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Archive for the ‘News’ Category

The Most Common Residential Building Code Violations

Feb 7, 16 • News

Here is a recent article from the Journal of Light Construction based upon a 2013 joint study by the International Code Council and the National Association of Homebuilders titled, Common Code Violations Survey.

Top Ten Code Violations

This is a national survey and reflects a lot of what I see on a day to day basis. I would like to add a few issues that were not mentioned, perhaps due to their being a localized problem in the North Central Texas area.

  1. Lot Grading and Drainage. This is found on nearly every house I inspect. In the expansive soils we have in this area inadequate drainage leads to differential foundation movement and structural damage.
  2. Window Installation. On 9 out of every 10 houses I inspect the windows are not installed in accordance with the code, manufacturers’ installation instructions or other applicable industry standards.
  3. Electrical Installations. About 60% of the homes I see have multiple electrical installation code violations.
  4. Framing. Flagrant wall and roof framing code violations are common.
  5. Foundations. Foundation formwork and reinforcement violations are on every house.

Garage Door Repair Ripoff

Feb 2, 16 • News

Local consumer Watchdog Dave Lieber holds forth on garage door repair scam.

Watchdog: Carrollton-based garage door company’s ex-manager fesses up

Local Developer, HOA and City Officials Screw Homeowner

Jan 22, 16 • News

Homeowner’s Lot Slides Away

Consumer Information is King

Jan 12, 16 • News

A very good article from Sam Rashkin regarding home buyers finally waking up to the need to demand quality homes.

Consumer Information is King

Spider Bites

Dec 9, 15 • News

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Spider Bites

Mike Holmes: Make sure the home inspector you hire has the knowledge needed to do the job right

Nov 24, 15 • News

Mike Holmes holds forth on home inspectors, and for a change, we agree.

 

A Peek Behind the Builder Marketing Curtain

Nov 19, 15 • News

Sam Rashkin holds forth on home builder marketing.

Kitchen Fires

Nov 15, 15 • News

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Kitchen Fires

The number one cause of home fires and injuries is kitchen fires. Improper use of cooking equipment and a lack of adherence to safe cooking rules are to blame. All of these fires and injuries are easily preventable. Educate yourself. Do not become a statistic.

 

http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/causes/cooking/safety-messages-about-cooking

 

http://www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/causes/cooking

 

http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Avoid-Kitchen-Fires-Use-Red-Cross-Tips

 

http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2013/Kitchen-Fires-1-in-New-Report-Smoke-Alarms-and-Escape-Plans-Key-to-Surviving-Fires-in-the-Home/

 

Some possibly helpful technology, since most of the state’s governors seem to have attended former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s prayer meeting where it was decided on high that Texans do not need fire suppression sprinkler systems in their homes.

 

http://guardianssi.com/products/guardian-iii/

 

http://www.denlarhoods.com/products-main/1000-series

 

http://www.homesensers.com/index.html

 

https://www.stoveguardintl.com/

 

http://www.cookstop.com/home.html

 

https://www.pioneeringtech.com/store/commercial/safe-t-element/

 

 

 

 

 

PLAYING WITH FIRE

Nov 14, 15 • News

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PLAYING WITH FIRE

Code or no code, cost or no cost, fire safety is an issue builders and manufacturers can’t afford not to get right—now

Piping for New Construction – Plastic vs. Copper

Nov 11, 15 • News

Piping for New Construction: Plastic vs. Copper

What Do We Know – What Should We Do?