Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Looking for clues when buildings go bad - Boston.com

Looking for clues when buildings go bad - Boston.com

"Bullet fragments, bloodstains, and DNA are clues for crime investigators. But for construction forensics specialists like Von Salmi, a bit of mold or a rotten baseboard provides the telltale signs.

Salmi, of Von Salmi & Associates in Westminster, is on the trail of sloppy or incompetent contractors, trying to determine why a homeowner is facing catastrophic failures — such as roofing problems — after buying a new home or completing a renovation.

One of his most unusual cases involved $1 million worth of landscaping that shriveled a month after it was installed at a large coastal home. No one could pinpoint the cause. But Salmi, a former building contractor, ultimately discovered the culprit: saltwater in the well."

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