Do you need to hire a GC?

Have a large remodeling project in your future? Below is a helpful guide….

1) Get Recommendations

Start by asking your friends and family and then check in with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of members in your area. Another way to find good Contractors is by talking with a building inspector, who'll know which contractors routinely meet code requirements.

2) Do Phone Interviews

Once you've gotten some names, put in a call to each of your prospects. This may cull some of them out right away. Contractors are notorious for not returning phone calls. If you don’t get a return call from someone in a customary time, mark them off your list – you will save yourself grief in the long run. To the Contractors you do speak to, ask the following questions: 

• Do they take on projects of your size?


• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?


• Can they give you a list of previous clients?


• How many other projects would they have going at the same time?


• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

The answers to these questions will reveal the company's availability, reliability, how much attention they'll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.

3) Meet Face to Face

Based on the phone interviews, pick three or four contractors to meet for estimates and further discussion. A contractor should be able to answer your questions satisfactorily and in a manner that puts you at ease. Check in with your state's consumer protection agency and your local Better Business Bureau to make sure contractors don't have a history of disputes with clients or subcontractors.

4) Investigate the Facts

Your list should now be narrowed down – put your research to use and all up former clients to find how their project went and ask to see the finished product. Don’t rely on results alone. Ask to visit a current job site and see for yourself how the contractor works. Is the job site neat and safe? Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner's property?

5) Make Plans, Get Bids

You have your short list of contractors whose track records seem clean and whose work ethic looks responsible. Now it's time to stop looking back at past work and start looking forward to your project. A conscientious contractor will should provide a complete set of blueprints and also a sense of what homeowners want out of a project and what they plan to spend. To compare bids, ask everyone to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins and other expenses. Generally materials account for 40 percent of the total cost; the rest covers overhead and the typical profit margin, which is 15 to 20 percent.

6) Set a Payment Schedule

Payment schedules can also speak to a contractor's financial status and work ethic. If they want half the bid up front, they may have financial problems or be worried that you won't pay the rest after you've seen the work. For large projects, a schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the duration of the project and a check for the final 15 percent when you feel every item on the punch list has been completed.

7) Don't Let Price Be Your Guide

Buyer beware! You get what you pay for! We have all heard these warnings – Heed them!  Beware of your low-ball bid.  The single most important factor in choosing a contractor is how well you and the contractor communicate. All things being equal, it's better to spend more and get someone you're comfortable with.

8) Put it in Writing

Draw up a contract that details every step of the project: payment schedule; proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation payments; a start date and projected completion date; specific materials and products to be used; and a requirement that the contractor obtain lien releases (which protect you if he doesn't pay his bills) from all subcontractors and suppliers. Insisting on a clear contract isn't about mistrust, it's about insuring a successful renovation.

What is all that white stuff?

 Lint? Mold? Insulation?


When house-hunting, it is very important that you do your research on a home.  If you can, stick your head up in the attic. Are the rafters any other color than natural wood?  If the wood is painted white, the home has most likely been involved in some sort of fire. The white paint helps cover up scorch marks and also helps eliminate the smell of smoke.


This should not be an automatic deal-killer. Just be educated and know that repairs were completed by a professional and that warranties are in place before moving forward in purchasing a home. Your Realtor & Home Inspector can help you with this too.
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Preventing Dryer Fires

The National Fire Protection Association reports approximately 14,100 fires per year that are caused by improperly venting a dryer or careless maintenance procedures.

Tips for dryer safety:

• Prevent fires with proper dryer duct installation. The dryer duct should vent directly outdoors - never to a room inside the house. Venting a gas dryer inside is especially dangerous because the air discharge can contain a combination of combustible gases.

• Avoid using plastic duct work because it could ignite or melt. Instead, install a hard metal duct from the dryer to the outside of the house.

• Keep the duct free of lint to help reduce the chance of fire spreading outside the dryer and into the vent. Never attempt to dismantle a dryer to clean the line between the dryer drum and the heat element. Contact a professional to do that type of work.

• Use dryer vents constructed of non-flexible metal that contain as few bends as possible.

• Clean the lint trap after every use.

• Call a professional if your dryer is not working properly.

• Install a smoke detector near your laundry room.

It's Time to Clean Your Chimney!

Soot build-up in home inspected in
Franklin, TN last month

 How often should I have my chimney cleaning?

This a tougher question than it sounds. The simple answer is: The National Fire Protection Association Standard 211 says, "Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, and repairs shall be done if necessary. "This is the national safety standard and is the correct way to approach the problem. It takes into account the fact that even if you don't use your chimney much, animals may build nests in the flue or there may be other types of deterioration that could make the chimney unsafe to use.

Insect nests can be the source of a fire

The Chimney Safety Institute if America recommends that open masonry fireplaces should be cleaned at 1/4" of sooty buildup, and sooner if there is any glaze present in the system. Factory-built fireplaces should be cleaned when any appreciable buildup to cause a chimney fire capable of damaging the chimney or spreading to the home.

Cleaning your Vinyl Siding

If you are having a build-up of black or green mildew (most commonly found on the north side of the home)  you can easily clean it with this mixture (see below). Purchase a soft brush and place it on a telescoping pole for easiest cleaning.

For streak-free cleaning, work from the bottom up and do 3'x3' areas and then rinse thoroughly.  You are cautioned against changing the proportions of TSP and/or bleach as it can easily damage vinyl and polypropylene siding.

Mildew Cleaner
3 quarts water
1 quart household bleach
1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent
2/3 cup TSP (Soilax trisodium phosphate, for example)


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Venmar Ventilation Recalls Air Exchangers Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Air Exchangers

Units: About 1,400 in the United States

Manufacturer: Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada

Hazard: The motor in the air exchangers can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received nine reports of overheating incidents resulting in fires and property damage outside of the United States. No incidents have been reported in the United States.

Description: This recall involves air exchangers sold under different brands that are used to circulate air in and out of the home. The metal air exchangers are painted blue or grey. Air exchangers included in the recall were manufactured from 1996 through 2001 and have brand and model information printed on the unit's rating plate or on the side of the unit. 

Remedy: Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using their air exchangers. Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to request a free inspection and repair by a Venmar field technician.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the Venmar Ventilation toll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.venmar.ca

For detailed information, including model numbers, go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11240.html



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Lennox Industries Recalls to Repair Garage Heaters Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Garage heaters

Units: About 440

Distributor: Lennox Industries Inc., of Richardson, Texas

Manufacturer: Lennox Industries Inc., of Richardson, Texas or Advanced Distributor Products (ADP) LLC, of Grenada, Miss.

Hazard: Some heaters were manufactured without a required flame rollout switch, which is a back-up device that shuts down the heater in the event of a heater failure. This poses a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Lennox garage heaters with heating capacity, model number, and serial number listed below. The brand name "Lennox", the model number and the serial number can be found on the nameplate located inside the control cabinet.

To read full details, including model numbers, go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11197.html

Radon in your home - News 5 Investigation and more...

We have couple of phone calls this morning after people viewed the News Channel 5 investigative report about homes with radon on last nights (2/3/2011) newscast.

We have had several inquiries to the testing that can be done for radon. We have provided that information for you here.

Below is the embedded report from News Channel 5.






WAYS TO TEST FOR RADON: The two most popular methods for radon testing are Continuous Radon Monitor's (CRM's) and charcoal test kits. If you are testing the home you currently live in, you can  save money by using a Do-It-Yourself charcoal test kit, available at many local hardware and home improvement stores. They are easy to use and very accurate when the instructions are followed.

If you are buying a home or building a new home, insist on using a CRM for your testing. 2Patriots Property Inspection can provide this testing at the time of your home inspection. Our test equipment provides the fastest and most accurate results available, approved by The USEPA with results in as little as 48 hours. Our Continuous Radon Monitors (CRM's) are the preferred method as they can detect tampering and provide an immediate reading of radon levels, (versus a charcoal kit - which recommends 7 days at the home and then must be mailed off for results.)  Be sure to allow enough time for a radon test as part of your "Offer To Buy" so that it may be performed as part of the home inspection process. The EPA recommends that every home in America be tested for radon, but one of the best times to find out if a home has a problem is before you buy it! Call us for scheduling information and price.

Certain conditions have been established by the EPA that must be followed for charcoal and CRM's including:
Closed house conditions -

• The house must have all windows and doors kept closed (except for normal entry and exit) during the entire testing period, and for at least 12 hours prior to starting the test. 
• The thermostat for the furnace or A/C should be set to a normal temperature. Everything remains the same except that occupants are not allowed to leave any doors or windows open. 
• The testing device is to be placed on the lowest livable area of the home (typically the basement unless uninhabitable) away from drafts or vents. It should be approximately 20 to 36 inches above the floor and away from outside walls, windows or doors.

CRM's are left in place for at least 48 hours and provide immediate results upon retrieval. Charcoal test kits are typically just as accurate, if not tampered with, but are exposed from 3 to 7 days (dependent upon manufacturer) and then sent to the laboratory for results. Results may take  a week or two. Both methods are excellent as long as the testing conditions are followed.


We hope that this answers many of your questions about radon. Feel free to contact us with additional questions or to set up a time to place a CRM for testing.  615.790.6233.

White-Rodgers Recalls Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.


http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11096.html