After being diagnosed with a critical illness, patients may develop a compromised immune system. When that happens, their home must meet certain healthiness standards to place a priority on their well-being. Prioritizing home healthiness optimizes symptom management and ensures optimum quality of life. In western North Carolina, with a rapidly aging population, it’s not unusual […]
Is Mold a Factor in Your Family’s Fall Illness? What You Need to Know
In the Southern Appalachians and Western North Carolina, mold is a health and wellness issue that’s unfortunately common. When you add desperation to chronic illness, what you often get is a homeowner who’s highly motivated to spend dollars to make the problem go away. An unbiased, non-sales approach to a home with a suspected mold […]
Brownfields Forever? Look at old buildings with fresh eyes and make a plan
In Asheville, a healthy dose of idealism is the hot sauce on the wings of invention. That’s just my colorful way of saying that folks at the heart of western North Carolina understand a thing or two about putting the art in life. Think about the River Arts District or Main Street Hendersonville. Hardly a […]
RADON is Something You Also May Not Realize You Have
You can’t see, smell or taste radon, but the gas is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths among nonsmokers in America. Radon created by the naturally occurring uranium that you would find in soil or water, normally associated with mountains, particularly areas with hot or “radium” springs. Radon could be making you sick – […]
Family Home: Evaluate the Seasons of Life at Thanksgiving and Christmas
In situations where aging is complicated by a diagnosis, adult children often find it’s time to look to the safety and comfort of the family home. Here, Rick Bayless shares what to consider when needs change. November is the season for family gatherings, celebrations, and expressions of gratitude. We reconnect with loved ones, share stories […]
The $39 Mold Assessment: Too Good to Be True? Here’s what to ask.
In WNC, one regional “clean up” service currently advertises that they’ll come to your house and conduct a comprehensive inspection for mold and water damage. They’ll look at your crawl space, soil barrier condition, moisture readings, signs of standing water, plumbing leaks, sources of moisture or leaks. Then, they’ll hand over a summary of findings […]
Runoff Got You Over a Rain Barrel? Consider Your Home’s Water Ecology
Everyone needs a rain barrel. Don’t they? Some folks would have us think so. But during periods of frequent, heavy rain and thunderstorms, people don’t think about watering their gardens. The big blue containers fill to the top and overflow right next to the home’s foundation. Not good. Water ecology is one of the most […]
A Cautionary Tale of Jim, the DIY Homeowner Who Vented a Crawl Space
When it comes to maintaining a healthy home, homeowners can do about 50 percent, or half, of those needed project themselves. That’s good news for the handy types among us. Tools and materials are a do-it-yourselfer’s idea of fun. Add a bit of common sense, make a plan, top with a sense of adventure, and […]
Whether Chronic or Acute, Mold Issues May Not Be Black or White
As a homeowner, acute problems are top of mind: a leaky roof, the broken window, your flooding basement, or the presence of mold. Quiet, chronic problems sneak up on homeowners. We’re often distracted by bigger, more obvious challenges, right? Naturally, we don’t consider ongoing situations with the same urgency we give acute problems. But with […]
Are You a Victim of Household Clutter?
Clutter sneaks into our homes in unexpected ways. We drop in at a neighbor’s yard sale and take home a couple of items. We see a perfectly good shelf sitting on the side of the road and pick it up. A beautiful weekend leads to exploring junk stores along the Blue Ridge Parkway; we simply […]