The crave to save the planet is not being limited to automobiles alone as a new trend is rising and it is that of building green homes, in a bid to preserve the environment and guarantee better days ahead. Well it is interesting, but the sad news is that not everyone is down for it. But then again, there is a part of real estate meant for every niche and this one happens to be for the eco-friendly.

Green homes usually trade some of the normal systems in the home for more environmentally friendly ones. The sun is usually plentiful three-quarters of the month, and its radiation power can be harnessed to light up the home on several occasions, and even do things such as heat up the water instead of relying on an electrical heater for that. Solar panels are effective at converting solar energy into electrical energy which can be used to power up every electrical gadget around the house.

Going green is not only about saving the environment but saving finances as well. One would be blind not to notice how much environmentally powered systems reduce the monthly bills since whatever nature gives is for free. Making ends meet these days is not considered an easy job, and breakthroughs like these ought to be adopted to make the possibility complete.

Read more…

When you have a home inspected, your home inspector will look carefully at the structure of your home to check for signs of damage, which may include water damage, rot, or termites.

Rotting of sills often happens after years of water leaking into wood members. Wood rot in sills next to steps and slabs is very common. Unfortunately, this is because builders will often leave out metal flashing on the sill/wall/sheathing surface before the steps or slabs are poured.

In many cases it is impossible to tell if there is proper flashing where it should be. Material like “Ice and Water Shield” can sometimes be used. If you have an older home, asphalt paper may have been used, since many years back it was allowed. However, the paper can quickly deteriorate, which exposes sills to water. Your inspector may look under the siding with a mirror to see if there is some evidence of flashing.

Read more…