FALL INSPECTION CHECKLIST

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Fall is upon us in many parts of the country.  Although not here in SoCal  other than on the calendar, it 95 here today, October 15th! Just another beautiful day in Paradise. ;-)

Fall is a good time to start a program of inspection of your home to make sure everything is ship shape.  Not doing this now, when the weather is more conducive to making the repairs is asking for trouble down the road! Imagine attempting to make roof repairs with several feet of snow covering the area. Not fun! 

The following is a list of items to check. It will be a multi-part article.

1st INSTALLMENT

EXTERIOR:

Take a walk (or several) around the outside of your home. look closely at the following things:

• Paving on walkways and driveways
• Look for cracking.  Frost heave can tear up a sidewalk or drive and cracks allow the moisture to enter more easily.
• Retaining walls
• Look for bulges, loose blocks or stones. Make sure any drainage is clear and working.  Many retaining walls have a “swale” or concrete lined trough behind them to catch debris and direct water away from the back of the wall. if they are full of debris, they won’t work very well.
• Porches & Decks
• Check for loose deck boards and nails sticking up. They can play hell with a snow shovel!
• Check the railings and steps.
• Look at the support posts and check for wood rot. The extra weight of snow can take a deck or balcony down if the structure is compromised.
• Fences
• Look over your fencing, check the gates and posts for damage or rot. A good winter wind storm can knock over a fence is it is weak.
• Siding / building exterior
• Look for telltale signs of staining on the siding. This could indicate a problem with the roof drainage or damaged gutters.
• Check for bird nests in the soffits or damaged/missing screens over attic vents.
• Brickwork and chimneys
• Does the chimney have a good weather cap? Is the mortar starting to deteriorate? Is it leaning? Look at the flashing where it meets the roof. This is the number one area for leaks.
• Is the brick siding well attached and sealed on the top? Can you move it by pushing on it? It shouldn’t move, ever.
• Foundation
• Look for any cracking. If found, it should be sealed to keep water from getting in. Water that gets in and reaches the re-enforcing steel can cause it to rust and swell.  This can blow apart a foundation.
• Check the slope of the ground around the foundation. It should be sloped away for at least 6-10 feet on all sides to prevent the build up of standing water against the foundation.
• Roofing
• Examine the roof materials for any damage: loose shingles, deteriorated asphalt, bare areas where the gravel ballast is missing on a built-up roof system, damaged or missing flashings.
• Be aware of any trees or vegetation overhanging the roof. The build up of leaves can become acidic and damage the roofing materials and wind movement of branches can damage the roof.
• Check the gutters to make sure they are firmly attached and will handle snow if you get that. Make sure the downspouts are free running and extended away from the building and foundation.

Nest time, PLUMBING.  Stay tuned!