Awell-built and well-maintained roof is critical to the health of every structure be it house, church, shopping center, or corporate headquarters. Builders, designers, and manufacturers are constantly working to develop problem-free roof systems. Read more
Tests fall into two categories, according to the EPA. Long-term tests last anywhere from 91 days to a year. A long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home’s year-round average radon level than a short-term test. The quickest way to test is with short-term devices. Read more
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is present in elevated levels-higher than the federal limit of 4 picocuries per liter of air-in nearly 1 of every 15 homes in the country. This radioactive gas, created from the natural decomposition of uranium in soil, rock, and water, moves up through the ground and into a house through cracks and holes in the foundation. Then the gas remains trapped in the house. Read more
Home testing kits are available for about $10. One home test kit uses sodium sulfide solution. You place a drop of the solution on a paint chip. If lead is present, the chip slowly turns darker. However, no official agency suggests that you rely exclusively on those tests. Read more
The reason to rid your house of lead-based paint is a simple: the health of children, especially those under six years of age. A high level of lead exposure-more than 69 micrograms per deciliter-can result in convulsion, coma, and death. Even low-level exposure affects the central nervous system, especially in developmental stages, and can alter intelligence, motor control, hearing, and emotional development. Read more