June 28, 2010
Dear Ken: I hired a handyman to do a roof replacement. The roof now leaks and will not pass inspection, but I can't get a hold of him. What do I do now? John
You'll have a hard time finding a reputable roofing contractor to dive into this situation as it is now. Check in with a roofing supply company to see if they have a semi-retired contractor who needs a little work on the side. This is a good reminder of the dangers of cutting corners to save a little money. I suspect your "handyman" didn't pull a permit and may or may not have the proper insurance. Of all the various trades that come into our lives to work around the house, roofing is the most dangerous. Their insurance premiums are among the highest in the construction business because there are so many accidents. I'm glad your guy didn't fall, because you could have been sucked into a big legal jam. Bottom line: Get a licensed and insured roofer to get a permit and then fix what's already up there. You may find that you got off fairly easily this time.
Dear Ken: I'm in the process of buying a house. It has mold that appeared after the sump pump broke. Should I bail? Or does mold remediation really work? Bill
Yes, you can get rid of the mold. Remediation companies are fairly expensive and so can add considerably to your bottom line cost for the house. So, I'll leave it up to you whether or not you can do this yourself. It's fairly straightforward: Ventilate, remove the moisture source, disinfect, seal with a shellac product and then refinish. It may be tempting to get a mold test when the work is complete. These tests are problematic, however, as mold spore colonies move from here to there--so a high reading isn't necessarily representative of conditions in the entire house.
Finally, whatever you do, don't bring this issue to the attention of an insurance company. That way the property won't get tagged in their data base with the dreaded "M" word.
Dear Ken: We got a great deal on a house, but the inspector said, "Don't buy it because of the yellow gas pipe". What do you think? Sara
I think you need a new inspector. First of all, professional inspectors are not supposed to make judgment calls about whether or not to purchase. They are on-site to report existing conditions and give you a list-"just the facts, ma'am", as Jack Webb used to say.
Second, this yellow, flex gas pipe has been approved for several years for use in single family homes, and I wouldn't necessarily pass a house by because of it. It's called CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing) and is covered with a tough, yellow neoprene coating. What may be agitating your inspector are reports of fires caused by a breakdown of this material during thunderstorms. Stray static gets in the pipe and, because it's very thin, a spark can jump out and set the gas on fire. Like most of the things we worry about these days, the likelihood of a this occurring at any given house is relatively rare.
However, the manufacturers of the pipe have issued bulletins requiring a bonding clamp and wire running back to the panel to discharge the electrical currents before they can do damage. If you have any doubts, have a licensed electrician come and checkout the arrangements in the house you're considering.
Dear Ken: We inherited my mother's house in Wisconsin. We want to shut off the heat this winter, but someone said this would hurt the cement block foundation. Do you agree? Charlotte
I think you'll be fine as long as water is kept away from the foundation. Make sure the gutters, downspouts and drainage are shipshape. Otherwise, water in the soil could freeze and push against the house. The lack of central heat in that harsh Wisconsin winter can also affect furniture, wood trim and delicate electronics, like stereos, TV's and the microwave, so take the expensive stuff with you before the house is buttoned up.
