Homeowner Forum / General / June 2005

OK, I just bought a house that has a hot tub. I've never owned a hot
tub before so I really have no idea how to take care of it. Of course
I plan on going to a local pool and spa outfit to get some advice from
them, but what concerns me is that I won't know if they're giving me

Hello. My wife and I are interested in building are own home, rather
than buying a resale. Resale homes where we want to live are now up to
$200/sq ft. We've been told you can build your own home for $85-$100/sq
ft.

I am a do-it-yourselfer and I've roofed my shed with 3-tab shingles.
(First roofing job) I plan to cut my leftover 3-tabs to make the cap
shingles.
It sounds like I install these in a similar manner as the rest of the

Need a little help remembering the name of a type of lock. I thought it
was a FOX LOCK but I can't seem to find anything on it.
The locking mechanism is a ROD/POLE that sits at a 45 degree angle from
the floor to the middle of the door (roughly)...

I just was in this new house that I was getting inspected by the
inspector. I felt a vibration (shake) in the house when something
outside was switched on and off. I could not make out what it was
( a truck perhaps? ). Its a 2 storeyd house with around 1500sq.ft

I have been researching for 2" drapery clip rings for a long time now.
I happen to be using a non-standard prop as my drapery rods, and hence
I need 2" diameter drapery rings, ideally ones with clips.
The kinds I am looking at are :

Question on Loan Origination Fee
My closing on a $520k home in Huntington, LI is set for June 30th. My
down payment is $70k, $416k 1st mortage, and $36k 2nd loan. I opted a 7
year ARM, and Wells Fargo quoted 5.375%, after buying a point.

I am in the process of purchasing duplexes for investment purpose in
San Antonio, TX.
Can anyone recommed a honest and reliable home inspector?
Thanks!

I close on my house in 3 weeks, and my uncle noticed the moisture
build-up on the bottom of the centerblocks this morning.  He said it
looks like they didn't fill them with concrete after they laid them.
The house does have black mama (I guess thats the name - thats what my

I have a mercerized cotton golf shirt that, so far, I've washed twice,
and the thing is just a headache to deal with when it comes out of the
dryer.  It has more static than a polyester item would.  It looks like
it got washed with kleenex because it has little specks of lint all ...

I am a first-time homeowner who just purchased a condo in
Goleta (Santa Barbara area), California. The end unit condo
has fences that enclose a private yard between the unit and
the community fence.

Can someone tell me if I need a product like Tyvek if my house has cement
walls??
Thanks

Big Neighbor Is Watching You
Homeowner associations can foster a sense of community — or they can
bully you, slap you with fines, even take your house
by C.J. Hughes

I am living in smoke detector hell this morning.  In
the middle of the night, one of the detectors started
chirping.  Apparently one of the units has a low battery.
Since I have this hardwired system, if one chirps, they

Does anyone know how to get the smell out of a toilet bowl? I tried all
thge store products, vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda but these did
not work. Any ideas?