Tag Archives: Crawlspace

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  That Scary Place Where “Monsters” Live

  Posted on May 2, 2023 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  What to Know Before Hiring an Attic and Crawlspace Service Part 1: Shuttered closets and underside bed caverns are dark places that can be scary for children. Peering into those spaces is to face the worst fear imagined. From a distance shadows cast frightening possibilities. The safest space seems to be pulled tight under the […]

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  Solstice House Check Up

  Posted on December 30, 2022 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Essential House Maintenance Chores Repeated every December and June The summer and winter solstice are great times to perform needed house maintenance so let this article be a “maintenance needed” dash light to gently prod you toward some simple house care. Addressing these tasks will make you familiar with possible repairs, alleviate the worry of […]

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  Creature Colonization Prevention thru Crawlspace Covers

  Posted on March 20, 2020 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  When it comes to crawlspace access covers there are some that work better than others. This may seem obvious but as you will see, there have been some notable efforts. The goal of a crawlspace cover is two-fold: 1) Keep moisture out, 2) Keep rodents and pests out. Here are my grades on several I […]

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  How do rodents get in my crawlspace?

  Posted on May 10, 2019 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Rodents are motivated to get into your crawlspace because it is their Promised Land – safe, warm and they live at the top of the food chain! There are three common ways I have seen rodents enter crawlspaces. The first is through the foundation wall where the sewer line enters. Crawlspace clean-up companies will install […]

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  They’re moving in with cooler weather

  Posted on October 10, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Cooling weather is very inviting for outdoor rodents looking for a safe, comfortable place where they can move to the top of the food chain. After summer play, yard work and house maintenance it is advisable to check the condition of your crawlspace access. It may have been bumped ajar or finally reached the end […]

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  Have you ever found crawlspace treasures?

  Posted on September 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  This is a question I am frequently asked or the variation, “Have you found any bodies?” Nope. Y’all have watched too movies. But if I ever find one there’s bound to be another movie made about it! No cash stashes or valuable treasures. But here are some of the things I have found… Old-style pop cans […]

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  Super Mario Mushroom

  Posted on May 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Fungi result in intriguing mushrooms of various shapes and color! I was in an older house a few weeks back and came across something that reminded me of my junior high school years of playing Super Mario Brothers, a perfectly formed mushroom. I admired it and wondered what would happen if I ate it… but […]

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  Houses to flip over!

  Posted on April 30, 2018 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  In this market many folks have found investment opportunities fixing up run down houses. As an inspector I’ve entered countless “flips” and there are some things that are good signs, and some not so good signs. I operate from the perspective that we ought to do right by one another – it doesn’t take Biblical […]

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  Another Unwanted House Guest

  Posted on May 1, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Meet the granddaddy of unwanted house guests! This is the carpenter ant. These are commonly found on summer days and are recognizable by their bulbous, black bodies. They remind my wife and me of black berries – and that’s a memorable story for another time! They are native of the Pacific Northwest and vital parts of our […]

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  An Unwanted House Guest

  Posted on April 17, 2017 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  It is easy to overlook these holes present in mostly aging structural boards. These are caused by a common wood-destroying organism called Anobiid beetle. They enjoy laying eggs in soft wood like Douglas Fir, then the larvae hatch and consume the wood fiber as they mature into adulthood. Usually they will depart after adulthood but sometimes they […]

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