InspectUSA

By Tony on May 31st, 2011 The span rating indicates the maximum inches between supports (i.e. joist, truss etc) that the panel may be applied. If there are two numbers, the first refers to roof applications, the second to floor applications. The Exposure Durability Classification defines whether the panel should be used for interior or exterior applications: Exterior panels have a fully waterproof bond and are designed for applications subject to permanent exposure to the... Read Full Story

By Tony on May 28th, 2011  FRT (fire retardant treated) Plywood FRT plywood is a sheathing  treated with a chemical to prevent flame spreading in the event of the fire. It was used on townhouses and condos roofs, 4 feet on each side (sometimes more) of the walls separating each individual unit in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s. Some types of this plywood have been identified as defective, but not all of them! It was discovered that a chemical reaction occurs at a lower attic... Read Full Story

By admin on December 23rd, 2010 The following tables show average life expectancies for various common residential appliances, mechanical systems and an assortment of interior, as well as exterior building materials. Care, routine maintenance, quality and proper installation also play big roles in performance and longevity. Appliance Years Microwave oven 10 Garbage disposal 10-12 Trash compactor* 10 Water heater, gas* 15 Water heater... Read Full Story

By Tony on December 22nd, 2010 “Fixer-Upper” or “Handyman’s Special” is a term that is often used when a property exceeds the ‘as-is’ criteria. I applaud people that are willing to accept the challenges of preparing a distressed property to become their new home. A venture of this kind can be successful, rewarding, and perhaps even cost-effective if proper information is collected before the contract is signed and if research is completed that approximates the cost and extent of necessary... Read Full Story

By Tony on December 5th, 2010 Prepare Your Home to Sell – InspectUSA.com – Meters, Test Kits, Safety Equipment & Tools! Things to Do Before Listing Your House for Sale & Being Prepared for The Home Inspection Remove any debris or refuse from the interior and exterior of the property. Clear rooms of boxes. Boxes should be neatly stacked in the basement or a spare room away from walls and outlets. Thoroughly clean the entire house. Be sure the lawn is mowed. Bushes and trees should... Read Full Story

The final walk through inspection for a new home is virtually the same procedure that is used on older homes. You or your inspector should not assume that everything is ok just because it is new & a code compliance inspector has approved the work. Frequently  the inspectors have found many items that are just too often overlooked. Some examples include gas & plumbing leaks, defective appliances, missing hardware, broken trusses, un-secured decks, exhaust pipes in attic, missing insulation & a... Read Full Story

A Pre-drywall inspection should really be completed prior to insulation installation, but after ALL trades have completed the “ROUGH-IN”. Each trade (i.e. electrician, plumber, HVAC etc) is required to obtain a permit, as well as the builder. Each trade will perform all of the “rough-in” work (typically the work that will be covered by the insulating & drywall process) and then call their respective code-compliance inspector to have the work approved & signed off, for the “ROUGH-IN” portion... Read Full Story

It’s been almost one year since you moved into your new home. Happy Anniversary! We want to remind you that the one-year warranty on your new home will soon expire. This may be your last opportunity to inform your builder of items that need repair or improvement, or were not constructed and /or installed properly the first time. These items should be corrected before your builder is relieved of his/ her responsibility under the one-year warranty. You should not have to pay for things that... Read Full Story

Yes, there is a chance that radon gas is coming from that wonderful, natural custom granite countertop you had installed. You see, radon is found deep in the earth as a by-product of Uranium. Uranium is deposited along with the granite. In fact, radon can be found in a wide array of building materials that are mined from the earth. To test for radon in a granite counter-top or any other suspected material; we recommend getting at least 3 short term radon test kits (RN-LS). Available at: www... Read Full Story

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  announced it intends to propose a rule to reduce mercury waste from dental offices. Dental amalgams, or fillings containing mercury, account for 3.7 tons of mercury discharged from dental offices each year. The mercury waste results when old mercury fillings are replaced with new ones. The mercury in dental fillings is flushed into chair-side drains and enters the wastewater systems, making its way into the environment through discharges to... Read Full Story