by Michael Lennon MISREADING A HOUSE H O U S E D E T E C T I V E W O R K Many "hidden" building problems leave visible clues. Train your eyes to pick them out at a glance and read them correctly. The information gleaned could spare you many unpleasant surprises once you're knee-deep in the job. Soot near this through-thewall furnace indicates bad draft or something seriously out of adjustment. Also, could backdrafting fumes be entering the wall jack above? Heavy canvas wall coverings can hide crumbling plaster and-more important- deteriorating brick. If bricks are damp and deteriorating (look for red dust), what about the joist ends resting on the brick? This poor excuse for
