Wood, vinyl flooring create special concerns
Wood floors are subject to dry rot, while vinyl sometimes can give off invisible but toxic gases.
Q. We just found out that we have some wood-rot damage to our living-room floor. Before we call our insurance representative, we wanted to ask you: Will the repair bill be covered by our homeowners policy?
A. Probably not.
Wood rot, like damage caused by insect infestation, typically isn't covered by a basic homeowners policy. That's because insurance is designed to reimburse an owner for a loss that's sudden and accidental. Rot takes a long time to develop, so the policyholder usually has to foot the entire repair bill.
There are some rare exceptions that you should consider. For example, if the rot can be directly linked to a pipe that burst a few years back and flooded the wood floor, you might be reimbursed for the work needed to make the repairs.
You might have an even better chance of getting repaid for the job if you have a separate flood-insurance policy and the dry rot resulted from a storm's rising waters that had engulfed your house.
Even if you don't have a flood policy, it certainly wouldn't hurt to call your insurance agent or company representative to ask if there's some way to be reimbursed for the needed repairs. The worst you could be told is "no."
Q. We have been looking for new flooring for our kitchen and bathrooms. Both my husband and I like the way that vinyl is so easy to care for and install, but we recently saw a TV report that said vinyl can also make homeowners sick because the tiles can give off toxic gases. Is this true?
A. Yes. The gases, known as volatile organic compounds or simply VOCs, include a variety of chemicals that government and private studies have linked to several different illnesses. Those health problems can range from headaches and sore throats to constant nausea and even long-term liver or kidney damage.
Other common household materials that can emit VOC gases include certain types of paint, paint strippers, other solvents, moth balls, aerosol sprays and even dry-cleaned clothing.
You specifically asked about vinyl flooring. If you decide on vinyl, insist on a product that carries the "FloorScore" seal. FloorScore is a voluntary testing program that manufacturers can request in which a neutral party - the respected Scientific Certification Systems - checks out the material used to make the flooring to ensure that it meets healthy indoor air-quality standards.
Still, I'd look for flooring made of something other than vinyl if, say, my family and I spent an inordinate amount of time cooking or eating in the kitchen or if we had a baby or small child who likes to play or crawl on the floor.
Q. My husband and I are both 67, and the only income we get each month comes from our tiny Social Security checks. We were turned down for a refinance loan because our income is so low, but we were able to get a small, $5,000 personal loan to make some much-needed repairs to our home. We made the first several payments, but then had to stop after we ran into some unexpected expenses. We asked the lender to renegotiate terms of the loan, but it refused, and now it's threatening to garnish our Social Security checks. Can it do this?
A. No, although that's a common threat made by unscrupulous lenders and collection agencies.
Federal law prohibits lenders who issue personal loans or other types of private credit from garnishing Social Security payments to cover a debt that turns sour. Such checks can generally only be accessed to repay delinquent state or federal debts, such as unpaid income taxes, student loans or mortgages backed by state home loan agencies or federal programs like the FHA.
Unpaid child support or alimony also can be deducted from Social Security checks.
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI - a monthly stipend often paid to low-income folks who are 65 or older, or to those who are blind or otherwise disabled regardless of their age - can never be garnished, even by the federal government.
Real estate trivia: About 5,700 barbecue grill fires occur in the nation each year, the U.S. Fire Administration says, causing a combined $37 million in damage, 100 injuries and 10 deaths. Most of the fires are triggered by exploding propane tanks or flames that were left unattended.
• For the booklet "Straight Talk About Living Trusts," send $4 and a self-addressed, stamped envelope to David Myers/Trust, P.O. Box 4405, Culver City, CA 90231-4405.
© 2015, Cowles Syndicate Inc.