Basement walls not only support the floor framing above, but also retain earth and groundwater from the basement area. A basement wall commonly retains earth backfill and groundwater by spanning vertically between the basement floor and the wood framing above… Read More
News & Resources
Damage from an Explosion Within a Dwelling
An explosion generates sudden, excessive air pressures. Excessive air pressures produce a wave of air that moves outward in all directions (radially) away from the origin of the explosion. The pressure from the wave of air decreases in magnitude as… Read More
Happy Labor Day 2020!
Work is good for the body & the soul, ….. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my… Read More
Why is the Brick Veneer Laying on the Ground?
In the last technical post I discussed the structural basics of brick veneer: what holds it up, what holds it on, and what help does it provide. In this post I look into why the brick veneer above fell off… Read More
What is Brick Veneer?
What is brick veneer? And why is it laying on the ground in the featured photograph? Brick veneer is in essence a masonry siding, which has been set separate, that is, with an air space (commonly called a cavity), from… Read More
Was the Fallen Plaster Ceiling Damaged by Water?
We were informed that a portion of a plaster ceiling had fallen (featured photograph). The question was, “Was it related to a previous water incident?” The account of the water incident indicated that it occurred on the floor directly above… Read More
Hail Damaged Shingles (Updated)
A few years ago we took a quick look at hand torn shingles and hail damaged shingles. Here is an update to the hail damaged shingles post. Yes, Virginia, we have found hail damage to shingles where others did not… Read More
“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Not just passionate words spoken by Patrick Henry over two hundred years ago, but a declaration that being enslaved was not an option for him. After the significant limitations on our freedoms during… Read More