If Walls Could Talk
By agreenfield. Filed in Lifestyles in Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate in the News |
IF WALLS COULD TALK
You have heard the phrase “if walls could talk” to describe the secrets kept behind closed doors that would be revealed if walls could talk. There is a TV series based on this premise: If Walls Could Talk
- which shares nice and naughty lore from homes rich in history and even a song by Celine Dion .
I have been thinking that even if walls could talk they might not want to because they have their own secrets to keep. For instance do you know that the exterior redwood walls of the famed Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park are actually concrete stained to resemble redwood? Or that the sugar pine tree columns in the grand dining room are actually hollowed out columns that are filled with concrete and steel bar. These were the clever sleight-of-hand of Architect Gilbert S Underwood who designed the hotel to look like a wooden lodge while being fire resistant as well .He did not want his secrets to be known since he thought it would take away from the rustic charm of this National Historic Landmark.
Other walls have notorious and even noxious secrets to keep. According to studies reported Oct 30, 2009 by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) drywall imported to the US from China during 2004 and 2005 have higher levels of sulfur and strontium gases than US products. This drywall was used primarily in the south to rebuild after hurricane Katrina.Over 60,000 homes may contain this tainted imported drywall. In the last few years 1900 homeowners have filed complaints linking the drywall to medical ailments including headaches ,asthma and nose bleeds and metal corrosion. Surprisingly the CPSC have found no evidence so far that these emissions were to blame. Never the less US Safety officials have banned further imports and more detailed health report will be completed next month . Unfortunately for the walls (and China as well ) even if they can’t talk their noxious sulfur fumes have made homeowners aware of their skunk –like secrets.
