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Last Updated:
Mar 10th, 2008 - 21:37:44 |
Interior
The Quality of Finished Appearances
Recently, the Home Builders Association of Northern California published an article that addressed the issue of quality in construction. Specifically, the article was intended to illustrate how homes today are better built and of better quality than homes built in the past. It was a good article that addressed the technological improvements in building products and building design. What the article failed to address were the quality issues that affect consumers the most, the problems encountered with installing new technologies, and the finished appearance and overall look of a house.
Mar 10, 2008, 19:35
Interior
Is Mold Tsting Ncessary?
The basic questions that most people want answered about mold are, “Is there mold in the house, and do I need to worry about it?” The truth about mold is that it is present everywhere in our environment, and even in the air we breathe. Molds have been around since the beginning of time, and actually provide an ecological benefit. Molds are a type of fungus that decomposes dead organic material such as leaves, wood and plants. They can also infect living plants and animals, and this is why they can be a concern to humans. The difficulty with mold is that mold spores are usually too small to see without a microscope unless they are growing in an established colony. Once established, mold spores often appear to be black or green and can be visually seen.
Mar 10, 2008, 19:32
Interior
Water Resistant Sheetrock
The surfaces of tub and shower surrounds are required to water resistant. A standard industry practice has always been to install a vapor barrier ( a waterproof membrane behind the surface of a tub or shower surround to prevent moisture from getting into the wood framing members and causing mold and deterioration to occur. The most common type of surround in residential construction was tile set onto mortar.
Mar 10, 2008, 18:42
Interior
Instantaneous Water Heaters
I live in a small house, and need to change my water heater. It’s old, and does not heat the water enough. I was considering installing a tank-less
water heater, but I don’t really know how they work. Are they worth the expense? And, is gas
or electric best? Also, what manufacturer is rated best? It has
been difficult to gather information from local home improvement centers or
house remodeling magazines - help!
P. M., Pacifica
Feb 12, 2005, 23:15
Interior
Installing Marble Floor Tile
We just built a new custom
home, and had marble tile installed in the entry, living room and dining
room. Some marble pieces are cracked,
and some are uneven by almost 1/8 of an inch.
The builder told us we had to deal with the sub contractor, and the sub
contractor says that it is normal for tiles to be a little even, and the work
meets industry standards. What do we do
now? We’ve had two other contractor look at the job, and they both say that
there are problems with the installation.
What are the standards of the industry?
Do we have any recourse with the builder? Is there an easy way to fix this?
B.G., San Ramon
Apr 27, 2002, 00:07
