Homeowner Forum / General / January 2005

My roof shingles are about five years old.   They have black stains on them,
and I am pretty sure that it is mildew.
What is the best way to clean them ?  Would  light pressure-washing be a
good idea ?   My painter recommends this, but I am fearful that it will

If I plan to purchase a condo with cash, do I need to do both an
appraisal and home inspection? I would think a home inspection is
enough? I have a fairly good idea of how much similar sized condos are
selling in the area.

I found a great deal on a Free DIRECTV System and thought you'd
probably be interested in it too.  The offer includes FREE professional
standard installation and all the hardware you need for up to 5 rooms!
Hard to believe huh?  It's from Rapid Satellite, the #1 Retailer of

I have 2 wholehouse humidifiers attached to the furnaces. The excess
water is drained out through a 1/2" tube. The tube outside the house is
about 2 feet long. No problems for 4 years.
Yesterday I noticed water in the basement. Upon investigation, found

ANY advice on the following would be appreciated.
Here's the deal.
I took another job two states away. I start in one-and-a-half months
(they're real flexible on start time, but I don't want to jerk them

In Europe, they have 500-year old buildings. How long do water pipes
last there, and any methods for making water pipes last longer than 30
years?
What are the options (preferably less expensive) for "plumbing

This is off topic for this board but this is the first time I have done
this because I am really in a bind:
KQED, PBS affilate in the San Francisco area is going to air
" Lustron-The House America's Been Waiting For"

My daughter thought it would colorful to use this sparkle glue on my
kitchen floor. Any idea on how to get it up?
       Jilliesmother

When we use any of the faucets in the house.. kitchen or bathroom.. we
hear a dripping noise. We think this could be from behind the walls..
but it sounds like it could be from the attic or the roof also... Its
hard to pinpoint it.

What are the differences between:
1. Post Tension type, and
2. Pier and Grade Beam type.
I saw this in the builder's documents.  Same builder but two

Wondering if anyone's seen this problem.  My garage door opener acts as
though it has an electrical short somewhere.  Sometimes when I press
either the wall switch or one of the remotes, the door will not
immediately open (or close), or it will open partially.  When it

Chris Hill Wrote:

We have recently moved house and we have an area between our house an
our neighbour's house which you would think would be shared between th
properties. Our back garden is partly behind this area, so you woul
think that that border would continue forward between the houses an

Does anyone have advice for a total novice (old but always had
baseboard heat) on the subject of the filters that go behind the
intake registers for a gas forced air furnace.  For example:
    Disposable versus Permanent?

I have a maytag dishwasher that has been doing a really poor job
leaving a film on everything and tried everything water temp, jetdry,
etc..
I took the filter apart and it comes in two parts. The lower washing