August 1998 Volume 4, Issue 4

Perhaps you caught a recent Seattle Times article about checking out that new "dream home." It featured great advice gleaned from experts including our own now renowned principal Dennis DePape. "How to use your marbles" (Saturday, August 1, 1998) suggested bringing along a flashlight, a marble and common sense when determining whether or not that new home with "curb appeal" is actually well built. In case you missed it-we'll reiterate the highlights of Kerry Webster's article.

Large or small, every building project involves many complicated and challenging decisions. You can discuss these decisions with your family, friends and neighbors-everyone will have an opinion. But an architect is the one professional who has the education, experience and vision to guide you through the design and construction process successfully. Whether you have specific ideas in mind or, are just beginning to explore the advantages of building a custom home, we can work with you at DePape Associates to thoroughly analyze your wants and needs. We can define the many options available that suit your budget and help you choose a reputable contractor!

Check around the building for ground that slopes away to a point where water can be collected and for downspouts and drains that channel runoff well away from the house. Foundation drains keep water from accumulating during heavy rains and flooding. Cracks wider than 1/16", something you could get a knife blade into may be indicative of foundation settling, a bad batch of concrete or inadequate reinforcing.

Still on the exterior, check the siding for knots or wood showing through, signs that inferior quality or too few coats of paint were used (two coats are the norm). A half-inch of sealant around windows and door trim prevents water seepage. Gutters supported on boards instead of just nailed to soffitts, a board over the siding at the roofline and blocking behind hose bibs and lights all contribute to longevity of the house.

Now for the flashlight! The crawlspace under the house can be revealing. Look for tight, straight joists, metal fasteners at each end of wooden posts and anchor bolts (with nuts and washers!) tying the 2x4 mudsill to the top of the foundation. And check those drainage pipes while you're down there, are they tight? You should also see anchor bolts in the garage and straps holding the furnace and water heater to the wall.

Once inside there's more to discover. Here's where the marble comes in. Set the marble on an uncarpeted floor. If it rolls, the house may be settling or it was built out of plumb. Besides matching patterns the floor should also feel smooth and lie flat without distortion. Anything you can feel in your stocking feet coming through the flooring material will become a wear spot. As for the walls they should both look and feel smooth. It takes a couple of coats of paint or varnish with a light sanding between coats to get a millwork finish smooth to touch. You ought to see caulking between the cabinets and walls but none at mitered joints. The joints at closed doors should be uniform and doors should close and latch smoothly. Some resistance when closing an exterior door indicates the weather stripping is working. A latched sliding door should stay latched when rattled or pulled. Let go of the door from the garage to the house, it should swing shut and latch of its own accord.

Metal faucets, even if the handles are plastic will last. Expect soldered copper or glued PVC pipe rather than crimped fittings under the sink. Good porcelain sinks and tubs on cast iron will sound solid when hit with a fist.

Decks over parts of the house and the garage floor should pass the marble test. The marble will roll in the direction that water drains. Is it rolling in the rigfht direction?

Some of the signs of well-built house are only visible during construction. These are also described in The Seattle Times article (kwebster@seattletimes.com) which places an emphasis on the contractor's reputation!

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