hausdok

In October 2007 the 3rd Solar Decathalon was held in Washington D.C. and a group of students took first prize. This article in FineHomebuilding.com tells about the contest. To read more, click here.

In this clip from the DVD, Building Codes for a Small Planet, David Eisenberg advocates for the building code community to adopt a set of principles moderating the negative impacts of construction and development. A good initial principle, Eisenberg suggests, is that “buildings should do no harm.â€

The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) has built a new concept home in Nebraska that features a number of innovations: a flexible floor plan that evolves with the homeowners' family, panelized framing, an insulating-concrete-form foundation, soy-based foam insulation, an on-demand water heater, and a state-of-the-art gray-water system, among many other features. Learn more about these new technologies in this Fine Homebuilding Article.

A JLC reader wants to know if it's ever permissable to use less than a 4 conductor cable for a sub-panel. Here's JLC's expert's answer.

Air sealing the space between a chimney and combustible materials is a challenge. Here are some suggestions from the Journal of Light Construction Online. Click here!.

Adobe now has available via its Web site a free download that delivers updated 3D CAD translators for Acrobat 3D Version 8, enabling it to support the latest version of many of the major 3D CAD file formats. Get the update by clicking here.

The APA-Engineered Wood Association has updated their publications index. The new index offers a complete listing of APA Design & Construction Guides, Product Guides, Builder Tips, Case Histories, Industrial publications and additional materials that are available for purchase or as free downloads from their site. For a listing of Technical Notes, Research Reports, and other technical literature, please visit the Publications Library on the APA website. This brochure is available as a free PDF download. Editor's note: New users to the APA website will have to register in able to access all of the features of the site and download free documents. Registration is very easy, takes only a minute or two, and APA does not spam users.

As the number of foreclosures increases, so does the number of small business owners that are going bankrupt. One factor that is severely impacting service businesses such as home inspections is the rising cost of gasoline. Is there anything that can be done to stop this wild ride? To read more, click here.

A recent article in Fine Homebuilding by Plumber, Electrician, Home Inspector Rex Cauldwell provides 10 home inspection tips. Check it out and tell us how you rate Rex's advice. To read the article click here.

Buffalo Grove, Ill - April 4, 2008 How can a home warranty company make a positive difference in the environment? That's what the executives at Home Warranty of America, Inc., asked each other over a year ago. This sparked extensive research and development and finally a new program option emerged called GreenPlus. "We know we'll replace thousands of appliances and systems every year due to complete breakdowns. If we could find a way to replace them with higher efficiency models and also make it affordable for our customers, we'd have a winning option," said Marc Roth, President & CEO. "We researched ENERGY STAR qualified products, surveyed our customers, and found out we could meet their expectations while saving them energy costs and helping the environment. GreenPlus is very affordable at $75 and customers can even roll it in with their home warranty cost and pay it over 12 installments. GreenPlus only adds $6.25 a month with this plan," added Marc Roth, President & CEO. An environmentally sound option that all HWA clients can purchase with their home warranties, GreenPlus provides ENERGY STAR qualified product replacements for the -- Dishwasher -- Refrigerator -- Clothes Washer -- Heating System (replaced with 90% efficiency) -- Water Heater (replaced with tankless water heaters) "Green is the color of life, of our future and our children's. The realization by all of us that everyone, both businesses and consumers, must work in ways to make sure we reduce greenhouse gases and all of our other environmental problems, is what will make the real difference. By offering this option at a very reasonable rate, we will create an incentive in our customers to work with us and add it to their warranties. Now we both can play a part in this global effort," added David Sobel, V.P. of Sales. You can contact HWA and find out about the GreenPlus Option and all their home warranty programs by going online at http://www.hwaHomeWarranty.com or calling the toll-free number 1-888-492-7359 and talking to a Customer Service Representative. Source: Home Warranty of America Inc. via PR Newswire #### About Home Warranty of America, Inc. Home Warranty of America, Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL was founded in 1996 to provide home warranty coverage for houses, town homes, and condominiums. The Company has experienced remarkable growth to become a leading supplier of home warranties across the United States, and provides its services through real estate agents, insurance professionals, relocation companies, developers, title companies, bankers, home inspectors and mortgage brokers. The Company also provides its comprehensive home warranties directly to the homeowner and takes the worry out of buying and owning a home. It offers full coverage for every buyer without the age restrictions that are common on competitor's products. Service is a convenient 24/7 toll-free call away and repairs are performed by qualified, approved technicians in every state. The Company offers a 30-day, money back guarantee on every home warranty. The Company's newest brands are the GreenPlus and OrangePlus home warranty options and HWA Licensed Home Inspection Warranties.

Kenmore, WA A bill to amend existing state laws and establish a State Licensing Board of Home Inspectors, establish criteria for that board and establish additional rules for home inspectors in the state of Georgia has been passed by both the Georgia House and the Georgia Senate and is currently waiting Gov. Sonny Perdue's signature. If signed into law, House Bill 1217 will require that anyone practicing home inspections in the State of Georgia prove by 2010 that he or she: Is at least 18 years of age; Is of good moral character; Has not been convicted of a crime that has a direct bearing on the person´s ability to perform competently and fully as a licensee; Has successfully completed high school or its equivalent; Has:(A) Completed a board approved course of study of no less than 80 hours that covers all of the following components of a residential building of four units or less: heating system, cooling system, plumbing system, electrical system, structural components, foundation, roof covering, exterior and interior components, and site aspects as they affect the building; or (B)(i) Presented documentation as required by the board that he or she has been engaged in the practice of home inspection for compensation for not fewer than three years prior to the effective date of this chapter; and (ii) Performed not fewer than 100 home inspections for compensation; Has passed a valid, reliable examination designed to test competence in home inspection practice and developed pursuant to accepted psychometric standards promulgated by the American Educational Research Association or similar organization acceptable to the board. The board shall designate such examination no later than six months after the date this chapter becomes effective.For the exact wording and details of the bill, click here.

Home Inspector pundit, Barry Stone, on what he thinks of brokers and agents that refuse to allow an inspector to inspect their listings. To read more, click here.

The Rheem Corporation has established a new website, SmarterHotWater.com, to provide consumers and contractors information about the technical aspects and benefits of tank, tankless, and solar water heating devices.

This free online course about cool roofing options provides an overview of the performance characteristics and benefits of cool roofing systems using reflective white vinyl roofing. Green roofing, energy saving programs, environmental challenges and solutions are also reviewed. Editor's note: Inspectors who belong to national associations and wish to use this course for continuing education units should contact their association(s) and ensure that the course will be accepted for CEU's prior to taking the course. To read more click here.

Washington, DC. On April 28th, the National Association of Home Builders submitted it's model National Green Building Standard to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for approval. Representatives from the NAHB and the International Code Council (ICC) plan to hold a joint teleconference when the standard is approved by ANSI around the middle of May. According to an NAHB press release on Newswire, ANSI standards ensure uniformity in everything from the size of electrical outlets to testing medical devices; and, since ANSI only approves one standard for any product category, the National Green Building Standard will be the first and only green building rating system approved by ANSI, making it the benchmark for green homes and will provide the residential building industry with the only nationally recognized, third-party validated rating system in the industry. To establish the standard, NAHB and the ICC were required to gather a "fully inclusive and representative consensus committee composed of a broad spectrum of builders, architects, product manufacturers, regulators and environmental experts" that deliberated the content of the standard for more than a year, held four public hearings, and evaluated more than 3,000 comments submitted. The standard will define what green practices can be incorporated into residential development and construction on a national scale and how home owners can operate and maintain their green homes. Inspectors wanting to know more about this process should closely monitor Build Central's Green Building Talk boards for more announcements about the standard.

Pleasonton, CA - May 1 Today the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA), the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and Simpson Strong-Tie kick off Deck Safety Month® with a nationwide campaign to educate homeowners about ensuring their decks are safe and secure. Nearly 85 percent of homes in the U.S. have a deck, balcony or patio. It is estimated that 20 million of these decks nationwide are in need of repair or rebuilding. "Deck failures like the tragic Chicago collapse of 2003, and the hundreds that go unreported each year, occur in an instant," said Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of NADRA. "We want to make sure consumers are aware of the necessity to maintain their decks, as well as the risks of having improperly built decks. It is critical that homeowners have the information and tools to regularly make sure that their decks are safe for use, no matter where they live." In the past ten years, there have been more than 800 reported injuries and 20 deaths as a result of deck collapses. In many cases the failing decks were built incorrectly, had not been properly maintained or were beyond their lifespan of approximately 10-15 years. "The reality of deck collapses is that many are not reported unless someone is injured or some legal action occurs," said Dr. Don Bender, a deck safety researcher and director of the Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University. "It's important for homeowners to remember that a valid deck inspection requires a registered design professional. If homeowners have any questions about finding a professional in their area, they should consult with their local building department." The top ten U.S. cities with the highest percentage of homes with decks, as determined by the American Housing Survey for Metropolitan Areas, and that have reported one or more deck collapses in the last 10 years are: Atlanta, Birmingham, Kansas City, Seattle-Everett-Tacoma, Denver, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. For example, in 2006 four people in Atlanta were seriously injured in a second-story deck collapse when inspecting a home they were considering purchasing. In 2001, five people were injured and an 18-year old student attending Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., was killed during a college party at a student-rented house when a deck collapsed. "Reported deck failures often occur in cities with older housing stock, large populations or in areas located on or near the water," said Jeff Arnold, ASHI executive director. "We want to remind homeowners to make sure they work with their home inspector to take the appropriate steps to keep their friends and family safe." To evaluate the safety of their decks, homeowners should look for five warning signs that a deck is unsafe: loose connections (for example, a wobbly railing), missing connections (for example, the deck is just nailed, rather than bolted or screwed, to the side of the house), corrosion, rot and cracks. The two critical areas that typically contribute to a deck collapse are the railings and the deck's connection to the house. To ensure the structural safety of a deck, it should be built with a continuous load path -- a method of construction that creates a series of solid connections within the structure of the deck that transfers the load through its frame to the ground and adjacent support structure, commonly the house. If homeowners are unsure of the safety of their deck, experts suggest consulting with a registered design professional. "Most deck collapses are entirely avoidable," said Steve Pryor, P.E., S.E., building systems R&D manager for Simpson Strong-Tie. "Our goal is to help educate homeowners about proper deck design, construction and maintenance so they can stay safe while enjoying their decks this summer." In addition to its deck safety efforts with NADRA and ASHI, Simpson Strong-Tie is teaming with The Home Depot this May for deck safety workshops at stores throughout the U.S. The Home Depot and Simpson Strong-Tie also will host several events demonstrating safe deck construction techniques and the problems with a poorly constructed deck. Events will be held in these cities: Seattle - May 3rd; Atlanta - May 10th; Long Island (Jericho, NY) - May 17th; and Chicago - May 31st. To assist homeowners in evaluating the safety of their deck, Simpson Strong-Tie has developed a deck edition of its "5 Steps to a Safer and Stronger Home" and a "Deck Framing Connection Guide." The five steps include checking for the warning signs of an unsafe deck, knowing how weight and other forces affect the safety of a deck, ensuring the deck is built with a continuous load path, combating corrosion and knowing how to maintain a deck. The guide is designed to help those who are building a deck understand the critical areas of deck construction. For more information, or to download the Deck Guide and "5 Steps to a Safer and Stronger Home," visit the Simpson Strong-Tie Web site at http://www.strongtie.com/safedeck. #### SOURCE Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. via PR Newswire. Editors Note: On May 4th, 12 teenage members of a youth group in Buckley, WA were injured when an elevated deck they were sitting on collapsed while they were posing for photos. Three were released to their parents and nine were taken to hospital for treatment. To read more click here. About Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc. For more than 50 years, Simpson Strong-Tie has focused on creating structural products that help people build safer and stronger homes and buildings. A leader in structural systems research and technology, Simpson Strong-Tie is one of the largest suppliers of structural building products in the world. The company manufactures metal connectors, such as joist hangers and other hardware, used to secure the structural frame of homes and decks. For more information, visit the Simpson Strong-Tie Web site at http://www.strongtie.com. About North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) NADRA serves as a unified source for the professional development, promotion, growth, and sustenance of the Deck and Railing industry in North America. The association offers educational resources for industry professionals and consumers, and is continually developing new programs and initiatives. As the voice of the industry, NADRA works for consistent communication between the supply chain, builders and code officials in order to help make decks as safe as possible for consumers. Learn more at http://www.nadra.org. Deck Safety Month is a registered trademark of NADRA. About the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) In its 31st year and with more than 5,500 members and 80-plus chapters, ASHI is the oldest and most widely recognized non-profit, professional organization of home inspectors in North America. Its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics is the industry standard. For more information or to locate a home inspector, visit http://www.ASHI.org or contact ASHI at hq@ashi.org.

Good question. Inspection pundit Barry Stone weighs in on when an inspector should or should not be expected to pay for damage that is alleged to have occurred during the inspection. To read the entire article click here.

That's frustration talking. First, people complain about how long it takes MS to release a new OS. It takes a long time because they have a very large beta testing program and a very massive (yes, bloated) set of software to test. Once the new OS is out, then people say things like, "They just throw a program together quickly and get it into the market." People also complain that many "promised" features are left out of the final product. The reason the features are left out is because they aren't ready - they didn't pass beta testing. MS is the company people love to hate. I hate them at least once a day. But, in general, people don't understand the real reasons for why things aren't perfect - and they certainly aren't shy to bitch. Hi, Well, sure, that's a reasonable argument but it would be easier to accept if it weren't for the fact that this was a Microsoft programmer who's worked for them for about six years who was talking. I don't have to look very hard to find a microsoft programmer client. Heck, 27% of my business last year came from just the Chinese microsoft employees that hired me after they read about me on their message board. They were easiest for me to track because of the way their names are spelled. I've got plenty more who're Polish, Irish, British, Ukrainian, Korean, Russian, and then the Americans. None of them seem to be frustrated; quite content in fact. They're still buying houses priced well above the median in a market where most other folks aren't. The guy said it so matter-of-fact, like it was no big deal and everyone knows it, so it stuck with me. Personally, I'm just happy when the thing works reasonably well and isn't locking up all the time. The XP machine I'm working on in my office is that machine; the Vista machine upstairs in my wife's office that I use sometimes locks up constantly; usually if I decide to try and stop it from doing something it has started, like a download because I've changed my mind, and it's a royal pain in the keester. I've yet to have ever used a computer with Linux on it. I was thinking of buying one of those under $200 linux machines down at Frye's just to play around with it. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi Jim, I think he just cobbled in something off his truck from another brand and figures that you're gullible enough to believe it. OT - OF!!! M.

According to a recent article in the Hartford Business Journal, a record number of business closed their doors in Connecticutt during the first quarter of 2008 and the trend is likely to continue. To read more click here.

According to this USA Today article, having a website is as necessary today as a business card and a phone for your business. Click here to read more.

Now do you believe in Leprechauns? id="blue">Click the photo to EnlargeMany thanks to James P. Simmons (User Name: Mr. Electric)Olympia, WA

Yeah, I always feel better too after I toss my cookies. [] It's good to have you back, Old Friend. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike

Hi, The stonework is normally bedded into a layer of portland cement over lath just like stucco. I suppose with proper preparation, all they'd have to do is apply mortar to the face of it and layup the stone. no reason for the drainage gap; you've already got that behind the stucco. OT - OF!!! M.

Two days ago, I did a job for a microsoft programmer. I made a wisecrack about how I'm a compumoron and wanted to know whether I should upgrade to XP 'cuz of all the different things I'd heard. He said that Microsoft's way of doing things is to throw a program together quickly and get it out onto the market and let the consumers find the bugs, instead of microsoft expending time and resources to do that, and that way they get the software sold. It's the 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' mentality; if they can get your money now, they aren't worried about the bad publicity because as stuff gets identified they'll just toss out free fixes for the issues and they know you'll come back for the next whatever it is because you don't have a whole lot of better alternative choices out there. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike