Spring is here and it's time for all of us venture outside again. A quick look around your home will save you future heartache and save you money.
Here's a few thing to look out for:
Chimneys. If you
have a masonry chimney, check the joints between the bricks or stones. Have any
fallen out? Is there vegetation growing out of them? Each signals water
infiltration. Also, look for efflorescence—”a white calcium-like deposit that
indicates your masonry joints are no longer repelling water but absorbing it.
Consider re-sealing masonry with a clear, impermeable or water-resistant
barrier material (like Thoroseal products). Brush it on, small areas at a time;
let it absorb for 15 minutes, then reapply—it may need a couple of
applications.
Exterior Walls.
Whether you have wood siding, stucco or brick, look for trouble spots,
especially under eaves and near gutter downspouts. Water stains normally
indicate that your gutters are not adequately containing roof runoff. If you
have wood siding, check for openings, damaged areas or knots that have popped
out, making way for carpenter ants, woodpeckers and other critters that may
nest in or burrow through.
Foundations. When
inspecting the exterior of your home, be sure to examine the foundation from
top to bottom for masonry cracks. Keep a special
lookout for cracks that widen over time, cracks that follow your concrete block
foundation in a step pattern, or cracks above windows. These may be an
indication of a larger foundation problem.
Windows. Leakage
around windows will admit warm summer air and let cooled indoor air escape, so
be sure to check that any caulking and weather stripping you have in place has
remained intact. “A tight seal is the first line of defense against air and
water,” says Marty Davis, marketing manager, Simonton Windows, Columbus, OH. If
you experienced condensation inside the glass on double- or triple-glazed
windows during the winter months, the weather seal has been compromised, and
either the glass or the window will need to be replaced.
