Home Owner Info
Whether you want to Move, Improve, or just Maintain your property
you should practice preventive maintenance,
invest in only popular improvements that will increase value +/or marketability,
and professionally present the home.
We have included here some sage advice.
# 1. STORM WATER MANAGEMENT:
a) divert storm water away from building
.....
( provide positive slope adjacent to foundation with > 1:10 slope,
.....cover with > 6 mil, black plastic, then top with small rock )
b) gutters are recommended & downspouts should extend a few feet away from building
.... ( NOTE: Gutters are not practical on metal roofs in heavy snowfall areas,
......
therefore item one is even more critical )
c) If you complied with items 1 & 2,
yet still get water in sump pit, basement, or crawl area
..... consider installing a sump pump
that properly diverts water far away from foundation
e) Clean Gutters often. Tree leaves & needles
can clog downspouts, causing spill over water .....damage and soil erosion.
# 2. EXTERIOR PROTECTION:
a) Reseal all cracks and crevices on walls and roof annually.
.... (preferably in Fall ...
melting snow and ice can wick in where rain does not )
b) Maintain paint protection ...
especially on horizontal edges and ledges.
.... (NOTE: lap siding needs thicker paint coating on lower edges, butt joints, and nail heads )
c)
Do not over humidify home in cold weather! Keep humidistat below 20%
....
Excess humidity may result in moisture entrapment and possible mold growth inside walls.
....If undiscovered, the home can become a large Petri Dish ( especially some 90's era homes )
Call Sherlock if you see: 1. Slightly dark areas, distorted siding in outside of bathrooms
.........................................2. Caramel colored stains that appear to be dripping from behind siding
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