# Entrepreneur of the week Hanoch Dombek # # Post number 2 # The structure of the American home in our Israeli eyes ...
#entrepreneur This week Hanoch Dombek #
#Post Number 2 # American House Structure
To us ordinary Israelis for houses made of blocks and cement, the American house looks like an improved hut. Indeed, the typical home in most US states is made of wood, drywall, and asphalt tile roofs. As someone who has lived and built in Atlanta for several years, I still admire the ease with which three guys lift a skeleton to a medium-sized home in two weeks. , And why we should pay special attention.True, the issue is a bit “dry” but important. This is not a construction course (or carpentry in this case) but a general familiarity with the structure of the house will help identify defects in the houses before purchase, understand the inspector's report and estimate the cost of repairs. I describe construction in GA but things are true for many countries.
** Foundation Basics **
There are 3 main types of basics:
1) Slab concrete about 4 inches thick
2) “Crawl space” - space between the ground and the floor of the house from a height of 12 inches to 72 inches. The idea is to raise the house above ground due to topography issues or rainwater flow directions. In the crawl space, sewage and air conditioning systems will pass under the house.
3) Basement The house is built over a basement. The basement floor will be a cast concrete surface, the basement walls that are underground will be made of concrete or blocks. Walls above the ground will be wooden walls.
# Please note: When a material defect is discovered in the foundations, it is worthwhile to calculate the viability of the transaction well, even if the purchase price seems attractive to us. Examples of a material defect are, for example, a significant break / crack (over 1/4 inch) in the concrete surface (SLAB) or in the foundation walls, or water penetrating from the floor or foundation walls. Every defect is repairable, but the cost can be high. Alignment of foundations or groundwater disposal can cost $ 10,000 and up. Many times the repair can not be hidden and on the day of the sale the traces of the repair will raise question marks with the examiner and the buyer may panic and cancel the transaction.
** FRAME:
The skeleton of the house is built of wooden sources and wooden pallets (chipboard) on which the outer cladding of the house and the plaster walls inside the house will be installed.
Substantial defects in the skeleton: curved / wavy floor, curved walls, cracked walls over 1/4 inch. Scaffolding or temporary supports in the basement are evidence of a problem with the skeletal support beams. Please note that there is no rot, mold, termite damage.
The picture below shows rot in the floor joists and subfloors caused by water penetrating under an old shower. We had to replace some beams and the floor surface before building interior walls.
** Siding Exterior Cladding ** There are many types:
Fiber Cement / Hardy concrete alloy boards - very common cladding, made of strong concrete alloy boards and resistant to weather damage over time. Easy to work with, easy to repair.
Bricks or stone cladding - cladding made of clay bricks or sought-after and popular stone. Make sure there are no cracks in the brick wall indicating that the wall support is damaged.
Plastic panels (Vinyl) - is considered the cheapest cladding and is seen mainly in cheap homes. Requires almost no maintenance but is very vulnerable and any slight blow will produce a fracture or hole.
There are many other types of cladding that we will not expand on here. The problematic ones are painted wood siding, wood fiber alloy siding and attention should be paid to rot and wear.
** Roof **
There are different asphalt tiles:
3Tab Shingles - cheaper, with a lifespan of about 20 or 25 years.
Architectural Shingles Longevity of about 30 years. These are the most sought after as they last a long time and give the house a better look.
Tip - If you must replace a roof in the house you are purchasing (emphasis on must), you should find out the price differences between the types of tiles
The various. For a medium-sized house, the price difference between a cheap tile and an architectural tile will be negligible, but an architectural tile roof has a significant advantage at the time of sale. Look at it as an investment in marketing.
Pictured below is a house with a damaged, faded roof, with damage from falling branches. Another sign of a roof that requires replacement is a corrugated roof which means that the wooden surface under the shingles has absorbed water.
Flooring
Hardwood flooring is the most sought after floor. There are a variety of wood floors in the type of wood, in thickness in style and price. If you find a faded and scratched wooden floor in an old house, know that the floor can be renewed at a lower cost than replacement. Sometimes we find in old houses an amazing wooden floor under an old carpet. Below is a picture of an old oak floor that we renewed.
Laminate synthetic parquet or vinyl sheets - Today there are types of wood-like synthetic parquet and we see them in cheap to medium-sized homes.
Carpet - It is common to install carpet on the floor in bedrooms. Under the rug install a spongy pad. Dirty carpets can be cleaned at equal prices per person *. * In homes for rent, * if * and you need to replace carpet (and the emphasis is on size) it is better to install water-resistant and scratch-resistant synthetic parquet that will last for many years.
** Tip ** - If you are replacing rugs, it is better economically to invest in a better quality pad (small difference in price) and buy a medium quality rug (large difference in price). The thicker pad gives the buyer the feeling that the rug is high quality and comfortable.
Other systems in the house:
Air-conditioning Most homes have central air-conditioning systems for cooling and heating. After purchase, it is recommended to leave the air conditioner running to maintain a reasonable temperature and to remove moisture from the house.
Water and sewage - For today, copper or PEX pipes are used for water. Please note - when buying a house, check that the water source for the house is the public water system and not a well (yes, there are some) and whether the sewer system is municipal or a septic tank. A well and a septic tank require separate treatment.
Electricity - A modern home today requires a board of at least 150Amper. If you are purchasing a house whose electrical panel is lower or the panel is very old, prepare a budget for the upgrade. There must be circuit breakers against electrocution.
To conclude: Stories about 3 builders who worked on the 50th floor of a New York skyscraper. When they sat down to lunch, the American said, "If tomorrow my wife prepares a hamburger for me again, I will commit suicide." Said the Mexican - if tomorrow my wife prepares me burritos again, I will commit suicide. The Pole said - if my wife prepares pastrami for me again tomorrow, I will commit suicide. The next afternoon, the American sees a burger jumping out of the building, the Mexican sees a burrito jumping out of the building, the Pole sees pastrami jumping out of the building. After the funerals, the widows meet and talk. Says the American, I do not understand why he did not tell me? What the problem was I would make him something else. Says the Mexican I also do not understand I would prepare what he wants. Poland says I also do not understand he would even make himself the sandwich every day…
This is it this time. Hope I didn't burden you too much. Implied tomorrow.
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