Old House New House Living

In this age, where energy efficiency and cost are at the forefront of our minds, we are considering ways that can improve our homes and achieve lower energy costs in return.

To achieve these goals, one of the ways we can address this issue is by improving our basic wall insulating value. However, this is sometimes easier said than done.  Most older brick homes have no insulation in the exterior walls and energy efficiency advocates are promoting filling the air space between your brick veneer and main wall of your home.  It is natural to think, wow, this would be great: its easy, it won't require repair of plaster walls and can easily be done without any visual evidence once complete, right? Well maybe not. Please consider the following:

Brick is naturally porous in nature as is the mortar that binds them. Standard construction techniques for decades have required this air space, for several reasons, but one of those reasons is to address the water that naturally permeates the wall.  Newer construction is not of concern because they have the appropriate wall insulation already included and actually have improved the wall veneer system by including flashing and weep holes in the veneer that were not included in older constructed homes. 

So, if the air space that naturally functions to address water permeation is filled with insulation, we have to ask ourselves where will the water go?

Some will naturally evaporate, as it does now, but the ability for the water to escape will be impeded as the brick will not be able to breath from both sides and the probability of water being trapped inside the brick will be increased if this air space is closed. 

What this means is that when we experience the natural freeze and thaw process of the seasons, this water will freeze within the body of the brick creating a potential for the brick to fracture.

Although there are no studies currently in place to determine the long term affects of this new insulating technique. Please ask the contractor you are working with about this specific concern.  I would also recommend that you ask them about warranties associated with any damage that may be attributable to eliminating this natural relief valve.  Not all air spaces are bad and they have a function in and of themselves.

Well another year has come and gone and so many new wonderful people and families have blessed my life.

Thank you so much for your trust and confidence, I truly feel blessed for having come to know all of you, my friends!

May you and your families have a wonderful and blessed Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010!

Pam

Protect Your Credit

1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.' 
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it. 
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.

4. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. If you have It printed, anyone can get it. 
5. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. 

6. It is also good to carry a photocopy of your passport when you travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know: 
 
7. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them. 
8. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). 
 
But here's what is perhaps most important of all:  
9. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. This is advised because applications for credit can be made over the Internet in your name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
 
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen: 
 
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289 
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271