On the other hand, there are a few differences between these two stones that you should seriously consider before choosing between them. Rather than making this decision for you, why don’t we let the facts speak for themselves.

The Pros and Cons of Marble

First of all, Marble is a metamorphic rock. Its basic ingredient can be found everywhere from limestone to baking soda, from

calcium carbonate to lime (white wash). The basic ingredient goes by many other names depending on its application and its form. Limestone, a sedimentary form of calcium, which is found naturally in the earth, undergoes intense heat and pressure within the earth to be formed into what we know as marble.

This rock can also be exposed to heat and grinding to become a filler ingredient for medications, writing paper, plaster of

Paris, lime (white wash), and cement hardener. This means that marble, although beautiful and durable, is porous and very easily destroyed by any type of acid, heat, or water. Even with a seal coating applied religiously every year, no types of chemicals may be used to wash the countertops made from it. It cannot take much abuse from water, acids such as lemon or orange juice, or high heat from pans. These will all destroy the seal coating and the marble beneath.

Since marble is so porous, it is also easily stained. One single scratch can allow liquids or even oxidation from the air to

leak under the seal coating and stain the marble. This doesn’t mean that it should not be used. Marble is ideal for use in low traffic areas or for sculpting amazing art out of. But for the high traffic use of a kitchen countertop, a floor, or a bathroom countertop, marble just means high maintenance.

The Pros and Cons of Granite

Granite is also a metamorphic rock. It is a composite of quartz, silicon, feldspar, mica, and several other minerals. It too

is formed under high pressure and heat. It is also just as beautiful. It is not as porous as marble and is resistant to chemicals and acids. The presence of quartz in granite provides the granite with a durability and hardness unlike that of soft marble.

Granite is more stain resistant and wear resistant than marble. While it is not perfect, granite holds up far better in high traffic uses such as counter tops and flooring. With a proper seal coating on granite and with proper care, granite will last for many years without scratching, staining, chipping, or wearing away. If properly cared for, granite may not need to be resealed every year.

Granite can also be quarried locally. This means that, unlike marble, granite will not have to be shipped from South America or Europe. Granite can be quarried in Arizona, New Mexico, and some northern states. Granite is also easier to ship. Even if the granite you select comes from South Africa, China, Asia, or Europe, there is more granite available. This means it’s easier to obtain and less expensive to use.

Ultimately It’s Up To You

Whether you choose granite or marble is up to you. When asked which one is better for the high traffic use of countertops, the answer should be clear, granite will simply hold up better. When properly cared for under normal conditions, granite is easier to care for and is resistant to staining, chemicals, heat, and fracturing. Granite is available in more colors and patterns and can be custom ordered for less than marble

The industry standard load calculation is called the Manual J calculation. It takes into account the size of your house, the amount of insulation installed, the square footage, and a host of other factors.

SEER ratings
SEER (Seasonal Energy-Efficiency Rating) is a comparative indicator of an air conditioner’s efficiency. The typical central air conditioning system of the early 1990s had a SEER of about 6. It rose to 10 early in this decade. All central air conditioners manufactured since January 23, 2006 must have a SEER of 13 or higher. Older unsold units were grandfathered under this government regulation. At this point, if any of those units are still available, they represent false economy. Guides that recommend them as a budget alternative are out of date. Current central AC units have SEER ratings that range from 13 to 23. The rating can be easily understood as a percentage. For instance, a 14 SEER air conditioner is 40 percent more efficient than a 10 SEER air conditioner.

Capacity and efficiency are major factors in the price of an air conditioner. A more efficient unit costs less to operate. We found worksheets for estimating how much, but electricity prices throughout the United States change often and usually rise. If you currently have gas or oil heat and a central air conditioner, you can compare your summer and winter electric bills to get an idea of how much more electricity you use during the summer.

Air ConditionerExperts say the average life of a central air conditioner is 15 to 20 years. If yours is that old, they say the break-even period is short if you replace it because your new system will be much more efficient by default. When announcing the current SEER standard, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman asserted, “Homeowners who choose to buy more energy-efficient air conditioning systems will realize significant savings in their energy bills and greatly reduce their energy use.” The Rocky Mountain Institute encourages, “Buy a new air conditioner if your existing model is more than ten years-old, as such models are often only half as efficient as contemporary models.”

The value of efficiency much beyond 13 SEER is somewhat controversial. Government and environmental organizations advocate for the highest efficiency you can afford. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recommends SEER of at least 14.5. The professionals at AllExperts.com disagree about the value of high-efficiency air conditioners. Some point out that more expensive units may have other virtues, such as a longer warranty. The majority of experts believe that a 13 SEER air conditioner is the best value for most people (but see the Rebates section below). If you can afford greater efficiency, however, you will use less electricity and make a contribution to the environment, but you may not recoup the extra cost in energy savings. Be aware that experts say an air conditioner must be connected to an appropriate coil to achieve the published SEER specification. If you are replacing an existing system, make sure you get a new coil.

1. Roofing defects, caused by aging or improper installation are likely to be found on most buildings. This does not mean that most roofs need replacement, but that many are in need of maintenance and repair.

2. Ceiling stains in many homes indicate past or current leaks. The challenge is to determine if the leak was repaired or will recur during the next rain. Discovery is not always possible.

3. Faulty ground drainage often causes water intrusion beneath buildings. Such problems can be pervasive, difficult to resolve, and may cause damage to building components.

4. Electrical safety violations, either few or many, are to be found in the majority of homes. Examples are ungrounded outlets, lack of shock protection, amateur wiring “improvements,” and conditions too numerous to name.

5. Rotted wood is common where components remain wet for long periods. Exterior locations are trim, eaves, and decks. Problems also occur at walls and floors in bathrooms.

6. Code violations are common where additions and alterations are built without permits. Sellers often boast that, “We added the garage without a permit, but it was all done to code.” This is a red flag to most home inspectors.

7. Fireplaces and chimneys are often unsafe. Common causes are amateur installation of hardware and fixtures, exterior rust damage, or simple failure to call a chimney sweep.

8. Water heaters are seldom in total compliance with code requirements. Violation include inadequate strapping, substandard overflow piping, unsafe flue conditions, and faulty gas lines.

9. Gas furnaces often harbor defects. These range from dirty filters to faulty combustion; from poor airflow to exhaust hazards; from noisy operation to inadequate fire clearance. Given the potential for major consequences, annual servicing by the gas company is recommended.

10. Faulty firewalls are common in garages. Violations include, holes, unprotected attic accesses, doors not fire rated, drywall that is too thin, and exposed wood framing.

11. Minor plumbing defects are commonly found, including loose toilets, dripping faucets, slow drains, leaking drains, hot water at the right faucet, and so on.

12. Failed seals are routinely found at dual pane windows, resulting in fogging. This is most common with windows manufacturer during the 1980’s.

An unabridged list of likely home inspection findings would probably fill a few volumes subject to addenda on a routine basis. For home buyers, this underscores the importance of a thorough evaluation prior to closing escrow.

When a house is designated a meth house, law enforcement officers may arrive unannounced, evict the residents with no belongings and close the building to all but law enforcement personnel and industrial hygienists (IH).

The owners may have the property tested by an IH and released after proper remediation. At this time, a Decision Statement is issued. If the IH issuing the statement is properly credentialed, the owner is then protected from future lawsuits. This must be done within 120 days. The catch is that every item in the building must be tested and cleared by an IH. Because the expense usually prohibits this, all the contents of the home are often destroyed.

If remediation requirements are not met, the governing body will seize the property, rehab it and sell it to pay their expenses. The owner usually receives nothing except debt, even if the property was purchased from a person who covered up the evidence of meth manufacturing. Unless it can proven that he/she knew about the meth and purposely hid the evidence, you probably have no recourse.

There is new legislation in process that will require disclosure if it is known that a property has ever been a meth house.

The dangers that go along with meth houses include exposure to cancer causing chemicals that can saturate walls, carpets and other building materials as well as all contents. Lead and mercury are common byproducts. Chemicals, such as solvents, may be disposed of in plumbing or simple poured on the ground. If not removed properly these can cause various health problems.

The most immediate danger is the meth manufacturer. Meth causes extreme paranoia and symptoms similar to OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder. Meth users called “Tinkle Tweekers” even save their urine in bottles stored in living areas to reclaim the unmetabolized meth from the urine.

Most people with OCD are pretty harmless except to themselves. The paranoid meth user can be very dangerous according to police reports. They are often reported to have large, sometimes bizarre, weapon collections that may be heavy on knives. Booby traps are reportedly set to protect the person’s meth stash. If you encounter a property where the residents appear to have OCD, and the residents act strangely, leave immediately. You could be in danger.

Meth users and manufacturers include people from all lifestyles. Doctors, lawyers and dentists are no more immune than factory workers or roofers. Meth labs are found in neighborhoods from affluent to poor.

When you enter a property take a deep breath. A cat urine smell is often associated with meth. Other odors to be aware of are ammonia, vanilla, solvents or metallic smells. These are warning signs.

Meth users sometimes become obsessive about objects. They may dismantle things like remote controls, watches or electronic devices. The objects can sometimes be found in a pile dismantled down to the smallest part.

Large amounts of household products are a tip off. Common products are used to manufacture meth that can found in an average home, except in a meth lab large quantities of common items may be in odd places. If you see multiple packages of lye, Heet, Coleman fuel, peroxide, pseudo-ephedrine or coffee filters in odd places, like stored in a bathroom, closet or kitchen, this is an indication that it may be wise to forget any involvement in the property. The occupant may be a warehouse club shopper with no sense of organization, but he/she may not be.

Propane bottles, or fire extinguishers, that have been altered, or have a blue stain on the connector, may indicate that anhydrous ammonia has been stored in the container. Anhydrous ammonia can be explosive in the right circumstances. It reacts with the metal leaving the connector corroded.

Iodine may be used in meth manufacturing. Iodine is a substance that goes from solid to gas state without becoming liquid. It sticks to everything and spreads on contact. Iodine stains walls and everything else. The stain may be red or yellow. It may be very noticeable if a photo, or other wall hanging is moved, revealing the contrast between stained and unstained.

Meth labs may be hidden behind false walls or other building alterations. Alterations that make no sense should be suspect, such as: exhaust fans mounted where they have no logical use; bootlegged power supply; rooms that are unexplainably small.

Inspection Perfection provides a quick, inexpensive test kit to detect minute residue from the use or manufacture of amphetamine or methamphetamine. A sterile swab is rubbed over a surface where residue may be left from smoking or handling meth. The swab is immersed in a reagent that turns purple or blue if amphetamine or methamphetamine residue is present.

A positive test may happen in places where meth has been used, as well as manufactured. This test is for the actual residue of the drug only. It doesn’t test for chemicals used in the manufacture or those that are produced in the process. A positive test tells you to proceed with caution.

The following maybe a sign that Meth lab was present;
• Yellow discoloration on walls, drains, sinks and showers
• Blue discoloration on valves of propane tanks and fire extinguishers
• Fire detectors that are removed or taped off
• Experiencing physical symptoms while inside the house, such as burning in your eyes or throat, itching, a metallic taste in your mouth and breathing problems
• Unusual strong odors that smell like materials from a garage, such as solvent and paint thinner, cat urine or ammonia
• The use of security cameras and surveillance equipment

Signs that property owners should look for with their homes and tenants:
• Tenants who behave oddly and are extremely thin, have open sores, bad teeth or dilated pupils
• Large amounts of trash with items such as lithium batteries, torn-apart matchbooks, water bottles, cold medicine packs and antifreeze containers
• Discolored coffee filters that are not brown
• Plexiglas or other dark-colored cookware
• Glass containers with two layered liquids and chemistry sets

A foundation is a structure that transfers loads to the earth. Foundations are generally broken into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.

Types of foundation:
1. Shallow foundations are usually embedded a meter or so into soil. One common type is the spread footing which consists of strips or pads of concrete (or other materials) which extend below the frost line and transfer the weight from walls and columns to the soil or bedrock. Another common type is the slab-on-grade foundation where the weight of the building is transferred to the soil through a concrete slab placed at the surface.

2. Deep foundations are used to transfer a load from a structure through an upper weak layer of soil to a stronger deeper layer of soil. There are different types of deep foundations including helical piles, impact driven piles, drilled shafts, caissons, piers, and earth stabilized columns. The naming conventions for different types of foundations vary between different engineers. Historically, piles were wood, later steel, reinforced concrete, and pre-tensioned concrete. Sometimes these foundations penetrate bedrock.

Design:
Foundations are designed to have an adequate load capacity with limited settlement by a geotechnical engineer, and the foundation itself is designed structurally by a structural engineer.

The primary design concerns are settlement and bearing capacity. When considering settlement, total settlement and differential settlement is normally considered. Differential settlement is when one part of a foundation settles more than another part. This can cause problems to the structure the foundation is supporting. It is necessary that a foundation is not loaded beyond its bearing capacity or the foundation will “fail”.

Other design considerations include scour and frost heave. Scour is when flowing water removes supporting soil from around a foundation (like a pier supporting a bridge over a river). Frost heave occurs when water in the ground freezes to form ice lenses.

Changes in soil moisture can cause expansive clay to swell and shrink. This swelling can vary across the footing due to seasonal changes or the effects of vegetation removing moisture. The variation in swell can cause the soil to distort, cracking the structure over it. This is a particular problem for house footings in semi-arid climates .
When structures are built in areas of permafrost, special consideration must be given to the thermal effect the structure will have on the permafrost. Generally, the structure is designed in a way that tries to prevent the permafrost from melting.