How to Inspect for Home Deterioration
Plan on quarantining yourself anyway? Give your home some love while you are spending extra time in it. Just before flowers pop and after the snow melts is when I become aware of my home’s diminishing appeal. I love our cottage in the woods, but this time of year is when I begin to notice our home’s deterioration. Real Estate brokers and property management professionals recommend homeowners regularly inspect their homes for signs of deterioration. Many of those inspections can be done by the homeowner. All Pro Xteriors Inc. offers suggestions for inspecting this and previous winters’ damage to your home.
Keep an inspection and repair log. It’s a good idea to note the date and the inspection results. It will help track deterioration as well as repairs. It also gives you a good reference when you book a repair company to make sure the issue is part of the repair, and your tax preparer may be able to use it too.
Inspect your Roof for deterioration. All Pro Xteriors’ Brian Gallo offers this tip: A quick way to check whether your asphalt roof is deteriorating is to look for roof granules in gutter spouts. According to a home inspection professional, Inspectors look for water damage on a home, because water damage spreads and creates other problems. Your roof has thousands of gallons of water poured on it every year. Though a roof usually lasts from 15 to 25 years, a few cracked or missing shingles and leaks in flashing around chimneys and vents can create a portal for some of that downpour right into your home. Go into your attic. If you see dark irregular stains along the rafters, you need to have a professional from AllProXteriors take a look; you probably have a leak. This doesn’t always mean a new roof, but the sooner you address it, the less damage that needs to be addressed.
You would think water is the biggest damager of roofs, but in the northern hemisphere, the south and west sides of the house will weather faster suggesting the sun is the culprit. Check that side of the home first. If you do not feel you are up to the roof inspection, put away that ladder and call All Pro Xteriors at (952)486-7834, or visit them on ResourceShark at AllProXteriors.com. All Pro Xteriors Inc offers a roof, siding, gutters or windows inspection at no charge.
Clean and inspect Gutters. Something as simple as clogged gutters can create a lot of damage to your home. When water cannot drain away from the home, it flows back under the roof shingles or down the sides of the home damaging siding and/or foundation. You may even find that water seeping into your basement. So, while cleaning the gutters is an icky job, it can save you big money. After you remove debris from your gutters, inspect them. Is water backing up out of the down spouts? There may be a clog in the drainpipe. Make sure water not only drains off the roof, but that it is directed away from the house. And reach out to AllProXteriors.com if you have any questions or want them to handle the inspection.
Check the Paint: When the pain is chipping, bubbling or peeling, it is obvious that it is time for a new paint job. But if you are seeing this only a couple of years after the last pain job, there may be an underlying problem that needs to be handled. For instance, if you peel a little of the paint away from the chip and the wood underneath is damp, the wood may have been painted while it was wet or still green. Talk to the pros at AllProXteriors.com to figure out your best options if this is the case.
Don’t forget to inspect the Windows. Do your windows open and close smoothly? Not only are non-operational windows a risk of leaks, but will also present a security risk. If you struggle to either open or close them, there may be a problem either with the window, or the settling of the home. Look for condensation between the glass panes. Moisture in the windows on the inside of the home is normal, but moisture between the glass panes is not. It means the seal may be broken. Is there mold or rot on the sash of the frame? On older wooden windows, rotting sashes and frames mean moisture is likely entering through the windows. Replacement could prevent floor and wall damage from that moisture. For a cheat test on locating air leaks, use incense. Close all the doors and windows in your home. Turn off the heat and all fans to minimize air movement. Light the stick of incense and slowly pass it along the edge of your window glass. If the smoke billows, stick a post it or tape on the spot. It is where your window has a leak. A professional can tell you whether caulk or a replacement window is needed.
Check doors – all of them. When you inspect doors for smooth operation and condition, don’t forget to check the garage door too. Check that the doors operate as smoothly as they always have. Even subtle changes can mean a bigger problem.
Throughout all of these inspections, remember, if you have any questions, call (952) 486-7834 or visit AllProXteriors on ResourceShark.com