Home Pro Home Inspections - Rochester MN » Exterior Components

Protecting Your Landscaping During The Snowy Season

rickerickson — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:06:28 +0000

We all put a lot of time and hard work into your yard during the summer. It’s late fall and you have taken the time to get things ready for winter. You know the drill: make sure your plans are all well watered before the ground freezes. Move house plans indoors. Clean up the flower beds, remove, cut back, mulch…etc.

Now, winter is on the way. What can you do keep your landscaping healthy when the winds are blowing, the snow is falling and your yard is a frozen tundra.

Wind blown or fallen snow seldom harms your plans, but you need to take precautions when dumping or plowing snow. Damage can occur to your plans when driveways, streets and sidewalks are plowed or shoveled.

When de-icing sidewalks and driveways make sure to use product that will not harm your plants. There are newer products out there that contain magnesium chloride. These products will work well in temperatures down to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit and remains effective longer that some of the old stand by ice melters.

In addition to being a great ice melter, magnesium chloride provides additional befits to plants. Magnesium is a necessary nutrient, and magnesium chloride is used in agriculture. So using magnesium chloride deicers to clear your walks in winter protects your plants and helps to fertilize them year round.

Magnesium chloride’s low melting temperature helps to minimize freeze/thaw cycles. This means it’s a little friendlier to concrete. By reducing freeze/thaw cycles, you reduce potential damage to concrete.

One final thought for those days when snow blankets your landscaping: Snow can be your friend. Snow on the ground helps protect roots by insulating them from extreme cold. And it’s a self-regulating source of water; plants need water in the winter, and snow on the ground automatically provides moisture when there’s a thaw, even if temperatures get barely above freezing.

Following a couple of rules can help you to protect your plants and stay safe during the winter months. Don’t throw heavy snow on delicate plants, and when you buy an ice melter, choose a product with magnesium chloride that can keep your walks clear while protecting your plants and landscaping.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

rickerickson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:25:20 +0000

Here we are, the end of October. Summer is over and we need to start thinking about preparing for winter. Below are some recommended home maintenance tips you should consider before the snow starts to fly.

Gutters and Downspouts

If you live in an area that has tall trees, you may have gutters full of leaves and debris. Check your gutters and clear any debris from them. Make sure that your downspouts are clear so that the gutters can drain properly. Also make sure that he downspouts discharge is directed away from the home. You may have to do this a couple of time during the season to insure that any water from the roof easily flows from your roof and out into the yard, away from your foundation.

Storm Windows

If your home has storm windows, now is the time to make sure that they are clean and in good condition. Preparing them for installation now while the temperatures are still mild will make it easier to install when you are ready to pull the screens and install your storm windows in a couple of weeks.

Doors and Windows

Doors and windows should be inspected to insure they close and seal properly. The most commonly damaged seal on doors is the threshold seal at the bottom. Make sure it is in good condition. Replace if damaged. Check the weather stripping around the rest of the doors and windows. Adjust, add or replace if there are gaps or damage. Proper weather stripping and seals will keep the moisture and cold air outside where it belongs, and will help to control your energy costs.

Dryer Vents

You should perform an inspection of your dryer vents at least twice a year. Make sure that they are not have lint build up and that the exterior flapper works properly. Short runs can be cleaned with a shop vac. Longer runs may need to have a brush snaked through them, or be cleaned professionally. Clogged dryer vents result in longer, energy consuming, dry times as well as a potential fire hazard. A half inch build up of lint in a 4 inch duct reduces the opening by 5.5 square inches.

Exterior Openings

Rodents know winter is coming so they are on the lookout for their winter homes. Make sure that all exterior openings are sealed. In addition, make sure that all exterior vents are screened. Mice can squeeze through a ¼ inch home, so if you leave openings larger than that, you will most probably have some winter guests.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Crumbling Porch Brick Work

rickerickson — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:19:20 +0000

Crumbling Front Porch

This is an example of one way not to repair a crumbling porch. Over time the elements got to the outer later of this porch brickwork. Mortar and bricks became loose and fell out. What the home owner did was to provide bracing to keep addotional courses of block from falling out.

I did not do a home inspection on this property. The picture was taken from the street of a home I was driving by when I saw the condition of the porch structure. It is not know if there was any kind of Safery issue related ith the deteriorated brick work.

Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Wet Basements

rickerickson — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:04:01 +0000

I just had a home inspection client cancel his home inspection this past Monday on a vacant home. The Realtor and plumber met at the property in the morning to turn the water on and reported that there was standing water in the basement that was seeping in through the foundation. As a result, the client decided to cancel his offer on the property.

I can only guess the reason for the water intrusion, but as I discuss with all of my home inspection clients, Gutters and Down Spouts, when properly installed can go a long towards helping to keep your basement dry.

The number one culprit for causing water penetration into the basement of a house is rain gutter downspouts discharging rain water right alongside the foundation. All downspouts should discharge the water at least five feet or more from the foundation. If a downspout is discharging water right alongside the foundation, I recommend installing downspout extensions. That is an easy job that most people can do themselves.

Getting the water away from the foundation will help to avoid water penetration into the basement. Close-to-the-house downspout discharge is not the problem of all water problems in the basement, but it is certainly one of the major ones. If a water penetration problem develops in the basement, before you call in a waterproofing contractor, check the downspout discharge area.

As already mentioned the correction may be as simple as installing extensions on the downspouts and discharging the water away from the house.

One other tip on water penetration and downspout discharge, if your downspout discharges to an under ground discharge pipe and you are getting water penetration in the downspout area, you may have a damaged underground discharge pipe. That pipe may be discharging water right alongside the foundation causing the water intrusion. To determine whether or not the in-ground pipe is damaged and causing the problem, disconnect the downspout from the in-ground pipe and put a five foot extension on the downspout. This will allow the water discharge to occur above the ground. If the water penetration into the basement stops, is will be evident that the broken in-ground pipe line is the problem. If that’s the case, you can either dig up and repair the pipe or just stay with the above ground discharge extension.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Summer Storm Damage – Now What?

rickerickson — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:28:34 +0000

It’s Summer, and if you haven’t noticed yet, we have had a few storms. Once a storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, make a careful inspection of the exterior of your home and repair any minor damage that may have occurred. These things don’t take care of themselves, so taking prompt action for minor problems can help ensure they don’t end up being a major headache.

Below are a few guidelines for assessing and dealing with storm damage:

Roof
Use a pair of strong binoculars to perform a preliminary inspection of your roof from the ground or eaves. No sense of getting on the roof if you don’t have to. Check the roof for missing or lifted shingles. Check the edges, valleys and ridges for damage. Also take a good look around protrusions such as vent pipes, attic ventilation and chimneys. If you have to go onto the roof to further investigate, make sure that you can do so safely, and take precautions to prevent injury.

If accessible, view the underside of your roof from the attic assess. Discoloration of the wood or decking could signal water infiltration problems. If flashings have been damaged, there may be light coming in around vent pipes, exhaust vents, or the chimney.

Even if you are a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, always consider difficulties and potential dangers when considering roof repairs. If you have any doubts about your abilities, ask for professional help at your local home improvement store or higher a professional.

Gutters & Downspouts

The checklist below will help you detect obvious signs of a failed gutter system. Clogged or damaged gutters will not properly route water away from your house and can result in moisture problems in your basement. As many of you have heard me explain – a one inch rain fall on a thousand square feet of roof surface is 630 gallons of water. We want to make sure that water isn’t pooling around your foundation.

* Gutter(s) that are hanging off the roof
* Downspout(s) that are disconnected from the gutter or house
* Missing gutters
* Water in the basement or elsewhere inside the house
* Leaking or dripping gutter seams
* Overflowing gutters

Again, if you are handy, you can easily repair minor leaks or sags yourself by patching or adding hanging brackets. Visit your local hardware store for advice and the proper hardware for these fixes. More serious gutter damage may require a professional.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Garden Hoses Pose Potential For Frozen Water Lines

rickerickson — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 14:46:39 +0000

Potentially frozen hose faucets

Leaving garden hoses connected to external water faucets can result in frozen and possibly split water lines. At this home inspection in Rochester MN, I came across two hose faucets that had garden hoses attached to them. These hose faucets are the Anti Freeze/Anti Siphon type and are designed not to freeze…provided you remove the garden hoses.

The acuual shutoff for the valve is approximately 12 inches in the wall, leaving it safely within the heated portion of the home. These are designed so that once shut off, all of the water from the shutoff valve to the spigot will drain, leaving about a foot of water line with no water in it. The problem with leaving garden hoses hooked up is that the water is not allowed to properly drain from the hose faucet. If this freezes, it can result in a split in the pipe between the shutoff valve, and the spigot. You won’t know there is a problem until spring when things are thawed andyou use the water valve.

To prevent this problem it is recommended that all garden hoses be removed prior to winter.

Home Inspectors, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspector creates “Buzz” On A Secret Bee Hive

rickerickson — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 12:12:10 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

At a recent home inspection I came across an opening in the side of a home that was housing a bee hive. This video clearly shows why you should always make sure that openings in the exterior of your home are sealed. These bees get into the wall and displace the insulation as they build their colonies. My recommendation to the new home owner was to have these bees exterminated, removed, and then to have the insulation replaced… Oh, and to make sure that all openings in the home’s exterior are sealed.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspector Reveals Unsafe Deck

rickerickson — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:33:31 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the attached video you will see a deck that has had years of neglect and deferred maintenance. As a resultof this home inspection you will see that here are many issues that need attention. There is rot and fungal growth in the wood on the end plates and joists. The railings all around the deck were loose as the bolts securing the railing to the structure had backed out. This was a foreclosure home, and had been sitting empto for some time. Upon the home inspectors discussing the deck with the homebuyer, he stated that they were going to remove the old deck and build a larger one.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Rochester MN Home Inspector Discussion On Adding Storm Doors To Your Home

rickerickson — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:09:10 +0000

What does your home have that can improve its first impression and it’s energy efficiency? It’s on the front of your home and sits directly in front of your main entrance. I’m talking about your storm doors. Storm doors play an important role in your homes curb appeal and energy efficiency. They can beautify and prevent drafts.

Minor issues with a broken storm door can just be something that blends into the daily noise in our lives. Sticking, slamming,flying open in the wind are a few issues that we face with our doors. A careful inspection of your storm door will help you to determine what may need to be fixed or replaced.

Rather than replace, sometimes storm doors can be fixed. This is more economical that full replacement. If your door is slamming shut, it is probably because the hydraulic closer is broken. This is the tubular device that attaches to the door and door frame. Its purpose is to pull the door shut in a controlled manner. It can be adjusted to close smoothly. If you cannot adjust the closer, it may be time to replace it.

Latching issues will allow the door to come loose in the wind, resulting in slamming against the house. Adjusting the catch on the door frame so that the latch assembly can engage properly should be your first effort. If this doesn’t solve the problem, the latch assembly may need to be replaced.

If the door sticks and is hard to open, make an inspection of the door frame. The frame could be out of square. These thin aluminum frames are easily distorted if not properly installed or if they are damaged. Screws can be prone to loosening over time. Check for squareness and make sure that all screws are properly secured.

Sometimes the problems with a door can be beyond repair. It’s time to replace you storm door.

Storm door prices can start under $100, but typically can cost a lot more than that. The more expensive storm doors are made from extruded aluminum and come with many great features. Some of the more popular features are the built-in or hide-away screen. Instead of having to replace the window with the screen every time the season changes, you can simply slide the glass down and the screen rolls out.

Less expensive screen doors will have options as well. Make sure to check out all of your options before making your selection. Choosing the least expensive storm door may not be your best choice. A super inexpensive aluminum door will also be thin and won’t take heavy traffic well. Often the door has a wood core and a thin aluminum skin that can dent very easily. Plus, some doors are put together so cheaply they will rattle in the wind even if they fit correctly. Make the investment for a good quality door and you’ll find it will last longer and hold up to more abuse.

There are lots of options as storm doors come in many styles. They can be special ordered in a wide range of custom colors and designs. The choices for your new storm door can be almost endless.

Now comes the question of installation. Some of the big box retailers that sell the storm doors often have professionals that can install your door for you for $100-$200. If you have a limited budget and are confident in your Do-It –Yourself skills, put the extra money into getting a better door and do the installation yourself. It is really not that difficult. Also note that is doesn’t hurt to have a helper for this project.

Don’t let that old storm door slam, bang, or squeek through another winter. Add some beauty and energy efficiency to your home.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Home Inspector Discusses Mudjacking A Settled Slab

rickerickson — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:17:22 +0000

Settled Cement Slab

If your driveway, sidewalk or patio has a large area of concrete that has settled unevenly and now has a pitch towards your home foundation and threatens to flow rain water towards the basement. It may be that your home inspectors recommendation that the condition is a candidate for mudjacking.

Mudjacking is a process that utilizes hydraulic pressure to raise or level concrete slabs and sidewalks. A series of holes approximately 2 inch holes are drilled through the slab a pre determined locations. A mixture of water, ground stone and cement is pumped through the holes with a special machine. The stiff mud that is pumped under the slab will lift it to the desired location or slope.

If you have a slab that is in relatively good condition with few cracks, mudjacking can be a more cost effective way of correcting the problem than replacing the slab. Done correctly, the repair will last for years

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com