Eave Troughs - Care and Maintenance
Winter and Eave Troughs
This is where most home designers fail to take winter into consideration when designing homes. Most home owners buy homes in the Spring, Summer and Fall, and never think about their homes eave troughs and downspouts. As a home inspector in the Barrie,
Alliston, Orillia and Innisfil area it amazes me how many homes have downspouts that discharge water directly onto sidewalks and driveways. This leaves the home owner scrambling to keep ice from accumulating on these high traffic areas. Most new homes have weeping tile that their downspouts discharge into, which working well in warm weather. As the cold weather sets in these usually freeze up and can cause damage to your downspout as the ice can build up enough pressure to split the aluminum seam. I usually recommend that the home owner install a Tee at the junction of the downspout and weeping tile. This allows the water to run off from downspout when the weeping tile is frozen. The weeping tile will always remain frozen long after the eave trough and downspout have started moving water. This simple tip will aid in preventing ice dams and those annoying drips from your eave trough.
Fall Clean-up
Always ensure your eave troughs are clean and leak free prior to winter. You can manually clean your gutters or use a leaf blower to blow away the loose debris. Always place your ladder in a secure area, tied off to secure object is recommended, and do not support on gutters or downspouts. Make sure your roof is not slippery if climbing onto for cleaning. After removing all debris, soften any solidified debris with water, flush with water. This is when any leaks should be noted and repaired with caulking or recommended gutter sealing product. If water is not freely flowing from downspouts you may have to take them apart to removed stuck debris, this is easier to do in nice weather rather than waiting for winter weather to perform any maintenance. Adding downspouts is a quick fix for some eave trough problems that occur in winter. Some designers will run a single gutter around front or rear of house and if located in an area susceptible to collecting snow, can lead to ice build up.
Eave Trough: Slope is Essential
When eaves trough are installed by a contractor, they are positioned in such a way that they are slightly sloped downward towards the downspout. This allows water to be expelled efficiently. An important part of regular gutter maintenance is checking the slope of rain gutters. An easy way to do this is to climb up on a ladder and spray water into the gutters with a hose. The water should flow smoothly towards the downspout. If it
simply sits there, the slope probably has to be adjusted. There are different opinions about the ideal slope of rain gutters, but a one inch slope for every 20 feet of gutter is a common suggestion. Using a line level, locate and mark the high point and low point for
your gutter. Then, readjust your eaves trough by repositioning the hangers. Replace any rusted or damaged hangers and screws.
Eave Trough Maintenance: When to Consult a Professional
Most homeowners can take care of basic rain eaves maintenance on their own. Adjusting the slope, repairing leaks and holes, and replacing fascia boards are manageable tasks. However, for significant structural problems and repairs, it is best to call a professional. The same is true if you are thinking about having new eaves trough installed.
This article is for advice only, and as my area of expertise is concentrated in
the Barrie Real Estate market, may not apply to your area of residence.
When Only the Best Will Do
Eave Troughs - Care and Maintenance
Winter and Eave Troughs
This is where most home designers fail to take winter into consideration when designing homes. Most home owners buy homes in the Spring, Summer and Fall, and never think about their homes eave troughs and downspouts. As a home inspector in the Barrie,
Alliston, Orillia and Innisfil area it amazes me how many homes have downspouts that discharge water directly onto sidewalks and driveways. This leaves the home owner scrambling to keep ice from accumulating on these high traffic areas. Most new homes have weeping tile that their downspouts discharge into, which working well in warm weather. As the cold weather sets in these usually freeze up and can cause damage to your downspout as the ice can build up enough pressure to split the aluminum seam. I usually recommend that the home owner install a Tee at the junction of the downspout and weeping tile. This allows the water to run off from downspout when the weeping tile is frozen. The weeping tile will always remain frozen long after the eave trough and downspout have started moving water. This simple tip will aid in preventing ice dams and those annoying drips from your eave trough.
Fall Clean-up
Always ensure your eave troughs are clean and leak free prior to winter. You can manually clean your gutters or use a leaf blower to blow away the loose debris. Always place your ladder in a secure area, tied off to secure object is recommended, and do not support on gutters or downspouts. Make sure your roof is not slippery if climbing onto for cleaning. After removing all debris, soften any solidified debris with water, flush with water. This is when any leaks should be noted and repaired with caulking or recommended gutter sealing product. If water is not freely flowing from downspouts you may have to take them apart to removed stuck debris, this is easier to do in nice weather rather than waiting for winter weather to perform any maintenance. Adding downspouts is a quick fix for some eave trough problems that occur in winter. Some designers will run a single gutter around front or rear of house and if located in an area susceptible to collecting snow, can lead to ice build up.
Eave Trough: Slope is Essential
When eaves trough are installed by a contractor, they are positioned in such a way that they are slightly sloped downward towards the downspout. This allows water to be expelled efficiently. An important part of regular gutter maintenance is checking the slope of rain gutters. An easy way to do this is to climb up on a ladder and spray water into the gutters with a hose. The water should flow smoothly towards the downspout. If it
simply sits there, the slope probably has to be adjusted. There are different opinions about the ideal slope of rain gutters, but a one inch slope for every 20 feet of gutter is a common suggestion. Using a line level, locate and mark the high point and low point for
your gutter. Then, readjust your eaves trough by repositioning the hangers. Replace any rusted or damaged hangers and screws.
Eave Trough Maintenance: When to Consult a Professional
Most homeowners can take care of basic rain eaves maintenance on their own. Adjusting the slope, repairing leaks and holes, and replacing fascia boards are manageable tasks. However, for significant structural problems and repairs, it is best to call a professional. The same is true if you are thinking about having new eaves trough installed.
This article is for advice only, and as my area of expertise is concentrated in
the Barrie Real Estate market, may not apply to your area of residence.
When Only the Best Will Do
Barrie Home Inspector <http://www.barriehomeinspector.com/>
Orillia Home Inspector <http://www.orilliahomeinspector.com/>
Alliston Home Inspector <http://www.allistonhomeinspector.com/>
Barrie Home Inspections <http://www.barriehomeinspections.com/>
Real Estate Inspector<http://www.napoleon.cc/>
Barrie Real Estate<http://www.barriesrealestateagent.com>
Concrete foundations are of two types - poured concrete and concrete block. Poured concrete is a modern manner of laying foundations, while concrete blocks are more traditional. Concrete blocks are preferred for their visual appeal and strength. Yet, as time passes, there may be degradation of concrete.
The prime cause of cracks in concrete foundation is seepage of water. Such cracks caused due to leakage of water are thin and hairline. They may widen over time, but they are present only in those areas where the seepage occurs. In order to repair leakage cracks, it is necessary first to investigate the source and the point from which the leakage originates.
There may be other reasons for concrete foundations to crumble. Soil may lose its moisture content in summer. There may be underground roots which may wither and die. Such natural causes make the soil shrink and hence the foundation may move. Though this movement is gradual, overtime it will cause cracks to occur. These cracks will be large gaping ones, running across the entire length of the foundation. They may even be in the form of tiny holes in certain places.
Whatever be the reason, cracks in the foundation are very perilous if ignored. Repair must be done as soon as possible. Difficulties involved in the repair process are influenced by how big the cracks are.
For tiny moisture created cracks, the repair is relatively simple and can be done by almost anyone. These cracks must first be brushed clean with a wire brush. A jet of water may be passed to remove any loose concrete particles within the crack. The crack is then allowed to dry completely and filled with concrete caulk. If the crack is large, then it is packed with patching materials that are specifically available for concrete. These patching materials must be wet when applied. They are limestone based, and they expand as they dry, filling up the crack completely. The finishing touch is to apply a sealant to the repaired crack.
But if the crack is sinister and not the do-it-yourself kind, then it is most prudent to shell out a few dollars and hire some good repairmen. Such cracks occur due to rods which may have rusted inside and snapped or because of deterioration of the materials present within the concrete. Some leakage cracks when ignored can also reach dangerous levels. Such cracks are more found in poured concrete.
Contractors treat the concrete foundation with urethane injections to extract the embedded water. They may even excavate the area around the foundation and replace the faulty tile or construct a provision for the water to lose contact with the foundation.
Foundation Repair
The principal function of a foundation of a home is to transfer the weight of a structure to its underlying soil and rocks. One of the factors that bring about the need for foundation repairs is improper foundation settling. Foundation settlement can devalue structures and also render them unsafe. Building on expansive clay, compressive or improperly contracted fill soils and improper maintenance in and around foundations are some of the major reasons of improper foundation settling. Another reason for improper foundation settlement is undetected or unsuspected air pockets in the ground below the area of construction. These may cave in and cause the integrity of the foundation to be compromised.
General symptoms of a structure needing foundation repairs are bulging or cracked walls and doors that don't close properly. Building on expansive soils is the main culprit for foundation settlement. When only one part of the foundation either settles or heaves, cracks are formed in the foundation. The exterior warning signs of improper floor settling are rotation of walls, displaced moldings, cracked bricks and foundation and separation around doors and windows from the walls. Interior warning signs of improper floor settling are cracks on the floor, sheet rock and misalignment in doors and windows.
There are many ways of doing foundation repair. Cement, stone, steel or wood were used extensively in past techniques. They would be forced into the ground in a bid to salvage the strength of these foundations. However, this type of repair work has been known to be futile. Two of the most successful ways of foundation repairs are slab jacking and the Piering method. Piering is also known as hydraulic jacking.
Slab jacking is the process of adding grout beneath a slab or beam. This produces a lifting force and restores the said beam or slab to almost its original elevation and adds to its strength. Care should be taken that the amount of sand should be perfect while adding grout.
During Piering, steel posts are driven through unstable soil. Hydraulic jacks are used to stabilize concrete slabs which are weakened due to the changes taking place in the underlying soil. Steel beams are used in the Piering method because concrete has great compressive strength. Though Piers are able to transfer huge downward loads without the help of reinforcing steel, steel is used in the piers for prevention of the pier from being pulled apart or sheared by forces of the expansive soils. The repairs normally take 21 to 30 days, however this time frame can vary depending on soil conditions and weather delays.
This article is for general knowledge only, always consult with an expert regarding any structural design issues or faults.
| href="http://www.barriehomeinspector.com">Barrie Home Inspector</a> |
| href="http://www.orilliahomeinspector.com">Orillia Home Inspector</a> |
| href="http://www.allistonhomeinspector.com">Alliston Home Inspector</a> |
Buying Real Estate and Due Diligence
General Definition of Due Diligence: Measure of prudence, responsibility, and diligence that isfrom, and ordinarily exercised by, a reasonable and prudent person under the circumstances.
Individuals investing in Real Estate have to take some of the responsibility of ensuring that the property they are buying meets their expectations. You can only rely on third party information and guidance if they are truly experienced and a seasoned professional in their profession.
I fully sympathize with buyers who were lead down the "garden path" by inexperienced real estate professionals, which also includes home inspectors. This is where common sense should prevail when so many people are jumping into the real estate profession and the home inspection industry anxious to start making the quick dollars. We have all seen the advertisements for the home inspection industry. You can attend part time at our local college, pick up a couple of basic courses, (Home inspections is the busiest course they have) or even go to a local strip mall where they are teaching the course and after a brief period of instruction, you are an instant Home Inspector. On-line courses start at under $500.00 for at home study and a certificate upon completion.
The Home Buyer must do his or her due diligence on choosing their professional representative, where a real estate agent or home inspector. This is usually one of most peoples largest investments and should not be entered into blindly.
In the past month alone I have turned down three home inspections. The reason why is that they were all requests for re-inspections of houses inspected by local "Professional Home Inspectors". I have the best price in our area for home inspections but I can only maintain that through the sheer volume that my $199.00 price generates. I do not have time to be involved in litigation over some individuals' failure to perform a proper home inspection. I do not like to be involved in instances that reflect badly on our profession and in all cases have recommended that the buyer contact the individual to allow them to reconcile their differences.
I continue to receive many calls every week from concerned individuals, who have bought a home, and when going through their "checklist" inspection report, have come across something that either scares them or worries them so much they have to phone someone to have it explained. Most cases are simply explaining the wording that was used is a "cover your ass" type of "blanket catch phrase", typical of the in-experienced Home Inspector in an attempt to defend his in-experience from future lawsuits. This is not limited to just my local area, I received a call from an individual from Pennsylvania last month who was concerned about the inspectors comments on his air conditioner. He had no clue that he was calling Canada, just read one of my articles and called the number.
Please ensure that when your buyers are looking for a home inspector that they are aware of the importance in doing "Due Diligence" when hiring someone to inspect their investment. Some guidelines recommended by Canada Mortgage and Housing are to verify how long they have been in business, check references and ask what they professional qualifications are. Some web sites provide certificates for everything imaginable by doing a 20 minute online course, you then get a professional looking logo to plaster on to your website. Look for original content on websites, those syndicated "magazine type articles" should be a "red flag" shouting out, "inexperience." I personally recommend that you look for third party credentials that are building related. Common sense should guide you here. A "block layer" is not much of a credential when most homes are poured concrete. Nothing against block layers but when the foundation walls are up, their finished. Many "in-experienced inspectors" claim that they don't quote building codes. Well your home was built according to the Building Code that was current at that time. If you don't know the appropriate building code how could you possibly ever identify what is wrong with the construction of the home. Your span tables give you the required size of floor joists, how many nails are required is covered, and how much of your beam is required to be on supporting structure. It just goes on and on and if your home inspector has the bare minimum requirements, thats the type of inspection your receiving.
Well, that was my rant for today. I feel badly for those individuals who have called, but unfortunately it is too late to help them. I believe it is the duty of true professionals to help educate and protect those who rely on our expertise to guide them through the process of buying real estate.
As always remember Caveat Emptor Buyer Beware
Open Flames and Candles – Always ensure your candles cannot accidently ignite decorations or other combustible materials. If you have or are entertaining small children ensure all candles are safely out of reach. Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
Xmas Decorations - When using lights, make sure they are certified by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratory Canada (ULC) if decorating an outside tree, use only those lights labeled for outdoor use. Don’t overload electrical outlets, and always unplug all interior and exterior lights before going to bed.
Choking Hazard - For children, small toys and special foods can be an incident waiting to happen. Ensure toys are appropriate for the age of the child, and won’t create a danger for younger children in the household. Take a quick look around your home if expecting small visitors and remove all potential choking hazards prior to their arrival.
Christmas Trees - Choose a fresh Christmas tree, one with shiny needles, and secure it in a sturdy stand. Avoid placing your tree near a heat source (sunny windows, radiators, heating vents, and fireplaces). Try to keep the tree out of high traffic areas where it might be bumped or overturned, or where someone might trip on light cords. Avoid any spot that might be dangerous , such as next to a fire in the fireplace or up on a wobbly table.
Prepare for holiday parties - Decorate only with flame-retardant or noncombustible materials. If guests will be smoking, provide them with large, deep ashtrays and check them frequently. After the party, check under sofa cushions and in trash cans for cigarette butts that may be smoldering.
Drinking and Driving - When attending a party, designate a non-drinking driver. If you are hosting a holiday gathering, be sure there are non-alcoholic beverages for guests who are driving and arrange for alternate transportation for guests who drink. Remember if someone leaves your home and has too much to drink you could be held partially responsible if tragedy occurs.
Inspect fireplaces and wood stoves - Have your chimney connections and flues inspected by a professional and cleaned if necessary. Use a sturdy screen when burning fires. Burn only wood—never burn paper or pine boughs. If purchasing a factory-built fireplace or wood stove, select one listed by a testing laboratory, and have it installed according to local codes. If you plan to hang stockings on your fireplace, do not use the fireplace for fires. Most insurance companies now require a WETT inspection prior to insuring your home if you have a wood burning appliance.
Enjoy the Holidays – Tis the season to enjoy friends and family, take time from your busy schedules to savour the spirit of giving and sharing with those you love. Remember that sharing with those less fortunate can be a very rewarding experience, and your time and effort can be just as valuable and appreciated as financial contributions. Have a safe and merry holiday season.
Merry Christmas
Professional Home Inspections starting at $199 including Free Wett Inspection and Thermal Imaging Scan. WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO call Roger at 705-795-8255 or Toll Free at 888-818-8608 OBOA NACH
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2009 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
