Ask The Home Inspector !

GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF HOME

4.CHIMNEYS
  • Chimneys must be reviewed yearly. Use field binoculars to do this. Most chimneys deteriorate slowly. Yearly inspections will alert you to any drastic changes in condition.

5.PAINTING/STAINING TREATMENT/CAULKING
  • Above and beyond a complete paint job, some spot painting and caulking touch-ups may be required yearly. Window sills and surfaces exposed to direct sun usually require periodic treatment.
  • Do not let paint peel or stain fade to a point where bare wood is exposed. This is when rot is most likely to develop.
  • Caulking is required to be installed at the intersecting joints of all dissimilar materials and at all through-wall openings. All old caulking must be removed prior to a new application.
  • Caulking not only reduces air infiltration, but provides a water resistant seal at vulnerable joints of the wall assembly.

6.FENCES AND DECKS
  • Minor fence and deck repairs are common. Use pressure treated wood or cedar for repairs. Use only galvanized nails. Keep the underside of decks and fences ventilated. This impedes dryrot or fungus growth. Wood stain or tinted wood preservative is a far superior product than paint as a surface treatment for fences and decks.

7.WINTER PREPARATION
  • Garden hose taps/hose bibbs
  Close inside shut-off valve to all outside taps. Leave exterior valve open
  allowing any trapped water to drain out.
  • Garden house/sprinklers
  Ensure that you have drained any water from your garden hose or lawn
  sprinkler if you store these items in the garage or shed.
  • Lawn/garden
  Remove as many leaves from your lawn as possible prior to the first snow.
  Some shrubs may have to be wrapped with robe or burlap to avoid snow
  damage.
  • Drainage
  Clear areawells, window wells, catch basins and open storm drains of
  debris. This will ensure that melted snow will drain properly.

8.GARDENING/LANDSCAPING
  • Window wells.
Keep window wells clear of debris. The well floor must be lower than the
basement window sill. Window well covers are considered optional. the
natural drainage patterns are not interfered with when the well is clear of
debris. By not exercising this precaution, water could penetrate into your
basement causing a leak.
  • Grading, Site Drainage.
Ensure that the ground slopes away from the house, window wells and
retaining walls. A once inch slope over one foot for the first six feet from the
building element is most preferable. Any ground depressions which develop
near foundations should be topped up with soil immediately. 80%of all
basements leak and retaining wall failures result from improper grading or
site drainage.
  • Trees/Shrubs.
Trim tree branches away from walls and roof overhangs. Position small trees
and shrubs so that a reasonable clearance from the exterior walls.
  • Garden Beds
Install a separation barrier should you wish to place a garden bed against
the house. You could use pressure treated lumber for this purpose. When
soil is in contact  with brick, spalling or deterioration will occur. Accelerated
wood rot will also occur when in contact with the soil. Shrubbery or tree
branches too close to the house impedes air movement. The lack of
ventilation could cause the brick to spall/deteriorate or the wood to rot.
  • Lawn Care
The best time to plant grass seed or thicken your lawn is early spring or
mid-fall. The same holds true for installing sod. To avoid winter kill, it is best
to spread out snow/ice in shaded lawn areas.
  • Patio Stones/Interlocking Brick
Maintain or even base support under patio stones. Ensure that the stones
slope gently away from foundation walls. The best base for patio stones,
interlocking brick, etc. is limestone screening. Patio stones which are not
evenly supported are subject to cracking and shifting.
  • Asphalt Driveways
Cracks which develop in asphalt driveways should be repaired in the Spring
or Fall. The driveway should be sealed every two years. Reparing cracks and
sealing the asphalt keeps the driveway surface water resistant. This greatly
reduces the likelihood of pot holes or other settlement defects.
  • Inspect/Rodent (vermin) inspection
It is prudent to review  your lot, fences and exterior walls and roof overhangs
each Spring and Autumn.