2006 Visual Interpretation of the International Residential Code Now Available

The Stairway Manufacturer’s Association (SMA) has made the new visual interpretation of the International Residential Code available for downloading in PDF from its Web site (www.stairways.org/codes_ standards.htm).

The document includes ICC Stair Term definitions and New TYPE II Rail Test Template.

It is also available in printed form for a nominal fee by contacting the SMA office at 877-500-5759.

The association hopes that the IRC 2006 VI will prove to be just as valuable a tool as its other visual interpretations and would appreciate feedback.

ASHI Member Tom Kraeutler Joins AOL Real Estate as Home Improvement Editor

On the heels of AOL Real Estate’s (www.aol.com/realestate) recent redesign and content expansion, the commerce channel is once again expanding its consumer-focused offerings, adding practical home improvement help and advice from Tom Kraeutler, noted expert and co-host of “The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show.” As AOL Real Estate’s new home improvement editor, Kraeutler will offer visitors easy-to-follow tips and advice to increase the value of their homes, as well as the quality of their lives.

Samara Jaffe, general manager of AOL Real Estate, said, “Tom takes a topic that many people find to be intimidating and makes it fun and accessible for all skill levels, drawing on his years of experience as a professional home inspector and building contractor to help build the confidence of AOL Real Estate’s visitors.”

In addition to his new editorial responsibilities with AOL, Kraeutler co-hosts the top-rated, nationally syndicated “The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show” (www.moneypit.com) broadcast to more than 180 stations each weekend, with an audience of more than 3 million listeners a week. His home improvement tips are also broadcast across 350 radio stations on weekdays during morning-drive time. His continuing efforts to educate homeowners have earned him many honors. Talkers Magazine named him one of the “100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America,” and his articles have appeared in many national publications, including Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money Magazine, Reader’s Digest and House Beautiful. His advice appears in the best-selling book The Practical Guide to Practically Everything.

Kraeutler started his career as a home inspector and is among a select group of professionals accepted by the New Jersey Superior Court as an “expert witness” in construction and home inspection. He was selected by New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman and chaired the state’s first regulatory authority for the licensing of professional home inspectors for several years. He remains a Member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).