Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with moneypit

How can I find out if there is mold behind my drywall?

cavalier — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:16:20 -0800

What is the least destructive method I could use to determine what if any mold might be growing in drywall? You see, there's this roof leak... ... that is very minor (the leak only showed up after 5+ days of rain in a row), and that's going to get repaired, but here I am looking at a wall with two pencil thin lines of moisture coming down about a foot and a half. Considering this leak has probably been here since before I moved in, as there is some minor discoloration I just now noticed elsewhere on the wall, I'm a little worried I might have something magical living behind/within the drywall.

I've googled around a bit and while there are several mold remediation companies that are happy to come in and rip out my walls and clean everything out -- no one seems to be in the business of, well, checking if there is anything there to begin with. I admit I'm being cheap and trying to prevent a $1,000+ remediation action without evidence of a problem, but am I just SOL here?

The best I've come up with is hiring a "water leak detection" company. Which is remarkable since I know where the leak is coming from -- the roof -- it's more, well, how leaky is it?

If it helps for anyone's anecdotes, I am in Florida.

Scrooge McDuck on a Budget

NotMyselfRightNow — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:06:53 -0800

Scrooge McDuck on a budget: How many dollar bills would it take to fill up an average size bathtub?

Not Inspector Gadget

apostrophe — Sun, 25 May 2008 11:58:30 -0800

Would you please share your recommendations for home inspectors and/or pest inspectors in or around Oakland, CA? My husband and I just put an offer in on our first house, and it was accepted. Woohoo! Now we need to set up the inspections, stat. Our agent is from out-of-town (there's a good reason for this--she's family), so she doesn't know who to call. The seller's agent has promised to get us a recommendation, but that feels slightly conflict-of-interest-y to me, even though she seems very cool. The house is bank-owned and 'as-is,' so we're not likely to be able to get any concessions on the price--this is more for our peace-of-mind that we're not buying a total money pit. The house is 100 years old so we expect some issues. Would love recommendations for thorough, knowledgeable inspectors, specifically a general type as well as pest. I searched yelp and elsewhere and apparently this isn't a hot topic of discussion. Thank you.

Where to service a Range Rover in the LA/Glendale area?

guruguy9 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 18:02:37 -0800

Los Angeles CA Range Rover owners - If I buy a 2000 Range Rover in good condition/edmunds.com price where should I have it serviced in the Glendale or Silver Lake areas? Also, feel free to throw in comments on to buy or not to buy (I understand that this is a needy vehicle).