Some scary, some strange, some just make me say hmmm?

I take a lot of pictures when I do a home inspection, some of them are pretty boring and unless you see the comment that goes along with the picture they really don't make much sense.  However, every once in a while I see some strange, sometimes scary and occasionally just odd things and manage to capture those moments with a photograph.
Here are a few that might give you some insight into things a home inspector sees:

Bats on a Balcony

These little critters where found under a canvas canopy that was folded up.  This was on the 3rd floor balcony of a condominium in downtown Denver.  When I walked out on the balcony I saw what I thought might be mice poop and thought to myself, "those are some enterprising little critters", when I opened up the canopy I found that it was actually the flying kind of mice that were making the mess.  There were about 30 bats that were not too happy when I bothered them.  They kindly all flew away so I could finish my inspection, though.

This was a black widow spider I saw in a garage.  The picture does not do her any justice.  I am not a big fan of spiders, although I have to play mind games with myself every time I get into a crawlspace, but this was one of the most beautiful spiders I have ever seen.  The color of her body was a glossy black and the red hour glass shape was just like I heard described many times.  I felt bad that she was going to have to go although if it were my house I wouldn't feel a bit guilty about calling the exterminator.

This poor bird fell out of the chimney flue when I opened up the damper.  It certainly startled me but he had been dead for quite a while so there wasn't an awful smell.   The house was vacant so I can only assume that if someone had been living there they would have heard the poor thing in the chimney. I have not yet had the opportunity to encounter a live animal like a squirrel or a raccoon caught in a chimney, but I guess it isn't uncommon in the inspection world.

     This was a Do It Yourself sump pit and pump.  Unfortunately it worked about as well as you might expect.  the top of the bucket was above the floor joist.  It certainly couldn't have handled the flood that would have been required to fill the buck.  I'm not sure they understood the purpose.


This swag lamp as attic lighting was rather creative and pretty stylish to boot.  The best dressed attic in the neighborhood I imagine.

The car jack as floor support is much more common than you might think.  This is one of the better pictures I've been able to get of that 'fix' to a sagging floor.

I'll include more pictures in a later post.

If you'd like to learn how to do your own home improvement projects visit my website at www.workshopforowomen.com and see the home improvement classes that I offer.
If you're in the market to buy or sell a home in the Denver Metro Area, please let me assist you! Visit my new webstie at www.judybrowneonline.com

How to find a stud...

Of course I'm talking about the wood framing member found behind your drywall, but you knew that didn't you?

A Good Place to Start

    To find your first stud look for a receptacle (electrical outlet) in your wall.  The electrical boxes which hold your receptacles are attached directly to a wall stud.  You will find a stud located on one side or the other of the receptacle. 

 Electronic Stud Finder (the best method)

The surest method of stud-finding is the electronic stud finder.  This stud finder locates studs by measuring the density of a wall.  These units flash a light when a stud is found.  By coming toward the stud from both ends, you can find and mark its edges, and then accurately determine its center.  After finding the approximate location of your first stud by starting at a receptacle, you can verify its location using the electronic stud finder.  The remaining wall studs should be located at 16 or 24 inch intervals along your wall.

No Stud Finder?  Try this Simple Method

     To determine on which side of the receptacle the stud is located you can drive in a small test nail.  You can feel immediately if you have hit wood.  Measure 16” or 24” from that location and using the nail test again, verify the location of the stud. 

The "Traditional" Method

     Tap the wall lightly with your knuckles or a hammer wrapped in a cloth.  The solid sound of the wooden stud beneath the wall will be different from the hollow sound produced by the spaces between studs.

     Once you locate a solid area, drive in a small test nail.  If you do not hit the stud you will have to move slightly in one direction or the other and try again.

Magnetic Stud Finder

     A low-tech and inexpensive stud finder uses a magnet to locate nails or screws which fasten wall materials to underlying studs.

          These units will find the nails and screws, but they can also pick up metal conduit and galvanized pipes, so you should verify by checking 16” or 24 “ to the side of a given reading to see if there is another stud.

Last Resort

     Drill a small, sharply angled hole in an inconspicuous spot, push in a piece of coat hanger wire or other stiff wire until it hits a solid surface.  Mark the wire with tape, remove it from the hole and measure the length of wire from the tape to the end.  This is approximate distance from your hole to the side of the stud.  Measure 16” or 24” and using a small nail verify the location of the next stud.

If you're interested in learning more about how to improve or take care of your home check out our home improvement classes at  Workshop for Women

3 Unusual DIY Safety Tips

I talk a lot about safety in my home improvement classes and most of us are familiar with the most common safety tips such as wearing safety glasses, hearing protection or dust masks. Several times in the past I've talked about ladder safety and personally I consider the ladder one of the most dangerous tools we own.  But there are a few safety tips that are rarely talked about that I believe every homeowner should know.

Here are my 3 unusual safety tips:

1. Carry a cell phone with you. When working alone whether cleaning gutters on the roof, working in a crawlspace or doing your yearly attic inspection (if you haven't done it this year, now is the time!) There are many stories of homeowners getting trapped or stuck in dangerous situations without a cell phone on hand to call someone to come to the rescue. Here's a link to a story if you don't believe me. http://www.aolnews.com/2010/06/10/conn-man-stuck-for-days-in-furnace-loses-arm/ 
2. Stop if you are tired, uncomfortable or you feel awkward when performing a task.  I often say, especially in my power tool class, "If it feels awkward it is unsafe", be sure to set up your work area so that you are comfortable performing all the tasks required for the project from reaching across a piece of material to saw, to lifting heavy objects or reaching to install a light fixture.  Here's a link to a story of a man killed because he was sitting down while using a circular saw. http://parker.kdvr.com/news/news/109534-man-cut-killed-circular-saw-breckenridge 
3. Turn off the electricity FIRST! If your basement or crawlspace floods from damaged to water pipes our first reaction may be to race to shut off the water. NEVER enter a basement, crawlspace or any other room that is flooded until you have shut off the electrical power at your main electrical service panel.  Risk of electrocution is real if you enter a flooded area where the water may be in contact with a live electrical source.  Here's a lint to a story of a man who thankfully was saved from serious injury or possibly death.  http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s2242043.shtml 

I hope that you use this information, not to stop working on your home, but to take the time to consider what you are doing before you start.  Here's to a summer filled with fun, successful and SAFE home improvement projects. 

If you live in the Denver Metro area and are interested in learning to do your own home improvement projects or have a home you are interested in buying or selling, please visit my website at www.judybrowneonline.com for information on what I do and how I can help.

Hardwood 101

This is an event I've attended in the past.  I can highly recommend it for great information about hardwood flooring...all your questions will be answered.

Judy

www.workshopforwomen.com

Upcoming classes at Workshop for Women

Electrical Basics Wednesday Feb 15th & 22nd 6pm - 9 pm

Basic Power Tools Saturday March 3rd 9 am - Noon

Carpentry Basics Saturday March 3rd 1 pm - 4 pm

T&G Flooring Presents

HARDWOOD 101: Buying The Floor That's Perfect For You

If you're thinking about a spring hardwood floor project, why not do a little research now?

Come join us for our next 1 1/2 hour presentation over fine wine, cheeses and charcuterie for a no-nonsense primer about the latest trends in hardwood flooring. Our students regularly include homeowners plus some of the area's leading interior designers, architects, and general contractors. Join us!

Topics include:

1. The latest design trends
2. Key hardwood characteristics that matter to you (hardness, stability and light sensitivity)
3. Finish options (polyurethanes vs natural oil finishes)
4. Trade-offs of site-finished versus pre-finished floors
5. Design flair: angled installations, innovative colors, inlays, borders, stain colors and techniques
6. Eco-friendly considerations like pine bark beetle kill flooring and bamboo - pro's and con's!
7. How to spot quality
8. Reclaimed hardwoods, what's old is new!
Avoid buyer's remorse. Learn why a prefinished hardwood product's 50-year wear-warranty doesn't really matter. Learn how to get a beautiful floor that will last.

This isn't a sales pitch for a particular set of products!

This isn't a how-to course!

This is our effort to bring both education and value to our elite clientele. Choosing hardwood flooring is hard. No matter where you buy, make an informed choice that will bring years of lasting value. Take Hardwood 101!

We promise a fun, relaxing, and informative evening!

Show up early and browse our newly redesigned gallery showroom to see the latest hardwood flooring products. Plus, check our our new samples of beautiful decorative concrete!

Space is limited. You must RSVP!

WHEN: Thursday February 23rd, 2012
TIME: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (but come early for refreshments)
LOCATION: T&G Flooring, 5690 Logan Street, Denver, CO 80216 (58th Avenue & I-25)

Sign up today by emailing ckeale@TandGFlooring.com or call 303-293-8600

5 simple things to do while you're stuck inside

Some parts of the country are experiencing unseasonably warm winters and other parts are the exact opposite. Here' in Colorado it's been about average but we are getting ready for a big snowstorm that is coming our way and I though it would be a good time to do some simple home maintenance tasks that I tend to procrastinate over.

If you find yourself stuck inside due to bad weather and need to take a break from surfing the internet here are 5 simple things you can do so you can feel somewhat productive in between watching youtube videos or playing Texas Hold 'em on Facebook:)

1. Inspect your roof from inside your attic.
   I recommend that homeowners do this at least once a year, especially if you don't regularly get on your roof to clean gutters like we do.  This is a pretty simple task although you'll need a good ladder and flashlight.  You might want to put on a dust mask, too.  The main thing you're looking for is any staining around penetrations like the one pictured here.  This may indicate you have a leak. If you inspect the attic on a regular basis you'll know whether this staining is new or from a previous problem that you've already fixed.
2. Clean out your tub and shower drains. There is a great little tool called a "Zip It" that you can pick up at your local Ace Hardware or home improvement store.  It is simple to use and very effective.  I have to clean my tub drain about once a month since I have longer hair.  If you haven't done this in a while, now is a good time. 
3. Re-caulk tubs and showers.This is one of those jobs that is most often ignored but can cause a lot of damage if it is ignored for too long.  Here's a link on some tips on caulking your tubs and showers. http://homeinfosource.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-caulk-tubs-showers-sinks-and.html . Be sure to remove all the old caulk before applying the new!
4. Clean out your dryer vent.This can sometimes be a 2 person job as it may require that you move your dryer away from the wall and disconnect the vent.  If your laundry room is as small as mine this can really be a chore but it is still something that should be done.  If you can access it more easily from the outside this might be a chore better left for a nicer day.  You can purchase vent cleaning kits that have brushes attached to long flexible tubes. Here's a link to some information about dryer safety.  http://homeinfosource.blogspot.com/2010/11/clothes-dryer-fire-safety-maintenance.html 
5. Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) website for recall notices for products you have in your home.  You're going to be on the internet anyway, it might as well be productive.  Here is a link to the search function on the CSPC website.  http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

For Example here is a list of all of the Refrigerators that have been recalled according to a search done on the CSPC site:

Liebherr Expands Recall of Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Door Can Detach (November 16, 2011)

Liebherr Recalls Built-In Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Door Can Detach (March 3, 2011)

Fagor America Inc. Recalls Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard (December 16, 2010)

Liebherr Recalls Built-In Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Door Can Detach (January 27, 2010)

Maytag Expands Recall of Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard (August 25, 2009)

Viking Range Corporation Recalls Built-In Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Doors Can Detach (June 16, 2009)

Maytag Recalls Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard (March 10, 2009)

W.C. Wood Company Inc. Recall of Upright Freezers and Single Door Refrigerators (September 27, 2005)

LG Electronics and Sears, Roebuck and Co. Recall to Repair Refrigerators (June 29, 2005)

Kenmore Elite-Brand TRIO Model Refrigerators Recalled by Maytag Corporation (April 7, 2003)

Norcold Recalls Refrigerators (October 18, 2001)

Servel Gas Refrigerators Still In Use Can Be Deadly (July 22, 1998)

Amana/Kenmore Refrigerator Hazard Fix by Amana (November 3, 1994, Revised June 29, 2006)

Sub-Zero Will Inspect Refrigerators (September 19, 1994)

Refrigerator repaired by Kelvinator (December 20, 1977)

Refrigerator Repaired by Magic Chef (December 20, 1977)

Refrigerator Repaired by White-Westinghouse (December 20, 1977)

Refrigerator Repaired by Amana (August 22, 1977)

Five simple maintenance tasks to start the new year

 To start out the new year I'd like to recommend that every homeowner learn the basics of home maintenance.  Here are 5 simple things every homeowner can do to get the new year started off right.

If you live in the Metro Denver area and are interested in learning how to maintain and improve your home visit my website to see our list of home improvement classes and our current calendar of classes.

1. Check your furnace, humidifier and air cleaner filters.  Clean and replace as needed.  When installing a new disposable furnace filter be sure the arrow printed on the side of the filter is pointing towards the furnace’s blower chamber.
2. Check and test all your GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) receptacles. 
   
   
   
   • Simply plug any electrical device (a small lamp or radio work well) into the receptacle
   • Turn on the device
   • Press the ‘test’ button on the receptacle
   • It should immediately shut off the electrical supply, shutting off the light. If it does not shut off the power supply, replace the receptacle.
   
   
3. Test all Carbon Monoxide and  Smoke alarms. If you do not have a Carbon Monoxide alarm, buy one and intall it TODAY.  Any home with gas-fired appliances (furnace, boiler, water heater, fireplace, stove, dryer, etc.)  should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed.  Replace batteries if necessary.  Never disable your safety devices.
4. Check all exhaust vents and fans to be sure they are clean and functioning properly. Places where you might find exhaust vents and fans are bathrooms, kitchens (over your stove), attics and crawlspaces.
5. Locate and mark all shut-off devices for the heating, electrical and plumbing systems. 
   Here is a list of the location of common shut-off devices.
   
   
   • Main water shut-off valve – typically located on the lowest level of the home (this could be a crawl space) on the wall near the street.
   • Individual water shut-off valves at sinks, toilets and washing machines.
   • Water shut-off and gas shut-off valves at your water heater.
   • Individual gas shut-off valves at all heating devices (furnace, boilers, gas fireplaces)
   • Individual gas shut-off vales at appliances (gas stoves and dryers)
   • Main electrical service panels and any sub-panels.
   
   
   

5 Simple ways to seal drafts in your home

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to look for ways to make your home a little more comfortable by sealing up drafts around windows, doors and some other places that may not immediately come to mind.  

Here are 5 simple and relatively inexpensive ways to seal up those drafts now that winter is here:

Seal all of the electrical cover plates on your exterior walls. For less than $5 you can buy foam insulating pads that fit under the cover plates and seal off any drafts coming through the wall cavities.  

Check your fireplace damper and doors.  The fireplace should be completely sealed off when not in use or it can steal a lot of heat from your home.  This draft stopper costs about $50. Be careful and wait for the fireplace to cool off before you install it, but  you will be amazed at how much warmer you room will be with the fireplace sealed off.  Of course you can use insulation or some other material to seal it off but you may find it is not  easy to remove when you are ready to use the fireplace again.   A link to buy on-line  

Caulk around windows and trim.  A tube of caulk is less than $3 and with a good caulk gun and 1 or 2 tubes you should be able to get all your windows caulked.  Check for leaks around the window trim, too,  not just around the windows.  

Stop drafts under door with a door draft stopper.  You can buy one for about $15 and if you’re at all crafty make yourself a cute one like the little dog in the picture.  You can put these on window sills, too. A link to buy on-line here  

Insulate and seal attic access panels.  You can glue a piece of solid insulation foam board to the back and seal around the edges with removable sealant.  Just peel it away when you need to access the attic. A link to buy on-line

 

If you live in the Metro Denver area and would like more information on how to make your home more energy efficient and learn how to do it all yourself check out my weatherization class (it works to keep your home cool in the summer, too!)  You can visit my website at www.workshopforwomen.com  for a complete list of my home improvement classes for women.