Awesome use of dead space under stairs for storage! I took this video at a recent inspection and thought I’d share the great idea. Hope you find it useful and can incorporate into your home! All Islands Home Inspections, “Inspect it Once, Inspect it Right!” Serving San Juan, Island, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties since 2005.
Tag Archives: construction

10 Tips for Hiring a Contractor
There are many tasks in and around your home that you can and should do for yourself, but there are some that should really be left to professionals. If you haven’t learned by now which tasks these are, you are in for a lot of trouble and expense. (Most of us know, we just don’t want to admit it.) When you have figured it out, or if you are not handy and just want to go straight to a professional, Popular Mechanics’ Brett Martin says, “Sometimes it makes sense to hire a pro rather than take on a job yourself. But choosing the wrong contractor can lead to delays, subpar work, and even legal problems,” See his guidelines to help you choose a professional contractor and ensure a good working relationship.

Handyman deck construction practices were noted at a recent home inspection in Bellingham. Here you see deck boards unprofessionally installed over OSB sheathing at an exterior deck platform where the OSB sheathing is completely deteriorated. OSB sheathing is not rated for exposure to the elements and will deteriorate quickly if allowed to get wet. It certainly isn’t an acceptable material for exterior deck systems. In this case, the deck boards will need to be completely removed, OSB sheathing removed, and then deck boards installed again. I think in this case, the homeowner was attempting to provide shelter to the underlying exterior storage area, not realizing that it would deteriorate in short time.

Building a Home
If you want to build a new home, there are things you need to know before you begin. Learn about construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights.
(read full article on InterNACHI)