Category Archives: Fix It & Use It

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  Fireweed atop a chimney

  Posted on August 1, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Here’s a fascinating little picture from a recent home inspection. Interestingly, I found fireweed growing out of a crack in a chimney. It was a solitary piece of life higher than any point on the house. I’ve heard these weeds are named after their ability to be one of the first things to grow after […]

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  For removal please cut drywall here

  Posted on July 25, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  How’s your memory? I’ve got a pretty good memory on some things and my wife will tell you I have a terrible memory where it really counts! For all of you who want to make it a little easier for your self in the future I want to encourage you to label things! My favorite […]

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  Kudos to this roofing contractor

  Posted on May 30, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Homes built in the last twenty years began to install fascia boards that extended past gutters. This shortened gutters resulting in annoying drips at the ends of these boards. It looks beautiful until the rain water causes the ends to discolor or green algae-like materials to grow on the boards. Even worse is when the […]

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  Hot vent hazard – look but don’t touch!

  Posted on May 23, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

      There’s a lot of newer homes built with gas insert fireplaces. Rather then constructing a chimney through the roof contractors are venting these outside the exterior wall. This is a much cheaper way to build a home and accomplishes the essential task of exhausting gas fumes outside of the home. But there is […]

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  When you find an ant in your house

  Posted on May 16, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  We have a lot of aunts who visit our house and I can say honestly that they are not a problem. We love Jenny, Becky, Bethesda, Katy, Aunty Julie and Aunt Natty to name a few. What about “ant” problems? First, truth be told, ants are not infringing on our territory we have built our homes […]

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  The ugly truth about beauty bark

  Posted on May 9, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Come the spring we order yards of bark, mulch and other landscape materials to bring vitality to our flower beds. What a satisfying sight and smell of freshened beds. Two of the most common uses of landscape materials are to fill gaps under our fences and hide the ugly concrete foundations below the siding. I agree that it looks clean and […]

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  Buried in your yard

  Posted on May 3, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  In a recent inspection of newly constructed home I arrived just minutes before the bulldozer began to cover the septic drain field. It was very interesting for me to see (maybe not for many of you). Just in case you were curious to see what it looks like, check it out! Most people living within […]

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  Creative Home Repairs

  Posted on May 1, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  I’ve seen a few funny things in recent months that are worth showing.Now I’m all for trying to do things yourself but when repairs are made this way its time for some help! Bathtub Faucet: Looking to add a little piz-azz to your bathroom decor? Want an accent color available only with custom faucet orders? I found your answer! […]

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  Cover it – sorry, Santa!

  Posted on February 8, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  How Santa Claus gets down the chimney is about to get more complicated. I’m advising clients to install metal covers over traditional chimney flues. Homes were not usually installed with these but times have changed. Traditional brick or concrete block chimneys seem to be rarely seen in construction nowadays. Wood framed chimneys are the norm and sometimes it […]

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  Ready to impress a home inspector?

  Posted on February 1, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Last Thursday was a hard day for me with my inspections. There were two homes I inspected – one built in 2001 and the other 1968. Both had very large crawlspaces and the moment I popped the covers I was overwhelmed by that all-too-familiar smell of rat urine. Disgusting! It got worse as I pushed through rodent droppings. Structurally […]

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