Home Improvement
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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...
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Make sure neighbor can’t ignore property line issueAug 24, 2012 5:34 am - Q. A recent property line survey revealed that my neighbors are encroaching onto my yard. Their garage is built on the property line, and their fence and walkways are th...
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Could emerald ash borer disaster happen again?Aug 20, 2012 11:00 pm - Editor's note: Last of three parts Gurnee streets supervisor Jake Balmes became the village's first forester in 2000, although as a certified arborist he knew when ...
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How the emerald ash borer is changing the suburban landscapeAug 19, 2012 8:00 am - With more than 3 million ash trees here, the emerald ash borer is changing the suburban landscape — forever