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Are your adjustable steel columns in good condition?

12/19/2016

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In North America where basements are common, an inspector may come across what is known as an adjustable steel column, also known as screw jacks, or beam jacks. These are used to support a structure and mostly found in a basement, although not always. The purpose of these types of columns is to be able to adjust the height using threads to move the post and make it longer or shorter.
If you have a these types of columns in your basement, you most likely haven't given them a second look. How can you tell if the adjustable columns in your basement are in good condition and pass all of the necessary specifications? Well here are some things to keep in mind;
- First, they should be at least 3 inches in diameter.
- Make sure there are no signs of rust, and it has the proper anti-rust coating.
- The posts should be straight.
- The bottom of the post should be connected mechanically to the floor, as well as the beam.
- Cracks in the upstairs walls could result from not enough posts or from them not giving the proper support.
Yes, an adjustable steel column maybe something you haven't heard of before, but if they are found somewhere in your home, they are definitely worth a second look.

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How To Tell if you have bats in your home

12/8/2016

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No one enjoys the thought of having bats living in our attics, however due to the fact that bats can be found in the majority of inhabited places all over the world, we have to expect that we will encounter them at some point, so what are some of the ways we can identify if we have bats in our homes?

  • Bat feces (guano) can look like rodent feces but the difference is that guano is often shiny and speckled in appearance (due to the bats diet of insects), it can also be crushed into smaller pieces, which does not happen with rodent droppings.
  • Look out for urine stains on windows which are milky white in appearance, also keep your eye out for stains around cracks, entry holes and crevices
  • Listen out for squeaking and scratching noises in your walls and attics especially around the dusk and dawn hours.
  • Check for unpleasant smells and stains generated from the bats feces


What are some of the dangers of a bat infestation?
Bats pose a huge health risk to humans. They can carry rabies which can be fatal. Bat feces is also dangerous to humans as it can cause a respitory disease called Histoplasma capsulatum.

Please contact us for more details and instructions on where to locate entry points for bats, as they are able to sqeeze through very small holes.




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