Some Thoughts From Your Inspector... |
Do they really have to be that deep?
In short YES. If you are planning on building that new deck in the future make sure your footings are below the frost line. In MN this depth can range from 42" up to 60" depending on the municipality. Generally there will be a footing inspection but you should always verify depth just prior to pouring. What if the side collapses and the contractor decides not to dig it out again? One shallow footing in the bunch can ruin your deck when frost heaves it up. Once the concrete is poured it is almost impossible to verify the depth. I just put in 9 deck footings on my own home with the help of an auger and Bobcat on 7 of them. Two had to be dug by hand which isn't a lot of fun on a 98 degree day but going down deep enough will save you headaches in the future. |
What in the world!
Thank your neighbor. The reflection off a window at the neighbors house has caused the siding on this home to literally melt. Generally you will see a diagonal path across the siding caused by the sun crossing the sky. If the window next door is slightly concave it can concentrate the sun's rays enough to the point it will reach the melting point of vinyl siding which is around 165-170 degrees. In some instances it can reach a far higher temperature if focused enough. This situation can can be tough to remediate, is the neighbor responsible, the siding manufacturer, the window manufacturer?? As the use of Low-E windows increases it could be more and more of a problem. Break out the marshmallows kids... lets go to the side of the house for s'mores!
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Say goodbye to the dirt...
If you have a dirt floor in a crawl space in your home you should consider sealing it off. This website has some good information as to the draw backs of having a dirt crawl space floor. Click Here Moisture issues can be caused by an unsealed floor as well as health issues in some instances. If you take your time this is something that most homeowners should be able to do themselves although it will involve getting a little down and dirty.
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About Us
Your local Twin Cities inspection Company. We are hear to help shed some light on your sale/purchase.
"Pray that we find nothing wrong with the home but thank God if we do"
Inspection WerX 26540 France Ave Elko, Minnesota 55020 Inspection WerX 612-386-2660 |