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Sat, Dec. 29, 2001
Ask builder to chip in on inspection
ALLEN NORWOOD
Tom Buckley was among readers with questions after last week's column with tips from home inspectors. He has downsized from a big Charlotte house to a Union County townhouse, and wondered about getting some help with the inspection fee.
Well, Mr. B., ask your builder to pitch in.
Some builders employ their own inspectors to check new homes during and after construction. It's best to catch a potential problem early. Some will pay the cost of an inspector hired by the homebuyer.
So, ask. Can't hurt.
And if you're looking for an inspector, check out the Web site of the N.C. Licensed Home Inspector Association. You'll find it at www.nclhia.com.You'll find licensed inspectors listed by county. You can contact them by telephone or e-mail with questions about cost.
Avoid particleboard floors
Last Saturday's articles on manufactured housing should have said buyers should avoid homes with particleboard
subfloors.
Consumer Reports, in its stories on manufactured housing in February 1998, said buyers should choose homes with plywood
subfloors, or upgrade to plywood if given the option. Because particleboard can swell or break down when wet, the magazine said, plywood can be a more economical choice in the long term.
A paragraph last week said consumers should choose plywood over oriented strand board, which -- of course -- is not the same as particleboard. OSB is made with more durable glues, for instance, and is widely used in both manufactured housing and site-built construction.
Again, for the magazine's full report on choosing manufactured housing, go to www.consumerreports.org online. Click on the A To Z Index and then Mobile Homes.
Allen
Norwood |
