North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Musings of chief inspector and president of SENWI House Inspections

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Spring Cleanup

Now that Spring is upon us, it is time to take a look around the house to see what is needed in the way of repairs, adjustments,or replacement to keep your home in the best shape possible. First start by walking around the interior/exterior of the house and yard and making a list of the problems you see and deciding if it is a DIY or time to bring in the heavy guns. It is a good idea to perform this walk around multiples times in different weather conditions and different times of day.

Here is a list of some things you can check:


Chimneys:


- Damage to mortar or Bricks from winter frost?


- Does the Chimney have a cap? Is it sealed to prevent water from flowing inside the chimney?


- If you are burning wood, does your chimney have a spark arrestor?


- Is there a screen to prevent birds from making a nest inside the chimney? Is it intact?


- once you have finished using the fireplaces for the season, book your chimney sweep and service all flues. You will be ready for the fall season, if something is wrong you will have plenty of time to fix it, and it is usually cheaper in the spring.


Roofs:


DO NOT GO ON THE ROOF UNLESS YOU ARE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE DOING SO. Never go onto a wet shake roof or a clay/concrete tile roof. Leave it to the pro's. Most roof surfaces can be viewed from the ground or the edges of the roof while standing on a ladder. If using a ladder against metal gutters - use
stand-offs to protect the gutter and prevent the ladder from slipping on its surface.


- Look for loose, missing, damaged shakes/shingles/tiles


- Look for missing or damaged flashings


- Clean out the gutters and ensure they and the downspouts are in good condition and not leaking


- Remove any debris that has built up on the top side of penetrations like chimneys and skylights


- Clean out the debris build up in the valleys



- Look for damage or rot to wood eaves and fascias.


Exterior Walls:

- Look for ways water can get into wall structure (cracks, joints, knot holes, penetrations..) and seal with appropriate caulking.


Remember - caulking will not stick for long if just smeared on a surface. It needs a void to flow into and compress again for a lasting joint. Most contractors will recommend 1/4" to 3/8" gap to start. If the gap is bigger, then first install a
backer rod, not only does is save caulking, but it also ensures the caulk when applied forms the right hour-glass shape for maximum grip and flexibility.

- What is the condition of the paint/stain? Blisters, Cracks, Peeling ? Can you see bare wood anywhere?


Foundation:

- Is there any cracks? Have they changed since last inspection? (If you have an unfinished basement, look on the inside of the walls as well. Look for points water may be seeping through)


- Is there a min of 6" of space between the outside dirt and the bottom of the siding (2-3" Min between concrete and siding base)


- Does the ground or sidewalks around the house slope away from the house (will water flow away or to the house). This is really important when there is a sub ground finished basement.


Porches & Decks:

- Any damaged wood including stairs and railings


- Any bare wood (will rot even if pressure treated)


- Are the stairs slippery when wet?


- Do the railings feel strong? Would you feel comfortable leaning against them with all your weight?


- Is the base of wood stairs sitting directly on concrete or dirt? There should be a membrane between the wood and concrete and they should never be resting on dirt.


- Are the stairs attached at the top with only nails? They should be attached with
metal hangers.

- Is the deck mebrane torn, cracked, or loose


- Is there any spots between the deck and the house where water can enter the house structure.


Sidewalks and Driveways:

- Have any settled and now present a trip hazard


- Are they sloped away from the house


- Are the drains and sumps clear of debris


- Are they spalling because of last winters ise removal efforts


- Are they covered in moss and slippery


Plantings/trees:

- Are any touching the house and causing damage (vines growing on the side of a home will almost always cause damage to the wall structure)?


- Is there enough room between the plants and the house to allow good air movement and prevent moss and mildew growth on house surface?


- Do the plantings provide cover for a burglar?


Security:

- Do all the exterior lights work?

- Consider adding a motion sensor to turn them on automatically if movement is sensed

- Do all exterior doors have a deadbolt that is at least 1" long?

- Does the deadbolt insert through a metal strikeplate that is screwed into the wall's structure (2"x4") with at least 2 - 3" screws?

- Do any exterior doors have a keyed deadbolt on the Inside of the door meaning you need a key to get out? These are VERY dangerous and should be changed to a standard latch.

Heating & Cooling:

- Is your furnace filter clean?

- Are the fins in your exterior air conditioner or heat pump clean?

- Now is a good time to drain and rinse your Hot Water Tank (only if you have been doing so since new or tank is less than 5 years old. If the tank is older and never been flushed, there is a chance that rust has built up at the bottom and flushing the tank can remove some of teh scale and cause leaks. However - if it is this far gone, it will need treplacing soon anyway.)

General:

- consider upgrading all of your supply tubes to the sinks,toilets and appliance to a S.S. braided hose style (Made in America - Not CHINA) or better yet, install WATTS Flood Safe Hoses.

- Inspect Attic for water leaks, moisture buildup (mold), or the presence of pests

- Change all the washers/cartridges on any leaking faucets

- Look at all inside wall and ceiling surfaces for any new cracks or changes in old cracks that may indicate current movement of the structure


These are just some things to look for. If you want a comprehensive inspection of your home, why not call SENWI for one of our famous 'Tune-Up' inspections.