We tend to think that brick-and-mortar homes will last forever. But, just like everything else, nature eventually gets her wicked way with them, and they fall into disrepair.
In this post, though, we show you how to fight back. Once you know your home’s biggest problem areas, you can find ways to fix them, making them more robust against depreciation.
In this post, though, we show you how to fight back. Once you know your home’s biggest problem areas, you can find ways to fix them, making them more robust against depreciation.
Your Home's Most Vulnerable Features (And How To Protect Them)
Your Chimney Stack
Chimneys look great and, if you have a traditional fireplace in your home, serve an important purpose. However, they are more prone to weather damage than the rest of your roof. Chimney masonry can start to crumble within just five years, leaving you with an expensive repair bill on your hands.
So what can you do about this? Well, fortunately, there are some ways to make your chimney last longer. Perhaps the best tool is a strong concrete crown. Getting a professional roofer to install this will protect the top of the masonry from water infiltration, making it last longer, even in challenging climates.
Your Exterior Walls
Exterior walls don’t last forever. In fact, they can fail surprisingly quickly, particularly if you have problems with your guttering. What’s more, it can look unsightly – a common issue among pebbledash-finished homes.
The good news is that you can cover up virtually any aesthetic issue with siding. Look for the #1 James Hardie siding installer in your area and ask for an estimate. Once they install the siding, your home will look like it has had a makeover. In fact, many properties look brand new after siding installation.
Most siding products are made of vinyl. This provides additional bonuses, such as protecting your walls from the rain.
Chimneys look great and, if you have a traditional fireplace in your home, serve an important purpose. However, they are more prone to weather damage than the rest of your roof. Chimney masonry can start to crumble within just five years, leaving you with an expensive repair bill on your hands.
So what can you do about this? Well, fortunately, there are some ways to make your chimney last longer. Perhaps the best tool is a strong concrete crown. Getting a professional roofer to install this will protect the top of the masonry from water infiltration, making it last longer, even in challenging climates.
Your Exterior Walls
Exterior walls don’t last forever. In fact, they can fail surprisingly quickly, particularly if you have problems with your guttering. What’s more, it can look unsightly – a common issue among pebbledash-finished homes.
The good news is that you can cover up virtually any aesthetic issue with siding. Look for the #1 James Hardie siding installer in your area and ask for an estimate. Once they install the siding, your home will look like it has had a makeover. In fact, many properties look brand new after siding installation.
Most siding products are made of vinyl. This provides additional bonuses, such as protecting your walls from the rain.
Your Basement
Basements are prone to water infiltration more than other parts of the house because they sit underground. If the water table in your area is high, moisture can soon seep into the walls, causing damp and mold growth.
There are several ways to deal with this issue. The first is to ensure that you have a proper membrane installed. If there are holes or cracks in it, water will pass through and eventually make its way into the foundations.
The second thing to do is to check that your sump pump is actually working. Many homeowners run their pumps for years without servicing them, often many months after they fail.
Your Attic
Lastly, maintaining your attic is essential. Firstly, make sure that you keep it well-insulated. Builders installed around 4 inches of insulation in older homes, but never standards ask for 12 inches for maximum energy efficiency.
Second, check for leaks. If water penetrates through the roof into the attic, it can cause serious damage in a matter of days. Attics that smell muskier than usual are prime candidates for water leaks.
Next, look for signs of mold. If the attic smells musty, it means that it has mold and it is your job to figure out where. Once you find mold, you can identify the source of the leak and patch it up.
Basements are prone to water infiltration more than other parts of the house because they sit underground. If the water table in your area is high, moisture can soon seep into the walls, causing damp and mold growth.
There are several ways to deal with this issue. The first is to ensure that you have a proper membrane installed. If there are holes or cracks in it, water will pass through and eventually make its way into the foundations.
The second thing to do is to check that your sump pump is actually working. Many homeowners run their pumps for years without servicing them, often many months after they fail.
Your Attic
Lastly, maintaining your attic is essential. Firstly, make sure that you keep it well-insulated. Builders installed around 4 inches of insulation in older homes, but never standards ask for 12 inches for maximum energy efficiency.
Second, check for leaks. If water penetrates through the roof into the attic, it can cause serious damage in a matter of days. Attics that smell muskier than usual are prime candidates for water leaks.
Next, look for signs of mold. If the attic smells musty, it means that it has mold and it is your job to figure out where. Once you find mold, you can identify the source of the leak and patch it up.
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