So you've determined you need/want a chimney inspection. I have included some basic descriptions to help you make an educated decision.
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Chimney Inspections are classified as Level 1 , Level 2 or Level 3 . Each level of inspection covers specific items depending on the individual appliance and venting system. Below is an explanation of the three levels of inspections and what services your chimney service technician should provide for each level. Level 1 inspections - If your appliance or your venting system has not changed and you plan to use your system as you have in the past, then a Level 1 inspection is a minimum requirement. A Level 1 inspection is recommended for a chimney under continued service, under the same conditions, and with the continued use of the same appliance. In a Level 1 inspection, your chimney service technician should examine the readily accessible** portions of the chimney exterior, interior and accessible* portions of the appliance and the chimney connection. Your technician will be looking for the basic soundness of the chimney structure and flue as well as the basic appliance installation and connections. The technician will also verify the chimney is free of obstruction and combustible deposits. Level 2 Inspections -A Level 2 inspection is required when any changes are made to the system. Changes can include a change in the fuel type, changes to the shape of, or material in, the flue (i.e. relining), or the replacement or addition of an appliance of a dissimilar type, input rating or efficiency. Additionally, a Level 2 inspection is required upon the sale or transfer of a property or after an operation malfunction or external event that is likely to have caused damage to the chimney. Building fires, chimney fires, seismic events as well as weather events are all indicators that this level of inspection is warranted.
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Creative Concepts and Contracting is a license/bonded/insured contracting and home staging company located in Oregon and serving the greater Willamette Valley. Specializing in inspection required repairs, preparing homes for sale, repairs and updating. Contact Joe Oscilia at 503-881-0886 for quality and professional results!
Relaxing in front of a cozy fire -- what a wonderful wintertime activity! And of course - we always think when selling or buying that it's a great feature and focal point of a room. But, are there hidden dangers lurking in your chimney?
Every year, residential fires that start in chimneys result in millions of dollars in property damage, and virtually all of these fires are preventable if homeowners have annual chimney inspections. Think gas fireplaces are exempt from needing inspections? They can become blocked by bird nests or other debris - which can lead to the spread of toxic gases within the home.
Hiring a chimney sweep to clean the fireplace is one way to maintain a safe chimney, but a regular chimney inspection provides much more in depth assurance.
Want more information about the differences between a chimney sweeping and inspection? Check out the Chimney Safety Institute of America's website at www.csia.org. They have great tips as such as:
Keep it clear. Keep tree branches and leaves at least 15 feet away from the top of the chimney.
Install a chimney cap to keep debris and animals out of the chimney.
Choose the right fuel. For burning firewood in wood stoves or fireplaces, choose well seasoned wood that has been split for a minimum of six months - one year and stored in a covered and elevated location. Never burn Christmas trees or treated wood in your fireplace or wood stove.
Build it right.Place firewood or fire logs at the rear of the fireplace on a supporting grate. To start the fire, use kindling or a commercial firelighter. Never use flammable liquids
Creative Concepts and Contracting is a license/bonded/insured contracting and home staging company located in Oregon and serving the greater Willamette Valley. Specializing in inspection required repairs, preparing homes for sale, repairs and updating. Contact Joe Oscilia at 503-881-0886 for quality and professional results!
The holiday season can provide opportunities to "go green" that perhaps you haven't thought of . . .
Give a gift of time, talent or memories. Before buying something that really isn't needed by the recipient, how about a more creative idea? A gift certificate for a meal, tickets to share to a play, a poem or a framed photo - all special and not contributing to the landfill.
Use innovative gift wrapping ideas. Make gift bags of fabric that can be reused year after year. Make a patchwork of various scraps to achieve a larger bag at no cost. Hide larger gifts for kids and provide clues.
Donate to a charitable organization instead of a gift. It is estimated that 20% of charities will have to close this year due to a decrease of donations. Support your favorite charity and honor a loved one at the same time.
Turn down the heat before guests arrive. Ever notice how quickly the house overheats during a party? Turn down the thermostat a few degrees an hour before guests arrive - you'll save energy and your guests will be more comfortable.
When purchasing gifts that are to be shipped, pick items that won't require excess packaging.
Consider gifts that keep on giving such as a battery charger, perpetual calendar or an erasable message board.
Little steps by all of us will help us make huge strides in making our environment a better place for future generations!
Creative Concepts and Contracting can help you make good choices in when updating or remodeling your homes. Contact us for more "green" ideas!
Your roof going green with moss is not a good thing! Today I received a question about removing moss and thought I would share my answer.
First let me say that if you are in a hurry; you should scrape the moss off with a wire brush the best you can. But, you can treat it and then brush off the dead stuff as best you can then treat again. Moss attaches to the roof as long as it is alive. After killing the moss, it releases and is easier to brush off.
At one time I spread laundry detergent to kill moss and it worked great. Slow but great. However, I have come to learn that the detergent has degreasers in it. That degreaser helps clean the clothes but isn't good for asphalt roofs, which are a petroleum product, as the degreaser attacks the petroleum binders and the roof slowly deteriorates. Not good.
I have since been using zinc sulfate, the main ingredient in the product Moss Out for roofs. I buy it in bulk from the farm store. In a nut shell, one ot the easist things for a person to do would be to buy the Moss Out granules for roofs and spread it all over if the moss is heavy. When you get to just a maintenance program you can just spread it on the peak and let the water wash it down. I do it every Feb on the rentals and probably twice a year, Feb and Oct, on our house.
If you are in a hurry and want to scrape a little this year; use bleach water at a rate of 3 quarts bleach to 3.75 gallons water. This acts fast but isn't a good preventative. Follow up with a Zinc sulphate treatment as a preventative measure. Should work fine.
Creative Concepts and Contracting has the experience you need to solve maintenance and repair issues quickly and easily. Contact Joe for more ideas on how to maintain your home!
The Prepare to Sell Experts! Home repairs and remodeling for Salem & Willamette Valley-specializing in preparing homes for sale or completing repairs identified in home inspections.
You can't change your location or the market conditions, but you CAN change the impact your home makes and whether the buyer can envision making this their home.
To maximize your home selling profits, it must show very well. Creative Concepts and Contracting can help you with all aspects of preparing your home for sale. From staging, repairs or updating, to packing and cleaning - Creative Concepts will help you maximize your time and budget and reduce the stress of selling your home.
Our goal is to support you in your efforts to sell your home in the quickest amount of time for the most money, and with the least amount of stress. From curb appeal to the laundry area, we can help show off your home to make a premiere presentation!!
Repairs, remodeling and home staging provided for Salem, Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, Philomath, Stayton and the Willamette Valley Oregon areas.
We specialize in preparing your house for sale and satisfying the whole home inspection write-ups to get it closed quickly. We start with staging and remodeling, if necessary, and conclude with repairs and inspection satisfaction prior to closing. Creative Concepts and Contracting realizes that creative concepts apply to more than just staging and we can provide those services. We can paint trim or move walls. We can replace a vanity, install cabinets, or just counter tops. Having the ability to answer the age old question, "How are we going to fix that?" is the challenge for us. We pride ourselves in creating unique solutions or tried and true techniques that will meet everyone's needs and budgets.
Over the years we have acquired extensive remodel and repair experiences working on our own rental homes and multifamily units. As the market changed, so did we. Flexibility has been the key to our success. Our experience also includes buying, repairing, remodeling, and selling houses. We have discovered what works and what doesn't when it comes to repairing, remodeling and selling.
A special area of interest is helping the elderly. Sometimes a person or couple needs to prepare their house for sale but don't always have the energy, desire or experience to evaluate repairs, get ideas, call on numerous contractors, get bids and have numerous strangers traipsing through their house. We can do it all. We would like to be the one-stop-shopping place for selling your home.
I have known *** and Margaret for approximately four years. The quality of work they have done is excellent. They are not afraid to tackle the hardest job. They are able to sense the market trends and incorporate them into their properties, adding a considerable amount of value to their projects. I consider *** and Margaret to be two of the finest and most honest people I have had the privilege of knowing, and am happy to recommend them to you.
Henri Lemon, Broker -Windermere Pacific West Properties, Inc. -Salem Oregon
Over and over again, I have been impressed by the real estate transformations *** and Margaret achieve. I have personally worked with them for nearly 20 years. They are committed to quality workmanship, attention to detail and are resourceful and capable. They are my first choice for staging and repairs."
Don Paterson, Broker - Windermere Pacific West Properties, Inc., Salem Oregon
"Margaret and *** Oscilla have a heart for people! This is exhibited most clearly in the way that they have approached and communicated with my clients. They have used their gifts and talents to ease the often overwhelming process of selling a home, and the results are first-class! It has been a pleasure to work with both of them. I will not hesitate to recommend them and look forward to using their services in the future!"
Debbie Cooper, Broker - Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette, Salem, Oregon
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