publication date: May 5, 2009
If your budget is squeezed, you might be tempted to put off
fixing your home until your financial situation improves or the economy
rebounds. But some problems, if left unchecked, can lead to far more costly repairs
down the road and might even compromise your family's health.
The trouble signs are easy to spot, provided homeowners know
what to look for. What's more, contractors aren't as busy now, so they're
likely to be more flexible on price. Consumer Reports identified the five
biggest red flags of home maintenance, and offers advice on how to deal with
them:
- Runaway rainwater. Gutters, downspouts, and leader pipes
collect rainwater and channel it away from the house. In very wet regions,
leaders should extend at least five 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. The soil around the foundation should slope away from the
house at least one inch per foot for six feet or more. Note that soil can
settle over the years (or be dug out by ground dwelling critters) and you may
need to add soil around your home. 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.
-
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. Adding attic insulation and sealing gaps around pipes, and
ducts into the attic might help prevent future damming and lower your heating
and cooling bills.
-
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. 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. Termites also shed wings along windowsills, walls, and other entry
points. Consider having an inspector come out every 2-3 years.
-
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.
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. If indoor mold covers less than 10 square feet, treat it
with a homemade solution of one cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Be
sure to don an N-95 disposable respirator, goggles, and heavy-duty gloves.
Professional remediation may be needed for larger outbreaks, if the ventilation
system is contaminated, or if an allergy sufferer lives in the home. Musty
odors, dank air, and family members with chronic runny noses are warning signs.
- Foundation cracks. Some cracks are harmless, but others
can mean trouble. Cracks of ¼ inch or more, 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.