Use our expert advice to stop trouble in its tracks
Too little, too late
By the time this home's owner discovered the water damage, his roof had to be removed down to the rafters.
You might be tempted to
put off fixing your home until the economy rebounds. Rebuild the patio?
Sure, right after your investments rally. But some problems, if left
unchecked, can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs (rebuilding a
foundation wall,
for instance) and might even compromise your
family's health, such as mold contamination.
The trouble signs are easy to spot, provided
you know what to look for. What's more, contractors aren't as busy now,
so they're
likely to be more flexible on price. Here are
the five biggest red flags of home maintenance, with our advice on how
to deal
with them. No problems? Check out these
Simple spruce-ups.
1. Runaway rainwater
"If there are 10 things that can go wrong
with a house, 15 of them have to do with water," says Bill Loden, a
Madison, Ala.,
home inspector. Gutters, downspouts, and
leader pipes collect rainwater and channel it away from the house. In
very wet regions,
leaders should extend at least 5 feet from
the house. Check the entire gutter system seasonally for proper pitch
and for clogs,
corrosion, broken fasteners, and separation
between connections and where gutters meet the fascia board. When
inspecting gutters,
extend straight ladders 3 feet beyond the
roof at a 75-degree angle to the ground.
The soil around the foundation should slope
away from the house at least 1 inch per foot for 6 feet or more. If you
have planting
beds along the foundation, make sure the
grading of the bed, its edging, or the edge of the lawn isn't keeping
water from
draining away from the house.
2. Roof and siding
Roofs are the most vulnerable to water
infiltration, given their exposure to the elements and the laws of
gravity. On a sunny
day, use binoculars to spot cracked, curled,
or missing shingles, which are signs that the roof is near its end of
life. Also
check flashing around chimneys, skylights,
and roof valleys, and the rubber boots around vents for cracks.
Siding is also susceptible to leaks,
especially where it meets windows and doors. A $5 tube of caulk might
save you thousands
of dollars in structural repairs. If you live
in a cold climate, check the siding under the roof eaves for water
stains, which
could be a sign of ice damming. Adding attic
insulation and sealing gaps around pipes, recessed lighting, and ducts
into the
attic might help prevent future damming and
lower your heating and cooling bills.
3. Pest infestations
Termites and carpenter ants gravitate to
moist soil and rotting wood, another reason to make sure your gutters
are in good
shape and soil around your foundation is
graded properly. Also keep mulch, firewood, and dense shrubbery away
from your foundation.
Once termites infiltrate a home, they can
bore through the structure in a few short years. Formosan termites,
which are prevalent
throughout the South, have been known to rip
through studs and floorboards in a matter of months. To detect termites,
probe
the sill plate (also called a mudsill) that
sits on top of the foundation with a screwdriver to check for rotted
wood. To
check for carpenter ants, look for piles of
sawdust along baseboards. Regular termites also shed wings along
windowsills,
walls, and other entry points.
Rodents gravitate toward disorder and debris,
such as leaf piles around the foundation. Plug holes in the siding and
the foundation
walls with expandable foam. Don't forget to
look up for signs of birds, bees, or squirrels in soffits and attic
vents.
4. Mold and mildew
Even houses in arid climates aren't immune.
Hot outdoor temperatures can drive even small amounts of water trapped
in the
structure to condense on colder interior
surfaces, leading to mold. Musty odors, dank air, and family members
with chronic
runny noses are warning signs. Check under
carpets and around windows for visible mold or mildew. Also remove cover
plates
for cable-TV, phone, and Internet
connections, and use a flashlight to peer behind walls and wallpaper for
mold.
Avoid mold tests sold at home centers and online. Each of the kits we tested had significant flaws that were serious enough
to earn them a Not Recommended Rating in our 2006 tests.
If indoor mold covers less than 10 square
feet, treat it yourself with a homemade solution of 1 cup chlorine
bleach per gallon
of water. Be sure to don an N-95 disposable
respirator, goggles, and heavy-duty gloves. Professional remediation is
required
for larger outbreaks, if the ventilation
system is contaminated, or if an allergy sufferer lives in the home.
5. Foundation cracks
Some cracks are harmless, but others can mean
trouble. James Katen, a home inspector from Gaston, Ore., suggests
walking around
the house with a No. 2 pencil in hand.
Hairline cracks are probably the result of concrete curing or minor
settling, he says,
and can be filled with an epoxy-injection
system. "But if the pencil can go into the crack up to the yellow paint
on the pencil,
that's a pretty wide crack and might be a
sign of a major problem," Katen says. A ruler is another handy tool:
Cracks wider
than 3/16 inch, even vertical ones, can be a
problem. Mark smaller cracks with tape and monitor their progress over
the coming
months. Also be on the lookout for horizontal
cracks or bulging or buckling. Along with expanding cracks, those
conditions
require the attention of a structural
engineer. The longer you wait to correct a problem, the more costly it
will probably
be.
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any sponsor or advertiser of CTV.
Copyright © 2005-2009 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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