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. Growing up I learned so many things from him, he taught me the value of family, respect and everything I know today about remodeling homes safely.
I remember a time at Levco Builders when I received a call from a man who shared a personal story about lead poisoning. He thanked me for advocating for the rule. I assured him of my commitment to safety. I was an early supporter of the EPA’s RRP rule, and I’m still a strong advocate today for ensuring people are safe in their homes.
What is a Healthy Home?
We all believe our homes are healthy places but all too often the opposite is true. As a remodeling contractor too, I deal with it every day. From the materials we use to how they are installed and the environment we create within the envelope of your home is unbelievably important. The CDC describes a healthy home as “One that is designed, built, and maintained to support our health” I couldn’t agree more. The other pivotal moment in my quest to promote healthy homes was a document written by the then Surgeon General, Steven Galson in 2009 who articulated the need for a healthy housing stock. This blog is dedicated to all things related to healthy homes with an emphasis on lead, lead detection as well as protection of humans and pets.
Stairs 101
Stairs have stopped most DIY guys from contemplating remodeling at different altitudes. Fortunately a building code was developed to standardize how steps are made. There is very little room for being creative outside the box when it comes to the basic requirements...
Fall checklist of To-Do’s
Although we remodel here in Boise Idaho and we do not really offer these services, I would like to get the word out to "Show that we care." about you and your home. Planning for cold weather is a good thing to do. I especially like getting these things done during our...
Remodeling and Your Senses
Let's first outline the subject matter. I recently published a similar blog on foundation moisture to review the senses and how they can be used to ferret out what is wrong. In this post I am exploring how I use my senses in a broader way. I work like a Crime Scene...
Stucco, Yesterday & Today
Plaster describes the earliest interior coatings. It is a Greek term meaning to "daub on" and it dates back to 500 BCE. It was not until the invention of Portland Cement that exterior plastering, then called Stucco, was developed that could withstand the elements. A...
Engineering 101
We, " Levco" just encountered another situation where the handy man would not be a good fit. Did you ever get the feeling that the (fill in the blank) just didn't feel strong enough to hold a few folks in the same place. Weird feeling, trust your gut. I recall seeing...
Hydronic Heat
Although I have remodeled many homes we haven't run into too many hydronic heating systems. By the time we remodel most of the home's heating systems have been altered several times. My own home started with Coal, then converted to Oil and then to Natural Gas forced...
Recent Posts
Stay in touch
Sign up to stay in the know. We only share educational content and information. We don't believe in spam.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Lead Locators. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Shower diverter problems?
Stump the Plumber This is another in the stump the plumber series. A friend called from out of state, he was visiting family. They had a typical tub shower situation with a single valve so it had to be fairly new. The situation When he turned on the water, the tub...
I can’t turn the HOT water off
OK, so you own your home and you know that there are some fairly simple systems that work together to keep you warm, safe and sound. Electrical. (If you can keep the smoke in the wires everything works out) HVAC. (Why does the AC only fail on the hot days after...
Sediment in your pipes?
Stump the plumber Another in the series called Stump the Plumber. Although not a plumber myself, I have plenty of handy man experience but, (My father-in-law Bob is my retired plumber that verifies that everything I say is true.) Sediment can come from a number of...
Water recirculating pump problem
Stump the Plumber This is another installment in the stump the plumber series. The situation I went to look at a kitchen remodeling project and during my evaluation I asked an open question that I always like to explore. "Is there anything else that you would like to...