Checking
Up on Exterior Surfaces
Here's a quick guide to performing a
do-it-yourself inspection of a home's exterior surfaces:
Masonry Walls. Check
masonry walls for cracks or loose, crumbling mortar joints.
Since masonry is a brittle
material, it is susceptible to damage from freezing. Water which
penetrates cracks or joints and then expands when frozen, ruptures
the toughest materials.
Allow for proper sealing.
Siding & Trim. Check
all siding and trim for damage (cracking and splitting), decay,
and tightness of fit.
Damaged materials should be repaired or replaced and the condition
which caused the problem
corrected. Loose nails (caused by normal expansion and contraction)
should be reset. Additional nails or screws may be needed. Painted
Surfaces. All
painted surfaces should be inspected for peeling, deterioration,
or normal wear. Sometimes
peeling paint can be caused by condensation. Paint life will
vary with the method of
application (brush, spray, etc.) and the exposure of the surface
to the elements. To avoid
paint scraping and removal, repaint before the paint peels,
cracks, or blisters.
Caulking. Caulking
should be checked at all joints. Loose caulk will permit water to
enter. Decay or ice damage
may result. Also, air leaks through these joints will lead to
heat and energy losses.
Roof Surfaces. Check
the roof surface for loose, damaged, or missing shingles. Check
between the tabs on asphalt
shingles, as granules wear off here first and cause leaks. Older
slate and tile roofs should be inspected and maintained regularly
by a professional roofer
or inspector. In most cases, the nails which hold the slates fail
before the slates.
Landscaping. Trim
trees and shrubs away from the house or roof. |
continued from previous page
6. Install
a dehumidifier in the basement during
the summer.
Prevention of Low Humidity in
the Colder Months
When cold air is brought inside and heated
it becomes dry. To address this symptom,
use a humidifier, increase the insulation,
install vapor barriers and retarders
on the warm side walls, ceilings,
and floors, and envelop the living
space.
Condensation develops in the basement and
crawl spaces during the summer months
because the humidity in the outside
air is often high (60% to 100%) and
the basement and crawl space areas are
cooler than the outside temperature.
Condensation develops inside the house when
high humidity and low temperatures exist
outside (i.e., showers, metal windows,
and masonry construction without
an air space between the finished wall
material and the masonry). Condensation
develops in attics when moisture
vapors are not vented and the lower
temperatures cause them to turn to liquid.
|
|