Clinton News-Record, 1985-4-17, Page 75Page 3Sa
Lookin _: for trou le on your house
"Don't go looking for trouble" is good
advice in a lot of situations - but not when it
comes to home maintenance.
Inspect your house regularly to find small
p blems before they turn into big ones.
Be to fix a leak than replace a roof (which
is a "home truth" if there ever was one!)
Your inspections should take place twice
yearly, in spring and in fall. This checklist
tells you how to "Look for trouble" on the
outside of your house.
Driveways: Check asphalt driveways for
cracking and heaving, which are signs of
water accumulating below the surface.
Normally, asphalt can, be expected to last
from 7 to 10 years.
Concrete Porches: If there is a gap between
the concrete slab of the porch and the main
part of the house, it should be sealed to
prevent further separation.
Wooden Porches: Look for decay and rot
caused by water, especially at the joints, the
floor joists, and the supports that are close to
the ground. Repair damaged sections, or, if
necessary, replace them and paint with a
wood preservative or penetrating stain.
Check that railings are secure.
Fences and Gates: Examine wood posts for
rot at ground level or below, check metal
fences for rust.
manage (Foundation): Make sure the
ground slopes away from the foundation of
the house (to keep water from pooling against
basement walls). Basement leaks are some-
times caused by blocked or missing weeping
tiles. Interior waterproofing compounds can
correct minor moisture problems (such as
dampness in the walls), but for more serious
problems, it may be necessary to clean,
replace or install new weeping tiles, which
means excavating around the foundation.
Drainage (Downspout): Make sure the
downspouts are directing water away from
the walls; check for leaks or loose joints.
Eavestroughs: Cleaning out dead leaves
and other debris in the eavestroughs is a
chore that's as important as it is simple. For
one thing, the weight of wet leaves can pull
the eavestrough down from the wall. And
dead leaves clogging the eavestrough in
winter can cause the formation of ice dams,
which force water to back up under the
shingles and freeze). Check the eavestroughs
for breaks, loose joints and rust; check that
they're securely fastened to the wall. Install
wire screens at the entrances of downspouts.
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Vents and Louvres: Clean out any dead
leaves caught between the slats of louvres
and vents and make sure the caulking around
the edges is in good condition.
Roof: An asphalt roof is good for 10 to 15
years. Look for shingles that are cracked or
curling at the edges. If you find any that have
deteriorated, repair them; if you find loose
shingles, secure them with roof tar cement
But if there's quite a bit of damage (and
especially if you've also noticed water stains
and crumbling plaster on the ceilings below)
it's probably time for a new roof.
Flashing: Check that the flashing is in good
condition and that it's tightly sealed to the
roof. Pay special attention to the flashing
around chimneys and vents.
Chimney: Examine the condition of chim-
ney bricks and mortar. 11 bricks are loose, if
mortar is crumbling, or if you find debris'and
creosote build-up inside the chimney, it's a
good idea to call a chimney contractor for
assessment and repair. Having your chimney
cleaned annually, in summeror early fall, is a
smart preventive strategy, especially if you
use a wood stove. Chimney cleaning usually
costs between $35 and $45 - a small
investment in your family's safety.
Brick, Stucco, .or Concrete Walls: Cracks
and small areas of crumbling masonry
probably mean nothing more serious than
normal settling, and can be patched. But if
the cracks are deep, extensive and recurrent,
there may be structural problems, so consult
a professional for advice. With brick walls,
check the condition of the mortar. If it's
crumbling, it needs repointing (which you
can do yourself or have done by a masonry
contractor).
Siding: Look at the caulking between
siding and trim and between siding and
Ak
windows or doors. If you discover that som
of it has dried or crumbled, scrape it out and
recaulk with butyl rubber or an acrylic'
polymer. Wood siding, should be inspected
for split or rotting sections and peeling paint.
Aluminum and vinyl siding are easy to
maintain, but if they're damaged, they may
need to be replaced.
Doors and Windows: Check the condition
of the putty and weatherstripping. Check
storm and screen windows. Tighten loose
hinges in doors.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Housing booklet 'Get Your House in Shape'
features detailed charts covering all these
maintenance routines, and more. It's in-
cluded in The Renovation Kit, available free
from the H.C. Unit, 777 Bay Street, 2nd
Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5.
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