Read the full article at http://www.atlantarealestateforum.com/consult-a-home-pro-provides-professionals-you-can-trust-60003/

“We chose the Chevy Volt because it made the most sense for a company car,” says Solar Energy USA President Perry Bell. “We wanted an all-electric, but there were none available in our area. The Volt was available and it has exceeded our office’s expectations. We trade-off and use it for commutes, most of which are less than 20 miles. With an electric range of 40 plus miles, we seldom use gas.”

How is solar used to fill a depleted electric car battery? The most common way solar is used is to create a percentage of electricity for a building. Electric vehicles are plugged into charging stations or outlets from a building. Since that electricity is measured, and solar panels create a measurable amount of electricity, systems can be sized according to demand. Any extra production of energy is credited back or used as power in the existing building!

Did you know that adding solar panels to your home lowers your power bill and increases your home’s value? An April 2011 study by the Berkeley Lab analyzed California home values after the addition of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system.  The study found that solar panels add value to a home at an average rate of $5.50 per watt ($5.50/W). These results are very similar to a 2010 study conducted in the San Diego market where homes were also found to increase in value from the addition of a PV system. The study also noted that owners of solar-powered homes also benefit from power bill savings as a direct result of being able to produce one’s own power.

This means a small 5 panel system using 230 watt solar panels will add an average increase of $6,325 dollars to a home, while a solar energy system twice that size with 10 panels will add an average value of $12,650 dollars to a home.

The 2011 solar energy home value report can be downloaded from the Environmental Energy Technologies Division of Berkeley Labs via http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/emp/reports/lbnl-4476e.pdf.

2011 Fall Atlanta Home Show 01

The residence had initially had a series of decks and stairs which interconnected, as is the usual fashion for a secondary egress on a multiple leveled multifamily structure. The owner of the property had the old structure removed entirely so that the new decking could be built.

The foundation of the new structure was constructed of 12-inch piers which were placed in two rows of three. The innermost section of piers were placed two feet inside the rim of the structure. There were wooden posts coming up from the piers but were not attached to them. They supported a 2×8 that was nailed to the bottom of the joists to act in the place of a beam. Obviously, this isn’t a great beam structure. The low piers weren’t attached to anything and therefore, not supporting anything either. Think about this for a moment and you will see that the outer three piers and ledger were supporting the entire load of the structure. To fix this, the addition of a beam would be needed. If it were built, the three interior piers would be able to support the load from the first floor’s decking. However, additional piers that are larger would need to be added to support the weight of the second and third floors.

The decking ledgers themselves were nailed to studs on the wall of the residence. There were no bolts used with the attachment, nor flashing or sheathing. The joist hangers that attached all 2x8s to the rim were incorrect sizes. All screws that were used were drywall screws. There were also many random, unfilled holes in the joist hangers. The nails that were used weren’t stainless steel or galvanized and had already started damaging the lumber. In some locations there were hardly any nails and in some areas, such as in the headers and railings, there were far too many nails. To fix this, each ledger would need sheathing and flashing added and proper bolting mechanisms would also need to be used.

The stairs were frightening, having been built without any handrails and extremely close to a window on the home. The rises on the staircases ranged from six inches to seven and a half inches. Many of the risers were open and the treads were only eight inches wide. The guards along the side of the stairs were nailed to corner posts with incorrect fasteners. Each rail on the guard was placed more than four inches apart. The corner posts of the deck structure looked as if they had been cut using a dull saw. The owner had also used wood putty to cover chips and cracks in the wood. To fix this, the stairs would have to be removed and built again in accordance to code. The header placements would need to be adjusted and handrails would need to be built. There would also need to be some sort of additional safety glazing added to the windows by the stairs to prevent breakage.

The building inspector had to tag the deck structure as unsafe and informed the owner that it had to be fixed before anyone could use it again. The owner of the property had a contract with a building contractor, so he was able to apply for reimbursement from the state to fix the deck.

To view the full article and to see photos, please click here.

Check it out! The members of Consult-A-Home-Pro are busy building the new and exciting See-Thru House exhibit for the 2011 Fall Atlanta Home Show coming up this weekend Sept. 23-25th. This is where you can get free answers to all of your housing questions, and to meet over 50 professional and trusted contractors. Find out what goes on behind the walls of your home!!

One of the more popular home remodeling projects in the Marietta area is deck remodeling. PMC’s Deck Center showcases 17 deck boards and more than 20 deck railing systems.

To learn more about PMC Building Material visit them at Atlanta Building Materials or to view the full article .