Author: david

Kick Out Flashing – What It Is and Where It Should Be Installed

Several factors can lead to water intrusion, but a missing kick out flashing, often results in concentrated areas of water accumulation and can lead to severe damage to exterior walls. Home Inspectors should make sure that kick outs are present where they are needed and that they are installed correctly. Water damage in the cladding or siding can occasionally be observed on the exterior wall in the form of vertical stains, Home Inspectors should not completely rely on visual identification.

The following problems may be observed associated with kick out flashing:

Kick out Not Installed

The need for kick out flashing has developed fairly recently. The increased amount of insulation and building wrap used in modern construction makes buildings less breathable and more prone to sustain water damage. As a Home Inspector we see Kick Out Flashing not installed quite frequently. We hope that by the time we get to inspect the property there has not been excessive damage done to the siding, roofing or the structure of the home.

The following are locations where kick out flashing is needed:

Anywhere a roof and exterior wall intersect, where the wall continues past the lower roof-edge and gutter
Where gutters terminate at the side of the chimney

Kick out not properly installed:

The bottom seam of the flashing must be watertight
The angle of the diverter should never be less than 110 degrees
Another sign that Kick out flashing is not installed or installed improperly is that many home owners will opt for the DIY type of installation. This is when they simply install a flat piece of flashing at the eaves or the bottom area of the rooftop. As a Home Inspector we see this quite often. Homeowners install this and use a silicone based sealant around the area. Silicone is a “band-aid”. Also, they do not protect the entire area where the siding meets the roofing material. Thus making the rest of the area very susceptible for water or moisture damage.

Kick out has been modified by the Homeowner:

Many homeowners do not understand the importance of kick outs. For this reason, many choose to alter them due to cosmetic concerns. A common modification is to shorten their height to less than the standard six inches, which will greatly reduce their effectiveness.

Home owners may also make kick out flashings less conspicuous by cutting them flush with the wall

Getting An Oil Tank Removed

Are you a property owner and worried about oil tanks? Well, as undesirable as they are, they are not something to worry about, as the removal process is actually quite simple and not as inconvenient as you might have previously thought.

First things first, is to know the background of underground storage tanks (USTs). Some properties have USTs buried on their grounds due to the fact that oil as a fuel was overtaken by natural gas in the 1950s. This meant that there was no longer a need for these tanks so many of them were buried underground and thought to be out of harms way. This method, in fact, was harmful, as even though the oil was drained from the tank, there was some residue left over in many that could leak into the soil and damage the environment around it. Since then, to avoid, or stop what has already happened in terms of contamination, it has become the law in British Columbia for property owners to have the USTs removed from their land. There are very few exceptions to this rule, so if you know you have an oil tank, you should starting planning to have it removed as soon as possible.

One problem that many people imagine is, if the fuel tank is buried, then how do I know if I have one on my property? There is actually a very simple way to find out. If you call an oil tank removal firm that operates in the region, they will be able to inspect the premises and let you know. There are many companies that use special scanning equipment that utilizes radar technology and this can tell you whether or not there is a UST buried on the property without invading the land at all. Then, if a tank is found, arrangements can be made for its removal.

To start the process, a small area or land around the tank site will be cordoned off. If you go with a well reviewed and professional oil tank removal service, you will be amazed at how little disruption is caused and how not very much space is taken up while removing the oil tank. The team will operate as quickly as possible by digging up the tank and cutting it down into smaller pieces. By doing this, it will be easier to remove the oil tank through smaller spaces away from the property, for example, through the back garden gate.

5 Financial Freedoms You Must Protect

We’ve all dreamt about the day we can retire, the free time we’ll have to find a new hobby, travel to a new place, or simply, do nothing but sit and relax. But in order to enjoy the retirement years like you want to, you’ve got to plan ahead. In particular, you need to protect five financial freedoms. They are:

1. Guaranteed Income

Have you taken the steps today to secure your financial future: for yourself, your spouse and your family?

Remember when you retire, you won’t receive a regular paycheck. Not having that steady income may come as a shock. You may start to panic as you begin to dip into savings for daily expenses. You may need to live on a strict budget. You may end up needing to find a job. And, if you decide you need to return to work, it most likely won’t be in a full-time position with a full-time salary.

As you think about retirement, you need to realize this: the day you stop working is the day you surrender your guaranteed income. However, by developing a strategic plan now with your financial advisor you ensure that your financial situation is set up so that you can enjoy your retirement years worry free.

2. Travel

The number one thing most people want to do when they retire is travel. In fact, retirees are in the top 3 groups of travelers in the United States and spend about 20% of their retirement income just on travel.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that retirees are on the move. They have the freedom to take vacation whenever they want since the job isn’t tying them down anymore. However, the question that needs to be asked is that as retirees, while you may be able to pack up and go whenever you please, do you have the financial freedom to do so? How can you fulfill your dream of visiting new locales in America or around the globe if you live on a fixed income?

By working with your financial advisor, travel is possible. Together, you can create a retirement plan that includes travel in your financial future so that you don’t need to give up your desire to explore the country and even the world.

3. Legacy

As parents, your instinct is to take care of your children even when they become adults with kids of their own. One of the most important ways you can do this is by giving an inheritance to your kids once you’ve passed on.

While you have many years of making memories with your family, now is the time to make sure you’ve invested your money wisely. Making wise choices means considering the various tax benefits that different financial options have to offer. I know it can be confusing and frustrating to compare the options available to you, and that’s why it’s a good idea to turn to a financial advisor to counsel you on these important decisions. Your family’s well-being is at stake.

4. Autonomy

Life prepares us to be independent, doesn’t it? Sure, at first, we depend on our parents to care for us, to protect us. As we grow older, we build our independence. We start our own families. We become the providers.

However, during the retirement years doubt may begin to creep in about your ability to live autonomously. Without a steady stream of income, you start to wonder if you need to find a job or whether you can afford to live on your own. Talking with your financial advisor and planning for your future can alleviate these doubts and give you peace of mind knowing that you can continue to live the independent life you want.

5. Choice

When you think of retirement, a number of things come to mind, particularly a list of all the things you want to do and the age you want to retire. However, one vital piece of information that you may not have thought about is how much you’ll need to retire AND live comfortably. If this describes you, talk with your financial advisor today. Believe me, you don’t want to wait until you’re close to your targeted retirement age because you might discover that you’ll need more to live the retirement lifestyle you want. Your financial advisor will work with you to make sure you’re saving enough now so your dream lifestyle can be your retirement reality.

How to Check Your Credit For Free

Many of us never bothering checking our credit. Why? Because we feel like we’ve gone through a few rough patches; maybe defaulted on a loan, have a past eviction, or even stolen a few items from a rent-to-own business and the credit world has flagged us for life. This is why leaning how to check your credit for free will give you an overview of where you stand with your credit and see how bad it really is or isn’t.

First, let me say that you shouldn’t just assume you have bad credit. If you had a problem with not paying your bills, collections, or even judgments against you that does not stay on your credit report forever, so don’t just assume you can’t get credit because of your past.

Many sites will tell you to contact the creditor and pay off your old debt, but what the smart people will tell you is check to see how long ago your bad debt was reported to the credit bureaus. After seven years, many items will fall off of your report and while it is the honorable thing to contact your creditor and pay it off, the smart thing to do, especially if you don’t have the extra cash is to let it disappear into the sunset and be gone forever. Just remember, to never try to get credit from the company again because they will remember and turn you down flat.

One fantastic and free way to check your credit is through the credit monitoring sites like Credit Karma. Now this is not an advertisement for the website, but simply letting you know that by entering your personal information, you can get a full account of who you owe, how old the debt is, and how much they’re claiming you owe.

This site, like many others will offer suggestions based on your credit score, which they will provide to you, what credit you will likely qualify for. The forum is filled with others just like yourself who have had ups and downs with credit, so you will know what to expect before applying.

The truth is, some individuals are just afraid to check. They again, assume their credit is horrible so they result to having no bank account (due to bounced checks), no credit cards (due to defaults), and end up using the local check cashing brick and mortars and prepaid debit cards, both of which you have to spend money to have access to. This is just crazy to spend money to add money to a prepaid card, or to pay 3-5% to cash your paycheck.

If you’re ready to get your credit together and are able to use credit responsibly, now is the time. Once you’ve signed up and reviewed your situation, try the shopping cart trick to see if you qualify for department store credit cards. You can find this information at My Sista Gurl and see how easy it is to get cards like Victoria’s Secret, The Avenue, Gap, and more without a hard inquiry on your credit report.

Kimberly Best, freelance writer, has ghostwritten content in several different niches. If you need content for your web pages or help creating an E-book; let Kimberly express your thoughts through her writing.

Thinking Of Going On A Diet? How About A Papaya Diet?

Dieting can be very hard on the body when not done in the right manner. Not giving the body sufficient time to adjust through crash dieting does more harm than good. More often than not, people diet and lose all the excess weight only to find that the minute they return to their previous eating habits, all the weight is gained back. But all is not lost, thanks to the papaya diet. Who knew that something as simple as a papaya salad could help you out?

The papaya diet is considered to be a great option to option for all those people who are looking to shed a few pounds-especially those who are suffering from an inflamed abdomen. Though the fruit is sweet, the number of calories in papaya are minimal. When it comes to papaya, there is nothing to lose.

Steps

Step 1

Find a nice, fresh fruit. Make sure that the skin has no unwanted indentations. Drink a couple of litres of water in order to remove all the toxins from your body.

Step 2

You will need to begin your diet by going on a mono-fast for a couple of days. You will need to eat the fruit throughout the day, perhaps in the form of a papaya salad.

Step 3

Whenever you feel hungry, simply eat some more papaya. You may drink the papaya juice once in a while, but do not add sugar to it. This is to cleanse the toxins from your body, including the parasites. It helps in building stronger tissues, and also reduces inflammation. You may experience diarrhoea, but that is normal.

Step 4

After fasting, you can drink warm water with a little lemon in it. Follow this up with a papaya breakfast, maybe a papaya salad. Wait for approximately half an hour, after which you can slowly begin to consume soft food.

Step 5

Avoid processed sugar and flour during the time you keep dieting. You may drink papaya juice if you are looking for some variety. This is extremely important as papaya ensures that anything that has been accumulating in your intestines are removed. The fact that the calories in papaya are minimal helps a great deal along with the fact that the fruit is delicious.

Step 6

Steamed vegetables, fish, legumes, beans etc can be consumed for lunch. You can supplement it with a little papaya juice as well.

Step 7

There is a need to perform abdominal exercises while you are on a diet. Muscles need to be stimulated during this time. The fact that there are very few calories in papaya fruit helps. However, that alone will not do.

You can make a simple salad and juice yourself. If you haven’t consumed papaya prior to this and are wondering how to cut a papaya, then visit our site in order to learn about the same.