Augusta’s version of fall is gentle and slow. Temperatures drop gradually, humidity finally begins to ease, and there is a period of several weeks in October and November when it is comfortable to open windows and let the house breathe. Most homeowners take advantage of that period without giving much thought to what comes next: […]
Fall Home Prep in Augusta: The Environmental Testing Checklist Be … Read More »
One of the most persistent misconceptions about asbestos is that its presence in a building automatically constitutes an emergency. For homeowners in Augusta who live in pre-1980 structures, that misunderstanding causes unnecessary anxiety and sometimes unnecessary expense. The more useful framing is this: asbestos-containing materials in good condition, left undisturbed, present a different risk profile
Asbestos in Roofing, Siding, and Floor Tiles: What ‘Intact& … Read More »
The most expensive water damage in a home is rarely the kind you can see. A burst pipe that floods a basement is dramatic and obvious. You know it happened, you know approximately when, and you can see the scope of the damage. The more costly problems, in terms of both repair costs and long-term
Thermal Imaging for Leak Detection: How Infrared Technology Finds … Read More »
When a homeowner discovers significant mold growth, one of the first calls is usually to the insurance company. The second call is often to a public adjuster or attorney, because the initial conversation with the insurance company did not go the way the homeowner expected. Mold coverage is one of the most contentious areas of
Mold and Homeowners Insurance: What Your Policy Covers and Why Do … Read More »
The phrase “indoor air quality test” gets used broadly, and that creates confusion about what testing actually involves and what it tells you. Someone whose tenant is complaining of respiratory irritation, someone who just finished a basement renovation, and someone who recently moved into a new home all might be told they need an indoor
What an Indoor Air Quality Test Actually Measures: A Plain-Langua … Read More »
Legionella gets significant attention in healthcare settings, and for good reason. Hospitals and nursing homes concentrate immunocompromised patients in buildings with complex water systems and face specific regulatory requirements that force attention to water safety. But healthcare facilities account for a fraction of Legionella outbreaks. Residential buildings, hotels, and multi-tenant commercial properties are responsible for
Legionella Risk in Apartment Buildings and Multi-Tenant Propertie … Read More »
Augusta has a lot of old homes. The Hill, Summerville, Harrisburg, Laney-Walker, and Bethlehem neighborhoods all have significant concentrations of pre-1940 housing stock, and much of the city’s residential fabric was built between the 1940s and the 1970s. That history has cultural and architectural value. It also means that a substantial portion of Augusta homes
Lead Paint in Augusta’s Pre-1978 Homes: What Families Need … Read More »
If you are planning a significant renovation or demolition project on a commercial building or large residential structure in Augusta or anywhere in the CSRA, asbestos regulation is not optional reading. Federal law and Georgia’s environmental regulations require specific steps before any work disturbs building materials that may contain asbestos. Missing those steps does not
Asbestos Regulations in Georgia: What Contractors and Property Ow … Read More »
Most of what people have heard about radon testing goes something like this: test in winter, with the windows closed, during heating season, because that’s when levels are highest. There is enough truth in that advice to explain why it gets repeated. But it leaves out a few things that are worth understanding before you
Radon Testing in Summer: Why Warm Months Are Still the Right Time … Read More »
