Good Question!

The Lynch Team publish a weekly article in The Nelson Express called "Home Front".

Having received many requests by the public for past aritcles, we've decided to post them online for everyone's convenience.

Click on the links to access the articles, organized by topic. You can also use the search box (below) to find articles with specific keywords. Kindly submit a question—our response may appear in a future edition of "Home Front".
 

Architectural Questions Ice building up around our house’s wood framed chimney chase Chalky, white powder along my concrete basement walls Stains on drywall sloped ceilings Health issues related to vermiculite insulation Replacing old single pane sliding windows inexpensively Rules and permits required for a fence all the way around the property A new bedroom for our teenage son in a corner of our basement The life expectancy of tar and gravel roofs Dark stains and discolouration along the baseboards of our basement walls Soundproofing a basement suite Preparing for winter Peeling paint and mould issues in bathroom Condensation in the ceiling from high humidity Building codes, rules and regulations Several holes in wood siding: wood pecker suspected Water stains inside house caused by ice build-up in eaves Rules concerning "in-law" suites (secondary suites) Cantilevered window bays Flooding in basement Selecting a carpenter to build a deck “For sale by owner” web sites Leaks around windows that appear inside the wall cavities Decreasing heat loss around windows. White mould in insulation Roof tar hard, starting to crack and flake Ice building up on single-pane windows Working with an Energuide Program auditor Sliding glass doors and heat loss Installing an additional vapour barrier over existing drywall Rotting deck Leaking roof Vapor barrier and insulation on bare basement walls Paper-thin stucco getting wet Adjacent development impacting the stability of property Radon gas testing Property lines Terrazzo concrete finish Building permits for older homes Secondary suite in basement: zoning issues Limiting heat from sunlight in an older house Sawdust and wood chips used as insulation in old homes Problems with laminate flooring Refinishing wood veneers Leaky, moss-covered roof House shopping: sequence of some of the major events Establishing an approximate value for house and property Controlling noise from highway traffic Proprietary rool shingles Rafter lines visible through snow covered roofs Sound proofing materials Deck as a roof Bedroom located above unheated single car garage Built Green Standards Chimneys on the exterior walls less functional House inspection vs. assessment Mould and mildew in old attics R value claims of some foil-faced insulation products questionable “Net zero energy use” housing design Water coming into basement Cedar (stink) bugs Window frames and glazing Replacing paneling on modular home with gyproc Chemical free and no off-gas insulation Changing a building from one type of use to another Water from tub has soaked through ceramic tiles Lack of roof venting and poorly installed insulation Looking for signs of dampness in basement “Blistering” problem with tar and gravel roofing Building Code Change Questions 2006 Building Code changes - Part 1 2006 Building Code changes - Part 2 2006 Building Code changes - Part 3 2006 Building Code changes - Part 4 Electrical Questions Upgrading old electrical service Old Knob and Tube wiring Older electric fuse panels Two prong outlets Replacing old single pane sliding windows inexpensively Figure out approximate age of wiring in house Higher amperage outlets Cloth and plastic sheathed aluminum wiring Bad wiring in electrical panel “Load miser” and 70-amp service at full capacity Buzzing sound from electrical panel Mechanical Questions Issues with wood heater Refrigerator maintence Forced-air heating system causing illness? Inpecting asbestos wrappings for risks Inadequate and leaky flashing details Heat recovery ventilator maintenence tips Metal roofing in BC limited by pitch Electric baseboard heat and ventilation Crawlspace has been excavated into a perennial high water table Condensation problem Gas furnace not heating all areas of house Asbestos insulation in poor and damaged condition Split coil air conditioner maintenance Rumford fireplace: utilitarian, efficient design Sharing a furnace with "in-law" (secondary) suite: a grey area Metal connectors and nails are all rusting on weep through deck Disclouration of carpets under doors and around baseboard heaters Adding humidity to house can exacerbate other problems Complimentary heat systems Gas appliances spilling harmful gases? Old-fashioned style vs. programmable thermostat for gas forced air furnace Testing and/ or venting for radon gas Wood heat chimney issues Ventilate bathroom to prevent peeling paint and mould Asbestos insulation in poor and damaged condition Plumbing Questions Sewer gas smell in basement Sink gurgles Frozen water pipes Sewer pumps Tankless water heaters Structural Questions Anchoring new concrete to old existing foundations Deck flooring and structure rotting Metal stringers vs. wooden stairs Deck flooring and structure rotting Repairing vs. replacing rotting deck Dry rot explained Mobile home foundations Salvaging an old garage Rotting floor joists Affordable, expandable building designs Roof top garden Common new home after-purchase problems Building Code requirements for guardrails Concrete patio slab design considerations Sags and dips in roof Determining the risk tree roots present to foundation Hardwood floor squeaks Concrete basement wall with a pony wall on top Weather resistant design features - Part 1 Weather resistant design features - Part 2 Sloping floors a common problem in additions Old plastic vapour barrier causing moisture problems Leaning chimney in the attic Opening and closing crawlspace vents Post & beam deck supports with pre-cast footing blocks Sagging support beams Some construction components require specific engineered design Cut an opening in wall for window Small porch and deck addition on mobile home Cracks in concrete walls Finding studs behind drywall Chalky, white powder on concrete: efflorescence Submit a Question Kindly submit a question for a future edition of "Home Front". 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