26 Sep Knowing your house

As homeowners, paying attention to our home’s needs is important and we all realize that “there is always something to fix or improve”.

Good prevention is always better and cheaper than repairs, here is a list of points to inspect:

The exterior of the building

The slope of the land: It must bring the water away from the foundation. Is this the case? Otherwise, you must (1) add soil so that the slope of the land has an inclination of 1 in. per foot for the first 6 feet from the house, (2) install a dolphin under the downspouts, (3) extend the downspouts with river rocks so that the water from the downspouts flows away from the foundations.

Railings

They must look sturdy and be high enough to prevent falls.

Exterior siding

It must be secure.  As far as brickwork is concerned, check for any signs of flaking, bulges in certain places, crumbling mortar, long cracks, sagging bricks, white coloring. IMPORTANT: Never paint the bricks because the pain traps moisture and this may cause long term damage.

Foundation

It must be free of cracks or rings (lintels, spandrels and fascias).

Gutters

They must be secure, and downspouts must keep rainwater away from the building.

Doors and windows

See if there is loose or broken glazing. Any sign of condensation. Doors should be tight and easy to open and close.

Roof

A pair of binoculars is perfect to help you detect if any of the roofing is missing or damaged.

Outdoor sockets

They must be GFCI.

The interior of the building

Foundation or slab

Check if there are any cracks or efflorescence.

Interior finishes

Is there any damage? Traces of insects?

Staircase

Is it in good condition with a sturdy and with a handrail respecting the building code?

Attic

Are there rings in the insulation, signs of vermin, stains or rings in the wooden structure?

Plumbing

Locate leaks at the water intake, under sinks, around bathtubs and showers.

Kitchen and bathroom sockets

They must be GFCI. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) can help prevent electrocution. If a person’s body starts to receive a shock, the GFCI senses this and cuts off the power before he/she can get injured.

Ventilation

Test the bathroom fans, the range hood. Make sure that the vents are not blocked.

Heat pump

Does it make weird noises?

Heating system

Is it safe? Does it require a carbon monoxide detector? Make sure it is properly working.

Jackie Beaudoin, Leclerc Insurance and Financial Services
Source :  Legault et Dubois