Home Improvement
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Home inspector: Foundation problem keeps on killing salesSep 14, 2012 5:01 am - Q. We bought our home last year. It was a fixer-upper, but our home inspector found no major problems. After spending $75,000 on renovations, we put it on the market and...
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Create a ‘checklist’ when choosing a toiletSep 09, 2012 4:02 am - Q. I recently looked into getting a new toilet and was confused at all the choices I needed to make when buying one. I know that you have a way of making most plumbing i...
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Vent boot can protect roof with damaged flashingSep 08, 2012 1:00 am - Q. I was looking at my roof and I noticed a dark streak where two roofs meet and form a valley. I had a contractor friend check the shingles and he said I had a couple o...
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Inspector scares buyers off with asbestos, lead assumptionsSep 07, 2012 5:55 am - Q. Our home was built in 1864 and recently fell out of escrow because of the home inspector. Our agent had been less than pleased with the buyer’s choice of inspector. S...
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Ask the plumber: ‘Touchless’ kitchen faucets add nice touchSep 02, 2012 5:02 am - Q. I don’t have a plumbing problem, but I do have a plumbing question. On a recent open-house tour with a friend, I noticed a kitchen sink with two faucets. One was a st...
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Hardwood floor cab be repaired by adding support underneathSep 01, 2012 4:00 am - Q. My 91-year-young mother is still in the house she’s lived in her entire married life. Though termite prevention has been used, I am noticing soft spots in some sectio...
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Association probably can’t help with questionable inspectionAug 31, 2012 5:45 am - Q. Before I bought my home, I hired a professional home inspector, but he did not do a very thorough job. This week I asked him to show proof that he is in good standing...
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Ask the plumber: A tub filler can deliver an extra flow of waterAug 26, 2012 5:02 am - Q. I’m a pretty handy guy, but not a professional plumber. So even though I can work with tools, I need some guidance on how to deal with plumbing fixtures. We have a se...
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‘Street creep’ can damage driveways, especially on downslopesAug 26, 2012 5:00 am - Q. We are purchasing a house in a nice new subdivision, but the house is at the lower end of a cul-de-sac. I have a friend who is the friend of a home inspector, and he ...
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Bat symbol graces pool in Hinsdale homeAug 25, 2012 5:40 am - Usually the Bat signal is spotted in a dark sky over Gotham City. But in one Hinsdale home listed for $2.55 million, the symbol is found under water on the bottom of the...