Spring Home Maintenance: After The Winter, The Repairs!!

(HIT) - About the only good thing that can be said about winter is that it’s over. Okay, that’s a little harsh, but as people welcome the sights and sounds of gentler weather ahead, they realize that the Spring is likely to bring with it a daunting list of home repair and maintenance chores. Houses can suffer significant damage each year from Mother Nature, and homeowners should expect to invest some time and money to get them back into shape.

If the task seems at first just a bit overwhelming, consumers should know that help is available. Home inspectors, who are typically called in to report on the condition of homes for buyers, are uniquely suited to the task of assessing damage and prioritizing Spring maintenance tasks.

Home inspector's are specifically trained to observe and describe the effects of nature's elements on the components of a house. Furthermore, according to the Code of Ethics of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), they are not allowed to do any repair work on homes they inspect, thereby eliminating the possibility that they would use the inspection simply to generate repair business for themselves.

For homeowners struggling to decide where to begin, here is a quick checklist of Spring maintenance chores and places to look around the house for signs of damage:

Roofs And Gutters - Heavy snow accumulations and ice dams, caused by freeze/thaw cycles and a lack of proper insulation and/or poor ventilation, frequently damage roofs and gutter systems. Look closely with binoculars at the roof eaves for shingles that may be curled, chipped or broken, or surface granules that may have worn away. Inspect gutters carefully for cracks, holes, and secure attachment. Repairs should be made immediately to prevent further damage, particularly during spring rains.

Masonry - Just as ice and snow created potholes in the streets and highways, the driveways, walkways, patios, and curbs around the home may have cracked, broken, or sunk due to the expansion and contraction caused by below freezing temperatures. These potential hazards will also need quick maintenance if damage is found to keep the problem from getting worse.

Basement/Crawl Space Flooding - Subsurface areas that are prone to water penetration may flood when snow melts during brief warm spells. Inspect for water damage and mildew conditions, and re-evaluate the existing outdoor surface drainage systems to prevent future flooding. Be sure gutters and downspouts are clean and discharging at least four to six feet away from the building. Check the grading around the house to be sure it slopes away from the foundation. Put gutter and downspout maintenance on your "to-do" list at least a couple of times each year.

Foundations - Many house foundations experience "freeze-thaw" cycles during the winter, which may have resulted in various degrees of surface cracking. Check particularly for cracks that run horizontally, and ones where the surface has been displaced or separated more than 1/8". Such signs should prompt a call to a professional home inspector for closer attention.

Plumbing - Many indoor pipes suffered the effects of extreme cold this winter, and either froze or broke entirely. Home inspectors recommend insulating all vulnerable piping and exterior walls. Check exterior hose bibbs to make sure they have functioning cutoff valves. If they don't, have a plumber install them to prevent the pipes from freezing in the future.

Insulation - If this winter's heating bills were unusually high, now is a good time to evaluate the existing insulation and to consider upgrading it. Spring and summer are off-seasons for this work, and sale prices make this maintenance task relatively inexpensive.

Site Drainage - Even homeowners in the sunny West and Southwest should be prepared to deflect rainwater from their properties to prevnt soil expansion, water penetration, and foundation damage. This includes installing and regularly maintaining culverts behind retaining walls, yard drains with mud filters, and roof drainage systems with gutters and downspouts. They should also pay attention to fire prevention, and clear back all the surrounding dry brush at least 20 to 30 feet from the house to minimize the hazard from spreading wild fires.

Don't Delay Necessary Home Maintenance Tasks

Home maintenance is one of the rites of Spring that all homeowners must endure, and inspectors advise homeowners not to defer these important repairs. If you think you need the technical expertise and impartiality of a professional home inspector, contact the American Society of Home Inspectors at 1 800 743 2744, or visit the organization at www.ashi.org for the name of a reputable, Certified home inspector in your area.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center