In the attached video you will see a deck that has had years of neglect and deferred maintenance.   As a result, there are many issues that need attention. There is rot and fungal growth in the wood on the end plates and joists. The railinga 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 discussing the deck with the homebuyer, he stated that they were going to remove the old deck and build a larger one.

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.

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 the 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

Here’s another good reason you should make sure all exterior openings are sealed.  I usually discuss with my clients the importance of making sure that all exterior openings are sealed so that moisture and insects can not infiltrate. 

This home had been sitting empty for quite a while.  The bees found a way in through a disconnected dryer vent and built quite a large nest.  Lucky for me, someone has smoke bombed the place and killed all of the bees…. there were hundreds of dead bees throughout the home, mainly in the basement.   

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

As I suggest during the process of a home inspection, don’t buy the cheap caulk.  Buy a good quality caulk that will last a lifetime.  There are several products available at your local Rochester and Southeastern MN hardware or home supply store. 

Once a year do a complete inspection of your home exterior for potential leaks or openings.  Areas around windows, doors, and utility entry points are the first place to look.  Home Owners that take the time to protect their homes can increase resale value and enjoy low maintenance exteriors.  Preventative measures now rather than later can eliminate big repair bills in the future.  If you keep at it, you can stay ahead of mother nature.

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

A yearly inspection of the windows in your home can insure that the weather stripping has not been damaged and is functioning properly.  We all know how hard the wind can blow in our Southeastern MN winters.  Cold air can enter through even the smallest of gaps.  Repair damaged weathers tripping or seal small gaps with a quality silicone sealant.  On draftier windows you may choose to seal them with shrink wrap film to help save on energy usage.

Drafts can be located on windy days by slowly moving a lit candle or butane lighter near the window.  An air leak will cause the flame to flutter and help you to locate leaks that need to be sealed.  Make sure all flammable materials are out of the way so that you don’t accidently start a fire.

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

 Homeowners in rural Southeastern Minnesota sometimes find that woodpeckers go after their cedar siding-sometimes pecking through to the insulation. Why do they do this, and how can you discourage them?

Woodpeckers are great at reducing the bug population.  The problem with these birds is that they peck at wood to find bugs beneath the surface of woos, and sometimes the wood they peck at is your cedar siding.  The holes they make and leave behind attract more bug “residents”.  The birds also peck loudly to define their territory.

Woodpeckers are a protected bird in many areas including cities like Rochester, so destroying them is not an option.  There are 2 commonly used methods to deter woodpeckers from making holes in your siding.

First, you may try scaring them away with something that moves or makes noise such as a wind sock or aluminum pie tins hung from fishing lines. Strips of thin black plastic, 3 inches wide and 3 feet long may also work.

Second, distract the woodpecker from the problem area by fastening a block of suet (in a wire basket) to the siding. The woodpeckers love it and they stop bothering the siding.

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

Before repainting, however, you will need to remove the flaking paint and rust. Be careful  not to go all the way down to bare metal. Using the Rust Reformer eliminates the need to remove rust down to bare metal. A wire brush or abrasive pad works well.  To make the job go a little faster and easier you can use a round wire brush attached to a drill. After removing the surface rust, clean the surface with a detergent and water to remove oil, grease, and dirt.  Let it dry completely.  Apply the milky white Reformer with a brush or pad. The product will dry to a black finish in about 15 minutes.

 To finish the process, wait a minimum of four hours, then apply an oil based enamel paint. It is recommended to use oil based enamel instead of latex paint on your exterior wrought iron metal. Using oil based enamel paint will provide a good extension to your maintenance schedule. Some products, including Rust Reformer, suggest applying several coats of reformer for a final flat black finish

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

Commercial cleaners that are labeled for use as driveway or cement cleaners are available at most hardware or automotive stores. These are usually solvent-based and require you to scrub the solvent into the oil stain. . Follow all directions on the product. 

You may wish to use a product that can be washed off with water. Most strong detergents will remove oil stains. Trying a slightly diluted liquid detergent  is recommended. Other detergent cleaners that work well include Spic and Span, Soilax, and Mex. A strong detergent such as TSP can also remove most oil stains if applied with a stiff scrub brush. After applying the detergent, scrub the spot several times and rinse with water. For tough stains we recommend letting the detergent solution soak into the stain for several hours, scrubbing every so often, and then rinsing. Let the cleaner do the work. You may need to try several applications if the stain remains.

 You can also pour dry Portland cement or hydraulic cement on the oil stain.  Rub the cement in with a broom, brush, or even your shoe and let it stand overnight. The cement will draw the oil out of the concrete. Simply sweep up the residue and repeat as necessary until the stain is no longer visible. If the stain remains, you can dampen the powder after sweeping. The cement will bond with the surface to freshen the appearance. Use Eyewear protection and cover your skin when working with cement. The fine powder can cause damage. 

Take all safety precautions when using any of the cleaners described above as they can contain strong chemicals.

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

Removing Mildew

If dark stains remain on your concrete after washing, test a small area by dampening the stain with fresh laundry bleach. If the bleach lightens the stain within a few minutes, the stains are mildew and can be removed with bleach.

Bleaching the mildewed surface is recommended. You can use a product called “Jomax” with a laundry bleach and water solution. “Jomax” is a mildewcide and this along with the detergent will activate the bleach, creating a much more effective cleaning tool. Use eye and skin protectors and cover all plants  in the area with a plastic. Spraying water on the plants in the area before and after the application can avoid damage to them. Follow label instructions, and use the cleaning solution within 2 hours after you prepare it.

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