Recently a 60 minutes report accused Lumber Liquidators of selling hardwood flooring products from China containing high levels of formaldehyde, mounting customer concern compelled the national retailer to react. Though the chemical is classified as a known carcinogen, its health effects are not completely understood. The company has since sent thousands of free testing kits to consumers to detect formaldehyde levels.


Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent-smelling chemical widely used in industries that manufacture building materials and numerous household products. Thus, it may be present in substantial concentrations in indoor environments.

Where indoors may formaldehyde be found?

• pressed-wood products (such as hardwood plywood wall paneling, particle board and fiberboard), and furniture made with these pressed-wood products. Mobile homes are especially at risk for indoor formaldehyde pollution because of their abundance of composite wood in construction, and relatively compact interior space;
• carpet backing and urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI).  In the 1970s, many homes were insulated with UFFI as an energy-conservation measure before it was discovered that UFFI contained dangerously high levels of formaldehyde.  Fortunately, formaldehyde emissions in this product decline over time, so older houses with UFFI are unlikely to have high levels of formaldehyde now. This insulation is not very common in modern housing;
• tobacco smoke;
• durable-press drapes and other textiles;
• un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, such gas stoves and kerosene space heaters; and
• glues.

Is it dangerous?

Four years after concern arose over high levels of formaldehyde found in some FEMA trailers, there is still a great deal of confusion regarding permissible levels of airborne formaldehyde in indoor environments. 

Formaldehyde is known to cause the following conditions:

• watery eyes;
• burning sensations in the eyes and throat;
• nausea;
• wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing; 
• asthma attacks;
• fatigue;
• skin rash;
• severe allergic reactions; and
• cancer. Uncertainty remains as to how to compare measured air concentrations of formaldehyde to cancer incidence.  No definitive "high risk" level can be drawn because many other factors besides formaldehyde exposure play a role in the development of cancer. In general, however, the lower the level and shorter the duration of exposure, the less risk of cancer and other health effects there are. 

In 1992, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) declared formaldehyde a "toxic air contaminant," meaning that there is no safe level of exposure. In June 2004, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified formaldehyde from “probably carcinogenic to humans” to “carcinogenic to humans,” specifically concerning nasopharyngeal (upper throat) cancer, while the National Toxicology Program (NTP) continues to classify formaldehyde as “reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen in humans” for nasopharyngeal cancer.

Steps to Reduce Exposure

• Use exterior-grade pressed-wood products (lower-emitting, because they contain phenol resins, not urea resins).
• Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to maintain a moderate temperature and reduce humidity levels.
• Increase ventilation, particularly after bringing new sources of formaldehyde indoors.
• Seal non-laminated surfaces of products containing formaldehyde with paints, varnish or polyurethane-like materials. 

In summary, formaldehyde is an irritating and potentially dangerous gas that may accumulate in indoor environments.  

For questions concerning property inspections, or to schedule your property inspection, contact Bennett Property Inspection today at (813) 260-9920.

One of the biggest signs that winter is officially over is scheduled to take place this week, and no we aren't talking about Rays, Yankees or Phillies Spring Training. We’re referring to the start of Daylight Savings Time. This Sunday marks the unofficial end of winter with the spring time change. At 2:00 a.m. on March 8th, it is time to “spring forward” and inevitably roll out of bed cranky from losing that oh so precious extra hour of sleep. 

With daylight savings time leading the way to the official first day of Spring on March 20th, we might as well get a jump start on some of the chores that have eluded us for the last several months.


Brighten Your Home With These Five Spring Cleaning Tasks:

1. Wash the Windows.  A clear view brightens the entire house!  A simple way to do this is by removing the screens and brushing them clean with a broom.  Clean them using a hose with a multi-surface cleaner, and spray clean.  Making sure all windows are shut, use a window cleaner that attaches directly to your hose to spray exteriors of the windows clean.  But we think an even easier way to clean windows is to hire someone to do it for you! So worth the phone call to a professional!

2. Clean the Carpets and Rugs. Start with a fresh step! Cleaning your carpets and rugs makes the whole house feel cleaner and mists the air with scent that says “fresh.” You can rent carpet cleaners from any home improvement store for about $25 per day, or opt have someone come out and shampoo your rugs for $100-$150 for three areas.

3. Give the refrigerator a once-over. A healthy house begins with healthy dwellers.  Refrigerators are breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. Start by tossing any forgot about or expired condiments or food items.  Remove the remainder of the contents from the refrigerator and remove the shelves and drawers.  Wash these in the sink or dishwasher, then give the sides of the fridge a good wipe down. A clean fridge is just begging to filled with delicious and nutritious eats from the Farmer’s Market.

4. Clean the Floorboards, Doors, and Woodwork.  What’s not directly in front of us often gets neglected, yet floorboards, doors, and woodwork are some of the most abused components of our house.  They get kicked by shoes, scratched at by dogs, spilled on by kids, and touched by many hands.  With a clean cloth dipped in solution of water and a few drops of dish soap (wrung dry), run the cloth along the tops and fronts of each floor board.  Start at the bottom left side of the room and work your way around, stopping to wipe down any doors, window sills, or other woodwork along the way.  Don’t forget to sanitize the door handles and light switches as well.

5. Touch-Up Painted Walls.  Just as floorboards, doors and woodwork often get neglected, so does the everyday wear and tear on walls.  Use this time as an opportunity to clean spills and stains off the walls with a clean cloth (dipped in water with a couple drips of dish soap).  Once clean, scour the walls for areas that need touch up paint.  Start at the top left corner of each room and work your way down and to the right. Fill in any nail holes with spackling, then touch up with paint.

Who says that spring cleaning needs to take days to complete?  These five, low-effort spring cleaning tasks can have your home looking, and smelling like new without exhausting yourself cleaning room-by-room.

For questions concerning property inspections, or to schedule your property inspection, contact Bennett Property Inspection today at (813) 260-9920.

At least once a week I have a client ask me if a particular project needs permitting or not. So to help them out and you, I have assembled this handy list for residents that fall within the City of Tampa. 

Residential Work Not Requiring A Permit

• Minor, non-structural repairs, which does not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or any part thereof, with the approval of the building official or his designee
• Repair faucets or valves, and unstop clogged drains and sewer lines.
• Install A/C units (less than 3 tons), not connected to ducts.
• Painting, cabinets, carpet, vinyl tile, and gutters, and certain types of fences.
• Removal of trees not on the protected list such as Male Mulberry, Australian Pine, Eucalyptus, Chinaberry, Cherry Laurel, Brazilian Pepper, Monkey Puzzle, and Silk Oak

Residential Work Requiring A Permit

• New construction, additions, remodeling of any building or building system
• Demolition work
• New roof covering or the replacement of roof coverings over 500 square feet
• Stucco or siding work over 500 square feet
• Any work associated with changing the occupancy of a building
• Residential accessory building and residential driveways over 150 square feet
• Any gas work
• Any mechanical work except for self-contained air conditioning units three tons or less with a factory-installed cord or plug
• Plumbing work on any building, water/sewer lines, septic tanks, wells and fire lines
• Any electrical work
• Tree removal or trimming
• Grade or fill work
• Site clearing greater than 500 square feet

For questions concerning property inspections, or to schedule your property inspection, contact Bennett Property Inspection today at (813) 260-9920.