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Home Owner Maintenance Tip
We enjoy trying to make sure that your home stays your most valuable asset. One of the best ways we know to help, is to pass along some simple maintenance tips that most people don’t know could save thousands of dollars. Walks, Driveways and Landscaping Walks and driveways may be gravel, asphalt, concrete, stone or pavers. Regardless of the material, they should be slightly sloped to drain water away from the house rather than toward it. Improper slopes can lead to water logged basement problems. Where walks or driveways pull away from the building, water can accumulate along the foundation wall. In some cases a drain is needed to carry surface water away. The drain should be sized to handle the maximum run off from rains and snow. The drain should be arranged to prevent clogging with debris. The pipes leading from these drains cannot be examined during a home inspection. Shrubs, trees, plants can add value to the property, but also can adversely affect the building. Shrubs too close to a building hold water against walls. This prevents wood components from drying out and provide pests with access to the home. Tree branches can cause mechanical damage to roof and wall surfaces. Leaves can clog gutters and downspouts. Roots can clog drainage pipes and in severe cases dislodge foundations. Raised flower gardens or planters can cause wet basement problems. Where the original grade level has been raised by adding topsoil, there are three concerns. The building wall may be subject to damage if wood components are in contact with the soil. Water leakage may be experienced if the soil is above the top of the foundation wall. It can push the foundation wall inward particularly in areas where frozen soil conditions may exist. Paying attention to the slope of a walk or driveway is a good way to help prevent water damage to your building. Along with proper placement of trees and shrubs your home will be more beautiful and more protected. Please feel free to forward this maintenance tip to your friends and/or family members so they too can maintain their real estate investment.
Lem McSpadden and Brian McSpadden "Your Property Consultants for Life"
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