Homeowner Forum / General / August 2004

It looks like my attic fan has died. I suspect this because it has
never turned on this summer, and we've had some really hot days in NJ.
It was fine last year.
I climbed up into the attic to have a look. Couldn't tell much since

My next door neighbor's riding mower has a funny problem.  Yesterday,
one of her sons had just completed the mowing and put the mower in the
shed.  He came over to me and asked me if I knew waht was going on
with their mower.  I walked over to the shed and an electric motor

I'm building a new house and it'll have a well.  The hardness is
moderate to high, and there's a moderate amount of clear iron.  The
water softener the GC recommends is a large unit to handle the iron,
but he recommends a clock timer system regenerating every six days or

I'm in need of some help judging the different stories I get from
several painters recently. I've been getting estimates to paint my
house exterior (wood clapboard). Please give me your take on the
following statements.

Basically, I am looking to understand what the lot dimensions are
(lenght x width).  Also, is this describing a rectangular shape or
irregular shaped lot?
Beginning at a point on the Southwesterly side of Willits Road (64

 I have a question that I do not know if it is the proper forum for
or not, however I did not know where else to turn, so I figured that I
would post and hopefully get direction from someone.  Any help is
greatly appreciated.

I am about to close on my house and got my settlement costs statement.
My agent told me that the home builder has selected their own title
company for which the buyer(myself) has to get his/her property title
from. I was told that i can't go with another title company since my

Hopefully, someone can give me some insight on this...
Most of the undermount sinks pictured online show a quarter inch or so
ledge of the rim of the stainless sink below the granite.  It would
seem to me that "flush" mounting the sink even with the granite edge

I need help on this before I call a plumber.
I noticed water spots on ceiling of room in downstair. When toilet was used,
no water leak, but as soon as my kid was taking shower, water spot appeared.
so it was shower/tub in upstair that has water leak. When no one is using

A wet spot appears in the middle of my wood floor whenever it rains.
I've recently replaced the roof but the spot continues.
Yesterday, my chimney guy went under the crawlspace and said that the
spot is mold that "activates" whenever it rains due to the humidity

I want to get a garden edger to help me with my landscaping.  The soil here
is rocky and clay based so it will have to be one with good power. If it
trenched too, that would be a bonus, but I'd rather have a good single-use
tool than an adequate compromise. Gas powered is probably ...

Would anyone like to recommend a good home inspector.  Thanks in advance

Thanks for the replies to my last post. I thought I would post a
follow up with more info. To sum up, I am trying to decide if a
80/15/5 loan makes sense for a $339,000 loan. I will be moving in 3
years, and so am going with a 3-1 ARM.

My property is 68' wide.  The last 10' in the backyard slopes down
about 5' (10' run, 5' high).  I'd like to make that back 10' flat so I
can actually use it.  Anyone have any ideas of what it would cost to
have a retaining wall built?  It would be 5' at the highest point, and

I'm looking to replace a sash in a vinyl window.  Does anyone know
where I can order a replacement kit for a vinyl window such that the
sash is made of vinyl?  Most of the replacements kits I see are for
aluminum or wood frames.