Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The attic plays a key role in the durability of a house and the safety of the people living there. If you don't pay close attention to the attic's venting, moisture can propagate mold growth and cause the roof's wood to rot.

What's the best way to ventilate an attic?

The basic concept is to get the right amount of air circulating throughout, while preventing moist air from coming in. Proper ventilation creates an air current for the water vapor to ride on and exit the attic, which also helps to dry out any existing moisture.

The best practice is to create a continuous ridge-and-soffit ventilation system, which creates a continuous flow of air upward from the eaves or soffits out through the ridge.

Before you start, check with the local code official for any special requirements pertaining to attic venting in your area.

Here's how to create a ventilating system:

1. First, determine how large the vents need to be by calculating the "net free ventilating area" according to the following equation:

2. Select the dimension and type of materials for the ridge and soffit vents according to your required net free ventilating area, as well as local codes.

3. Keep in mind that at least 50 to 80 percent of this ventilating area must come from the ridge vent. For the example above, the ridge venting area would be 216 to 346 square inches.

4. Framing a roof with this kind of ventilation is, for the most part, traditional with only a few differences.

5. At the ridge, hold back the roof sheathing 1 1/2 inches on both sides, leaving a 3-inch gap running the length to cover the required net free area.

6. To create the soffit vent, cut a notch into the roof rafters, called a "birds mouth," and allow them to over-hang the exterior wall far enough to create the space needed for the net free area.

7. Cover the roof as usual and install the ridge vent last, as a cap, following the manufacturer's specifications.

8. Finish off the soffit vent by attaching a J channel and sliding in a perforated vinyl or aluminum soffit material. This completes the construction.

9. Seal any penetrations in the attic floor such as ceiling fans, recessed lights, plumbing vents, or HVAC ducts. Use a caulk or expanding foam to seal the openings.

10. Insert baffles, which look like w-shaped polystyrene sheets, at the eaves by the soffit. These baffles keep insulation from blocking the venting area.

11. Finally, insulate between the ceiling joists of the attic floor using insulation with an R value of 25 to 38.

Many builders used to use gable vents or hood vents to create air flow, but these practices didn't circulate air around all surfaces of the roof assembly. Instead, they would localize air flow, leaving areas of the attic susceptible to mold growth.

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Attic Ventilation | HGTV

First the bad news: if you neglect spring lawn care (and related concerns about your mower), you could end up paying for it the rest of the year. Now the good news: the chores required of you in spring don't entail nearly the amount of work that you'll have to invest in mowing alone throughout the summer months.

In fact, you mightneed to implement only about half of the following ten tips for spring lawn care, depending upon your unique circumstances. Furthermore, there are a few instances below that the task in question is better performed as part of your fall lawn careif you can wait that long.

Raking will be your first task of spring lawn care. You're likely saying, "But we already raked leaves in the fall!" Sorry, but raking is for more than just removing leaves: it's for controlling thatch, too. A thatch build-up of more than 1/2 inch is considered excessive.

Thatch is the reason whyit's recommended that, when you rake leaves in the fall, you make an effort to rake deeply. Don't just skim the surface so as merely to remove the leaves. A deep raking will remove thatch, too, allowing you to kill two birds with one stone. Even if you followed this advice in fall, a spring raking is still recommended as it will remove grass blades that died over the winter -- dead blades that are just waiting to become thatch.

But there's often another good reason for a spring raking. As you survey your lawn in spring, see if there are any matted patches, in which the grass blades are all stuck together. This can be caused by a disease known as "snow mold." New grass may have difficulty penetrating these matted patches. But raking will be sufficient to solve this problem.

When you perform any of these spring lawn care tasks will depend upon the climate of your region. But Mother Nature provides obvious cues in some cases. For instance, when you're pretty sure the snow season (if you have one) is over in your region, begin raking. Applying pre-emergent herbicides (see Tip #6) should be done sometime between the time the local forsythia bushes stop blooming and the time the local lilac bushes begin blooming.

If your lawn is subjectto high levels of traffic year after year, it may eventually start to show signs of decline. In such cases, your lawn is probably suffering from compacted soil. For instance, the presence of moss signals compaction (among other things). You can get rid of it, but successful eradication begins with the recognition that moss shouldn't be treated as "just another weed."

Lawn aeration is the remedy for compaction. The good news is that lawn aerators can be rented at your local rental center. The bad news is that the experts recommend postponing lawn aeration until fall. But if during your "spring lawn checkup," you become aware of compaction, at least you can plan on setting aside some time in the fall to take care of it.

Besides compaction, the presence of moss plants also signals acidity. But grass likes a neutral pH. You can solve this problem by liming your soil. But don't expect a quick fix: the effects of liming are slow to take place.

But first, send a soil sample to your local county extension to determine the extent of your soil's acidity. The county extension will also be able to advise you on how much lime per square foot you'll need. Apply the lime using a fertilizer spreader.

But if your lawn has been doing fine and shows no signs of suffering from acidity, don't apply lime. Liming is only a corrective measure, not a preventive measure. A soil that is too alkaline will also cause your lawn problems, so too much lime is as bad as not enough.

Is your lawn riddled with bare patches due to dog spots, heavy traffic, or neglect? If so, you may need to apply grass seed to fill in those bare patches. This solution is known as "overseeding lawns." Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer when you overseed. Five weeks after the grass germinates, apply quick-release nitrogen fertilizer.

However, spring isn't the very best time for overseeding lawns. Fall is the preferred time when the new grass won't have to compete with crabgrass, which is killed off by autumn frosts. So postpone overseeding until fall, unless your situation is dire.

Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost and mulching mowers. But for those who prefer chemical fertilizers, Scotts provides a schedule for fertilizing lawns. Many experts, however, recommend a lighter feeding in spring and a heavier one in late fall for the types of lawn grasses known as "cool-season grasses." Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems. And if you have, indeed, already fertilized in late fall, your lawn is still "digesting" that fertilizer in spring.

For those who prefer weed-free lawns, spring grass care is as much about weed prevention as it is about fosteringhealthy lawn growth. Novices are often surprised to learn that not all lawn weeds are battled in the same manner. Depending upon whether a weed is an annual or perennial, you will use a preemergent herbicide or a post-emergent herbicide against it (although landscapers commonly use bothpreemergent and post-emergent crabgrass killers-- an indication of how tough that weed is to battle).

If you know that you have a problem with the annual weed, crabgrass, then fertilization in spring should go hand in hand with the application of preemergent herbicides. As their name suggests, preemergent herbicides addressweed control, not after the fact, butbeforetheir seedlings can even emerge. Preemergent herbicides accomplish this by forming something of a "shield" that inhibits seed germination. Don't undertake core aerationafter applying preemergent herbicides: to do so would be to "puncture" this shield, thereby decreasing its effectiveness.

Crabgrass begins its assault on lawns in spring when its seeds germinate. Overseeding should be carried out in autumn, rather than spring, based in part on the threat posed by a spring crabgrass invasion. "So why not just begin bykilling the crabgrassfirst with a pre-emergent herbicide?" perhaps you ask. Well, the trouble is that most preemergent herbicides work against not onlyweed seeds, butgrassseeds, as well!

You can appreciate the dilemma here. Overseeding is incompatible with the application of most preemergent herbicides. Facedwith competition from crabgrassin spring, you may find it difficult to establish your new grass. So while it's still possible to overseed in spring, it's simply easier to do so in fall. There will be no competition from crabgrass then because the fall frosts kill off crabgrass.

If youmustoverseed in the spring, look for a product called, "Tupersan." Unlike other preemergent herbicides, Tupersan will not damagegerminating lawn grass seed. But if you're committed to staying away from chemicals altogether in your spring grass care, postpone overseeding till fall.

Keep an eye out for the emergence of theperennialweed, dandelion during the spring season, unless you find the presence of their cheerful yellow flowers in your lawn desirable. At the very least, you'll want to snap off their flower stems before they produce seed. If you're more ambitious, you can dig them out by the roots. Sprayingdandelion weedswith post-emergent herbicides is more effective in fall than in spring. If you do choose to spray, you must select an herbicide forbroadleafweeds.

Besides proper spring grass care, there's more you need to do to get ready for a summer filled with lawn mowing. Don't neglect preparations concerning the lawn mower itself.

No other power equipment is as intimately associated with and essential to landscaping as is the lawn mower. You need to have one that will consistently get the job done without any hassles throughout the lawn mowing season. And you should also know how to use one to your best advantage. Consequently, the final three of my ten tips focus on caring for, selecting and using these machines.

Mowing the lawnall summer can be tiring enough, right? Why make it more difficult on yourself by putting up with a lawnmower that doesn't start up immediately? When your unit is stubborn about starting up, that can be a sign that it needs a tuneup.

Although its often possible to get by without one, it is recommended that you have a mower tuneup each year. Don't put it off till summer or pay someone else to do it. Learn how to tune one up yourself.

Or perhaps you're fed up with your oldlawnmower? Is it time for a change? Research and decide on which type is best suited to your own unique landscaping needs.

"What's there to knowabout lawn mowing?" perhaps you ask. "You just push the lawn mower, and it cuts the grass, right?" At the most basic level, Yes. And if lawn mowing is merely a mindless chore that you perform to satisfy other people (and you don't care much about the health of your grass), then you needn't know any more about it.

However, if youdocare about the health of your grass, there's a bit more to lawn mowing than just keeping your grass short enough to prevent the neighborhood from thinking your house has been abandoned. Spring is a good time to learn (or review) lawn mowing strategiesbefore it becomes so hot outside that it's hard to think!

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How to Prepare Your Lawn for Spring - The Spruce

One of the most common questions we hear as a professional lawn service in Lancaster, PA is What if it rains after my lawn care treatment? Its a fair question. When you hire a lawn maintenance company to care for your yard you are placing your trust in that organization to do what is not only best for your lawn, but also whats best for you. The last thing you want is to waste your hard-earned money and have lawn applications not work to their full potential. A good lawn care company will want those same things for you and your lawn as well.

Running a service business that is impacted by weather is always a challenge. It requires an organization to get these treatments done in a timely manner when the time is best for your lawn. Spring and fall can be very challenging if Mother Nature decides to rain a little bit more than expected, or if winter hangs on a little too long and pushes schedules back. Crabgrass control, grub control, weed control, and other materials have a limited window to work at their best so youre lawn service is trying the best they can to take care of every client with the best of care. If they are committed to high quality and have integrity, they will try to make the right decision. Days that call for heavy or steady rain all day will not be great days for treating lawns. Its days like these that we often call-off our lawn care technicians and perform these treatments another day. However, we all know that weather and its forecasts can be fickle, and there are days that require us to try to get what we can accomplished until Mother Nature changes her mind and sends our technicians home early. Likewise, there are stray thunderstorms and downpours that can pop-up from time to time.

If its been 10-14 days since your last weed control treatment and arent seeing results because of an immediate rain event, please contact us.

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Rain After Lawn Care Treatment? | Tomlinson Bomberger

A house painter and decorator is a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator or house painter.[1][2] The purpose of painting is to improve the appearance of a building and to protect it from damage by water, corrosion, insects and mold.

In England, little is known of the trade and its structures before the late 13th century, at which paint guilds began to form, amongst them the Painters Company and the Stainers Company. These two guilds eventually merged with the consent of the Lord Mayor of the City of London in 1502, forming the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers. The guild standardised the craft and acted as a protector of the trade secrets. In 1599, the guild asked Parliament for protection, which was eventually granted in a bill of 1606, which granted the trade protection from outside competition such as plasterers.[2]

The Act legislated for a seven-year apprenticeship, and also barred plasterers from painting, unless apprenticed to a painter, with the penalty for such painting being a fine of 5. The Act also enshrined a maximum daily fee of 16 old pence for their labour.[2]

Enforcement of this Act by the Painter-Stainers Company was sought up until the early 19th century, with master painters gathering irregularly to decide the fees that a journeyman could charge, and also instigating an early version of a job centre in 1769, advertising in the London newspapers a "house of call" system to advertise for journeymen and also for journeymen to advertise for work. The guild's power in setting the fee a journeyman could charge was eventually overturned by law in 1827, and the period after this saw the guild's power diminish, along with that of the other guilds; the guilds were superseded by trade unions, with the Operative United Painters' Union forming sometime around 1831.[2]

In 1894, a national association formed, recreating itself in 1918 as the National Federation of Master Painters and Decorators of England and Wales, then changing its name once again to the British Decorators Association before merging, in 2002, with the Painting & Decorating Federation to form the Painting & Decorating Association. The Construction Industry Joint Council, a body formed of both unions and business organizations, today has responsibility for the setting of pay levels.[2]

Noun. 1. house painting - the occupation of a house painter; "house painting was the only craft he knew" painting. craft, trade - the skilled practice of a practical occupation; "he learned his trade as an apprentice"

Historically, the painter was responsible for the mixing of the paint; keeping a ready supply of pigments, oils, thinners and driers. The painter would use his experience to determine a suitable mixture depending on the nature of the job. In modern times, the painter is primarily responsible for preparation of the surface to be painted, such as patching holes in drywall, using masking tape and other protection on surfaces not to be painted, applying the paint and then cleaning up.[2]

Larger firms operating within the trade were generally capable of performing many painting or decoration services, from creating an accent wall to sign writing, to the gilding of objects or the finishing or refinishing of furniture.[2]

More recently, professional painters are responsible for all preparation prior to painting. All scraping, sanding, wallpaper removal, caulking, drywall or wood repair, patching, stain removal, filling nail holes or any defects with plaster or putty, cleaning, taping, preparation and priming are considered to be done by the professional contracted painter.

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House painter and decorator - Wikipedia

Mold can produce allergens and irritants and has the potential to cause other health effects. Mold can spread quickly through your Stuart home or business in as little as 48 hours. If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property. If mold is found, we have the training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

Learn more about mold and what to do until help arrives by reviewing these mold damage tips.

Some restoration companies advertise mold removal and may even guarantee to remove all mold. This is a fallacy because removing all mold from a house or business is impossible; microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Here are the facts:

A minor mold problem can quickly become a major infestation if left untreated. We can start the remediation process immediately after you contact us. A faster response lessens the mold damage, limits additional damage, and reduces the remediation cost.

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We are trained mold damage specialists who get started quickly to get your home or business back to normal, with specific training and certifications to handle your restoration needs.

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Our advanced equipment helps to detect and stop the source of water feeding the mold. We then isolate the affected area using a negative air pressure chamber.

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Every mold damage scenario is different, and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate our typical process:

With sensational news stories and misleading advertising, you can easily understand why so many people are misinformed about indoor mold. Learn the facts about mold and the mold remediation process.

We live and work in this community too; we might even be neighbors. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Martin County is close by and ready to help with your mold-damaged property. We are proud to be an active member of the Stuart community and want to pitch in and help make our community the best it can be.

When a major storm or event occurs, we can call upon our national network of 1,700 SERVPRO Franchises and special Disaster Recovery Teams if we need additional resources or personnel.

We are proud to serve our local communities:

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Stuart, FL Mold Removal and Mold Remediation | SERVPRO of ...

Hydrogen Peroxide has been used as a very simple and effective cleanser in our households for long. However, when it comes to mold removal at home, it can also become your best companion and make sure that the walls in your house dont look bad. Molds are generally responsible for releasing a few toxic chemicals that might cause sneezing and allergy-like symptoms to the members of your household. Therefore, when only a small area of the house gets infected, using hydrogen peroxide can be a great way to get rid of the molds without having to spend hundreds of dollars on professional mold removal. Bellow we describe the method of removing mold with hydrogen peroxide, but if you want a safe and non-toxic/eco friendy cleaner we would recommend the mold removal products from our shop.

Hydrogen Peroxide For Mold Removal

It is important to understand that there is a difference between the commercially available bleach and the hydrogen peroxide we use at home. Bleach is generally harsher on the walls. Though peroxide can also result in the fading of the wall colors and must be diluted with water in order to be used safely, it is normally better than the use of bleach. It is easily available in the house. More importantly, you would not have to bear fumes and smells that are characteristic of bleach usage on the walls.

The first thing that you have to do here is to ensure your safety. Though hydrogen peroxide is safer, there is absolutely no harm in taking precautions to safeguard yourself. Wear gloves and breathing masks so that you remain safe. These mask and gloves will also protect you from getting infected by the mold when you are cleaning them from the walls. Therefore, you need to be very careful. Dilute the peroxide now. Ideally, the concentration should be only 25% with water which means that 3 parts water must be mixed with 1 part peroxide for better results. This would remove any chances of fading colors of the walls while still killing the mold.

Pour the solution into a spray bottle and then apply it thoroughly on the walls. Let the solution sit for at least 10-15 minutes, so that the chemicals get time to kill all the colonies of mold. After this is done, use a brush with very hard bristles to remove even the lightest debris on the walls. If there is any stain or debris left on the wall, then you would probably see new colonies in a very small time. Take your time in this process. Now, use some warm water to clean the walls and finally use paper towels or cleaning cloths to dry off the walls.

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Using Hydrogen Peroxide For Mold Removal

Lets talk about something exciting today mold remediation in cars. Or, as most people call it, mold removal in cars. If youre like me, then you have no idea how often mold occurs in our automobiles, that is, enough mold so that you have to take it somewhere and have the car cleaned and treated.

I thought these instances were quite rare, and pretty much limited to instances where a car was flooded, or, left outside during a two-day rainstorm with all the windows down.

But, after talking with Neal Ailstock, owner of Seatco, about mold remediation in cars, he states that Seatco sees around 10 vehicles a month come in for mold remediation, and most of those jobs happen because a sunroof drain or a drain attached to the AC system or some other drain in the car gets blocked, and water being water, it seeks someplace else to go. That location is almost always within the interior cabin.

Carpets and seats get wet, its a closed environment so the interior cant dry out quickly, and mold occurs. It smells bad, and sometimes its enough mold so that it makes people sick.

The vehicle shows up at Seatco, and the guys here go to work.

This is what usually happens when Seatco performs mold remediation in cars:

Sometimes, one of these steps needs to be repeated, and sometimes the sequence is juggled a little bit, but this is the usual process.

Of course, as all this is happening, other technicians diagnose the cause of the leak and repair same.

How long does this take?

Anywhere from 3-7 days, depending on the drying time needed. For example, if its the middle of the hot summer, and its not raining, everything dries much more quickly.

And the big question, how much does all this cost?

The average is around $1200. Could be less, could be more, but the average is around $1200.

And thats it. The customer drives out of here with a dry, fresh-smelling car, the mold has been banished, and everyone breathes a bit easier.

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Mold Remediation in Cars - Seatco

Restoring Your Property With A Servant's HeartHire us for mold removal and water damage restoration in Sterling, Reston, VA & Potomac, MD

Maybe a severe storm sent rainwater into your home and soaked your carpet and walls. Maybe a pipe busted while you were on vacation and flooded your basement. No matter the situation, when your home is water damaged, Mold Removal can help.

We complete mold removal and water damage restoration services all over the Sterling, Reston, VA & Potomac, MD area. Our owner knows what it's like to go through a natural disaster. We realize how expensive repairs and mold remediations can be. That's why we offer our services at fair prices.

We're willing to drive 30 miles outside of Sterling to help you. That includes northern Virginia, Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington, D.C. We'll do what it takes to make your house feel comfortable again.

Contact us right away for the water damage restoration services you need.

Excerpt from:
Mold Removal & Water Damage Restoration | Sterling, Reston ...

Remediation

When it has been determined that mold is present in your property, our certified microbial remediators main concern is the potential risk for excessive mold exposure. Mold counts in the air can be 10 to 1,000 times higher than normal. Therefore, we offer the following methods to maintain outstanding mold remediation Miami performance:

Keep in mind that the specifics of your Mold Remediation service are determined based upon the specifics of your mold issue. Various factors are involved in outlining a customized mold remediation plan and your specified treatment process will be provided to you in detail in your Mold Inspection Report within 2 to 3 business days upon completion of your Mold Inspection service.

Once the Mold Remediation has concluded, a project manager will inform you as to the status of your property and schedule a post-remediation testing to insure all mold has been adequately removed from the treated area, as per client request. A Clearance Certificate will then be issued to you, upon receipt of the results pertaining to the post-remediation sampling, if you have opted for the testing.

The follow-up will occur when all remediation and testing is complete. Your project manager or direct office administrator will contact you to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have and provide recommendations to avoid future mold issues.

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Mold Remediation Miami & Mold Remediation South Florida ...

Raleigh Mold Inspection and Mold Remediation is a certified full-service mold and indoor air quality company.

Get Rid of Mold Today

We use only the safest, greenest products to treat and prevent mold. That's good for you and the environment.

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Raleigh Mold Inspection and Remediation is a full-service mold and indoor air quality company. With a certified staff and reasonable pricing, we pride ourselves on the ability to solve your mold, water, and indoor air quality problems quickly and economically.Raleigh Mold services Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, Fuquay Varina, Holly Springs, Sanford and the surrounding areas in NC.

When your crawlspace or basement begins to grow mold it can cause structural problems and the mold spores may get into your home. If this happens, your house can smell as the mold spores grow and may cause you or your family to experience mold symptoms.Please contact us for a Free Crawlspace Mold Inspection.

Musty smell or water damage can be the start of mold in you home or business. Call the experts at Raleigh Mold for your mold inspection.

Mold Inspection

Mold is a very powerful fungi. It has the ability to destroy both your health and the value of your home if left untreated.

Mold Removal

If your crawlspace begins to rot, grow mold, or experience structural problems, this will extend to every part of your home. Free Crawlspace Inspection.

Crawl Spaces

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Raleigh Mold Remediation, Mold Inspection Free Estimates