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Hey Mark!

  • Q. Hey Mark, I’m selling my home ...

    Q. Hey Mark, I’m selling my home and the buyers inspector did a radon test. The result was 4.9, and they said I had to have a mitigation system installed. That’s not very high. Why do I have to have it fixed? Bob A. Hey Bob, Technically, there are no federal laws that require [...]
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    Posted: January 13, 2009, 9:47am EST
    by heymark

  • Q. Cold Over-the-Garage Bedroom

    Q. Hey Mark, I have a bedroom above an unheated garage. The bedroom is always cold in the winter (Wisconsin). The ceiling of the gargage is currently plywood (I assume some insulation above). The floor of the bedroom is always cold. What is the best way to add insulation given that [...]
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    Posted: December 19, 2008, 1:16pm EST
    by heymark

  • Q. How Can I Know Homeowners Didn’t Tamper With Radon Test?

    Number of comments: 2
    Q. Hey Mark, We are trying to move from Texas to Wisconsin and found a home. We had the typical inspection and radon test performed. There were numerous semi- minor issues but a few bigger ones. Radon at 5.7, tree roots growing into the sump pump crock, etc. In our contract [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2008, 5:59pm EST
    by heymark

  • Q. Are Home Inspections Necessary for New Construction?

    Q. Hey Mark, I have a contract on a house that is new construction. It will be completed soon and a friend told me that I should have it inspected before we close on the house. It seems that since everything is new, there would be no reason to spend the [...]
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    Posted: October 15, 2008, 12:47pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Copper and Aluminum Theft is on the Rise

    Number of comments: 1
    In the past few months, something has been occurring with increasing frequency; I will arrive to inspect a home and in the process of the inspection discover that copper and/or aluminum thieves have been there. With the slowdown of the economy, the rising value of scrap metals, and the rise [...]
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    Posted: October 10, 2008, 4:04pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Follow up: Working in an Attic with Vermiculite… Do-it-Yourself Job?

    Number of comments: 4
    Q. Hi Mark, First let me thank you for replying so promptly, your information is greatly appreciated. [S]econd, I still have a bag or two [of vermiculite] in my attic and I was going to use it and then cover over it with plywood. Actually I was going to plywood [...]
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    Posted: October 02, 2008, 2:55pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. What Year Was Asbestos a Problem in Vermiculite Insulation?

    Q. Hi Mark, My house was built in 1958, according to the date on the chimney, I purchased the house in 2001, and did total renovation, unfortunatly the vermiculite is still in my attic and when the house was inspected before buying it the inspector said that it was fine [...]
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    Posted: October 02, 2008, 2:49pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. How Do I Repair a Cut Joist in the Attic?

    Q. Need some help. My niece recently had a home inspection done to sell her home. The inspector noticed that one floor joist which lined directly up with the plumbing stack had been cut from day one over forty years ago. She bought the house last year and is now [...]
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    Posted: September 19, 2008, 12:49pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Okay to Add More Insulation On Top of Vermiculite?

    Number of comments: 3
    Q. Hey Mark, I have read the postings about vermiculite and that you should not disturb it. We only have 6 inches of insulation in our attic and need more [for] our cold winter weather. How do we add more insulation to the attic without disturbing the vermiculite and causing a [...]
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    Posted: September 08, 2008, 2:58pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Home Inspector Disturbed the Vermiculite… Problem?

    Hey Mark! I just read your question about a seller having asbestos in their home. I am on the other end, the buyer. I just had an inspection and the inspector found vermiculite in a portion of the home. It is covered by about 8-10 inches of new installation. One concern, the [...]
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    Posted: August 27, 2008, 8:52pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Granite Countertops and Radon

    Number of comments: 1
    Readers, Some Realtors have reported that they are getting questions from their clients about the safety of granite countertops. This is due to some information that has recently circulated regarding its potential for radioactivity. The American Association for Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST) has released a statement on radon and granite [...]
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    Posted: August 26, 2008, 9:24am EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Isn’t Today’s Vermiculite Okay to Use for Insulation?

    Hey Mark, I am told that the vermiculite currently mined has no asbestos. Here is the website: http://www.vermiculite.com/ The reason I am interested in using vermiculite as an attic insulation is that it is one of the few materials that is non toxic and non flammable. Fiberglass is flammable and in addition, I [...]
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    Posted: August 26, 2008, 8:43am EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Should I Be Worried About My Granite Countertops?

    Number of comments: 2
    Q. Hey Mark, I’ve been hearing that Granite counter tops might be dangerous. I’m concerned because we just spent a lot money putting some in our new home. I don’t understand it all and just need to know if I should have the granite removed. Thanks, Tammy A. Hey Tammy, I’ve been reading and hearing [...]
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    Posted: August 12, 2008, 9:04pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Do I Have Vermiculite Insulation? (Lawsuit)

    Number of comments: 1
    Q. Hey Mark! We live in Las Vegas, NV and have lived in our home for 14 years.  Our home was built in 1978. The only reason I am becoming more aware of Vermiculite Insulation, is because I saw an ad on TV the other night that stated there is some type [...]
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    Posted: July 31, 2008, 10:29am EDT
    by heymark

  • What Really Matters…

    Hey Readers, I had an experience during a recent inspection that got me thinking about buyers’ expectations for their home inspection. How can you know what your home inspection will include? Every individual who is hiring a home inspector should ask their inspector what “standards” he or she follows during an [...]
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    Posted: July 26, 2008, 10:14pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Test Your Home for Radon! (My Personal Experience)

    I am always very concerned when a home buyer declines having a radon test during their home inspection. I’m genuinely uneasy about the potential health repercussions of that decision. For me, I think it strikes particularly close to home for two reasons. One reason is that my wife’s grandmother, a [...]
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    Posted: July 21, 2008, 3:49pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. An Abandoned Oil Tank

    Q. Hey Mark, I was showing a home to a client, and a concern was raised about the abandoned oil tank in the basement. One of the client’s relatives said is was a potential explosion hazard, and it would cost thousands of dollars to have it removed. What do you think? Cyndi A. [...]
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    Posted: July 19, 2008, 7:01pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Were the radon test canisters left too long?

    Q. Hey Mark, The buyers of a home I have listed hired a company to do a radon test. The test came back a little high (4.9). I’m concerned about the test because they used canisters, and they left them in place from Wednesday through Saturday. Wouldn’t this increase the radon [...]
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    Posted: July 07, 2008, 3:33pm EDT
    by heymark

  • How to Improve Radon Test Results

    Number of comments: 1
    Hey Readers, Occasionally, I’ll take a look at the types of internet searches that bring folks to this page. I’ve recently noticed some people who found www.HeyMark.info via a search similar to the title of today’s post. ‘How do I improve a radon test?’ My first thought was one of shock. On [...]
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    Posted: June 28, 2008, 11:37pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Problem With My Water Heater’s Location?

    Q. Hey Mark, I’m in the process of buying a house and just had a home inspection done. One item that the home inspector itemized in the report is the water heater in the garage. He said that it shouldn’t be installed on the floor of the garage. Where else could [...]
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    Posted: June 11, 2008, 7:59am EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Sources of Radon Gas?

    Number of comments: 1
    Q. Hey Mark, I’ve heard two different things about radon gas from two different inspectors. One inspector said that radon comes from soil. The other said that it can be brought into the home through other things. Which is right? Kathy A. Hey Kathy, Both inspectors are correct, you just didn’t get a complete [...]
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    Posted: June 05, 2008, 10:44pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Vermiculite Insulation Does It Have Asbestos?

    Hey Mark, The home I am selling has vermiculite insulation. The buyer’s inspector said that it is asbestos, and now the buyers want me to remove all of it. That’s going to cost over $10,000.00. Is that really necessary? Sue Hey Sue, Vermiculite insulation MAY contain asbestos. You can have some samples taken from [...]
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    Posted: May 22, 2008, 2:06pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Utilities Werent Turned On for My Inspection

    Q. Hey Mark, I’m purchasing a home that is currently owned by a bank. The inspector stated that we had to make sure that the bank had all the utilities turned on. We thought they had but when we got there, there were signs all over saying the home was winterized. [...]
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    Posted: May 06, 2008, 4:17pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Catch Pan Under Washer?

    Q. Hey Mark, Our home inspection report recommends a catch pan under the washing machine. What exactly is that and how do I get one? Thanks, Andrew A. Hey Andrew, Recommending a catch pan under a washing machine is a common recommendation with some home inspectors. Some municipalities even require it in certain circumstances. Personally, I [...]
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    Posted: April 24, 2008, 6:54pm EDT
    by heymark

  • St. Louis Earthquake, Cracks in Foundation & Radon Gas

    Number of comments: 1
    5.2 Earthquake and Radon Hey Readers, Since the recent earthquake here in St. Louis, I’ve received calls from folks who are concerned about cracks that have formed in their homes. Earthquakes instill a fear in all of our hearts that the structural integrity of our home might be compromised. For larger earthquakes, [...]
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    Posted: April 19, 2008, 1:31pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. My Inspector Couldnt Access the Attic

    Q: I am purchasing a home, and I just had a home inspection done. The sellers still live there, and they had some belongings in the closet that were blocking access to the attic. My inspector said that he was unable to look in the attic because it was blocked. [...]
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    Posted: April 17, 2008, 8:41pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Why Do Inspector Prices Vary?

    Q: Hey Mark I’ve been getting prices from different home inspectors and it seems the prices vary quite a bit. Why are there so many different prices for the same thing? A: Well, I think you answered your own question. They are not different prices for the same thing. They are different [...]
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    Posted: April 07, 2008, 1:33pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Whats the Problem with Fuse Panels?

    Q. Hey Mark, The home I am buying has a fuse panel. I was told this is bad and some insurance companies will not insure the home. Is this correct? Rose R. A. Hey Rose, Having a fuse panel in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Fuse panels are older, but [...]
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    Posted: April 01, 2008, 11:25am EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Radon Levels in a Neighborhood

    Q. Hey Mark, I have a listing, and the buyer’s inspector did a Radon test. I am concerned that the test may have been done improperly. The results came back at 4.6 but I know of three other properties in the same neighborhood that recently had radon tests performed, and they [...]
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    Posted: March 24, 2008, 4:50pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. What can I do about ungrounded, converted outlets?

    Q. Hey Mark, What can I do about two prong outlets that have been converted to three prong outlets but are ungrounded? I was told this is a shock hazard, and I don?t want to rewire my entire home. Rob R. A. Hey Rob, Thanks for the question. This particular problem can be [...]
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    Posted: March 21, 2008, 7:26pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Flexible Line With a Water Heater?

    Number of comments: 3
    Q. Hey Mark, Yesterday someone asked me if they could use “flex line”, like what is used for toilets and under sinks, to connect a gas or electric water heater in his home. What do you think? Fred O.   A. Hey Fred, I’m not sure what the code officials would say about [...]
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    Posted: March 18, 2008, 1:32pm EDT
    by heymark

  • Preparing Sellers for Their Radon Test

    Number of comments: 2
    Hey Readers This post doesnt come as a result of a direct question, but its something that you may find useful. I often have a difficult time getting in touch with sellers to properly prepare them for the radon test that their buyers have requested. In order for the test to be [...]
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    Posted: March 11, 2008, 11:54am EDT
    by heymark

  • Q. Disclosure AND Home Inspection Needed?

    Number of comments: 1
    Q. Hey Mark, I’m buying a house and was told I need to have an inspection? Shouldn’t the disclosure tell me everything I need to know? Thanks, June   A. Hey June, Theoretically, the sellers disclosure should reveal all concerns the sellers are aware of in the home. Practically speaking though, it would be [...]
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    Posted: March 03, 2008, 6:40pm EST
    by heymark

  • Q. Inadequate Chimney Inspection?

    Q. Hey Mark I just had a home inspection done, and I am a little concerned about the chimney portion of the inspection. It didnt seem very thorough. What should a chimney inspection be like? What things should be checked? Michael L. A. Hey Michael, You should go to this link: InterNACHI Standards of [...]
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    Posted: February 22, 2008, 5:05pm EST
    by heymark

  • Q. Selling my house, how do I prepare for an inspection?

    Q. Hey Mark, I’m selling my house and have to have a home inspection this week. Should I do anything in particular to prepare? Thanks for your help, Lorene A. Lorene, Hey… Can I please come inspect your home? You sound like the perfect home owner. To answer your question in a word, absolutely, [...]
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    Posted: February 21, 2008, 8:30am EST
    by heymark

  • Q. Too Many Layers of Shingles?

    Q. Hey Mark, We are selling our home, and the buyers inspector said our roof has three layers of shingles and said it was a major concern. Now our buyers want us to replace the roof. Why is the number of layers a problem when the roof is not leaking or [...]
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    Posted: February 20, 2008, 1:58pm EST
    by heymark

  • Q. Particle Board Siding

    Q. Hey Mark, I’m in the process of buying a 35-year old home and just had it inspected. The inspector said the siding is particle board siding. Is that bad? Doug J. A. Doug, Not necessarily. There have been particle board siding that has failed, and there have been several lawsuits over [...]
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    Posted: February 19, 2008, 12:27pm EST
    by heymark
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