John Martino's (looksmart) Blog

While performing home inspections in New Jersey I come across factory built fireplaces almost on a daily basis. The factory built fire place has become a cost effective fireplace option for many new constructions and retro fit applications. The fireplace still remains a very important part of the...

Anti-tip brackets are safety devices required by range/stove manufactures to help prevent free-standing ranges from toppling over. They are normally screwed into the wall behind the range, and are now included with all new ranges sold. If a range does not have one of these devices installed it ma...

In this very challenging real estate environment a home inspection is more important than ever. Having a home inspection in New Jersey before purchase will provide a wealth of helpful information about the home as well as point out material defects which are issues that can impact the long term p...

Molds are fungi that can produce allergic reactions in some people. Some molds can produce toxins called mycotoxins. Mold exposure can cause heath problems such as allergy and asthma symptoms. Exposure to mold can also cause much more significant health issues such as acute lung infections, nause...

Unlike your clothes washer, your clothes dryer does require some ongoing regular maintenance to keep it in good working order. A clothes dryer operates by spinning clothes around with hot air and havibg the dryer exhaust send the moist air to the exterior of the home The hot moist air must be dis...

While performing Morris County New Jersey home inspections. I often receive questions about rodents in the home.  Mice are seek out places to stay warm, find a food source and live comfortably. The typical home is a good place for common mice to live as they tend to prosper living close to humans...

A fire-stop is a passive fire-protection material put in place to lower the chance for fire and smoke to spread through unprotected openings in a firewall. These openings are located around pipes and wiring that enters and goes through firewalls. Fire-stops must seal all openings in firewalls. Fi...

Efflorescence is the build up of various minerals and salts on masonry surfaces. Examples of construction components that can have efflorescence are brick, cement, and stone. Home Inspectors in New Jersey should know the cause of the deposits as well as how to keep the condition under control. NJ...

Asbestos cement siding is a material that I see often while performing home inspections in New Jersey and realtors come into contact with often. This hard siding is composed of a mixture of Portland cement and asbestos fibers. The siding was banned in the country in the mid 1970's. Asbestos sidin...

Tempering valves and mixing valves, combine cold water with hot water so that the hot water that flows from a fixture is not hot enough to cause burns. Over two thousand children in this country are severely burned by water that is too hot flowing from fixtures. Water temperatures that are 160 de...