Kickout Flashing – Code Confusion

By |2022-01-27T08:39:46-08:00January 27th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

Kickout flashing that is too small Kickout flashing, also referred to as diverter flashing, is intended to prevent water intrusion into building structural components and direct it back to the exterior. Although this flashing detail has been required by IRC for more than a decade, old habits appear to have stayed in [...]

How to Fix Damaged Drywall

By |2022-01-26T09:58:36-08:00January 26th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

Drywall is the standard wall covering for homes built in the 2nd half of the 20th century and homes built in the 21st century. It is inexpensive and inexpensive to install. It is also a material that is easily damaged and being able to do drywall repair can help a homeowner save a significant [...]

What is Water Hammer?

By |2022-01-25T16:27:35-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, DIY Testing, home inspection|

If you’ve ever heard loud banging coming from behind the walls when running water at a fixture such as a washing machine, sink, or other plumbing appliance, you may have experienced the phenomenon known as water hammer. While this can be both a loud and annoying phenomenon, this can also cause damage to your [...]

How to Seal Holes in the Garage Firewall

By |2022-01-25T14:27:32-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection|

An attached garage is a great place to keep your car warm and out of the weather. It is also a convenient place to store your belongings, work on small projects, or set up workout equipment. However, the garage can also be a significant safety and health hazard for the occupants of the home. [...]

How to Refinish a Deck

By |2022-01-25T14:21:58-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

Many of the decks that we inspect have finish coatings that are at or past the end of their useful service life. In our wet climate, maintaining a protective finish coating on the deck can do as much as double the service life of a deck. Failing to do so will allow the deck [...]

How to Replace a Three-Way Switch

By |2022-01-25T14:12:25-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection|

Three-way switches for lighting in a home provide a way to control one light with two separate switches in two different locations. Three way switches are primarily found in hallways and stairwells, but can also be found in rooms with multiple entry and exit points, or in larger sized rooms. The point of a [...]

How to Correct a Misaligned Door Latch

By |2022-01-25T13:56:29-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

A common problem with doors in a home is a misaligned latch that does not allow the door to stay close. This is an annoying problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons, but most of the time, repairs can be pretty simple. There are several tricks that can be used to [...]

How to Repair a Binding Door Jamb

By |2022-01-25T13:43:27-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

Have you ever tried to close a door and it ends up binding or rubbing against the door jamb? Chances are you have; this is a common issue in homes. This problem can be found in old homes, or even brand new homes. Usually this issue is caused by problems with the door hinges, [...]

How to Replace a Toilet

By |2022-01-25T13:38:10-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

Do you live in a house built before 1994? If so, you may be flushing down more water than you think every time you use the toilet. If you are someone that pays water and sewer bills, you can say that you are literally flushing money down the drain each time you press that [...]

How to Test and Maintain A Sump Pump

By |2022-01-25T13:31:36-08:00January 25th, 2022|DIY Repairs, home inspection, Maintenance|

Water can be one of the most damaging outside forces to a home and even a small amount can lead to significant repair costs. While plumbing leaks can cause tremendous damage in a short amount of time, these often make themselves apparent relatively quickly and can be mitigated once they are identified. A type [...]

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