Previously we discussed the popcorn ceiling and the lineage that it shares with some of the most famous ceilings in history. Not that your popcorn ceiling is as ornate as the Sistine Chapel, but if your home ever had a smoke living it it, the color will be similar, as…
We have talked at length about the wonderful substance that is textured or “popcorn” ceilings. Of course they have somewhat fallen out of style, but before you decide to remove that popcorn ceiling, particularly if your home was built before the mid-1980s, it is critical that your ceiling is tested…
This time of year we begin to think of the upcoming winter and the typical list of projects that should be done before the first frost. Fall is the ideal time to make the home improvements that can carry you through the winter and into next year with the confidence…
A major issue that is about to be addressed in the media is mold. This is due to the hurricane in Houston with estimates as high as 40 thousand homes destroyed the area, there is going to be a lot of mold to deal with. Mold will grow quickly once…
The threat of asbestos exposure is still a very real possibility for not just homeowners but businesses as well. As we have discussed before, asbestos is a substance that was very widespread in the previous century to create flame resistant building materials. Although the instances of fires drastically decreased due…
We previously explored the scourge of the 21st century home buyer, acoustical, (or popcorn) ceiling texture. The substance that can influence a potential homebuyer for no other reason than it severely dates the home. The truth is that many popcorn ceilings contain asbestos and exposure can lead to lung problems…
As with the fickle nature of our society, trends come and go. One of the great mysteries of the 20th century is the ubiquitous popcorn ceiling. Is it a ceiling? Is it supposed to be more natural looking? A throwback to when humans lived in caves perhaps? Whatever it is,…
Our homes are supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where we can escape from the madness of the modern world. A place where we can relax with our loved ones, and enjoy some degree of safety. But we might not be as safe as we think we are at…
Plants are the quintessential equalizer for our environment. They are a bachelor’s ideal pet. They only need water and a little sunshine and they will thrive. They can’t run away and they don’t have separation anxiety. The plant is the perfect decoration and it makes you feel like you are…
When we talk about environmental monitoring, one of the most important components of that is checking the quality of the air. Many of us make the mistake of assuming air quality indoors is far cleaner than what’s found outside. But a study by the EPA found that inside air tended…
