Articles

Discover articles and tips on everything related to maintaining your home—inside and out.

The goal of HOUSETIPS is to help homeowners better understand the various systems of their house and provide insight to common and unusual issues that may occur. With decades of experience as forensic engineers, plan designers, home inspectors, and contractors, our team has unique experience in diagnosing failure patterns in houses. Our team has witnessed needless, costly repairs without repair of the actual cause of the damage. We want you better informed to save time and money so we tailored our content to help homeowners identify issues, possibly solve problems, and consider practical repairs. We hope you enjoy and benefit from the content presented by HOUSETIPS.

What causes ceiling stains in my house?

Common Causes of Water Stains on the Ceiling What causes water stains on the ceiling of your home? There are many reasons for why...
Estimate mortgage

How Do I Estimate My Monthly Note?

As you prepare to purchase a new house or perhaps refinance your existing house, estimating your new monthly note (obligation) to plan your financial...
how to identify a load bearing wall

How Can I Tell If A Wall Is A Load Bearing Wall?

How can I identify a load bearing wall? - This question is easy to answer, although getting the needed information can sometimes be difficult....
how to repair home foundation

How Do I Repair Foundation Failure?

Foremost, foundation repair is beyond the ability of most homeowners, due to the equipment and knowledge required. The foundation of a home supports the...
house Structural Problems

How Can I Tell If I Have Structural Problems In My House?

What are the signs of structural problems in a house? - This type of question is usually the result of suspicions that come from...
type of water heaters

Is a tankless water heater better than a tank-style water heater?

The beach or the mountains? Ford, Chevy, or Ram trucks? Pick a side and prepare for battle! No matter which side of the tank...
why do i need a home inspection

Why do I need a home inspection?

Most home inspections are performed during the purchase or sale of a house, usually initiated, and paid for by a prospective purchaser of a...
do I need a real estate agent?

Why do I need a real estate agent?

Real estate agents are valuable assets to the buy/sell transaction process when one is looking to purchase or sell a home.  Seasoned real estate...
Prepare My House for Sale

How Should I Prepare My House for Sale?

Oh, the pressure of preparing your house for sale.  So, you made the decision to move forward with putting your house on the market...
Roof Covering

How Long Does My Roof Covering Last?

How long does the roof of my home last? - The answer to that question depends on the type of roof covering, how well...
Roof Flashing

Is the flashing installed properly on my house?

This can be a tricky question and difficult to answer easily and concisely, due to the fact that flashing can literally be a game...
hip roof vs gable roof

What is the difference between a hip roof and a gable roof?

Hip roofs and gable roofs are two of the most common roof types to be found across the country. Because they are so common,...
framing attic

What are the pieces of framing in my attic called?

The average house has hundreds of boards in the attic which make up the roof framing, but most of them can be categorized into...
The goal of HOUSETIPS is to help homeowners better understand the various systems of their house and provide insight to common and unusual issues that may occur. With decades of experience as forensic engineers, plan designers, home inspectors, and contractors, our team has unique experience in diagnosing failure patterns in houses. Our team has witnessed needless, costly repairs without repair of the actual cause of the damage. We want you better informed to save time and money so we tailored our content to help homeowners identify issues, possibly solve problems, and consider practical repairs. We hope you enjoy and benefit from the content presented by HOUSETIPS.

What are Flex Duct Installation Defects?

Flexible duct or Flex duct is often used in the installation of residential Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems to distribute treated air...

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