Fall Maintenance
Commercial and residential buildings will benefit from early maintenance before cold weather arrives. Clean gutters and downspouts. Reseal exterior woodwork- fences, pergolas, sheds, and trellises should be inspected and included in the process. Check for pest infestation and associated damage- small animals, e.g. mice and...
Building Water Leaks and RAIN
Moisture is often a silent building wrecker. An insignificant slow drip can cause a substantial amount of damage....
Water, Mold, & Building Materials
Building Science Corporation is a credible resource with unbiased factual information. BSI-027 is a fascinating examination of the prevalence of microbial growth in new buildings. This excerpt is interesting and the photographs included in the article are truly remarkable. "Mold is pretty easy to understand. No water...
Drying Books and Documents
The Northeast Document Conservation Center publishes a protocol for drying wet books and documents. The recommended recovery is applicable to damp items as well as wet ones. There is hope for salvaging records and documents stored in wet basements and water damaged attics. Freezing may...
Moisture Control Guidance
The EPA publishes Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance. Site Drainage is fundamental to effective moisture control. There is a pdf. section devoted to construction methods in basement and crawl space condensation control. Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair can restrict condensation...
Prepare for Spring Weather
The NOAA website has a fresh, new, look with a lot of reliable information....
Indoor Air Quality Routines
Spring is on the way and soon spring cleaning will be underway. Duct inspection is sometimes overlooked in routine maintenance. There are unnoticed systems in every building that contribute to the quality of the indoor environment. Ducting is found in different applications- bathroom exhaust fans, clothes dryers...
Ice Dam Warning Signs
Removing accumulated snow and ice from the roof can help prevent future interior water damage. Roof dam warning signs may be visible from building exteriors: Icicles at the roof edge Ice accumulation in the rain gutter and edge of the roof Ice in soffit vents Ice on exterior siding Ice...
Preparing for Cold Weather
Temperatures are dropping and systems maintenance is fundamental in efficient operation. Seasonal properties should be winterized to prevent pipe breaks and winter water damage. Occupied properties will benefit from routine maintenance, filter changes as well as an examination of ducts, vents, and connections should be included....
Insurance Claims
Winter weather can cause a lot of property damage, especially from frozen pipes resulting in water damage with associated loss. Insurance policies can be very confusing to property owners in the midst of the chaos of property damage. Typically, insurance agents are very good at...