Ian Niquette

This is the title of a book that I really enjoy. It is the life story of a man named Harry Quadracci. The book takes you on a virtual tour of his life, starting when he was just a boy, and ending sadly with his death, after he had created a printing dynasty so to speak.

If you get a chance to read this book, it will teach you many things. It will teach you humility, passion, the art of taking chances, and the art of making people believe in YOU. This I feel is a must read for anyone in the business world, whether you re a realtor, a small business owner, or the kid fresh out of college, looking to make a name. I really feel there is a lot to learn from this guys journey through life.

I had the joy of personally knowing and working for Harry. I worked in one of his printing plants for almost a decade. He was truly ahead of his time and helped shape many peoples' lives. He believed in giving every one a fair shake, but he always had a trick up his sleeve too.

Look the book up and if you can, I encourage you to read it, and I hope you enjoy it. Some days I think about what the Admiral would think of this world if he were still here. I am sure he would have some wise words for us as we negotiate these rough waters. Keep your nose into the wind and good luck.

This has actually happened to me a few times while sitting in traffic. Like most home inspectors, I drive a truck. I can haul everything I need and then some. I had it done by a graphics company last year. They put a nice sticker in the back window that I can see right through, it doesn't block my vision at all. It's called a perf. I also had my two side windows in the rear done as well.

Anyway, I was sitting at a green light and my cell phone started buzzing. I turned down the radio and answered it(I know already). The guy on the other end wanted a price on home inspections and what services I offered. We had some discussion and I booked an inspection for early next week. I asked him how he found my company, and he said, "You're right in front of me."

He then passed by me waved and said see ya Tuesday. This just reinforces the idea that we have to be in front of people to let them know who we are and what we do. Get your name out there any way you can, and good things will happen for you. good luck guys.

We all know water and electricity do not mix well. This can be a dangerous combination in our homes. The electrical feeds coming into our homes can provide various sources and opportunities for electricity and water to join forces.

There are a few spots that we need to keep an eye on and do yearly maintenance on to avoid this dangerous mixture. You can use the above house as a reference, crude but effective. The first area, will be the roof penetration. This is the area where the mast will penetrate the roof, usually on an overhang. This area needs to be properly flashed, in order to prevent water from running onto the home. Most newer homes will have a ‘boot' around the masthead in order to keep water out.

Another area to look at is a joint in the ‘pipe' containing the electrical feeds. These should not be loose, or have moisture built up on the edges. If you notice this problem, have an electrician, or the local power company in some areas, out to examine this and repair the situation.

Our next area is the meter box itself. Depending upon where you live, responsibility on this can vary. In my area, any problems above the box are the power companies' responsibility, except roof penetration. If there are problems below the box, it is the homeowners' responsibility. Find out the policies in your area before have any work performed. The entry and exit from the meter box needs to be a water tight seal. A visual inspection can help determine if there is water getting inside.
Do not try to fix this yourself. Call a professional.

One more issue is where the service wires actually enter the home. This point also needs to be water tight. If water is able to enter here it will. Once it does that, it will follow the wires right to your electrical panel. Water should NEVER enter the electrical panel. If you notice water or condensation in your electrical panel, please call an electrician and have the problem corrected.

This tree has probably been in our yard longer than my wife or I have been on this planet. I really do love this tree. At last measurement it was 14 1/2 feet AROUND. Now that is a big tree. It provides us with plenty of shade when it is sweltering hot, and our dogs love to lay in its' shadow. We even got married under it.

But my wife and I each have a different view on this tree. You see, she sees a great shade tree and lovely landscaping. All I can see is a cracked or heaving foundation. She wants it to stay, and I want it to go. She wins every spring, but I feel I may win this fall, we'll see.

Everyone wants the nice shade trees in their yards, but there comes a time when they just have to go. Leaving these large trees close to our homes may end up costing us thousands of dollars in repair. Underground, the trees root system spreads out, almost symmetrical to its' crown. When these roots push against the foundation walls of your home, they create pressure and can crack the walls.

Once the walls have been cracked, this can lead to water intrusion, or settling of the foundation. Another issue, is they may even make their way underneath the foundation, this can be really troublesome. If you remove the tree, these roots will rot, and if under the foundation, the foundation can settle AFTER you remove the tree.

Remember, we all love the shade and beauty provided by Mother Nature and her children, we just have to be sensible when they are close to our home. Sometimes we have to let the big ones go, and grow new ones. Check out your landscaping this spring, focusing on the larger trees on your lot that may affect the foundation of your home. If need be, remove the ones that have gotten too large, and start over, it may be time for your yard to have a new look anyway.

One of the key issues in energy efficiency is the insulation of your home. Proper insulation levels will keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. When properly insulated this will be achieved more efficiently, thus at a lower energy cost for the homeowner.

There are several vital areas for insulation in your home. We will go over those areas here, and look at each area closely. All of these areas work in conjunction together, to form a proper insulation barrier for your home.

Before we get started we need to know a little bit about insulation first. What types of insulation do we need, how much insulation do we need. These questions can be answered by your local contractor much better. Different regions have different building practices, so one type of insulation may work great in Wisconsin, but would not work well in Arizona. For this reason, I advise you consult with a professional before installing your own insulation.

We also need to know the R-value of the insulation we're planning to install. Insulation is labeled and identified by its' R-value. The "R" stands for resistance to flow, specifically heat flow. The higher the number, the greater resistance to heat flow. So, an insulation with an R-value of 6/inch would have less R-value than insulation with an R-value of 9/inch.

In most regions there are requirements as to what the R-value needs to be in a new home. Say that R-value is R-38. What does that mean? We will need to figure out how much insulation we need to get to R-38. Using the numbers above, we will go with the value of R-9, for the sake of simple math. Divide 38 by and come up with your answer. With these numbers you would need a little over 4 inches of insulation to reach a level of R-38. These numbers vary greatly, depending upon types of insulations, so check with your local contractor or building supply store first.

Now, we will start at the top of the home first, the attic. An attic needs to be properly insulated to control energy loss. In most attics, the insulation is installed between the ceiling joists. You need to ensure that all areas are fully covered with insulation, while still being careful not to block off any baffles to the soffit area. Doing this will block air flow and may cause other problems. Be very careful with recessed lighting in the attic areas, make sure light cans are fire rated. Also, be very careful to watch for electrical hazards in the attic. If any are found, contact a qualified electrician to make repairs. Once this is complete, with proper R-value attained, we can move down the house.

Exterior walls also need to be insulated. Most exterior walls are 2x4 built, so we will need an R-value of R-13. If they home is 2X6 framed we will need an R-value of R-19. The exterior wall insulation is one of the areas where the most mistakes are made in home insulation. The insulation needs to be installed in its' poofy state. You do not want to crush this and wedge it into the wall cavity. By compressing the insulation, you are decreasing its' R-value. Make sure you have the correct thickness to the insulation before installation. Make sure all areas around windows and doors are properly insulated before drywall is replaced. You do not want to find out later that you missed some spots, this could be costly.

Finished basements will also need to be insulated. Most of the time in a basement you will be installing a rigid type of insulation. You will then tape off all the seams, to prevent moisture from wicking into the wood framing for the finished wall. Then in the cavity of the wall frame you will install the fiberglass insulation.

There are a few other areas of the home that need to be insulated as well. If you have heat ducts that run through an unheated crawl space, or under an unheated porch, these will need to be insulated as well, with the appropriate material. The same will apply to any plumbing pipes running through these areas.

When installing the insulation follow all manufacturers' guidelines. If you are installing paper backed insulation, remember, the paper always goes towards the warm side of the house. This is a very common installation mistake. While it is a common mistake, it can be very costly, due to trapping moisture and creating humidity in wall cavities.

Remember, a properly insulated home is a more efficient home. Spending money to properly insulate will save a lot of money on energy costs. This is not only good for your pocket book; it is great for the environment. This can also increase the lifespan of some of the components of your home such as the roof.

Here are some general guidelines regarding R-Values

•· R-4 ratings will apply to plumbing pipes in unheated areas.

•· R-7 ratings will apply to heating ducts in unheated areas.

•· R-13 ratings are used for exterior walls, crawlspace and basement walls if heated.

•· R-19 is used for 2x6 exterior walls, floors over unheated spaces, such as an entry porch, knee walls, and roof slopes.

•· R-30 ratings apply to ceilings below attics in most southern states.

•· R-38 ratings apply to ceilings below attics in most northern states.

Good luck in keeping your home properly insulated. This is one of the ways you can really save a lot of money in your energy bills.

Ian Niquette

WI Home Inspector
Square One Home Inspection proudly serves Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Dodge, Marquette, Columbia, Winnebago, and Waushara Counties. Complete home inspections and Radon testing available. Call today for a free price quote. Available 7 days a week.
Markesan WI 53946