Author Archives: Jerry Prugar

They Don’t Make’em Like They Used To

Posted by in Wood | February 03, 2012

Who hasn’t heard or often said in frustration, “They don’t make’em like they used to.” Well, that is literally true with Southern Pine lumber.  In July 2011, the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB), an agency that sets standards for the… Read More →

Happy Groundhog’s Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by in Commemoration/Celebration | February 02, 2012

This is the day that many wait with baited breath for the decree from a rodent known as Punxsutawney Phil regarding the arrival of spring.  It is a sometimes accurate and entertaining method of weather forecasting, a pattern similar to the… Read More →

Beware of Damaging Window Reflection

Posted by in The Unusual | January 25, 2012

A Prius Owner in Southern California claims that the plastic components of her car are being melted by the reflected beam of light from her neighbor’s windows.  See the article at the website for the CBS Los Angeles affiliate. Does… Read More →

High Winds Whip Through Northeast Ohio Late Afternoon on January 17, 2012

Posted by in Weather Events | January 18, 2012

A front passed through Northeast Ohio between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM, Tuesday, January 17, 2012.  Winds were generally out of the west, varying from west-northwest to west- southwest.  A cursory check of peak wind speeds across the area at… Read More →

Lake County Big Winner in Snowfall Sweepstakes on MLK Weekend 2012

Posted by in Weather Events | January 16, 2012

Lake County had the highest accumulations of snow for the first significant snow storm of 2012 on MLK Weekend according to tabulations on the WEWS-TV website. Snow measured 24 inches in Madison and 16 inches in Perry.  Ashtabula received honorable… Read More →

Spalling of Brick

Posted by in Masonry | January 05, 2012

Spalling is generally a delamination and/or flaking at the surface of a material.  Spalling of clay brick is shown in Figure SB-1.   Spalling commonly begins when thin layers of the clay brick material have separated from the remainder of the… Read More →

Buying a Home – Structural Considerations

Posted by in Archive 2004 thru 2011, Buying/Maintaining a Home | December 28, 2011

Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase a person or a couple will make in their lifetime. If one buys wisely, the home will not only provide shelter, comfort, and sanctuary from the rest of the world for… Read More →

Procedure for an Evaluation of Wind Damage to Shingles

Posted by in Archive 2004 thru 2011, Shingles | December 23, 2011

Since about 2003 it seems that the number of severe storms in Northeast Ohio have increased significantly. This has caused a significant increase in the number of hail and wind damage related claims for composite asphalt shingle covered roofs. In… Read More →