House Repairs - Keeping Your House Safer

House repairs, oh how we shudder when the subject comes up.  Houses do require repairs and the best way is to stay ahead of the elements with regular house maintenance before any damage become serious.

Roof Inspection

• How old is the roof? 
• Has anyone inspected it lately to make sure there are no problems with the roof? 
• Have some shingles come loose, blown off or been torn off by raccoons?  
• Are the shingles starting to show signs of aging, perhaps pointing to replacement time?  

• How about the flashing?  Was it installed properly at the edge so water is not directed down the wall behind the siding where it will cause the wood to rot?

• How about the roof vents-are they cracked or lifted up so water can get in?
• How are the seals around pipes looking?  Are they cracked or torn?

Chimney Inspection and Chimney Repair

• Often roofs are blamed for leaks when it is the fault of the chimney.  If the top of the chimney is cement it needs to be closely inspected every year for cracks.  If a crack is allowed to remain open water can get inside the crack and during the winter will freeze forcing the crack to get wider.  If the crack goes the whole way through the cement a leak can develop in the house.  A good quality caulk can seal cracks but it may need to be renewed periodically.  Keeping close tabs on the top of the chimney can often put off costly chimney repairs.
  
• How about the brick and mortar on the chimney?  If there are cracks seal them.  If there are a lot of cracks or the cracks are fairly large the chimney may need the services of a good mason.
• Has the chimney ever been treated with a water repellent agent?  This should be done at least every 10 years to keep the bricks and mortar from soaking up water like a sponge during long periods of rain.

Gutters or Eaves Troughs

• When were they cleaned?  
• Are the downspouts open and working well?  Are they secure?  Are they diverting water away from the house?
• Are the gutter brackets secure or have they come loose a bit?
• Check the gutters during a rain to see if they are properly catching the water off the roof.

Wood Siding Inspection and Wood Siding Repairs

• Is it time to paint or stain the siding again?
• Is any of the siding showing signs of softness due to wood rot?  Replace any soft wood as water can soak into that wood and get behind the siding.
• Wood siding repairs are an important part of house maintenance.    Are there some cracks in some of the wood siding?  Water can get in the cracks and go behind the siding and get into the house.  If there are some areas that may come in contact with the ground or remain wet for long periods of time they need to be checked to see if there is any wood rot.  A good place to inspect is around windows and doors.  These are the weak spots, places that are more difficult to seal and keep sealed so there are no leaks.  This is also the place where wood rot can develop more quickly.  
• Are woodpeckers making holes in the siding?  Other birds will enlarge the holes to create a nesting area.
  

Vinyl Siding and Aluminum Siding

• Are all the pieces in place?  Often the very last piece next to the soffit will move sideways because it does not have a nail flange to hold in in place.
• Are all the pieces locked in place?  Sometimes vinyl siding as well as aluminum siding will unlock allowing the wind to get behind it and tear if loose.
  
• Are there cracks or holes in any of the siding?

Caulked Areas
Are there some areas of the exterior that are dependent on caulk to deter water penetration?  If so check these areas carefully as caulk can dry out and crack and allow water entry.  A common place would be around windows and doors.

Dryer Vents, Fireplace Vents, Stove Vents

• Are they functioning as they are supposed to?  Do they open and close as they should?
• Are the ends full of dirt or lint preventing them from working properly?

Soffit Vents - Sometimes called eave vents

• If the soffit is wood and there are small screen soffit vents installed to provide attic ventilation they need to be checked to see if air can flow through them.  Over time these vents can become dirty and clogged and very little air can get through them.  A dirty  soffit vent should be replaced.
• Are they painted shut?  Painters often paint soffit vents and in the process paint gets on the screens blocking the flow of air.
• Is the screen intact and keeping insects and bats out?

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