surface wetting/dampness or stains from leaks, capillary attraction, or condensation

salt deposits on plaster, drywall, masonry, and concrete, which usually indicates evaporation following capillary attraction
changes in dimension, surface, or performance of materials or systems (peeling paint, corroding metals, rotten wood)
visible molds or mildew and musty odors]]>

Fix A Leak: Fix Leaks, Save Water & Money
Posted on March 19th, 2009 - 3:00 PM

About the author: Steve Burton* the SW territory contact for Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.’s Private Label Program. Ferguson is the EPA’s 2008 WaterSense Retailer/Distributor Partner of the Year.

We have a two-person household in an average-size home in Oro Valley, Arizona. In November 2008 we discovered the guest bathroom had a slow internal leak caused by an aging fill valve inside the toilet tank. The only reason we thought to look for a leak was the spike in our water bill that month.

We found a slow leak inside the toilet tank in our hall bathroom. The noise was faint. If the fan was on or if you were not directly in the bathroom, you could not tell there was a noise coming from the toilet tank.

The impact this one slow leak had on our water usage/bill during November 2008 is below.

* Sept 2008 $41.97
* Oct 2008 $51.33
* Nov 2008 $148.30
* Dec 2008 $58.66
* Jan 2008 $33.64

This drove home how important it is to check/maintain water fixtures in our home to conserve water and save money. For about $15, we were able to fix a leak that was costing us $100 a month!

* EPA does not endorse any contractor, commercial service, or enterprise.

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So she wrote down his name, address, medical insurance number and told him to have a seat.

Fifteen minutes later a nurse’s aide came out and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, “Shingles.”

So she wrote down his height, weight, a complete medical history and told Bubba to wait in the examining room.

A half hour later a nurse came in and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, “Shingles.”

So the nurse gave Bubba a blood test, a blood pressure test, an electrocardiogram, and told Bubba to take off all his clothes and wait for the doctor.

An hour later the doctor came in and found Bubba sitting patiently in the nude and asked Bubba what he had.

Bubba said, “Shingles.”

The doctor asked, “Where?”

Bubba said, “Outside on the truck. Where do you want me to unload ‘em?”

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* Bring the outdoors in. Green plants, cut flowers and blooming bulbs, or pieces of wood, rocks and other organic elements can create a feeling of nature indoors.

* Paint a room to suggest a mood. For instance, blue and green promote a relaxed feeling and may be good choices for the bedroom, while warm colors (maroon, coral, burgundy) suggest a cozy environment and may be inviting in a family room.

* Surround your senses with beauty. Artwork, fragrance, smooth textures and calming sounds all provide a pleasant environment in which to relax.

* Set aside a room or area for peace and calm. A place for spiritual reflection and meditation can provide shelter from noise and distraction.

* Clean out clutter. A low-maintenance home is refreshing after a day of hectic meetings, errands and chores. Fewer items can mean less frustration.

* Create an atmosphere of love. Display handmade or meaningful gifts from loved ones and photos of family and friends.

We will post answers on this Blog.

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JSL Company is a fully licensed & insured roofing contractor. Call us for a professional estimate at (904) 246-0015.

Value-engineering is a tricky operation, since it is easy to remove critically important features and amenities, which could be deal-breakers for potential buyers. However, in this market keeping prices competitive generally means rethinking design decisions made prior to the recession. Here are some ways to value-engineer your homes to cut prices down while keeping your design standards high.

1. Bring the fireplace inside. Historically the wood-burning fireplace was a brick chimney located on an outside wall extending to the roof. As the fireplace evolved into a gas or electric appliance, projecting the firebox outside the wall can only be justified if the room becomes too small by not doing so. Better yet, make the fireplace an option on smaller plans.

2. Larger pantries. In the kitchen, drywall pantries are less costly than cabinetry pantries, and larger, walk-in pantries can justify much less cabinetry. Wire shelving is far more cost-effective than cabinetry for storage of kitchen supplies.

3. Smaller porches. People love having a porch in front of their house, but if you offer two or three porch sizes—small, medium, and large—the cost of a larger porch can be optioned to reduce the base house cost.

4. Master bath options. The oversized soaking tub takes up a lot of space, and many buyers would prefer to do without it. The most common solution is to include a 42×60 tub/shower combo with a separate shower as an option, although vice versa can work as well. The extra space is a linen closet in the base design.

5. Foundation alternatives. We are seeing slab foundations creep north into traditional basement markets. By adding storage space over the garage and in attic roof trusses, storage space can be delivered more cost-effectively.

6. Straight-up walls. By minimizing foundation jogs and covering most or all of the first floor with second-floor space, the cost per square foot will be minimized. Eliminate two-story and vaulted space and minimize second-floor setbacks, except to provide interest in the elevation.

7. Option the powder room. This is aggressive cost cutting, but we are seeing this more often even in mid-price models. Use the space as a closet, and rough in the plumbing for a future installment as a home-improvement project.

8. Straight-run stairs. During the heyday housing market almost all stairs had at least one turn or angle, generally with a landing included. Straight runs are more cost-effective and can turn at the base or top of the steps with a one-step landing for interest.

9. Simplified roof systems. Try to reduce the number of roof truss profiles to two or three, and keep roof pitches reasonable for transport and assembly costs. Use bearing walls where possible to avoid large girder trusses.

10. Window count and placement. Look to competing product to see if your plans are over-windowed. Do secondary bedrooms have one or two windows? Does the master suite have two or three? Given a choice of locations, windows on the front wall/street facade will add perceived value to the plan.

James Wentling is principal of James Wentling | Architects in Philadelphia.