Tips to help you protect and maintain your home
SAFETY FIRST:
In the event you need to get up on the roof or use a ladder, use extreme caution. If you are not accustomed to getting up on ladders or rooftops, call someone else to do it for you. You do not need to take a fall and risk serious injury.
ROOF: Make sure it is in good repair. Any evidence of leaks should be investigated.
ROOF GUTTERS: Should be clean and free of leaves and other debris and in good repair.
DOWNSPOUTS: Should be clear and operating. Test them with a garden hose to make sure they are not clogged.
FOUNDATION DRAINS: Use the garden hose to test these too. There should be no backup of water and the water should flow freely through the outlet. Make sure the rainwater leaves your property safely, so it doesn’t damage your neighbor’s property.
Are there any wet or damp areas in your basement or crawlspace? These problems can be corrected with a properly installed drainage system.
Do you have a mold or mildew problem? This can be an indication of damp crawl space.
Retaining walls should have a perforated drain pipe installed behind them, and backfilled with drain rock. A major cause of retaining wall failure is the accumulation of water behind the wall. There should be a clean-out at the end of the wall where you can put water from a garden hose to make sure the water flows freely, and discharges safely.
FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT:Signs to watch for are sticking doors, cracks in the sheetrock at the corners of doors and windows, and separation between the wall and floor.
STAIRS, DECKS, WALLS: Should all be in good repair. An unsafe walking surface becomes much more dangerous when wet or icy.