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Posts Tagged ‘Exterior’

Protecting Your Home From Rodents This Winter

It’s winter and the critters living outside are looking for a warm place to spend the winter. Your home offers everything that mice, chipmunks, and squirrels are looking for, warmth, water and food. Last winter I had a chipmunk find a small opening at the base of my outdoor hot tub. Between the chipmunk and the mice, they had a great time staying warm… and destroying insulation and wiring.

Rodents can be cute in cartoons and movies, but it’s not so cute when they find their way into your home. Your house, especially your kitchen provides all that a mouse could possibly ask for.

These critters are a threat to you r home as they can carry disease, cause structural damage to your home, and contaminate food. Wiring that has been gnawed on by mice have been known to start fires in homes. They spread disease through their urine, feces and bites. Ticks and fleas can also be brought into your home and can carry infections to humans after feeding on rodents.

Rodent proofing your home can be fairly easy. Rats can fit through a hole roughly the size of a quarter, and a mouse can get through a hole smaller than a dime. Your first line of defense is to block all access and keep them from getting into your home in the first place.

* Replace any damaged or missing weather stripping and seal cracks at exterior doors.

* Place ¼ inch screen over all external openings and vents.

* Seal any gaps at your foundation.

* Trim back branches and shrubs that come into contact with or hang over your home.

* Keep all ground vegetation trimmed back at least 12 inches from your home.

* Keep the interior of your home and garage clean.

* All food and garbage should be stored in sealed containers

* Do not leave pet food or dirty dishes sitting around over night.

If you have done everything you can and still have rodents in your home, it is important to contact a professional. Mice can colonize under concrete and porches, in your attic and other hard to reach places. A professional exterminator will have the tools and techniques to rid you of these unwanted pests.

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

Posted on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012.
Tags: Basement, Electrical, Exterior, Hazard, Health, Home Tip, Rick Erickson, Rodents, Safety
Posted in Inspectors Blog, Monthly Home Tip

Protecting Your Landscaping During The Snowy Season

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

Posted on Saturday, November 26th, 2011.
Tags: DIY, Exterior, Home Improvement, Home Tip, Landscaping, Maintenance, Rochester MN
Posted in Exterior Components, Inspectors Blog

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

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

Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2011.
Tags: DIY, Exterior, Home Improvement, Home Tip, Maintenance, Rick Erickson, Roofing, Safety, Windows
Posted in Exterior Components, Inspectors Blog, Monthly Home Tip

Crumbling Porch Brick Work

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.

Posted on Saturday, September 10th, 2011.
Tags: Exterior, Foundation, Hazard, Maintenance, Rick Erickson, Structural
Posted in Exterior Components, Oh My Gosh..., Structural

Summer Storm Damage – Now What?

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

Posted on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011.
Tags: DIY, Exterior, Hazard, Home Improvement, Home Tip, Maintenance, Roofing, Structural
Posted in Exterior Components, Inspectors Blog, Monthly Home Tip, Roofing

Ice Damming Discussed at Rochester MN Home Inspection

Ice Damming Discussed at Rochester MN Home Inspection. As stated in the video, we had over 40 inches of snow here in Rochester during the month of December. Then to top it off we had above freezing weather and rain. This resulted in ice daming on most all homes in the area. Once in the home I made sure to check the exterior wall and ceiling areas for any signs of moisture. Also, I checked for proper insulation, ventilation in the attic area as well as signs of moisture. There were no issues at the time of the inspection. I explained the cause and effect of ice dams to the client and recommended that she pay close attention to the ice daming. For the future I recommended that client consider using a roof rake to keep the lower portion of the roof clear of snow. If you enjoyed my home inspectors video, and would like to see more like it, please leave a comment.
Home Inspectors, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Friday, February 25th, 2011.
Tags: Exterior, Hazard, Home Improvement, Home Inspection, Ice Damming, Maintenance, Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Roofing
Posted in Inspectors Blog, Roofing, Structural

Mold Growth On Basement Woodwork

This video is showing mold growth and staining in a split level basement ledge of the exterior wall. The basement was finished off about a year ago, with the mold and staining starting within the last two months. The owner pointed out this problem during the home inspection and asked me if I could help to figure out the cause. This wall was the only one in the basement that had this problem. All other areas were dry at the time of the home inspection.
What I had found was on the exterior of the home, the bottom of the siding was right at the top of the block/base plate junction. With all of the rain and driving winds we had had recently, I believe that water was being driven into the joint at the top of the wall, resulting in saturation of the wood. The water was wicking up through the oak shelf, which was attached to the base plate, thus causing the staining and mold growth.
For some reason, the siding on this side of the home was not installed low enough to properly overlap the masonry block/plate joint. The siding was installed properly on the remaining exterior walls.
My recommendation to the homeowner was to have a siding contractor extend the siding down so that it properly overlapped the masonry block. I also recommended that the oak shelf be removed, the area inspected for moisture issues, necessary repairs be made.
Home Inspectors, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011.
Tags: Basement, Exterior, Foundation, Hazard, Health, Interior, Mold, Rick Erickson, Safety, Wet Basement
Posted in Basement, Inspectors Blog

Home Inspector creates “Buzz” On A Secret Bee Hive

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

Posted on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010.
Tags: Air Conditioning, DIY, Exterior, Hazard, Home Improvement, Home Tip, Maintenance, Rick Erickson
Posted in Air Conditioning, Exterior Components, Inspectors Blog

Home Inspector Detects Unsafe Exterior Electrical Outlet

This home inspection video shows an improper exterior electrical installation. The past homeowner needed electrical power to the outside, so he went ahead and drilled a hole through a basement window frame and ran a wire through it. The hole wasn’t sealed, so outside air, bugs and possibly moisture could enter the home. In addition the wiring was not exterior rated, and it should have been in a conduit. The upside is that the electrical box was an exterior rated box, however, the outlet was not ground faulted to protect against electrical shock.

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

Posted on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010.
Tags: Electrical, Exterior, Hazard, Home Tip, Maintenance, Rick Erickson
Posted in Electrical, Inspectors Blog, Oh My Gosh...

Rochester MN Home Inspector Reveals Unsafe Deck

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

Posted on Friday, August 27th, 2010.
Tags: DIY, Exterior, Hazard, Maintenance, Rick Erickson, Safety
Posted in Exterior Components, Inspectors Blog

Home Pro Home Inspections

Posts Tagged ‘Exterior’

Protecting Your Home From Rodents This Winter

Protecting Your Landscaping During The Snowy Season

Fall Home Maintenance Tips

Crumbling Porch Brick Work

Summer Storm Damage – Now What?

Ice Damming Discussed at Rochester MN Home Inspection

Mold Growth On Basement Woodwork

Home Inspector creates “Buzz” On A Secret Bee Hive

Home Inspector Detects Unsafe Exterior Electrical Outlet

Rochester MN Home Inspector Reveals Unsafe Deck

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