Barry Stone
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Fireplace insert may not be installed properlyApr 16, 2017 6:00 am - Q. Two years ago, we installed a wood-burning insert in our brick fireplace. It has been an excellent heat source and was not a problem until we decided to sell our hous...
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Who is liable for collapsed sewer pipe?Apr 09, 2017 6:00 am - Q. Weeks after buying our house, we had a sewer backup. Our plumber said the main line from the house to the street is an old-fashioned pipe material called "orangeberg....
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Wrong color for electrical conduit is a big dealApr 02, 2017 6:00 am - Q. I just laid an underground power line to my backyard workshop, and I ran the wires in white PVC pipe. The building inspector says I should have used gray PVC pipe, an...
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Don't bank on 'as-is' disclosureMar 26, 2017 6:00 am - Q. We bought our home from a bank that had foreclosed on the property, and they provided no disclosure statement of defects. They said the home was being sold "as is" an...
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Should home inspectors disclose asbestos?Mar 19, 2017 6:00 am - Q. We have an asbestos problem that involves our home inspector. Before we bought our home, we explained to our inspector that we planned to remodel the interior. Now th...
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Owner discovers moisture problem under houseMar 12, 2017 6:00 am - Q. While doing some wiring under my house, I found a moisture problem that looks serious. The ground is muddy, and there are small puddles in various places. What concer...
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Dispute over water pressure divides buyers, sellerMar 05, 2017 5:00 am - Q. As a licensed engineer, I take exception to the findings of the home inspector who just evaluated my home. According to the inspection report, the water pressure in m...
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Your water heater needs to breatheFeb 26, 2017 6:00 am - Q. Many of your columns involve disagreements between sellers and home inspectors. I am one of those dissatisfied sellers. Here's the problem. My water heater is install...
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Why won't my new stucco won't adhere to exterior?Feb 19, 2017 5:00 am - Q. We just bought an old home that was totally remodeled. One of the upgrades was a new color coat on the stucco walls around the house. The sellers and their agent assu...
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No safety glass in old houseFeb 12, 2017 5:00 am - Q. Our home was built in 1960 and has three large patio windows. The middle one is a sliding-glass door, with a stationary window on each side of it. Last week, the glas...