Painting aluminum siding is tricky business. Yes there are still quite a few older homes out there with aluminum siding on them and by now they are quite faded. Aluminum siding not only fades, but the surface oxidizes and there is a chalky residue left on the surface. In some cases, just power washing with a mild detergent and then applying a primer coat before painting may be all that is needed. In more severe cases of oxidation, the power washing may not remove the chalky residue completely and the paint will not adhere. In those cases a stronger chemical may be needed to remove oxidation. In all cases the siding must be primed or Emulsa-Bond added to the first coat of paint.

I recently inspected a home that was being sold by a construction company that had bought the home and renovated it to sell. They did a beautiful job on the interior of the home, new high quality kitchen and bath cabinetry and fixtures. All new appliances, carpet and hardwood floors. New high efficiency heat pump and high efficiency water heater. The interior had all new woodwork and doors, all new vinyl windows. I was really impressed, I don't usually see flip jobs this nice.

The exterior was a different story. The aluminum siding had been painted and the surface was bubbled up over the entire structure. It looked like the house had the hives. Within 6 months these areas will have popped and peeled off and the homeowner would be stuck. This paint job needed to be completely redone, stripping off all of the old paint and then properly cleaning, priming and re-painting. It is a shame that the contractor hired a painter that did not understand that painting aluminum siding is tricky business.

David DiRienzo

HouseProbe Inspections LLC

http://www.HouseProbe.com

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Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) in the your home, are they dangerous

Can the electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to which people are routinely exposed cause health effects? What are sources of EMFs, and when are EMFs dangerous? Checking for EMF's is not a standard part of a home inspection, but I recently performed an inspection for a client that was so concerned about EMF's that they wnet out and bought an EMF meter to check for electromatic fields in the home they were about to purchase. The home was within 100 yards of a major power line. They found thaat the EMF's were elevated as compared to 1 block away, but they also found that the levels were also significantly elevated near the electrical panel and near major appliances when those appliances were running. This article is from my website www.HouseProbe.com

EMF (or ElectroMagnetic Field) is a broad term which includes electric fields generated by charged particles in motion, and radiated fields such as TV, radio, hair dryer, and microwaves. Electric fields are measured in units of volts per meter or V/m. Magnetic fields are measured in milli-Gauss or mG. The field is always strongest near the source and diminishes as you move away from the source. These energies have the ability to influence particles at great distances. For example, the radiation from a radio tower influences the atoms within a distant radio antenna, allowing it to pick up the signal. Despite the many wonderful conveniences of electrical technology, the effects of EMF on biological tissue remains the most controversial aspect of the EMF issue, with virtually all scientists agreeing that more research is necessary to determine safe or dangerous levels.

Research since the mid-1970s has provided extensive information on biological responses to power-frequency electric and magnetic fields. The Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) Research and Public Information Dissemination (RAPID) Program was charged with the goal of determining if electric and magnetic fields associated with the generation, transmission, and use of electrical energy pose a risk to human health. The fact that 20 years of research have not answered that question is clear evidence that health effects of EMF are not obvious and that risk relationships, if risk is identified, are not simple. Because epidemiologic studies have raised concerns regarding the connection between certain serious human health effects and exposure to electric and magnetic fields, the program adopts the hypothesis that exposure to electric or magnetic fields under some conditions may lead to unacceptable risk to human health. The focus of the program is not only to test, as far as possible within the statutory time limits, that hypothesis for those serious health effects already identified, but to identify as far as possible the special conditions that lead to elevated risk and to recommend measures to manage risk.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (ES) is a physiological disorder characterized by symptoms directly brought on by exposure to electromagnetic fields. It produces neurological and allergic-type symptoms. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, headache, eye irritation, dizziness, nausea, skin rash, facial swelling, weakness, fatigue, pain in joints and/or muscles, buzzing/ringing in ears, skin numbness, abdominal pressure and pain, breathing difficulty, and irregular heartbeat. Those affected persons may experience an abrupt onset of symptoms following exposure to a new EMF such as fields associated with a new computer or with new fluorescent lights, or a new home or work environment. Onset of ES has also reported following chemical exposure. A concerted effort to provide scientifically valid research on which to base decisions about EMF exposures is under way, and results are expected in the next several years. Meanwhile, some authorities recommend taking simple precautionary steps, such as the following:

• Increase the distance between yourself and the EMF source sit at arms length from your computer terminal.
• Avoid unnecessary proximity to high EMF sources dont let children play directly under power lines or on top of power transformers for underground lines.
• Reduce time spent in the field turn off your computer monitor and other electrical appliances when you arent using them.

The Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of the United States recommends a policy of prudent avoidance with respect to EMF. Prudent avoidance means to measure fields, determine the sources, and act to reduce exposure.

1. Detect EMFs in your home and work environment. It is good to know where the sources of EMF are in your everyday world and how strong these sources are. Is there wiring in the wall behind your bed that you dont even know about? Is the vaporizer emitting strong fields in the babys room? How much EMF are you and your family getting from the power lines in the street? Even hair dryers emit EMFs. Home inspectors often have meters to measure EMFs, or they can be purchased and shared with friends.
2. Diminish your exposure to the EMFs you find. Determine how far you must stay away from the EMF emitters in your home and work environment to achieve less than 2.5 mG of exposurethe microwave oven, the alarm clock, the computer, and so on. Rearrange your furniture (especially the beds, desks, and couches where you spend the most time) away from heaters, wiring, fluorescent lights, electric doorbells, and other EMF hot spots. Where practical, replace electric appliances with non-electric devices. Where practical, replace electric appliances with non-electric devices. Have an electrician correct faulty high EMF wiring and help you eliminate dangerous stray ground currents. Consult a qualified EMF engineer if necessary. Contact National Electromagnetic Field Testing Association at 1-847-475-3696 for consultants in your area.
3. Shield yourself. Use shielding devices on your computer screen and cellular phone. Add shielding to your household wiring, circuit box, and transformers.

Electric fields in the home, on average, range from 0 to 10 volts per meter. They can be hundreds, thousands, or even millions of times weaker than those encountered outdoors near power lines. Electric fields directly beneath power lines may vary from a few volts per meter for some overhead distribution lines to several thousands of volts per meter for extra high voltage power lines. Electric fields from power lines rapidly become weaker with distance and can be greatly reduced by walls and roofs of buildings.

Magnetic fields are not blocked by most materials. Magnetic fields encountered in homes vary greatly. Magnetic fields rapidly become weaker with distance from the source.

The chart on the left summarizes data from a study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in which spot measurements of magnetic fields were made in the center of rooms in 992 homes throughout the United States. Half of the houses studied had magnetic field measurements of 0.6 mG or less, when the average of measurements from all the rooms in the house was calculated (the all-room mean magnetic field). The all-room mean magnetic field for all houses studied was 0.9 mG. The measurements were made away from electrical appliances and reflect primarily the fields from household wiring and outside power lines.

If you are comparing the information in this chart with measurements in your own home, keep in mind that this chart shows averages of measurements taken throughout the homes, not the single highest measurement found in the home.

Magnetic fields close to electrical appliances are often much stronger than those from other sources, including magnetic fields directly under power lines. Appliance fields decrease in strength with distance more quickly than do power line fields.

HouseProbe Inspections LLC

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Richmond Virginia Home Inspector

David DiRienzo is a premier Home Inspector providing Virginia State Certified home inspections in Richmond, Midlothian, Chesterfield, Chester, Henrico, Mechanicsville, Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Hopewell, Ashland, Prince George, Dinwiddie and all of Central and Southside Virginia.

Are uninvited guests eating your home. We all know about the damage that termites can do, but there are other pests that do billions of dollars in damage to homes every year. I recently inspected a beautiful old home built around 1900. The home had ornate wood trim and most of the trim was in excellent condition. I did notice on my exterior inspection that there was a hole about the size of a baseball chewed through the underneath of one soffits. Other than that there was no other damage to the trim. I immediately thought that a squirrel had chewed through the soffit and was living in the attic. When I inspected the attic I had guessed right, but I was surprised to see that a squirrel/s had chewed 3 ceiling joists in a almost perfect U shape 2/3rds the way through the joists and the ceiling in in one 2nd floor bedroom was no longer structurally sound. They had also chewed on several other joists and even some roof rafters. I estimated the damage to be around $5000.00.

Squirrels have constantly growing teeth and have to gnaw on wood to wear down and sharpen their teeth. Your home makes a wonderful home for squirrels too. The attic insulation makes a soft bed and will keep them warm. If allowed to move in they will do significant damage over time. There are lots of products and repellents on the market to repel squirrels and some even work (sort of). The best defense to keep squirrels out of the attic is to keep your wood trim in good painted condition and inspect the soffits and trim periodically to see if there are any signs of chew marks. Don't feed the squirrels and keep bird feeders away from the house. Trim tree branches near the house, don't make access to your home easy. If you do find you have squirrels, do not try to poison them, they may die in the attic. Make sure the squirrels are no longer in the attic and then seal all entry points and repair any damage. Be proactive to keep uninvited guests from eating your home.

David DiRienzo is a Virginia State Certified home inspector serving Richmond, Petersburg, Hopewell, Colonial Heights, Chester, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central and southside Virginia

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PART TIME HOME INSPECTORS JUST DON'T MAKE THE GRADE. My advice to anyone purchasing a home is to make sure they check out their home inspector. Ask him or her a few questions before you hire them such as how long have you been doing home inspections? Are you licensed and/or certified by the state in which the inspection will be performed? How many home inspections have you performed in your career? (that number should be in the thousands), what home inspector organizations do you belong to and what is your standing with that group? Can you provide references? What do you inspect and what equipment do you use?

Asking these questions before hiring any home inspector will most likely save you some grief. Many home inspectors work a full time job elsewhere and cannot devote the time to the training. A good home inspector is constantly taking training courses to keep up with changing problems. I have performed inspections after these part timers in the past and they just do not have the experience to do a good complete home inspection. They may have good intentions, but, PART TIME HOME INSPECTORS JUST DON'T MAKE THE GRADE

David DiRienzo is a Virginia State Certified Home Inspector serving: Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell and all of Central and Southside Virginia

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Don't be the cause of electrical hazards in your home. As a home inspector I am always amazed at the things I see when doing inspections and I admire the homeowner who wants to make improvements to their home. However, electrical wiring installation and repair is one area that the do it yourselfer or weekend warrior should leave to the professionals.

Too often I see improperly installed outlets, switches, exposed connections that are not in a junction box or the junction box cover is missing, knockouts missing in panel boxes leaving exposed wiring, undersized wiring, double tapped circuit breakers, improperly installed GFCI's or no GFCI's where needed, reversed polarity, improperly installed fixtures. The list goes on and on. Many of these issues are caused by the home owner when doing renovations. I recommend spending a little extra money and hire a licensed qualified electrical contractor to do these chores. Yes, you can buy everything you need at your local big box store, but do you really know how to install it properly?

Electricity is so essential to our daily lives, just ask anyone who lost power fro days and weeks during the recent hurricanes and storms. We take our electrical power for granted and we forget that it has the potential to cause great harm. Every year in America, electrical fires kill approximately 500 people and injure another 2500 due to improper installation or maintenance. Many more are killed or injured in accidents involving electrical shock or electrocution.

Here are some things to remember about electrical safety:

- Never use anything but the proper fuse or circuit breaker to protect a circuit.
- Find and correct overloaded circuits.
- Never place extension cords under rugs.
- Outlets near water should be GFI-type outlets.
- Don't allow trees near power lines to be climbed.
- Keep ladders, kites, equipment and anything else away from overhead power lines.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

- Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
- Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords immediately.
- Use electrical extension cords wisely and don't overload them.
- Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters; pay special care to electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
- Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons and hair dryers.
- Keep clothes, curtains and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all heaters.
- If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
- Never overload extension cords or wall sockets. Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker. Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets
- Check your electrical tools regularly for signs of wear. If the cords are frayed or cracked, replace them. Replace any tool if it causes even small electrical shocks, overheats, shorts out or gives off smoke or sparks.

Don't be the Cause of Electrical Hazards in Your Home

David DiRienzo is a Richmond, Virginia home inspector serving Petersburg, Hopewell, Chesterfield, Midlothian, Henrico, Mechanicsville, Ashland, Farmville, Blackstone, Emporia and South Hill

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