Skip to main content

Protecting the Exterior of Your Home

The exterior of your home is constantly exposed to the elements; the wind, rain, sun and changing temperatures help to age your home. To ensure that your home stands the test of time you will need to monitor building exterior for wear and damages.

 

Exterior Wall Coverings

There are many exterior wall coverings that have been used and are being used today. Here is a few!

  • Wooden trim and components
    • Peeling and blistering is common on painted surfaces. Common causes are moisture under the paint, improper paint application or excessive paint build-up.  Total paint removal or moisture vents can be used to correct the problem.
    • Wood elements should also be checked for mildew stains, fungus and insect damage.
    • Check that wooden elements to ensure they are a good distance from the grade.  In areas with snow you will want to ensure that piled snow does not come in contact with the wood.  Avoid piling gardening materials against the walls to prolong the life of your wooden components.
  • Asbestos cement shingles
    • Asbestos is a hazardous material and should be handled with care. You do not want to cut, break or sand asbestos shingles.  Asbestos is not used in building materials anymore and can be removed completely or covered.
  • Aluminum and vinyl siding
    • Aluminum and vinyl siding is low-maintenance and can easily checked for deficiencies.  You can check for loose, missing, bent or broken pieces. This is especially important after storms.  You can also check caulked joints; pay special attention to the areas around windows.
  • Stucco
    • Stucco should be checked for cracks, crumbling or any area that has the potential for water penetration.
    • Cracks in stucco can either be caused be initial shrinkage of the material, building settlement or movement behind that wall that should be investigated by a professional.

  • EIFS (exterior insulation and finish system)
    • Consists of several layers: insulation board, mesh and base coat layer, finish coat and sealant and flashing.  There is both non-draining and draining EIFS. Most EIFS is installed over wood and is non-draining.  The biggest risk facing non-draining EIFS is water penetration leading to rotting of the wood framing.  Adequate flashing is vital to the system.

 

Foundation Walls

It is easy to visually inspect your foundation walls for cracking, moisture intrusion and deterioration. This should be part of your regular home maintenance plan.

 

Windows and Doors

  • Windows
    • Window frames, sashes and sills should be monitored because conditions change over time.
    • Storm windows and doors should be checked for operation, condition, fit and weather tightness. You will want to ensure that weep holes are not blocked which could lead to rotting and water intrusion.
  • Weatherstripping
    • Ensure that weatherstripping is held in place securely and free from dents, straightness, brittleness and cracking
  • Garage Doors
    • You will need to check the operation of your garage door as well as the overall condition.  Depending on the materials used you should look for rotting rusting, cracking and splitting.
    • Garage doors may be motorized or operated manually.  Check for speed, smoothness ensure it runs quietly and that the safety-reversing device is functioning properly.

Other Exterior Components

  • Decks
    • Ensure supports and structural connections are secure and in good condition. Decks should be sloped to direct water away from your home.
    • Look for signs of deterioration, rotting or cracking.
  • Exterior Water
    • Hoses should be removed from the home during the winter months.
    • Hose spigots should be frost-proof
  • GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter)
    • All exterior receptacles should have GFCI protection

 

Now that spring is in full bloom take a look around your home to ensure you are ready for the spring and summer storms.

The post Protecting the Exterior of Your Home appeared first on Edmonton Home Inspector | Admirable Inspection Services.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hackers Help: How to attach headboard to ESPEVÄR mattress base?

I’m trying to figure out if a headboard can be attached to an Espevar Mattress Base , and how to accomplish that. I’m looking at a standard metal headboard (because I just prefer the look of curved metal to what IKEA offers) and am not interested in a slat base with just a mattress on top, and a wall mounted headboard is not an option due to renting. Thanks for any help! ~ Amy *** Hi Amy I’ve not seen the ESPEVÄR in person but I believe it is possible to attach a headboard to it. From the website, the ESPEVÄR looks like a regular wooden slatted mattress base under a bed base slipover. As to how to attach it, that will depend on the fittings on the metal headboard. So you will just need to get the right hardware to secure the metal headboard to the wooden frame. And make some small openings on the slipcover to let the fixtures to go through. Jules Photo: IKEA.com Try these free-standing headboards for size A lime green and white headboard that takes centerstage in the r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kitchen renovation reveal: Rhombus wall steals the show

It’s been a while since I did a home tour. If you’ve missed the previous reveals, you can catch up with my Master Bathroom remodel and Guest Bathroom reveal . Today, let’s focus on my kitchen renovation. Hands down, this is the most used room in my home. I spend crazy amounts of time in here, even when I’m not cooking. Just off to the side of the kitchen I converted an awkward space into a reading nook . In the mornings, I sit and read or pray and meditate, before it gets too warm. And on the other side, there’s a work-in-progress plant wall / indoor garden which also takes up a lot of my time. So, all in all, lots of traffic in here, and that’s not even counting cooking and eating time. The kitchen is definitely my favourite room, because the transformation is huge and I love how it turned out. Kitchen renovation: The before House 17 when I first got it, actually had 2 kitchens, which is a very common “Asian” home concept. First, the “dry kitchen”, which is where you make simp...
Post a Comment
Read more

IKEA sofa with genius armrest storage

Bet you never knew your sofa armrests were prime storage space. Ok, so the guys at IKEA are the masters of hidden / secret storage everywhere. In fact, one of the things I most loved about the  ESKILSTUNA sofa series was the undercover storage on the chaise lounge, but… what? More than 80 liters of storage space wasted on the armrests? NO WAY! I really don’t understand how they didn’t take that opportunity with several different armrest modules. Mobile chargers, cup / can holders, foldable tables, refrigerators… there’s SO MUCH space in there. I can’t stop thinking on different options! For myself, I went for two designs. First, a “full space” design on the (right) side of the chaise lounge. (The cavity fits two foldable chairs). Second, on the left armrest — a flip open section for “mobile charger / remote control storage / etc.”. Below that, a full-depth pull-out drawer, tall enough to store A4 sized magazines. This is the final result: Full space design, rig...
Post a Comment
Read more