Everything You Didn’t Want (But Need) To Know About Synthetic Stucco

Everything You Didn’t Want (But Need) To Know About Synthetic Stucco
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In a good apple you sometimes find a worm – Proverb. Why is there suddenly a rash of defective building products? Do manufacturers "just not build 'em like they used to," sacrificing quality for profits? Are lawyers dreaming up building product claims to fatten their purses with class action lawsuits? Are homebuyers more aware or just more picky?

While these questions can be endlessly debated, the claims over defective building products keep rolling in, with synthetic stucco being the latest in a series.

What is Synthetic Stucco?

Concerns have been raised about Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems ("EIFS"), commonly referred to as "synthetic stucco." Traditional stucco, used for
centuries in Europe and in the United States without a problem, is a cement-like substance. Traditional stucco consists of 3/8" to 1/2" of cement base troweled onto a metal lath which is fixed onto the exterior wall. An exterior finish coat is applied to the cement. EIFS, the synthetic stucco, is a multi-layered exterior wall system. The layers of EIFS typically consist of: The layers of EIFS typically consist of: (1) an insulation board made of polystyrene or polyisocyanurate foam fastened to the exterior wall surface with an adhesive and/or mechanically; (2) a water-resistant base coat applied over the insulation and then reinforced with fiberglass mesh; and (3) a hard and durable top coat.

The final product is attractive and strikingly similar in appearance to traditional stucco. In fact someone unfamiliar with synthetic stucco may not even know the difference.

Do you want to know...
The Difference Between EIFS and Real Stucco?
What's the Beef all about?
moisture damage and addressing the problem?
What if a seller does not want to disclose?
For the answers Read More...

"Everything You didn't Want (But Need) to Know about Synthetic Stucco" by Seth Weissman

Lock Bumping

This is something I just heard about and I'm seeing this all over the internet. So, I'm publishing it as a public service message. Lock bumping has become the latest craze for person desiring unauthorized entry into homes.

See: The Lockdown: locked but not secure from the most excellent Engadget blog, and read more about lock bumping in this wikipedia article.

Technorati Tags: lock bumping

My Mother’s Great Expectations

My Mother’s Great Expectations

(As Seen Through My Eyes)

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things in life I can not change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

These were the words my mother gave me when I was about fourteen years of age.

A firm believer in God.

She always had great expectations of ALL her children.

She often times worked two jobs to give us HER best. While she did so, we were expected to look after each other, not to go outside and ALWAYS do as she said when she was not home.

We were expected to have, not get, but have the house cleaned when she got home from working at night OR when she woke in the early, early mornings.

Yes mother always had great expectations of us. She expected us to also get a job, work hard and be independent.

I so fondly remember from my youth, her telling us so often to “learn to take care of ourselves, to seek the Lord, because He may call her “home” tomorrow.

I often wondered if that was my motivation to “grow up faster”. What if, this happened tomorrow?

However, as I grew older and had children of my own, I realized it was her way of saying, “Depend on God. Ask Him to order your steps. Lean not on your own understanding.”

Always give to the Lord first. Save your money. That’s what I KNEW she expected me to do whenever I got paid. Always remember, the Lord’s people were never left without, nor His seed begging for bread (Paraphrase Psalms 37:25).

You see, she did not have to SAY she expected it, it was the WAY she said it, as I see it.

I recall what seems like many years ago, mother always seem to be wearing a white nurse’s uniform. But she always loved to “dress” well. She loved beautiful clothes. “Look your best when you enter the Lord’s house.” Or when you leave her house. That meant “be clean”.

We were expected to not look down on anyone. To be kind, because you never know who you may need.

Yes, she had great expectations of us for as long as I can remember.

Like so many of those great expectations she laid out before us, I now so clearly understand. You see, at times I thought those expectations were a lot of fluff.

It was HER way of getting us to do what SHE wanted.

However, as she went home to the Lord, I remembered her greatest expectation. Not only was this an expectation for us, I know she expected the same for herself.

Like so many of her expectations, she practiced what she preached. Hard worker, love her children, save money, etc.

But she preached heaven. She preached of going to heaven and how SHE EXPECTED to go there. That’s what the Bible said she would do if she kept God’s commandments.

Now, my mother’s greatest expectation is my own. Because she expects to see us again. On the OTHER side.

She expected us not to weep tears of sorrow, but to rejoice.

I can tell you so many more expectations she had for us, but as I leave you today, I want to give to you my mother’s greatest expectation.

Seek the Lord with all your heart. Keep his commandments. Rejoice in this day that the Lord has made and EXPECT to walk on the streets of gold to our Father’s mansion, together again, one day…

In Loving Memory of My Mother: Josephine Girard

88 Turbulences of Selling

Selling a home is like taking an airline flight across the country. When you start on your trip, you have no idea how the trip will go. Neither does the pilot. You could run into 88 different types of turbulence, or other passengers on the trip could pull stunts on you. Ideally, you should have a smooth flight and land on time. Certainly the pilot will try to use his or her experience to navigate around the storms and go for the smoothest flight plan. However, if they're honest, they can not promise a turbulent-free trip. Their job is to get you to your destination in the least time and with the least aggravation, while keeping you informed throughout the trip.

Attached is a somewhat humorous list of the 88 different types of turbulence or stunts we might run into. This list is not all encompassing, but it catches most of the common issues we might run into. While some of the items are "picky" to some, they are very real and fearful to others.

As your REALTOR, I see myself as the pilot of your plane. My job is to assist you in getting your home sold and with the fewest aggravations. I can't promise you no turbulence, or that other parties to the transaction won't try and pull a few stunts, but I can promise you that I will utilize my experience and expertise to take you on the smoothest flight that I can. If we do hit turbulence, I won't bail out on you. I will be your teammate throughout the flight, until we get you safely to your destination.

Rest assured your advocacy is my number one goal, and that means you must be delighted with the product and service I deliver beyond your expectations during the process.

To Receive a copy of the 88 Turbulence, click here: Send Me The 88 Turbulences