The Handy Man Craze Hits Boise
I have recently come across 3 guys that have quit employment to go out on their own to become handymen for their sphere of influence. I love entrepreneurship and I encourage everyone to give it a try. I can not thank them enough to take over the small jobs that my...
My House is More Humid Than Normal
I recently was asked to look at a new development in the summer of a home we recently remodeled. The concern is that it is in the 'mid to high '80's and the house is humid. OUTSIDE HEAT mid to high '90s INSIDE SET TO: 73deg UPON ARRIVAL: House is 70 deg AC not...
According To The Big Box Store Guy…
A friend called to tell me that "according to the Home Depot guy" (If I had a dime for every time I've heard this) "This pull on and twist for temperature shower valve faucet is illegal now, and must be completely replaced". He also said the the parts are no longer...
The Leaky Faucet Gets the New Parts
I have been surprised at how often new things don't work like we expect them to. As a remodeling contractor our plumbers install lots of faucets. In a recent project we had two of them start to leak within a few months of installation at the kitchen sink. Warranty...
Retrofitting Hydronic Heating
Our client wanted heated floors in their existing home. There was a partial basement and crawl space access. I remembered a system that we have used before that circulates fluid beneath the floor and felt that this would be a good option to offer. It uses glycol and...
Joist Hangers Use & Misuse
Joist hangers have been around for around about 59 years, they were developed by Simpson Strongtie for a friend who was looking for a way to secure some boards in a more structurally sound way. Now days there are all kinds for them for all sorts of purposes. There are...
Recent Posts
Lead Locators By Lumetallix
Lead Locators is the proud new USA distributor of Lumetallix lead test kits. One kit will allow someone to do at least 100 tests. The green product is full strength and can test down to 500 PPM. That is 10x more than is needed for Professional Use. Why you ask? I have...
Get The Lead Out
This was a common phrase my dad used to say. It had to do with teaching a work ethic. Turns out that he got some traction, we 4 boys learned how to work hard and stay busy even when we weren't being watched. Now the saying has a different meaning because I am focused...
Promoting Healthy Homes Is An Endless Undertaking
I grew up in an older home and my father Ed Levitch MHRIP was an Architect and remodeling contractor in and around Berkeley California and the surrounding cities since 1958. I was a bit of a pioneer when the EPA's RRP rule was coming into play. At Levco Builders in...
Lead Testing Without The Normal Tools
As we step lightly into the future of remodeling pre-1978 homes in a post-3M lead test swab era, we find ourselves hoarding swabs and stretching the most out of them. If we could make them last, then we can avoid the inevitable disappointment of the Old Mother Hubbard...
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