​Moss frequently grows on roofs in places that experience higher levels of moisture. You would most probably notice it on areas of the roof that do not see too much sunlight. If you have spotted patches of moss growing on your roof you may be wondering whether it will do any damage to it. So, should you have the moss removed from your roof?
 
To answer that question, you will need to determine where the moss is growing. For example, if you notice it is growing in and around the gutters and downspouts, it may be causing them to clog up which would prevent water from draining properly. If this is not cleared it could cause the home to have structural issues.
 
Another thing you should consider is the building materials used for the roof’s construction. If the shingles are made of clay or stone, it is unlikely that moss growing on them will create any problems. It is important to remember, however, that moss retains a great deal of moisture which could have a negative impact on the structure of the roof so you may decide to err on the side of caution and remove the moss anyway.
 
Removing moss from a roof should be done correctly. There are some methods used for cleaning roofs that could actually do more damage than the moss itself so do your research and choose the best company to take care of it.
 
If you are unsure about whether moss will damage your roof it may be best to have it inspected. This way you can discover the condition of the roof and find out if the moss is creating any problems.

​Before you begin your home buying journey it’s good to prepare yourself for what to expect from the process. Included in this should be a list of questions regarding the history of the property that may affect its current condition.
 
Something that can have a negative impact on the condition of a home is if it has a history of previous fire damage. Although you may not notice any problems when you do a walkthrough of the house, that doesn’t always mean it is in good shape.
 
To help you understand the kind of damage even a small house fire can cause and what you can expect to find, please watch the following brief video. If you have any questions regarding fire damaged properties or any other home inspection query, don't hesitate to give us a call.
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​How safe are your exterior doors? It is good to think about this question from time to time because they may not be as safe as they should be. For example, how easy would it be for an intruder to enter your home through the front door? For an exterior door to be secure, it should have the following characteristics:
 
An exterior door should have a solid construction made of a solid wood core or steel. It is much easier to break through a lightweight, hollow-core wooden door.  You also want to check the condition of the door and ensure there is no cracking, warping, or rotting.
 
Door locks should be a good quality deadbolt lock. While chains could be used in addition to the deadbolt lock, they should not be used instead of it. You may also want to think about installing a bump-resistant lock as bump keys are an easy way for intruders to enter a home. If the door has glass panes in it, be sure that the lock is positioned far from the glass so that if an intruder breaks the glass, they still cannot reach the lock.
 
If your front door has a mail slot in it you should have a box or cage surrounding it. The mail slot can enable burglars to unlock a door from the inside if there is no box.
 
Another safety measure is to have a peephole in the door. This way, the homeowner will be able to see who is at the door and decide whether they should open the door or not.
 
This are just a few of the features that a secure exterior door should have to keep you and your household safe inside.

​No doubt you are someone who loves to keep a beautiful, clean house, so it can be a little distressing to hear that you could have thousands of dust mites living in your home. Dust mites inhabit most homes and, for many people, do not pose much of a problem.  For some people, however, they can trigger allergic reactions, leading many to search for ways to get rid of them. Before choosing a chemical approach, which is not always successful, you may first want to try some of the following methods:
 
Lower the humidity levels in your home. Dust mites thrive in a humid, warm environment so, if you want to reduce the number of them, lower the humidity. You can do this using an air conditioner or electric blanket, which has been found to be effective.
 
Dust and vacuum regularly. It is best to dust the home with a damp cloth which prevents redistributing the dust from one surface to another. After dusting, vacuum floors, textiles, and soft furnishings. Ideally, you will want to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter which helps to stop dust going back into the air.
 
It is well known that dust mites can be found in large numbers in bedding. Dust mites can survive in the wash so If you want to eliminate them from bed linens they must be washed at a high temperature, minimum of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which will kill them. Alternatively, you can place bedding in the dryer for 10 minutes on a high temperature and this will also get rid of them.
 
You may wonder if an air purifier would help with dust mites. An air purifier with a HEPA filter is a good idea for allergy sufferers and will lessen the number of dust mites in the air but, because dust mites are not generally airborne, it will not get rid of them completely.

While we normally associate major earthquakes with the west coast, the fact is that even a minor earthquake can cause major damage to your home. Houses tend to be built with less stringent earthquake preparedness building codes in areas of the county that do not see a lot of seismic activity so even a minor temblor could severely damage a home. So, to prevent this damage, what are some of the potential weak spots of a home that may need reinforcing?
 
Gas leaks can be a huge problem after an earthquake. Keep any home appliances that run on natural gas securely fixed to the floor or walls. If there is no automatic gas shutoff valve in your home then its important to have the manual shutoff valve clearly labeled and in a place easily accessible so that it can be switched off quickly.
 
Check that there are no cracks or crumbling in cement foundations. You will also want to check that the home is securely fixed to the foundations.
 
A chimney can become very dangerous if damaged in an earthquake and could fall into the house. To secure this you will want to install angle bracing and sheet metal straps to secure an unreinforced masonry chimney to the house. Any areas where children play should not be located near the chimney.
 
If the home has a freestanding water heater, use metal straps to secure it to a wall.
 
These are just a few of the many ways to secure your home against damage caused by even minor earthquakes. Please feel free to contact us if you would like more advice.

Do you need to hire someone to work on your home? It can be hard to know who you can trust sometimes and if you have just moved into a new area you may not have any recommendations. So, what are some ways you can tell if a trades-person is honest?
 
Do not be afraid to ask questions. For example, you could ask about the jobs they have previously done and their locations. It is also a good idea to inquire about the type of insurance they have and to check that they are covered for the work. If they are reluctant to answer your questions or provide you with specific details and seem overly pushy, wanting you to make an immediate decision, these may be warning signs that they are not very trustworthy. An honest worker with nothing to hide will not hesitate to give you all the information you ask for.
 
If you are asking for quotes by phone or email, try to get a price for the work before providing your address. Some dishonest companies will often ask a higher price from people living in more affluent neighborhoods.
 
You may be asked to pay a small deposit ahead of time for the job, which is normal practice, however, be on guard if you are asked to give a large amount or even the whole amount upfront. It is better for you as a customer to get a fixed price for the work you want to have done and have it detailed in a signed contract, otherwise, you could be billed more than the agreed-upon amount due to “added extras” and if you are dealing with a less than honest person these costs could escalate.
 
There are many honest, reliable companies out there who will provide a professional service, these small suggestions will help you weed out the ones that aren’t.

​The home inspection plays a vital role in completing the home buying process but, if you are a first-time buyer, maybe you are wondering why it is so vital. In this article, we are going to answer that question as well as some other common home inspection queries.
 
Why does the home inspection play such a vital role? A home is a huge investment, so you want to make sure it’s a good one. Very often a property can look really good but be hiding all sorts of problems and unless you are an experienced builder, you may not notice these issues until it is too late.  When a home inspection is done right, it will uncover these problems so that you can make an informed decision.
 
Is it required that you be present for the home inspection? Although you don't have to be present, you may find it beneficial to be there. This way you can get to know your potential new home better and the inspector can show you any areas that may be of concern. If you cannot be there for the entire inspection, you may want to consider coming in at the end so that the inspector can show you their findings. Of course, this will also be detailed in their report.
 
How long does an inspection normally take? There are a few factors that determine this such as the size of the property as well as its location, etc. In general, though you can expect it to take about 3 hours. Be wary if the inspection takes a lot less time than that as it may mean the inspection has not been performed as thoroughly as it should have.
 
How can you ensure your home inspection is done right? Make sure your home inspection is performed by an InterNACHI certified home inspector who will give you an honest and thorough report.

Keeping home energy costs low is something all homeowners desire, especially during these difficult times. If you have an older home and would like to improve its energy efficiency what are some ways you can do it? Sealing and insulating is one way to do this and it’s something the majority of homeowners can tackle themselves which can save even more money. Let’s look at some areas in an older property that may need attention.


The attic space is a good place to begin the job of sealing and insulating as this is where air leaks are most likely to be felt. You will want to start by plugging up the larger holes which are commonly found where the attic meets the floor, behind and under attic knee walls, and dropped ceiling areas. The smaller holes can be sealed. A good way to spot smaller air leaks is by looking for areas in the attics insulation that have darkened. Another area that will benefit from foam board insulation or weatherstripping is the attics access panel.


While we have highlighted areas in the attic space that should be sealed, what other areas in the home may need attention? Here are a few of them, window frames, doors, baseboards, electrical outlets or receptacles, window or wall mounted air conditioners, and piping.


Yes, when a home is tightly sealed it will not only help reduce the cost of your monthly heating and cooling bills, but it can also help to improve indoor air quality and comfort.
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​Light in a home is very important, it can also make the difference between a space that is inviting to live in and an uninviting one. To get it right, however, takes an element of skill.  When you think about lighting up a dark space or room of your home, you perhaps think about electrical forms of lighting. But, have you considered daylighting? This is another way you can brighten up a space and, at the same time, be more energy efficient. Here are some of the ways that daylighting could be incorporated into the home.
 
The term daylighting is used to describe the method of using natural light to brighten up a home’s interior. This can be done using several different methods. One common way is with the use of skylights. If skylights are something you would like to install, be sure they are double-paned and that the flashing is done correctly.
 
Clerestory windows are another effective method of daylighting. These short but wide windows are set high on a wall, allowing the sun to flood into the room in the winter months, adding light and heat, but at the same time protecting against the sun in the summer with the roof overhang.
 
Another method used to evenly distribute daylight is with light tubes. A special lens is used to amplify low-level light and reduce the intensity of light from the sun at midday. A highly reflective material coats the tube itself which then channels sunlight through it. It enters the home's interior space through a diffuser that evenly distributes the light.
 
These are just some of the practices used to incorporate natural light into the home instead of depending solely on electrical lighting to do it for you. 

Most people have had a lot more time at home recently. If this is you, perhaps you’ve been noticing all the small jobs that need doing around the home. If you are not much of a DIY enthusiast, though, even the smallest of jobs can seem like a big task, but with the right tools, the job will be a lot easier. With this in mind, we have a basic list of some of the tools that will help get your tool kit started.


Let’s take a couple of simple jobs that you might do in the home. For example, if you wanted to hang a picture, what tools will enable you to do it right? A hammer and nails are the obvious choices as well as a tape measure and a level to make sure it is in the right place and not uneven.


Self-assembly furniture is another area that may require certain tools. A screwdriver set is usually necessary with these types of items, just make sure the set has both a flat head and Philips head screwdrivers.


Some tasks, though very unpleasant, are often necessary such as unblocking a toilet or drain. While it is very possible you may need to call out a plumber eventually, the problem can often be solved using a plunger which is a handy tool to own.


While we are not going to mention every task, you may take on in the home, there are a few other basic tools that will help you with those tasks. Here are a few more helpful tools to own: a wrench set, a flashlight, duct tape, and a saw. Also, it’s important to have the appropriate safety equipment so make sure you also have work gloves, safety glasses, and a breathing mask.
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