Even though you can’t see it in a finished building, rebar is an essential component of much modern construction. It can pose serious safety hazards, however, and workers should be trained to avoid these dangers. Rebar is also used as grounding electrodes. To find out more about the uses and dangers of this product, check out our new article on rebar.

Tyvek® is a brand of synthetic, high-density polyethylene fiber used in a variety of applications, such as clothing and wristbands. Inspectors are probably familiar with Tyvek® coveralls and housewrap, which are are lightweight, chemical-resistant and somewhat fire-resistant. While the material is non-toxic and generally harmless, it can build a static charge while being handled, which can be dangerous in flammable environments. To find out more about this remarkable product, check out our new article on Tyvek®.

Standpipes are simple, inexpensive devices used to mitigate or prevent flooding in basements. Broken seals and lack of watertightness are common defects, and some sources state that standpipes can cause serious structural damage in certain situations. To find out more, check out our new article on standpipes.

Mold remediators are adapting high-strength, industrial cleaning methods to use in homes.  InterNACHI inspectors who offer mold inspections can read all about Abrasive Blasting for Mold Remediation, and how this technique can benefit their clients whose homes are contaminated with mold.

How is this new, innovative drywall different from traditional drywall?  Read about the pros and cons, as well as installation challenges, in our new article on Paperless Drywall.

Learn how evaporative coolers work, and the pros and cons of using them instead of traditional air conditioners, by reading Evaporative Coolers.

Did you know that GFCIs were first developed in the 1950s for use in South African mines?  They’ve undergone many technological upgrades over the decades.  The NEC requires them in new construction to protect against electrical shock.  Read all about it in GFCIs.

Most modern fireplaces in homes today are based on an 18th-century innovation.  Click on “Factory-Built Fireplaces” and learn about the differences and similarities they share with traditional masonry fireplaces.

EIFS is a great innovation for a home’s skin, but it can suffer the negative effects of water intrusion just as traditional stucco can.  Read all about “Water Damage and EIFS” to learn more.

Appraisals are influential during the sale of a home, as they are required in order to receive a mortgage loan and they could potentially scuttle an otherwise solid transaction. Homeowners should learn a thing or two about how appraisals are performed and other basics, which can be found in out new article on property appraisals.

Successful landlords are not only calculating and deliberate businessmen, they must also be responsible providers and astute followers of the law. To make the job easier, we’ve assembled a number of tips, some of which you’ll find nowhere else. Learn how patience can be a great asset, how charging less rent than market value might be wise and why it might be beneficial to not immediately ask for the security deposit in our new article on how to be a successful landlord.

It may come as a surprise that a majority of renters don’t have renters insurance, which can protect them from heavy losses caused by fire, theft, liability and more. While these policies may benefit most tenants, those who live in an upper floor or who have pets may be in particularly need of insurance. To find out more, check out our new article on renters insurance.

Carpet beetles are like clothes moths – their larvae are voracious eaters of wool and other animal fibers and they can be killed through basic sanitation. Carpet beetles’ appetites are even more varied, however, and infestations are harder to spot because the adults often don’t loiter nearby. As with clothes moths, proper identification and treatment are essential to protection of your clothes and possessions. To find out more, check out our new article on carpet beetles.

Clothes moths don’t threaten most items and they aren’t a danger to people, but they are responsible for an enormous amount of damaged clothing, carpets and other fabrics. If you witness moths fluttering around your closet, you’ve probably got an infestation, but understand that it’s the larvae, not the adult moths, that actually eat fabric. And it’s easy to confuse clothes moths with different types of moths that pose no threat. To find out more about these pests and what you can do to stop them (and what doesn’t work), check out our new article on clothes moths.

This course is the largest, most in-depth insurance adjusters course available.  It’s also very educational for home inspectors.  The course helps inspectors pass the Florida’s state examination.   There are mutual reciprocity agreements between states whereby an adjuster holding a license in one state can successfully apply for a license in another state and vice-versa.  You may be able to apply for a adjusters license in another state without having to first pass that state’s exam or pre-licensing course.  And, in keeping with InterNACHI’s commitment to Continuing Education, this course is open and free to all members, and can be taken again and again and again.  A great well-rounded learning tool for inspectors.

Take InterNACHI’s free, online Florida Adjusters course today.

Considering the amount of unsupervised time that the average baby spends in their crib, parents should seek to eliminate all choking, suffocation and entrapment risks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and various other organizations create standards by which cribs should comply, but not all do, especially older hand-me-downs. These guidelines set a maximum allowable distance between slats, for instance, to prevent children from getting part of their bodies through them. Decorative knobs, mobiles and ribbons, too, present hazards. To find out more, check out our new article on crib safety and inspection.

The requirements for a bedroom are stricter than you might think, mainly because occupants must be able to escape in case of a fire. The window and door, in particular, have to provide an easy means of escape. But there are other factors as well, from ceiling height to natural lighting and closets. Sellers often advertise a room as a bedroom when it would more accurately be described as a den, and landlords rent these rooms out to get extra cash. I the city finds out, however, problems can arise. To find out more about the requirements for bedrooms and the risks posed to violators, check out our new article on non-conforming bedrooms.

Dust mites are too small to see, they feed off of your shedding skin and they congregate in houses by the millions. Scary? Well, they’re actually only a problem for those with allergies, and the critters are easily killed. Simple vacuuming and clothes drying will kill most of them and their growth can be limited by lowering indoor humidity. To find out more about dust mute detection, dangers and mitigation, check out our new article on dust mite inspection.

The Texas Real Estate Commission has a rule on the books that states inspectors shall not pay for inclusion on a list of inspectors or preferred providers.  But is this rule being obeyed?

Read the entire article by Scott Friedman regarding preferred vendor schemes.

Central vacuum systems are little-known in the United States, but in other areas they’re commonly built into new construction. While quieter, more powerful and longer-lasting than portable vacuum units, central vacuum systems are pricey and they must be regularly maintained. To read more about them, check out our new article on central vacuum systems.