Home owner tips and information

 Put up and Shut Up           The dastardly winter of ‘07/'08 has finally departed the northerly regions of the U.S.  Now, a great flock of snowbirds will migrate up I-95 and I-75 to return to family, friends, and fair weather, leaving behind a vast number of empty homes and condominiums.  If you...

Make it Count - Choose a Qualified Home Inspector   The process of searching for and purchasing a home that fulfills your dreams can be one of the most trying, stressful and rewarding episodes of your life.  Before moving to Florida many years ago, my wife and I lived in nine (!) different homes ...

A Well Engineered House           February 17 thru 23 is National Engineers' Week, about which President Bush wrote:  "By harnessing the power of technology and science, engineers help transform and enhance the quality of life for people around the globe.  Their work spurs innovation in many impo...

The Humidistat - that other box on your wall To keep ourselves and our fur-laden Eskimo dog comfortable during the summer, my wife and I set our thermostat at 74 degrees.   When we first moved to Florida, my wife adjusted the Humidistat to get rid of "this humidity".   Soon our house developed a ...

 Concrete: The hard facts           Last week, I received a phone call from a worried homeowner concerned about cracks in his newly installed concrete patio.  Often I am asked about cracks in concrete surfaces and what they represent.  Before going further, it is helpful to know a bit about concr...