HouseHelpPro

crumbling walls

tdomf_5bded — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:06:48 +0000

I had a mold problem in an upstairs bedroom. I washed down the walls with clorox and took down the wallpaper. I noticed there are some crackes in the wall after I took down the wallpaper and a few holes toward the bottom of the wall that I can put a pencil through it is so porous. What do I do with this wall now? Does it need replastering? drywall?

You did not mention if it was an interior or exterior wall. If it is an interior wall that may be backed up to a bathroom there may be a plumbing leak in the wall that is saturating the drywall. If it is an exterior wall you should visually look to see if there are any wall surface cracks or leaks from the roof above. You also did not mention if the moisture is just low or high on the total height of the wall. Depending on the age of the house there may be a water line behind the drywall that may have a screw in it and it is now just starting to leak. There can be a number of reasons for the leak. You should hire a licensed drywall contractor to remove and reinstall after the leak is fixed. You will have to take off the drywall to verify where the water source is coming from. You should not leave the drywall in its current state.

How Can I Replace a Cracked Toilet Seat

schachn@aol.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:59:33 +0000

You can go to a local plumbing supply business and get a replacement. You may want to unsrew the seat and take it with you so they can match it. Make sure it is clean. If you know the make and model of the toilet it would help. Usually, right behind the seat it has the manufacturers name.

How can I better insulate my windows?

schachn@aol.com — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:49:02 +0000

Unfortunately, you can’t change the insulation value of your windows. What you may want to explore is replacing your existing windows with a window with low “E” glass (low -emissivity). Most likely your current windows are either older and you have a high amount of air loss and heat gain. The low E glass will deflect solar radiation away from the interior of your house in the summer. Once you replace your windows with more energy efficient windows you will notice a decline in your air condtioning usage and concurrently your electric bill.

How long do wall to wall carpets last for?

schachn@aol.com — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:57:34 +0000

If maintained per manufacturers instruction and installed properly carpet can last up to 15 years. People typically change carpet after 7 years because they are looking for an update. It all depends on how well the carpet is maintained and kept clean.

what’s the best way to clean granite counter tops?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:56:24 +0000

Believe it or not the simplest cleaner to use is water with mild dish soap. You don’t need to buy any fancy cleaners. Another product you can use is Windex. Use a reusable microfiber cloth to wipe down and dry the stone. Marble, granite, and other stone counters are naturally porous so be careful when using corrosive ingredients such as lime juice or vinegar as it could dull the polish on your stone.

I have heard the term “hazard mitigation” used recently, what is it?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:48:11 +0000

Hazard mitigation is the study of how environmental issues are identified in relation to a building area. For instance when you build a house with lots of glass, are there coconut palm trees planted that bear fruit (coconuts) and during hurricane season may be potential projectiles that may damage your windows in high winds. On a small scale there are studies done during the design phase of a commercial or hospital building that are reviewed for building systems that may fail during high winds and may be source of damage to the building skin or systems. On a large scale, you have seen building homes on the outer banks of east coast shore lines that have been obliterated during a hurricane.

Good hazard mitigation should have been enforced by the local authorities to prevent from building along the shore. You will see examples of this issue around the world during natural disasters. When you see heavy rains in a mountainous area, why do they build housing at the bottom of the hill where all the potential runoff wipes away a village? Good hazard mitigation is the basis to identifying problem areas before building.

I need to replace my roof and I am thinking about putting a metal roof on. What are the advantages or disadvantages?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:45:44 +0000

First let’s clarify one term that really bothers me. Most everyone calls metal roofs “tin roof”. The metal roofs today are not made of “tin”, they are made out of a galvanized aluminum. They do not rust and will only discolor slightly over the years. The only disadvantage is the cost is slightly more than a cement barrel or flat tile roof. There are many advantages though. The life span for a standing seam metal roof is around fifty years and will need very little maintenance. The average life span for a cement tile roof is twenty years.
With concrete tile roofs the tile tend to get quite dirty and need to be pressure cleaned at least twice a year. When the cement tile roofs are cleaned the tile can come loose from being stepped on or even crack. The cement tile only serves as an aesthetic finish for a roof. On a tile roof the cement tile has a higher heat gain during the day and during the evening the tile slowly releases the heat. With a metal roof the metal cools faster and has less heat gain. After a hurricane you will notice that cement tiles do come loose and eventually fly away leaving the roofing felt exposed and usually torn. Currently, the cement tile is adhered to the roofing felt with a foam type process. With metal roofing a “Z” shape clip is installed about every 16” up the metal panel holding it into place. The “Z” clip is also screwed into the plywood roof with four screws. The chance of uplift of the panel is quite small compared to a roof tile. The other advantage is the roof panels come in different colors and now even come in a barrel tile shape. Be sure to verify that the roof application has product approval and is installed by a licensed and insured roofer.

After hurricane Charley hit Punta Gorda (west coast of Florida) in 2004 I was able to observe many roof types and the damage they encountered. All the older homes with “tin” roofs with no plywood decking all blew away. I only saw two new metal roofs that were slightly damaged. The first was a strip shopping center where two panels on the whole length of the roof blew off. The second was on a house where the ridge cap (top edge of roof) was peeled back. The majority of metal roofs stayed in tact while the cement and asphalt tile roofs had extensive damage. The good thing about Florida, we can study the effects of different building systems under extreme conditions.

I need to replace my rotted shadow box wood fence and I am thinking about installing a new PVC fence, what would be better?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:37:44 +0000

There are now several composite fence types on the market that do not rot, get eaten by bugs, or need maintenance. The composite fence material may be a little more expensive but it is much cleaner looking, does not need painting, and will not rot. You may have to pressure clean it once a year depending on its location. Remember you will have to get a building permit for the fence and you have to make sure it meets the wind load criteria per the building code.

I am handicapped and have trouble with access into the public restrooms in the building that I work. Can I request changes to accommodate me?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:28:16 +0000

Yes, you can. You didn’t describe the condition that affects you but I suggest you write a letter to the building owner requesting the appropriate measures be taken to rectify the situation. The Florida Building Code has a section pertaining to accessibility requirements that you may want to review. The code also describes the conditions that have to be upgraded to provide proper access to the public. The building code is easily accessible online for your review.

Is the building code different for Dade County and Broward County?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:00:06 +0000

Actually the whole state of Florida has one building code. The current code that is in effect is the 2004 version. However, some municipalities have amendments to the code that are enforceable in that particular municipality. You should check with the building department if there is an inconsistency. The 2007 building code was supposed to be adopted in December of 2008 but has now been changed to March of 2009.