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Old Joists Meet New Joists in Old Town Alexandria
Same strategy hundreds of years apart.

Paul Cummins
Jan 28, 20201 min read
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Dystopian Flamingoes
Inspected 1847 house in background. This display captured the feeling of a grander time for this neighborhood. Hard not to take in the...

Paul Cummins
Jan 28, 20201 min read
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When more humidity is desirable...
Too much moisture in the wrong place means mold! Not enough in the winter means dry skin and mucus membranes. I recommend individual...

Paul Cummins
Nov 27, 20191 min read
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Dark Closet Floor No More!
Warm light turns on when you get near. Rechargable with USB. I have this plugged in to nearby receptacle. But works with regular...

Paul Cummins
Nov 16, 20191 min read
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Beautifying Your Gas Meter
The gas company is supposed to come by and paint your meter. My experience is they won't come out unless your meter is leaking and might...

Paul Cummins
Nov 2, 20191 min read
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Hazards of Making Our Countertops
Granite and the new quartz countertops have lots of silica in them. Corian does too, but not as much. I didn't know why we ever needed...

Paul Cummins
Oct 28, 20191 min read
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Add Ghostbusters to Your Inspection Protocol!
Buying a house CAN be scary. I know I'm not quite normal myself but this outfit provides a paranormal inspector! Click on image for...

Paul Cummins
Oct 12, 20191 min read
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New Home Maintenance Books in Spanish!
Ask for a copy during our next inspection!

Paul Cummins
Sep 19, 20190 min read
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Updates for those clumsy folding closet doors
Bifold doors get off track and bang into things. Here are some other options. Click on images for links. Barn doors are really cool...

Paul Cummins
Aug 11, 20191 min read
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Squirrels in the attic better than bats in the belfry!
Allstate article linked to image says make noise, put vinegar soaked rags in the attic, seal the opening after they leave and check for...

Paul Cummins
Jul 28, 20191 min read
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Disposer is safer than you think.
It's not like a blender. I often find construction debris in units subject to recent renovation. Just found six plastic candy wrappers...

Paul Cummins
Jul 28, 20191 min read
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Building Museum Great on a Hot Day!
Washington's Building Museum has a feature called LAWN. Built on scaffolding is a turf hill with hammocks and corn hole games. On a...

Paul Cummins
Jul 15, 20191 min read
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Simple Beauty
OK, this is the best photo I've taken this year. Photosynthesis happening on pots in our fish pond. Enlarge it if you can on your...

Paul Cummins
Jun 28, 20191 min read
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Gotta Get Fresh Air In!
Just like you can't use your deck in the summer without a 9 foot umbrella, you don't want bugs entering as you go inside repeatedly to...

Paul Cummins
Jun 12, 20191 min read
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An Intimate Experience
When my aunt would come visit she would open our closets looking for I don't know what. I remember how odd I thought that was...too...

Paul Cummins
May 6, 20191 min read
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Get Lots of Questions About Home Warranties
Well, as with any insurance, they're betting against you. They're trying to get you to make a monthly payment forever that maybe you'll...

Paul Cummins
Apr 25, 20191 min read
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DIY HVAC
Up to 25 feet of coils, 5 year guarantee, no-solder fittings, pre-charged with coolant, provides heat and cold. Seems all you need is...

Paul Cummins
Apr 21, 20191 min read
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Leaking toilet seal
Could there be anything scarier than the toilet leaking through the floor! This gasket from Fluidmaster allows for a tight seal beyond...

Paul Cummins
Apr 19, 20191 min read
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The right caulk means you can walk the walk!
Literally, in the case of sealing sidewalk cracks! How annoying is it to caulk around your windows and have the caulk dull-up and grow...

Paul Cummins
Apr 10, 20191 min read
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Concrete Friendly De-Icer
Calcium Magnesium Acetate won't put pock marks in your concrete steps, walkway or driveway. It won't bother pets, track in on your...

Paul Cummins
Apr 10, 20191 min read
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