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Home Ownership Concerns into the next decades
Ever think of why people choose to remodel, build additions or move houses. Whether you live in the South West, South East, Mid America or Eastern seaboard the reasons can be varied. Starting with family expansion needs for more space or preparing for “flipping” for quick sale and profit. However, there are a number of other issues that propel the idea of remodeling, additions, or house moving. In the next paragraphs we will point out some less obvious reasons for remodels, additions and or house moves. But first let us take a close look at the anatomy of houses between 1906 through 1968.
Structures and more specifically residential houses have the following characteristics of earlier period houses. Foundations were made of brick and mortar, or concrete with 1800psi and 2000psi strength with little or no steel in the brick or concrete; Water lines were made of galvanized iron pipes, Electrical wiring method used was knob and Tube with amperage control of between 60 and 100 Amps; Asbestos based piping, heat ducts, Interior plaster; Balloon framing that allowed for spacing of walls and roof structures with spacing 32” o.c. and rafters with skip sheathing under asbestos based shingles; Lead based paints and other substances were used. These aforementioned items were commonly used until Scientist and Engineers begin to carefully study Health, Safety and Welfare issues due to Earthquakes, Floods, Hurricanes Tornados, deadly fires, and other natural disasters along with newly discovered Health epidemics, such as Mold and Mildew infestation. All have had a profound effect on how we have, assumedly, survived safely in an ecological balanced environmental society. We are now becoming more conscious of the environment and how we can better live in harmony with nature. Each of the elements identified in the above discussion have a history in and of themselves. More attention is being paid to Landscaping and terracing around property for water relief. As we witness shifts by earth movement, ground settlement, and hillside slides we see cracks in foundations, and walls of our houses. Cracking and sinking roof ridge lines are seen. Trees and plants root systems uplifting of sidewalks and clogged sewer lines are becoming more common problems. Not considering the implications of the forgoing information can lead to “Red Tagging” of your property or worst financial uncertainty.
For this article we will deal with only a few of the above items that have created the need for remodeling, additions and upgrades: Starting with the foundations; Older houses where brick and mortar foundations were the standard in the early Victorian time period on through the 1906 earthquake into late 1960’s. The subsequence use of concrete with less than 2000psi strength placed to depths of only 12 inches to 14 inches below grade are quite common. The subsequent use of steel rebar incased in the concrete to add tensile strength to concrete made earlier appearances in building practices but gave little or no attention to bolting houses to foundations nor soil compaction considerations. The results are now showing up in cracked foundations, both exterior and exterior walls are showing separation with floors shifting or sinking and finally dry rot and termite infestation is showing up more frequently; Water mains and feed lines were made of galvanized iron pipes and are now showing deterioration from with inside the lines resulting in iron rust particles that contribute to health problems in addition to clogging of lines and reduced water pressure when faucets are turned on; Old knob and tube electrical wiring made of aluminum and controlled by use of the old fuse systems with low or limited capacity to carry the increasing demands for electrical energy was used early on with little or no regard for grounding requirements, the results have been fires caused from Arching or shorting out of electrical system when overloaded.. The use of Asbestos early on, was use as an insulating base and served as a retardant to fire, is now showing up as a major contributor to lung cancer and other health conditions. The same can be said of Lead based paints and the implications of fumes during fires and children eating the paint particles; Mold and Mildew is showing up as health problems of residents due to lack of adequate ventilation caused by under sizing of windows and inadequate venting capacity particularly in kitchens and bathrooms and bedrooms.
The forgoing is only a “tip of the Ice Berg” as we move on to remodeling and upgrading of older homes particularly as the advent of the “Art of Flipping” for quick profits makes it’s way in the building industry lexicon. Combine this with the need and desire of “first time homeowners” or the novice builder to increase, and in some cases, reduce the size of their houses can be a prescription for financial disaster.
Homeowners who recognize that their house may fall within the categories as discussed above are encouraged to become better consumers by becoming familiar with the workings of the International Conference of Building officials (ICBO), International Code Council (ICC). Codes are changing annually. Further information on these subjects can be found at: www.icbo.com or www.iccsafe.org
For those wanting brief or in-depth discussions of these and other related building industry topics go to: www.adcbuilderseminar.com or email us at: davis52@comcast.net where a wide array of management training and technical assistance is available to assist you through the process and procedures for correcting the deficiencies discussed in this article.
The ADC Limited, “Owner-builder’s Workbook for Remodeling and House Moving” is available for purchase. We encourage you to both read this guide and attendant a Training Seminar. This investment of $29.95, for this one publication may be the difference between the successful completion of a remodeling project and financial disaster. Many users of our service testimonial’s attest to the fact that had they read this one publication they would not have lost thousands of dollars in the processing, contracting and building procedures. There is ample evidence that professionals i.e. Attorneys, Doctors, Designers and General Contractors, who though they had the right information, have made critical and costly errors when attempting to build or manage remodeling, addition or house moving without proper understanding of the process and procedures required in the building procedures.
RECOMMENDATED ACTIONS TO AVOID COSTLY MISTAKES:
STEP ONE
Purchase a copy of the “Owner-Builder’s Workbook for Remodeling and House Moving” for $29.95 and or signup to attend a half day Training Seminar. Click here to make a purchase or register for a Training Seminar.
STEP TWO
Click here to read or view video clips of past Client Testimonials of the usefulness of the Workbook and Training Seminar before, during, and after start of remodeling or addition projects.
As a last resort visit your local City or County Building, Planning and Zoning Office before venturing into the home remodeling, addition or house moving arena. Their resources are most frequently found on the Internet.
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