mold: Flooding the home just makes good sense,... to a bank! - 01/15/10 01:45 AM

It is proven over and over that banks should not be the primary owner of homes.  Very simple tasks, like returning a phone call or turning the gas on, turn into monumental chores that very rarely get completed properly.
 
Recently I got the chance to inspect a bank owned property here in Salem, Oregon.  It was cool the morning of the inspection but not unusual (the high 20’s).  The bank in their infinite wisdom turned the water to the home on, for the inspection.  But……some one forgot about the heating system…… The agent, client and I walked into the … (12 comments)

mold: Whats Lurking under the Surface - 02/22/09 02:36 PM
  Residential building is an ever evolving science that is improving upon previous knowledge and materials continually.  A new home is a series of systems and components that rely on one another to perform properly.  If the previous component is installed improperly all of the other systems that are built upon that component will not live up to their potential.  I recently had the opportunity to inspect a beautiful new home here in West Salem, Oregon that was like a display home for just why you need a home inspection on a new home.
 
  Cosmetically this home was very … (6 comments)

mold: Grow mold in your attic (vent to the soffit) - 12/20/08 08:25 AM
Ah mold.  It is such a hot button.  I know just by putting the word MOLD into my title this post will get attention.
People are interested, but I am still surprised at the lack of knowledge or the inaccuracy of knowledge (even you agents, who need to know the basics).
This is not intended to be a general knowledge post. (go here for that)  This is a heads up for everyone on the issues concerning a currently accepted means of exhausting bathroom vents.  Currently it is acceptable to duct bathroom vents to an attic vent.  This is usually a good … (2 comments)

mold: Mold is Everywhere - 09/07/08 06:06 AM
Mold is everywhere.
Mold/fungus has microscopic spores that are airborne and are able to easily blow around the world.  Due to the spore's ability to be in the air there is no place on earth that does not have fungal spores present. (except maybe special industrial clean rooms and operating rooms)  With this knowledge of mold/fungus we can draw the conclusion that there is no such thing as a, "mold free," house.  All homes have spores present the spores are waiting for a conducive environment to grow.  "Conducive environment," means: temperature, food and water at the right levels.
Molds/fungi grow best … (5 comments)