Atlanta Inspection News! Consumer information: July 2009

Although significant declines have been observed in the overall mean blood lead levels of children, which can be attributed to Federal Government actions resulting in the removal of lead from gasoline and
soldered cans, approximately 1.7 million children are estimated to have blood lead levels high enough to be of a health concern. Lead poisoning affects children across all socioeconomic strata and in all regions of the country. However, because lead-based paint hazards are most severe in older housing in disrepair, the poor in inner cities are disproportionately affected. In some inner city communities, over half of all young children have lead levels exceeding the CDC threshold of concern (10 micrograms per deciliter).

Today, children in the United States are lead poisoned primarily through ingestion by normal hand-to-mouth activity and, to a lesser extent, inhalation. Because lead is ubiquitous in industrial societies,
there are many sources and pathways of lead exposure. The foremost source of childhood lead exposure in the United States today is lead based paint and the accompanying lead-contaminated dust and soil found in and around older houses.
Lead was a major ingredient in most interior and exterior house oil-based paints prior to 1950, with some paints containing as much as 50 percent lead by dry weight. In the early 1950s, other ingredients became more popular, but some lead pigments, corrosion inhibitors, and drying agents were still used.

In the 1950's and 1960's, several large cities in the United States banned the use of lead-based paint (using varying definitions) on interior surfaces in residential structures. In 1955, the paint industry adopted a voluntary standard limiting the use of lead in interior paints to no more than 1 percent by weight of nonvolatile solids. three-quarters of pre-1980 dwelling units contain some lead-based paint. The likelihood, extent, and concentration of lead-based paint all increase with the age of the building. Fully 90 percent of privately owned dwelling units constructed before 1940 contain some lead-based paint, 80 percent of dwelling units constructed between 1940 and 1959, and 62 percent of dwelling units constructed between 1960 and 1979 (``Comprehensive and Workable Plan for the Abatement of Lead-Based Paint in Privately-Owned Housing.

Children can also be exposed to lead found in bare soil. High levels of lead in soil around the foundation of a house may come from the scraping and repainting of exterior lead-based paint or simply the
deterioration of such paint.Office of Lead-Based Paint Abatement and Poisoning Prevention; Requirements for Notification, Evaluation and Reduction of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Federally Owned Residential Property and Housing Receiving Federal Assistance.

We provide EPD lead sampling and testing.Home owner insurance company are now also requiring lead testing before writing a policy.

Let us provide the peace of mind you need. Affordable testing.

Accurate Home Inspection of Atlanta         www.Findmeaninspector.com

I have worked at the muncicipality level 14yrs before enterting the privite sector.After about five thousand home inspections - performing only two per day,maximum - I have seen - quite literally - only a handful of houses that needed significant structural work.The things I  have run into are things that has happened after the {municipalitiy} framing inspection.You have electrician, plumbers, Hvac, tradesman finishing their rough-in tie in.You have the hvac techs.Installing flex duct, setting register, supply returns,running line sets(refrigeration lines),Setting vibration pads,mounting exterior disconects, ans so on.I have seen alot of problems in this area with mis matching, air handlers, supply not sealed properly,no installed to code standards. I even seen them cut common weight bearing load points to make room to help them set there units.This will not be looked at again.The framing has been signed off be the city inspector, who could have missed some load bearing points that could now be near where the hvac cut into the framing making this area weaker and will not show the dead load transfer diferiential settlement to some time later. This occurs with plumbers as well cutting into subfloor spans to deep weaken this area.All home constructed today all work is sub-contracted out.Foundation,framing,plumbing,electrical,drywall,roofing etc......These guys work hard and fast.

The faster they complete a job the more they have made.As a former municipal inspector I will tell you we never have the time or chance to hit every home.Alot of spot checking happens. This leaves the defects for the home owner who doesn't know what to look at other that the  new carpet, and things that attract them to a home. I have inspected homes where there has been Co  certificated and half the home there where electrical,plumbing,hvac, issue that not noticed in time will come back to haunt the owner.Always New or Used have your home inspected. It is well worth the fee with a full time Certified Building Code Inspector.He might not catch every flaw that exits, but the ones that get deep in your pocket.

Homes that were being constructed before the ecnomic slow down are more energy efficient than those built even just a few years ago, primarily due to significant improvements in building products and techniques as well as development of high-performance heating and cooling systems and other appliances. However, the benefits of foundation insulation are often overlooked. Heat loss from an un-insulated, conditioned basement may represent up to 50% of a home's total heat loss in a tightly sealed, well-insulated home. Foundation insulation is used primarily to reduce heating costs and has little or no benefit in lowering cooling costs.

In addition to reducing heating costs, foundation insulation increases comfort, reduces the potential for condensation and corresponding growth of mold, and increases the livability of below-grade rooms.An increasing number of builders are participating in the federal government's Building America and Energy Star Homes programs, which promote energy-efficient houses. Many builders participate so that they can differentiate themselves from their competitors. Construction costs can vary significantly depending on the materials, construction techniques, contractor profit margin, experience, and the type of heating, cooling and ventilation system chosen. However, the biggest benefits from designing and building an energy-efficient home are its superior comfort level and lower operating costs. This relates directly to an increase in its real-estate market value.

Since an energy-efficient home is tightly sealed, it's also important and fairly simple to deliberately ventilate the building in a controlled way. Controlled, mechanical ventilation of the building reduces air moisture infiltration and thus the health risks from indoor air pollutants, promotes a more comfortable atmosphereThe typical home loses over 25% of its heat through windows. Since even modern windows insulate less than a wall, in general an energy-efficient home in heating dominated climates should have few windows on the north, east, and west exposures. A rule-of-thumb is that window area should not exceed 8-9% of the floor area, unless your designer is experienced in passive solar techniques. If this is the case, then increasing window area on the southern side of the house to about 12% of the floor area is recommended.

There are no energy codes changes in the 2009 energy codes.One thing I have run into in the market place are radiant barriers that fit the underside roof sheathing between common and jacj rafters. I kind of have a problem with this one. I feel that with this design one will not recognize a water leak in the roof until a substantial amount of wood damage has occurred. Water will wick up into the OSB and it will be covered from the underside by the energy barrier. How will you know until it is to late that you have a roof Leak!

My Point of View.