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Spring
Cleaning Recommended
Spring is here and with it is the annual ritual
known as spring cleaning. We recommends that
during this annual review, owners should pay special attention to
the condition of
their homes—beyond cleaning windows and closets. We suggest that
a thorough inventory
be taken at least once a year and that property owners have their
homes professionally
inspected once every five years. Once
a year and after any major act of nature or severe stretch of
weather, check the chimney
for cracks or missing mortar. If a problem exists, call a
qualified chimney sweep
in your area. Are
your doors and windows air tight? If you feel a draft coming in
under any door, or around
any window, it is likely that water can also come in during heavy
rains. Likewise, your
heating bill may be higher as the warm air can seep out through
these same areas.
Home improvement centers can advise you on weather stripping.
Take a spot check of your
roof (from the ground) and make sure there are no missing shingles
or deteriorating fascia board. Wood
patios and fences tend to experience deterioration from moisture.
Check for rotting
posts that may need to be replaced. Spring
cleaning is a great time to repair any nuisance items in the house
as well. Items such
as a leaky faucet or toilet, cupboards that do not close, cracks
in the plaster, or creaky
door hinges. If you
did not change the air filter in your heater when winter began,
now is a good time to
do so. It is also a good time to check the batteries in the smoke
detectors throughout your
home. While you’re at it, make sure your flashlights are in
working order in case of emergency. |
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them, not the owner of the building. Because
of the exclusion clauses tacked on
to many warranties, nearly everything that
can go wrong with a roof is excluded from
coverage. Legally speaking, when a manufacturer
has issued such a warranty, it
is, by contract, protection itself. More useful
are guarantees offered by roofing contractors.
But the value of such a document
is directly related to the longevity
and dependability of the firm that
is standing behind it. The
best method of ensuring that the owner
acquires a good roof is through the service
of a capable roof inspector. An inspector
can be on the site to represent the
interests of the owner at the time of installation.
This method has proven to be
effective. Because of its effectiveness, quality
control inspections are being widely
used throughout the commercial roofing
industry at the present time. When
a reputable and experienced consulting
firm is used everyone benefits. To
not use a roof inspector at the time of roof
installation …is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
For the relatively small cost
of such a service, the owner can be assured
of roof quality and performance for
many years.
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