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RADON
Radon is an odorless, invisible radioactive gas that
according to the EPA, is the 2nd most common lung
cancer killer in the US after smoking, and it is in your
house! Gwinnett, Cobb, Dekalb and Fulton counties are in
EPA-rated ZONE 1, which have the highest average
concentration of Radon in all of Georgia and the US, 4 PiC/Ltr. All the other metro-Atlanta counties are
located in Zone 2, having the 2nd highest average
concentrations of Radon. We test for Radon using the
e-perm canister method, which produces the most accurate
results. They are set in a living area for a minimum of
2 days and then sent to our certified specialists for
reading. The small fee is well worth the peace of mid
knowing whether or not your house is safe or exposing
you to this deadly radiation. Remediation is
on-the-average, not very expensive and performed by EPA
licensed remediation firms.
Go to the EPS’s website at
www.epa.gov/radon
or call them at 1-800-490-9198 for a wealth of
information.
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WOOD DECKS
Every Summer around the 4th of July there are stories in
the news papers and television about deaths and injuries
suffered from collapsed decks. Unfortunately, many decks
are not built properly and not have the strength to
support the weight of several people and collapse.
Today’s standards require decks to be bolted rather than
merely nailed to the house, as they used to be. Nails
pull out easily: bolts do not. And metal hangars nailed
at all holes are required for each deck floor joist
rather than a single supporting 1x2 “wood ledger”.
Support columns now must be heavy wood or metal columns
and they must be set on concrete footings to prevent
settlement and ensuing collapse. In addition, there must
be flashing between the house and deck, to protect the
against water intrusions and damage and deterioration of
the house exterior siding and interior components. The
railings must support a 200 pound lateral force and the
balusters must not allow a 4” wide object to pass
through, so little kids don’t fall through or get their
heads stuck.
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WEEP-HOLES:
BRICK EXTERIOR VENEER SIDING
In Georgia you may have noticed recently there now are
holes and little plastic pipettes and perhaps black tar
paper “flashing” sticking out of the brick mortar in new
homes. That’s because brick siding, counter to popular
belief, is NOT impervious to water. The holes, pipettes
and flashing function to channel this water to the
exterior rather than it settling and rotting the wood
support structure and walls.
Unfortunately, many of the workers who build the brick
walls do not know where the weep holes and flashing are
required to be installed, and in some cases, don’t
install any! Southern
Brick Institute
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PLASTIC PIPE
Back in the 80’s and early 90’s a grey plastic
“polybutyline” or “PB” pipe was installed inside homes,
and a blue pipe of the same type was installed in the
ground from the municipal water system, has developed a
history of leaks and was adjudicated in class action
suits some years ago against the manufacturers Shell,
Hoechst and Dunlop.
The blue pipe has a history of breaking underground and
leaking for extended periods before anyone is even aware
of the leak. Putting one’s ear up to the pipe under the
house when all water is shut off and listening for the
hiss of flowing water and/or watching your water meter
are two easy ways to discover if you have this problem.
Inside, pin-hole leaks develop that may not become
visible as stains for very long periods of time. But
behind the wall the moisture can build up and molds
form, let alone structural damage occur.
The cause of the deterioration is said to be the
chlorine in the water eating at this type of plastic
and exposure to the sun‘s rays outside prior to
installation within the home.
There are other types of plastic pipe, such as white PVC
which is a common interior water supply piping, which
don’t appear to have this problem. There are a number of
firms in the Atlanta area that specialize in repair and
replacement of the gray and blue PB pipe.
Go to CPRC,
Inc. and other similar web sites for a lot more
information on the piping and class action suits.
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