SUMMER HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST CRACKED
SUMMER HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST WINDOWS

Leakage around windows will admit warm summer air and let cooled indoor air escape, so be sure to check that any caulking and weather stripping you have in place has remained intact. “Hire a foundation specialist who can employ a two-part epoxy injection system that will bond cracks chemically,” he adds. “Routine caulking by homeowners won’t do the job,” says Niles. When inspecting the exterior of your home, be sure to examine the foundation from top to bottom for masonry cracks. If you have wood siding, check for openings, damaged areas or knots that have popped out, making way for carpenter ants, woodpeckers and other critters that may nest in or burrow through. Water stains normally indicate that your gutters are not adequately containing roof runoff. Whether you have wood siding, stucco or brick, look for trouble spots, especially under eaves and near gutter downspouts. Brush it on, small areas at a time let it absorb for 15 minutes, then reapply-it may need a couple of applications. Consider re-sealing masonry with a clear, impermeable or water-resistant barrier material (like Thoroseal products). Also, look for efflorescence-”a white calcium-like deposit that indicates your masonry joints are no longer repelling water but absorbing it,” says Niles.

Have any fallen out? Is there vegetation growing out of them? Each signals water infiltration. If you have a masonry chimney, check the joints between bricks or stones. “It’s when nails push the tabs of the shingles up, allowing water to get in where those nails are coming through.” All will need to be addressed to keep your roof at peak performance.

SUMMER HOME MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST CRACKED

Do you see any shingle-shift, suggesting that some fasteners may have failed and need replacing? Any cracked or missing shingles? What about nail-pops? “We call them eyebrows,” Niles explains. You don’t need to climb up there yourself with binoculars and a keen eye, you can probably spot trouble. “Winter is tough on roofs and chimneys.” It can also take its toll on windows, walls, foundations, gutters and decks.

Niles, Sr., owner of Armored Home Inspections, Upper Darby, PA, and president of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). “It’s good to do a walk-around of your property, especially after a storm,” says Curtis S.

Summer home maintenance checklist