Sunday, August 28, 2005
Testing Your Home for Lead
Question: "I've heard that lead poisoning is a frequent problem with many homes. I have two shildren and am concerned about the presence of lead in my home. Is there any way I can protect them?”
Thanks so much for your question. Lead is a serious problem that must be addressed in every home. Lead is extremely poisonous and slow to leave the body. Even a small accumulation of lead can prove to be damaging to humans. Children are especially susceptible. Symptoms include nausea, headache, and vomiting. Let's look at some ways that you can test your home for lead and protect your loved ones.
Prior to 1970, paint contained an alarmingly high concentration of lead. Chipping and flaking was especially dangerous for children who ingested the paint particles. Hardware stores usually carry a lead testing kit, but they are not very reliable. The only way to test your paint for lead is to send the samples off to a lab to be tested by professionals. The best treatment for this type of lead product is to simply paint over the old coat. Scraping and sanding may present a dangerous situation for your family.
Another problem location for lead is in your piping. Lead can be found in the pipes themselves or in the soldering that connects them together. Cities usually remedy this problem by adding a trace amount of phosphate to the water. This seals the pipes and keeps lead from entering your water supply.
To make sure that there is no lead in your drinking water, let the water run a minute or so before you use it. Water that sits in pipes overnight is more likely to have lead in it. You can also have your water tested by professionals to ensure its clarity. A filter is another good tool to use here.
Thanks so much for your question. Lead is a serious problem that must be addressed in every home. Lead is extremely poisonous and slow to leave the body. Even a small accumulation of lead can prove to be damaging to humans. Children are especially susceptible. Symptoms include nausea, headache, and vomiting. Let's look at some ways that you can test your home for lead and protect your loved ones.
Prior to 1970, paint contained an alarmingly high concentration of lead. Chipping and flaking was especially dangerous for children who ingested the paint particles. Hardware stores usually carry a lead testing kit, but they are not very reliable. The only way to test your paint for lead is to send the samples off to a lab to be tested by professionals. The best treatment for this type of lead product is to simply paint over the old coat. Scraping and sanding may present a dangerous situation for your family.
Another problem location for lead is in your piping. Lead can be found in the pipes themselves or in the soldering that connects them together. Cities usually remedy this problem by adding a trace amount of phosphate to the water. This seals the pipes and keeps lead from entering your water supply.
To make sure that there is no lead in your drinking water, let the water run a minute or so before you use it. Water that sits in pipes overnight is more likely to have lead in it. You can also have your water tested by professionals to ensure its clarity. A filter is another good tool to use here.
Insulating and Drywall Tips
Question: "I'm insulating some areas in my home, but I don't have much experience in this area. Do you have any tips and techniques for installing insulation and drywall into my home?”
Thanks so much for your question. Insulating and drywalling is a simple process, but there can be some tricky maneuvers that you will need to prepare for to make sure that the job is done right. Following these guidelines will ensure that you projects turn out perfect.
Insulating
It is critical to maintain a positive air flow between the insulation and the vents in your roof. Installing baffles between the rafter crossings in the walls will maintain a good air flow and equalize temperatures. By installing the baffles, you will be keeping the insulating from jamming up against the sheathing. If you live in snowy climates, skipping this step means that snow can melt into the roof and refreeze, causing leaks and water damage.
Kitchen Drywalling
The main thing to keep in mind when drywalling your kitchen is to measure the height of the ceilings. 8 foot ceilings are perfect in that they accept 4 foot drywalls perfectly. But for ceilings higher than 8 feet, you must plan out your sheets in order to have them match perfectly. You can also use your cabinets to successfully hide the joints of the drywall.
Using Drywall Stilts
I recommend that you not use drywall stilts if at all possible. These are professional tools used to save time. It takes practice to stay on them without falling off, and the possibility for injury is high. But if you get the hang of it, drywall stilts are great in that they allow you to move freely around your kitchen without a cumbersome ladder. They are similar to walking in tall ski boots.
Thanks so much for your question. Insulating and drywalling is a simple process, but there can be some tricky maneuvers that you will need to prepare for to make sure that the job is done right. Following these guidelines will ensure that you projects turn out perfect.
Insulating
It is critical to maintain a positive air flow between the insulation and the vents in your roof. Installing baffles between the rafter crossings in the walls will maintain a good air flow and equalize temperatures. By installing the baffles, you will be keeping the insulating from jamming up against the sheathing. If you live in snowy climates, skipping this step means that snow can melt into the roof and refreeze, causing leaks and water damage.
Kitchen Drywalling
The main thing to keep in mind when drywalling your kitchen is to measure the height of the ceilings. 8 foot ceilings are perfect in that they accept 4 foot drywalls perfectly. But for ceilings higher than 8 feet, you must plan out your sheets in order to have them match perfectly. You can also use your cabinets to successfully hide the joints of the drywall.
Using Drywall Stilts
I recommend that you not use drywall stilts if at all possible. These are professional tools used to save time. It takes practice to stay on them without falling off, and the possibility for injury is high. But if you get the hang of it, drywall stilts are great in that they allow you to move freely around your kitchen without a cumbersome ladder. They are similar to walking in tall ski boots.
The Remodeling Basics
Question: "I'm considering remodeling my home in a few key areas. This is the first time I've attempted to remodel, so what advice can you give before I jump head first into the project?”
Thanks so much for your question. There are some simple guidelines you should follow when attempting to remodel an area of your home. These are tried and true methods that will complete your projects and keep them well under your budget.
• Keep Your Spending in Line with Your Expectations. You should always keep in mind the price of the project as compared to the eventual return on your investment. Getting involved in a pricey remodeling project that only promises minor returns is just not good home improvement sense. Do some research on the type of return you can expect, and you will be pleasantly surprised in the end.
• Blend in the Old with the New. If your home is old, matching the materials of the new project with the old home can be quite expensive in the long run. Some research on matching materials will save you in the end. There are plenty of wood substitutes that will give you the same look and feel without the expense.
• Never Over Extend. Carefully planning your project from start to finish will ensure that you stay within your budget and capabilities. It's never a good situation when you have to call in a professional to complete a job you began. And it's even worse when you have to take out a loan to complete a project, as well.
The rule of thumb is to research, research, and research some more. If you know what you are getting into, and you know each stage of the project, you will complete it without unexpected expense or hassle.
Thanks so much for your question. There are some simple guidelines you should follow when attempting to remodel an area of your home. These are tried and true methods that will complete your projects and keep them well under your budget.
• Keep Your Spending in Line with Your Expectations. You should always keep in mind the price of the project as compared to the eventual return on your investment. Getting involved in a pricey remodeling project that only promises minor returns is just not good home improvement sense. Do some research on the type of return you can expect, and you will be pleasantly surprised in the end.
• Blend in the Old with the New. If your home is old, matching the materials of the new project with the old home can be quite expensive in the long run. Some research on matching materials will save you in the end. There are plenty of wood substitutes that will give you the same look and feel without the expense.
• Never Over Extend. Carefully planning your project from start to finish will ensure that you stay within your budget and capabilities. It's never a good situation when you have to call in a professional to complete a job you began. And it's even worse when you have to take out a loan to complete a project, as well.
The rule of thumb is to research, research, and research some more. If you know what you are getting into, and you know each stage of the project, you will complete it without unexpected expense or hassle.
