The WestPoint Word

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 20:48:00 +0000

WestPoint Interview luncheon with Michael Joseph of ReMax/The 5 Wins

It was great to meet with ReMax's top producer Michael Joseph and briefly discuss Home Inspections in the Cayman Islands. We had lunch at Da Fish Shack on the water near the Harbour.

Michael's series, 'The 5 Wins' is an ongoing, very informative mini-series of video luncheons featuring interviews with local company owners. Afterwards, donations to local charities concludes the videos.

Below is a link to the video:

https://youtu.be/fupkso6nUio

WestPoint Inspection Minute episode 2 on the Cayman Real Estate Channel

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 15:14:00 +0000

Click below to see our 2nd segment (WestStar Channel 37, 24 and Fuse 3 in the Cayman Islands)

Click here to see the 2 minute segment

WestPoint Inspection Minute episode 1 on the Cayman Real Estate Channel

Fri, 22 Aug 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Click below to see our first short segment (WestStar Channel 37, 24 and Fuse 3 in the Cayman Islands)

Click here to see the 3 minute segment

WestPoint Home Inspection TV interview on Cayman27 News

Sat, 09 Aug 2014 16:19:00 +0000

Follow the link below to see our Cayman27 TV interview

Click here to go to WestPoint Inspections TV interview

Hot water heaters - what temperature is too hot?

Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:27:00 +0000

TODAY, WE HAVE TANK AND TANKLESS WATER HEATERS......

Of the two types mentioned above, your water heater can be powered by electricity, propane (LP gas), solar and natural gas. The latter being the least likely option in the Cayman Islands.

Both tank and tankless water heaters have a temperature setting. Some tank water heaters

have them hidden behind a small metal panel, while others have them in plain view.

Electric tankless water heaters typically have an obvious dial or digital setting directly in the front for easy viewing and setting.

If your water heater has been installed correctly and is functioning correctly, you should not have to adjust the setting. However, factory settings can vary and if you are not the original owner of the heater, the setting may have been previously adjusted.

The average temperature setting is generally around 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius), while a majority of manufacturer settings are as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius). Turning the temperature lower than 120 degrees (49 Celsius) may allow certain strains of bacteria to survive, while raising the temperature above 140 degrees (60 Celsius) can be dangerous.

At 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 Celsius, an adult can sustain a third degree burn in only 5 seconds and much less for a child! So be careful, set the temperature accordingly, and be safe.

Home Inspection: what do you think this is?

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:32:00 +0000

On a recent property inspection, while walking the Exterior and Grounds, we found the following on a concrete and stucco wall:

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What do you think this is?

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Pro Tip: Porcelain vs. Ceramic

Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:30:00 +0000

Which tile should you pick, and why?

Tile is tile, right? The short answer is yes. However, when trying to decide between porcelain and ceramic tiles, there are a few quick facts and tips you should know.

FACTS:

Porcelain is harder than ceramic and typically costs more
Ceramic usually costs less and has a top layer of glazing
Porcelain has the same color throughout the tile - so if it chips, it's not so noticeable
Ceramic has a top layer glazing, and if it chips, the different colored clay layer below shows, and is very noticeable
Both Porcelain and Ceramic tiles are made of clay
Both Porcelain and Ceramic tiles are suitable throughout the home in hot climates like the Cayman Islands, Southern United States, and the rest of the Caribbean.

PRO TIP:

If you are planning to install the tiles yourself, it's probably a better idea to buy ceramic, because they are easier to work with and standard tile cutting tools will work fine. Porcelain however, is hard and will not cooperate nicely with standard tools and additional equipment may be required.

Conversely, if you are planning to have a professional install the tiles, then buy porcelain if your budget permits!

Term of the Week - Cantilevered

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 03:48:00 +0000

This term is typically used to described decks, balconies and staircases and can also be referred to as 'floating'. These structures

or building elements, appear as if they require vertical supports, when structurally, they do not. The structural load and

calculations are usually predetermined prior to installation.

While they provoke appealing curiosity for the observer, they typically produce the opposite effect for Structural Engineers and Home Inspectors trying to determine their safety and proper installation!

Term of the Week: Coffered Ceilings

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 01:47:00 +0000

There are many types of decorative ceilings out there, but these lend a sense of warmth and elegance. They are usually geometric in design - a 'fancy grid' more or less on your ceiling, and are typically the design work of a detailed architect.

They can be made of solid timbers, glued together wood planks (glulam), or finished wood on the exterior, with hidden supports in the middle.

New Year's Home Resolution

Wed, 08 Jan 2014 20:07:00 +0000

We make New Year's Resolutions for ourselves, so why not make one for our homes?

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Here are a few resolutions you should consider making for your home this year:

Get an air-conditioning service plan. If you don't have one, then get moving! Air-conditioning is a major component in hot climates, and regular servicing can help it to work more efficiently and extend the life of the system. Homes that have air-conditioning service plans, also tend to have less overall problems and generally pass home inspections more frequently as well.

Spruce-up your front door. One of the first things that people notice on a home is the front door. If yours is wood, refinish it and put on a fresh coat of oil, wax or urethane. If your front door is painted, put a fresh coat of paint on it, or maybe consider a new color. Clean up around the door and the entrance area, and make it inviting for guest and visitors.

Straighten-up those closets. An organized closet saves time, looks appealing and shows pride of ownership.

Pressure wash some stuff. By stuff, I mean most anything outside, but not the dog or the kids! Start with the driveway. A plain concrete driveway looks 1000% better after a pressure washing - so does the exterior of the home and windows. Pressure washing is relatively inexpensive, and goes a long way in appearance.

Pro Tip: When pressure washing driveway pavers that have been sealed (as is common in hotter climates like South Florida and the Caribbean), be sure to hold the nozzle head a little further away from the surface than normal. This will help to prevent the water pressure from potentially stripping away any sealant. The same applies to paint on the exterior of some homes.

2 reasons why solid hardwood flooring can be a bad choice

Sun, 29 Dec 2013 19:44:00 +0000

Hardwood flooring is beautiful, long lasting, and adds a comfortable and

inviting feel to a home - but is it a good choice in hot climates like the Cayman Islands?

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The short answer to the question is No. Yes, solid hardwood flooring can be installed and maintained in a Cayman home, but is it a good choice? Again, the answer is No - and here's why:

Solid Hardwood flooring needs to first acclimate to the environment it is to be installed, and more than likely, that environment will be air-conditioned. Once the floor is installed in an air-conditioned space, the temperature inside the home must remain relatively unchanged. However, with an extended power outage or our desire to open the windows and doors more frequently in the winter months, this spells potential trouble because wood absorbs heat and moisture, and will expand and contract when exposed to these conditions. See the potential result below.

The Cayman Islands are situated at sea level - meaning, many homes are subject to flooding during a tropical storm or hurricane. If a solid wood floor is subjected to flooding, once the wood begins to eventually dry-out, the below-mentioned result will most likely occur.

-- Flooding, excessive changes in temperatures or moisture may cause a solid wood floor to eventually buckle, cup or separate, and ultimately ruin a once beautiful floor --

----------------- SO WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? -----------------

Thankfully, there is an alternative. Hardwood flooring is also sold as 'engineered wood flooring'. This means that the flooring is not a solid piece of wood, but rather, consists typically of a plywood base (a much better choice than a 'MDF' base), and a thin layer of hardwood on the surface. This type of wood flooring will perform the best in Cayman, and similar climates. The plywood base, if exposed to water or changes in temperature, resists contraction and swelling much better than solid wood - and engineered wood flooring does allow for the surface or 'top layer' to be sanded and re-finished a few times through the life of the floor, should you need to.

Finally, if you choose this type of flooring, remember to have it installed correctly and in accordance with the manufacturers specifications (i.e. perimeter spacing, glued vs. nailed, floating, etc.)

Where's the best place to locate a Home Safe?

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 04:05:00 +0000

OK, WHERE'S THE SAFE?

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This is the first thought of a burglar or thief entering your home with hopes of finding your valuables. So the first thing you should do, is buy an in-house safe - But where do you put the safe? Where is the safe, safe?

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There are clever hiding spots all throughout the home. I have heard of some interesting places to hide things, but if these don't include the use of a safe, once your valuables are discovered, consider them gone. Some of those interesting hiding places are picture frames, potted plants, the freezer, the toilet tank and even the oven.

I once heard of a man freezing his diamonds in an ice tray, while another placed gold in a toilet tank. However, a safe provides an additional layer of security.

Where shouldn't you place a safe:

On the ground level, in the floor - Why is this bad? A great majority of safes are electronic and when subjected to moisture and flooding from low-lying areas and storms, they can malfunction and ultimately become inaccessible

Near an exit door - Why is this bad? If intruders gain access to it, they can exit quickly, even if the police are on the way

Recommended places for a safe:

An in-wall safe that is hidden behind clothes or a picture - Especially a cement or concrete block wall, as is commonly found in the Cayman Islands

In a closet or room, out of sight, where only you can easily access

Another consideration is to purchase a fireproof safe to store valuable documents like marriage licenses, birth certificates and passports.

-- REMEMBER TO SECURE THE SAFE WITH BOLTS AND NUTS (usually provided with the safe) or you may return home, only to find your valuables AND your safe missing! --

Preparing Your Home For Sale

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 06:04:00 +0000

Quick tips:

You've put your home on the market and carefully prepared it for a potential buyer.

Did you follow your real estate agent's advice?
If the buyer requests a Home Inspection, is your home ready?

Anyone who has put their home for sale, understands the steps required to get their property in good-selling condition. Undoubtedly, some home repairs will be found and in need of correction - and although most are easily corrected, many are passed over.

Below is a typical repair or correction that is often overlooked in Cayman. Take our Tip below, be proactive, and put your home in the 'right light' for a potential buyer.

THE PROBLEM AREA: Non-functioning smoke detectors

THE REPAIR: Just press the test button to ensure they work in each location. In many cases a battery is missing or dead. If a replacement is needed, a battery powered unit is easy to find and install. On newer construction, they are often wired directly into the home's electrical system.

Be ready, correct problems, and get your home sold faster!