Home Inspection News

FALL IS COMING AND IT’S TIME TO RETHINK YOUR YARD.

Site Safety.

Periodically walk around your yard with an eye to safety. Have dogs dug holes or tree branches fallen that might trip someone? Are the sidewalks and driveways free of clutter and tripping hazards such as raised edges or corners? Are the covers for the water meter and lawn sprinkler back-flow valve irrigation boxes properly installed? And don’t forget to check for low hanging branches or other hazards. Check and clean your rain gutters and rooftop from leaves and other debris from your trees.

Trees And Shrubs.

To help minimize or defer wood rot and insect damage in siding and trim, allow air to circulate freely around the structure. Locate decorative plants several feet away form the structure and keep them trimmed. Vines growing on any type of exterior surface will cause serious damage over time. Don’t try to remove vines by pulling them off while their alive. Instead, cut them at their roots and wait for the plants to die before removing them.

Trees should be placed far enough away from the structure so that their canopy won’t overhang the roof after they mature. A tree’s root system mirrors its canopy. Roots growing beneath a foundation can destabilize it in several ways (i.e. by moving the foundation with their growth, by removing moisture from the soil needed to help support the foundation).

When trees and shrubs are close to your house, their limbs shouldn’t touch the structure because serious damage can result. Also be aware that growing root systems can lift patios, driveways and sidewalks, causing damage and creating trip hazards.

Proper Drainage Is Foundation Maintenance.

Does the ground around your home direct water towards the structure or is the drainage plane flat? The gaol is for water to drain away form the structure promptly without pooling or collecting water within ten feet of the structure. Ideally the grade around the structure soul be about eight inches below the sill plate and should slope down about six inches within ten feet of the structure. Equally important, the soil around the structure should not be allowed to dry out and separate from the edge of the foundation. Gaps between the soil and the foundation are an indication that the soil is too dry. If you don’t have a lawn sprinkler system then consider lining the structure’s perimeter with soaker hoses placed about two feet away from the edges. The slow steady moisturizing that can be provided by a lawn sprinkler system or a soaker hose can help stabilize the soil moisture content and protect the foundation (especially a slab foundation).

Solutions to drainage issues are as varied as the terrain, and may include rain gutters and gutter extensions, French or surface drains, , swales, berms, retaining walls and/or sump pumps. Fans may be used beneath pier and beam foundations. With a little planning almost any yard can provide a healthy environment for a stable foundation, a dry house, and mosquito control.

Get my answers to some of the most common questions home inspection shoppers ask of home inspectors at the following link https://www.facebook.com/notes/good-home-inspection/my-phone-rings-you-want-answers/1421682204539244. Thank You.