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home inspector panama city beach: Solid Brick vs. Brick Veneer - 04/03/10 08:06 PM
Solid brick and brick veneer structures use some of the same construction materials, but their installation techniques are different. Solid brick houses (also known as double-brick and solid masonry houses) are built from either two layers of brick, or a layer of concrete block and an adjacent layer of brick on the exterior. The brick is part of the building's structural support system; if the brick were removed, the building would suffer structural failures. Brick veneer is not, contrary to popular belief, composed of thin pieces of brick, such as is found in veneer floors, patios, and decorative interior elements. Brick veneer houses look almost … (2 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Pesticides - 04/03/10 08:04 PM
Pesticides are poisons designed to kill a variety of plants and animals, such as insects (insecticides), weeds (herbicides), and mold or fungus (fungicides). They are each composed of an inert carrier and a pest-specific active ingredient, both of which are toxic to humans and pets. Human Exposure Pesticides may enter the body in one of the following three ways, which are ordered from least to most dangerous:
absorbed through the skin. People can get pesticide on their skin because it is likely to splash or mist while mixing, loading or applying the chemicals. Skin contact may also occur … (2 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Roofing Underlayment Types - 04/03/10 08:01 PM
There are three basic types of underlayment used beneath roofing materials:
asphalt-saturated felt; rubberized asphalt; and non-bitumen synthetic. One of the most common types of underlayment used in residential, steep-slope applications is black, ashphalt-saturated felt paper. Felt underlayment may be made from either organic or fiberglass substrate, although the organic is much more common. It's called "organic" underlayment because it has a cellulose base. Felt underlayment is water-resistant, but not waterproof. It's available in two thicknesses: 15-pound and 30-pound. Fifteen-pound felt has a perm rating of about 5, although this number can rise in high-humidity conditions. Thirty-pound felt is more … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Static Electricity - 04/03/10 07:58 PM
Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charges on the surface of non-conducting materials. It is called "static" because, unlike a home's electrical system, static electricity has almost no current. Static typically forms when two materials come into contact, and some of the charges redistribute by moving from one material to the other. This leaves a net positive charge on one material and an equal negative charge on the other, both of which will remain if the two materials separate. If the net charges grow faster than a material can dissipate them, an electrostatic charge builds up. The excess charge can … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Plants and Indoor Air Quality - 04/03/10 07:57 PM
Raising plants indoors is a home-healthy move because of their ability to clean the air of carbon dioxide, but their benefits don't stop there. It turns out that the average houseplant can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and a host of other toxins that plague typical indoor air. It may come as a surprise, but indoor air is often much more polluted than the air outside. Off-gassing from paints, adhesives, and even unsuspected items, such as clothing and tap water, infuse the air we breathe will a host of chemicals, many of which are proven carcinogens. Newer, tighter homes are especially problematic, since they limit the amount of fresh air that … (4 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Plants and Indoor Air Quality - 04/03/10 07:55 PM
Raising plants indoors is a home-healthy move because of their ability to clean the air of carbon dioxide, but their benefits don't stop there. It turns out that the average houseplant can remove formaldehyde, benzene, and a host of other toxins that plague typical indoor air. It may come as a surprise, but indoor air is often much more polluted than the air outside. Off-gassing from paints, adhesives, and even unsuspected items, such as clothing and tap water, infuse the air we breathe will a host of chemicals, many of which are proven carcinogens. Newer, tighter homes are especially problematic, since they limit the amount of fresh air that … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Electrical Terms - 01/11/10 04:24 PM
Inspectors should understand electrical concepts in order to perform competent electrical inspections. This article seeks to clarify some elementary electrical terms and concepts that are sometimes confused.
Basic Electrical Measurement Units
Voltage, measured in volts (V), is the measure of potential energy per unit of charge. Using a "water-in-pipes" analogy, voltage in the electrical system is similar to water pressure in a plumbing system. High "pressure" or voltage in an electrical conductor means that the conductor is capable of delivering a lot of electricity to the user.Most household current is "pushed" at 120 or 240 volts, although these values are nominal, and considerable … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Carpeted Bathrooms - 01/11/10 06:34 AM
Carpeted bathrooms are bathrooms that have carpeted floors instead of traditional floor surfaces, such as tile or vinyl. Despite their tendency to foster mold and bacteria, carpets are sometimes installed in residential bathrooms for aesthetic purposes. Carpets should never be installed in bathrooms in commercial buildings.
Advantages of carpets in bathrooms:
They make bathrooms appear more warm and inviting. They are softer than tile and many people find them comfortable on bare feet. Bathroom slip hazards are reduced. It is easier to slip on hard bathroom surfaces, such as tile, than on carpet. Installation is generally quick and inexpensive. Disadvantages … (6 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Green Lumber (popping inails on drywall) - 01/11/10 06:27 AM
"Green lumber" is another term for wet lumber, which is wood used in construction that has a moisture content of more than 19%. Moisture Content
InterNACHI finds that green lumber is more commonly used in arid regions of the United States, such as Arizona and parts of California, because the wood will dry more quickly. Damper regions often require kiln-dried wood, which must have a moisture content of 19% or less. The additional expense of kiln-dried wood is the reason it is used in only a small portion of construction.
Freshly cut wood will gradually lose moisture until it reaches equilibrium … (2 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Kickout Flashing - 01/10/10 12:56 PM
Kickout flashing, also known as diverter flashing, is a special type of flashing that diverts rainwater away from the cladding and into the gutter. When installed properly, they provide excellent protection against the penetration of water into the building envelope. Several factors can lead to rainwater intrusion, but a missing kickout flashing, in particular, often results in concentrated areas of water accumulation and potentially severe damage to exterior walls. InterNACHI inspectors should make sure that kickouts are present where they are needed and that they are installed correctly. Water penetration into the cladding can occasionally be observed on the exterior wall in the form … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Home Winterization - 01/10/10 12:44 PM
Winterization is the process of preparing a home for the harsh conditions of winter. It is usually performed in the fall before snow and excessive cold have arrived. Winterization protects against damage due to bursting water pipes, and from heat loss due to openings in the building envelope. Inspectors should know how winterization works and be able to pass this information on to their clients
Plumbing System
Water damage caused by bursting pipes during cold weather can be devastating. A ruptured pipe will release water and not stop until someone shuts off the water. If no one is home to … (2 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Bathroom Ventilation Ducts and Fans - 01/09/10 09:12 AM
Bathroom ventilation systems are designed to exhaust odors and moist air to the home's exterior. Typical systems consist of a ceiling fan unit connected to a duct that terminates at the roof. Fan Function The fan may be controlled in one of several ways:
Most are controlled by a conventional wall switch. A timer switch may be mounted on the wall. A wall-mounted humidistat can be pre-set to turn the fan on and off based on different levels of relative humidity. Newer fans may be very quiet but work just fine. Older fans may be very noisy or … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) Indicators (testers) - 01/09/10 09:08 AM
What are AFCIs? Arc Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) are special types of electrical outlets and circuit breakers designed to detect and respond to potentially dangerous electrical arcs in home branch wiring.
What are AFCI indicators? AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) indicators (sometimes called AFCI testers) are portable devices designed to test AFCI functionality. They create waveform patterns similar to those produced by actual arc faults, thereby causing working AFCIs to trip. AFCI indicators are considerably larger and more expensive (several hundred dollars) than their GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) indicator counterparts and are of questionable effectiveness. For these … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Home Inspector - Mold Inspector - Inspection Services: Residential & Commercial ... - 01/08/10 06:44 PM
We are the Right Choice: We are experienced, seasoned professionals (Degree Engineers) and Certified Professional Home Inspectors who have examined over thousand of properties (Residential & Commercial) for prospective buyers and sellers in our local area. We are a local "INDEPENDENT" Professional Home Inspection & Environmental (Mold testing) company working just for you and your best interest before the investment is finalized.
HOME INSPECTOR USA does NOT belong to any REALTOR's Association. HOME INSPECTOR USA sets the standard for HOME INSPECTORS, MOLD INSPECTORS, COMMERCIAL INSPECTORS & MOLD testing / ALLERGENS testing Inspectors in the Panama City Beach, Rosemary Beach and Mexico Beach area. Distinguished … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems - 01/08/10 06:40 PM
Geothermal systems are home heating and cooling systems that gather heat from the earth. Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) use the relatively constant temperature of sub-surface soil as the exchange medium.
Geographical Distribution
As of 2004, five countries -- El Salvador, Kenya, the Phillipines, Iceland and Costa Rica -- generate more than 15% of their electricity from geothermal sources. In Iceland, geothermal energy is so cheap that some sections of pavement are heated. In the United States, roughly 50,000 geothermal heat pumps are installed every year. The U.S. leads the world in geothermal exploitation. The combined production of geothermal energy for all … (1 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Anti-Tip Brackets for Freestanding Ranges - 01/08/10 11:59 AM
Anti-tip brackets are metal devices designed to prevent freestanding ranges from tipping. They are normally attached to a rear leg of the range or screwed into the wall behind the range, and are included in all installation kits. A unit that is not equipped with these devices may tip over if enough weight is applied to its open door, such as that from a large Thanksgiving turkey, or even a small child. A falling range can crush, scald, or burn anyone caught beneath.
Bracket Inspection
Inspectors can confirm the presence of anti-tip brackets through the following methods:
It may be possible to see a wall-mounted … (0 comments)
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home inspector panama city beach: Collar Ties vs. Rafter Ties - 01/08/10 11:53 AM
Collar ties and rafter ties are both horizontal roof-framing members, each with different purposes and requirements. Collar TiesCollar ties are designed to tie together the tops of opposing rafters. This helps brace the roof framing against uplift caused by wind. Collar ties must be placed in the upper third of the roof. Other facts about collar ties:
They may or may not be required, depending on jurisdiction. InterNACHI inspectors should not call out lack of collar ties as a defect unless they know that collar ties were required in the jurisdiction in which the home is located at the time the … (0 comments)
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John M. Acaron, BSME, CHI, CMI
Santa Rosa Beach,
FL
More about me…
HOMEINSPECTORUSA, LLC
Address: P.O. Box 9354, Panama City Beach, Fl, 32408
Office Phone: (850) 814-3889
Cell Phone: (850) 814-3889
Email Me
Commercial & Mold Inspectors have varying qualifications, equipment, experience, reporting methods, and yes different pricing. One thing for sure is that a comprehensive visual Home Inspection requires work, a lot of work. Ultimately a thorough Home, Commercial & Mold Inspection depends heavily on the individual Inspector's qualifications and own effort. Our knowledge, experience, expertise, engineering background and construction (residential & commercial) set us apart from the average inspector.
If you honor HOME INSPECTOR USA, LLC (HIUSA) by permitting us to inspect your prospective home or property, I guarantee that we will give you our very best effort.
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