Protecting Your Homes Brick. Brick veneer is a porous material which exposed to a constant source of moisture will absorb it. Both air and water can penetrate brick veneer. Moisture can do a great amount of damage to your homes brick, typically by spalling finish. Both brick and concrete are vulnerable to moisture, and can degrade, or “spall,” over time, especially when subject to freezing/thawing cycles.
Bricks for residential homes may be made from clay, shale, soft slate, calcium silicate, concrete, or shaped from quarried stone. However, true bricks are oven fired, and therefore created by the action of heat and cooling. Clay is the most common material, with modern clay bricks formed in one of three processes – soft mud, dry press, or extruded. Cement brick are the hardiest of brick finishes and have the same consistency as your foundation masonry block.
As a Professional Home Inspector in Barrie ON, I come across many brick homes where the brick weeping holes have been filled, commonly with spray foam or caulking, this is not permitted as the weeping holes are very important for drainage and air circulation for space behind brick. These weep holes are required to be spaced 600 mm apart or 24 inches by Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code. Plastic or metal preformed weep holes screens can be utilized to keep our insects etc.
Poor workmanship is one of the main causes of brick failure. The rate of water absorption is probably the most important factor concerning workmanship. Knowing the correct mixture for the ambient temperature also affects the bonding of mortar and brick. The results will affect how “rain proof” the wall is. In areas where moisture can not be avoided it is recommended that you treat your exposed brick with a water proofing solution. These are clear and do not change appearance of brick. A little preventive maintenance can save a huge expense later.
When not constructed properly with flashing and weep holes at the bottom of the brick wall, the trapped moisture may cause wood framing to decay and mold to grow. The weeping holes allow collected moisture and water to drain. The weeping holes also provide entry for air movement allowing moisture and heat to escape. Solar heat from the sun will drive moisture on surface of bricks through into the cavity adding to moisture content.
Most window sills, whether concrete or brick, are susceptible to moisture damage during the freezing thawing cycles of winter. Solar heat will drive moisture on surface of bricks through into the cavity adding to moisture content.
The Barrie Home Inspector routinely comes across this problem at the early stages of mortar cracking and routinely points out to his clients the benefits of maintenance in preventing more severe damage. The old adage of “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure” is especially true in the maintenance of your brick window sills.
by Roger Frost
Inspecting Exterior Finish. Steel siding is less common than aluminum. The most popular styles of steel siding look like smooth or textured bevel-wood siding. Many colors and styles are available. The installation of steel siding requires special skill and tools. Steel siding is resistant to dents, but if the finish becomes scratched or chipped, repair will be needed to prevent rust from developing. Steel siding can be repainted.
Vinyl siding is the exterior cladding of choice for homeowners, remodeling contractors and builders. Compared to other siding products, vinyl is attractive, durable, easy to maintain, and cost-effective. Vinyl siding is made of extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The color permeates through the material. Scratches do not need to be repainted. If the vinyl is scratched, the scratch is the same color. The color does not peel or chip off the surface. Vinyl will not fade, rust or dent easily. It comes in a wide variety of colors and styles.
Since plastic siding is a manufactured product, it may come in unlimited color choices. Historically vinyl sidings would fade, crack and buckle over time, requiring the siding to be replaced. However, newer vinyl options have improved and resist damage and wear better. Vinyl siding is sensitive to direct heat from grills, barbecues or other sources. Unlike wood, vinyl siding does not provide additional insulation for the building, unless an insulation material (e.g., foam) has been added to the product. It has also been criticized by some fire safety experts for its heat sensitivity. This sensitivity makes it easier for a house fire to jump to neighboring houses in comparison to materials such as brick or masonry.
Other skin material can be used for specific purposes. These panels are designed to be part of the structural support members of the outer walls. They are used in post-and-beam construction, and can form a complete wall system with an exterior wall covering, insulation, and an interior wall surface. The result is a building system that is extremely strong, energy-efficient and cost-effective. Building with SIPs saves time, money and labor.
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a coating for walls and ceilings and for decoration. Stucco may be used to cover less visually appealing construction materials such as concrete, cinder block, or clay brick and adobe.
The first layer of plaster is called a “scratch coat,” consisting of plastic cement and sand. A brush is used to scratch the surface horizontally or in a crisscross pattern to provide a key for the second layer. The first coat is allowed to dry (cure) before the second layer is applied.
Clay and slate siding can be damaged by a variety of things, including tree branches, stones, balls, and heavy-impact hail. Patching a clay or slate shingle with roofing tar, caulk, asphalt, pieces of metal, or non-matching clay tiles is inappropriate. Such treatments are visually incompatible. They also have the potential to cause physical damage. Water can collect behind these patches and accelerate the deterioration of the wooden structural components of the wall and the fastening system. During the expansion and contraction of a freeze-thaw cycle, ice buildup at patches can break surrounding tiles. Patching is not recommended; replacement of clay or slate siding pieces that are in poor condition is the best recommendation to make to homeowners.
The Barrie Home Inspector is trained to inspect and note any deficiencies pertaining to your homes exterior cladding system. Experience and training allow the home inspector to note details the average home owner may miss. Always use a Professional Home Inspector when purchasing a new home.
Want to find out more about The Barrie Home Inspector, then visit Nathan Pile’s site on how to choose the best Professional WETT Inspections in Barrie, Alliston and Orilliafor all your wood burning needs.
Window Cleaning Techniques. Many people struggle with their window cleaning abilities. It does not sound like it should be a difficult task, but there are a lot of people who really become frustrated with this and will rather get someone else to do this for them. However, it is actually easier than you may think. You will really surprise yourself.
First, you have to get yourself the right sort of equipment. The proper tools are going to make all of the difference. If you are using a simple old sponge you will find that there will not be that much difference which you will be able to report.
The secret to cleaning windows is not in the detergent. A lot of people think this and are fooled by the marketing skills of certain companies. Most of the time, it comes down to your techniques. You will need a small dose of detergent which will provide you with a good suds.
Use a detergent that you are used to using or that you have been recommended. Most window cleaners will tell you that it is not the detergent that really matters. It is more in the technique that makes most of the difference. As long as you have something that makes enough suds, you will be on the safe side.
Start by using the mop. Make sure you soak this and give the glass a good coating. If there are any spots that are left over and are not coming off, then get a little blade out and scrape it off. Make sure you do not scratch the glass. Just scrape upwards.
Soak the mop in your solution made up of a little detergent, mixed with water and then rub it on the glass. If there are any marks lefts over, then use a scraper. Just scrape in one direction otherwise the glass is going to become scratched.
A micro-fiber cloth will be used in the later stages for cleaning up the water marks, finger prints and other marks which have been left behind. These are the perfect cloths for drying up the edges, which are tricky to deal with. These can be cleaned easily in the washing machine so they are very convenient.
With all of these factors put together, you will find that window cleaning will be a task that you will begin to enjoy. You may want to put an old towel down on the floor to catch anything that drops down. This will make life easier for you when it comes time to clean up. Most window cleaners will clean the window frames up with a blue cloth. Usually something like detergent will spill over here when you are window cleaning.
Underpinning to Correct Subsidence. Subsidence is among the major structural issues that may affect houses. Subsidence is where parts of the house foundation move or sink leading to cracks and sticking doors or windows. The causes of subsidence can be any of the following…
– the house foundations haven’t been dug deep enough;
– where clay soil contracts (due to the water table falling or due to tree roots);
– where water seepage washes soil away from the foundations.
For severe cases of subsidence, underpinning or piling is necessary to resolve the issue. This may be a lengthy, expensive and disruptive process. Fundamentally, underpinning and piling is building a new foundation beneath the existing foundation in order to offer a stronger and more stable base. This will typically involve putting a metal ‘table ‘ beneath the existing foundations and supporting that table with deep metal piles. If your subsidence issues require underpinning or piling then you need to employ an expert contractor to do the work.
Piling and underpinning is very expert work. Experts are a requirement to analyse the subsidence and its causes in order to design a proper solution. The solution design will require complex calculations based on the house structure, the soil, the vicinity of trees and plenty of other factors. From this there’ll be a design for the underpinning table and the piles. Clearly, digging deep piles and putting a metal table underneath a home is a difficult and lengthy task (especially if the house is close to or adjoined to other homes).
If you have serious subsidence then it’s necessary to employ a contractor that has got substantial experience in resolving such issues and in undertaking underpinning projects. Such a contractor would work with structural engineers to analyse the reasons for subsidence and then with the piling specialists who will design the best solution which is implemented by ground works contractors. A good contractor must be acutely knowledgeable to the impact that this work has on house owners (and possibly their neighbors) and should work to attain a quality solution whilst minimizing disruption.
Find out your homes problems prior to buying, contact the Barrie Home Inspector prior to investing in your next property.
There are a lot of different things that should be done regularly by a homeowner. Regular tasks that need to be completed might include shoveling show off of a roof or gutter cleaning in Barrie ON. Sometimes it can be done by a homeowner but seniors for example will hire companies to do this chore.
Gutters that are in good shape get water from falling and dripping around your home, which protects your basement from water by diverting water. Putting them over doorways are a great option so that people are not getting water dumped on them from rain and melting snow. One problem with these is that they can collect leaves or other debris which can block downspouts.
This might clog up any type of gutters. The edges will overflow because the water cannot escape. This can cause big problems when water enters your basement, either through walls or windows. Trees always lose their leaves and these are going to gather in your gutter, that is just the way of nature.
Gutters can be cleaned by professionals. They may be quicker and usually have the proper equipment to make the job easier. Homeowners are able to do this if they are willing to climb ladders and walk their roofs. Drains might be harder to clean because not all of them come apart and debris can become caked and form blockages if left too long.
There are products that a homeowner can install which will protect their gutters from leaves and pine needles etc. Ensure whatever product you choose is specifically designed for the type of leaves in your area. A gutter that is excellent for maple trees may quickly clog up if faced with pine needles for example.
For more information on Home Maintenance projects and advice visit your local Barrie Home Inspection Company website.
Want your lawn to be the envy of your neighbors? Well, with some simple planning this article can help you get the lawn you deserve this summer. Plants need nutrients, sun and water to thrive and grass is no different. Provide it with the right environment and it will become the perfect lawn. If you know your type of lawn you can look for additional specific needs beyond typical care and maintenance.
Test Your Soil: All grasses need food to live. They also need the right conditions. Performing the proper testing and fertilization are keys to a lush lawn. The right pH levels and levels of nitrogen and other trace elements are the most crucial. All garden stores carry an inexpensive testing kit that gives you a basic measure of these nutrients. However, these are generally inaccurate and provide little in the way of help fixing any deficiencies. Instead try a local university. Most provide a detailed analysis of soil, highlight deficiencies with exactly how to fix them.
Mowing: Every type of grass has different needs and grows at different rates. In general, however, mowing your lawn too short is a bad idea. It weakens the plant itself as it struggles to grab capture sunlight for photosynthesis. It also allows weeds to take purchase by allowing sunlight to penetrate to the soil. Try to keep your lawn at a height of three to four inches during peak growing season. Also ensure your lawnmower blade is sharp. A dull blade will damage grass rather than cut it, slows growth and invites disease by weakening the plant.
Fertilizing Your Lawn: Feeding your lawn is important for great color and lush growth. Make sure you follow a feeding schedule to avoid over-feeding. Overfeeding can be more damaging to plants than not feeding at all and can lead to sudden death or severe grass burn. During the winter months grasses still need nutrients to survive. “In fact, providing the right levels of phosphorus can help grass roots overwinter better and emerge stronger in the spring,” says Nate Merchant.
Watering Your Lawn: All grasses need water but different types have different requirements. Warmer season grasses go dormant earlier than the cooler varieties and require less water. Generally most grasses need water about once a week. Long, infrequent watering is preferable since it requires roots to travel deeper in the soil between watering which strengthen the plant. The time of day is important as well. Try watering in the early part of the day. This prevents burning your lawn in the hot sun and allows the grass to dry before the evening when fungus can set in.
Keeping Disease and Pests Away: The sad truth is that nobody is safe from pests and disease effecting their lawn. Disease and fungus can spread very quickly and be devastating to lawns if not identified and treated quickly. Keep and eye out for any strange patches or changes to your lawns color. Call an expert or visit a garden store at the first sign of a problem. You can reduce the incidence of these problems by keeping weeds at bay with a herbicide applied in the spring and fall.
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For more home owner tips visit Barrie House Inspections for valuable advice.
