drainage considerations, etc. With rising energy...
The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco The term "stucco" is used to describe a type of exterior plaster applied as a two- or three-part coating directly onto masonry, or applied over wood or metal lath to a log or wood frame structure....
Wood-destroying insects and other organisms can cause serious problems in the wooden structural components of a house, and may go undetected for a long period of time. New Construction All chemical soil treatments, bait systems, and chemical...
Plumbing may be defined as the practice, materials and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances and appurtenances in connection with sanitary and storm drainage facilities, the venting system,...
by Nick Gromicko Lightning is the "visible discharge of static electricity within a cloud, between clouds or between the earth and a cloud," as defined by Underwriters Laboratories. Lightning is unpredictable and a serious threat to buildings...
Water may be essential to life, but, as a destructive force, water can diminish the value of your home or building. Homes as well as commercial buildings can suffer water damage that results in increased maintenance costs, a decrease in the value of...
by Nick Gromicko and Kate Tarasenko Burglary is a crime of opportunity. And burglars don’t want to spend a lot of time looking through a home to find things of value to steal, which is why there are obvious locations that they always check. ...
by Nick Gromicko Remodeling can dramatically increase the quality of life for building occupants, but if you are considering a remodel strictly as an investment, think twice about it. Remodeling is rarely a sound monetary...
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat...
Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon The EPA recommends: If you are buying a home or selling your home, have it tested for radon. For a new home, ask if radon-resistant construction features were used and if the home has been tested. ...
Lead Facts Did you know the following facts about lead? FACT: Lead exposure can harm young children and babies even before they are born. FACT: Even children who seem healthy can have high levels of lead in their...
Building a Home If you want to build a new home, there are things you need to know before you begin. Learn about construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights. MPS Supplementing Model Building Codes The...