Doing maintenance and cleaning on a regular basis will help to avoid large and expensive home repairs in the future. In this article we’ll discuss 3 tips to prevent major home repairs, including cleaning the gutter regularly, keeping an eye out for mold growth and replacing aging or malfunctioning appliances or fixtures.
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Cleaning the Gutter Regularly
Problems: Wet or flooded basements, foundation damage.
Trouble signs: Basement flooding, or water spilling over gutters during rainstorms or pooling around your home’s foundations.
What you can do: Extend downspouts to direct water at least 10 feet away from your home’s foundation. Replace dented downspouts. Clean gutters at least twice a year.
What it may cost: Twelve-foot vinyl downspouts cost $10-$15 each. For a cleaner look, dig trenches on a downward slope away from your house and install 4-inch PVC pipe ($17 per 10-foot sections) below grass, secured to downspouts with “offset adjuster” connectors ($2 each).
For $1 a foot, prevent future clogging with homeowner-installed gutter shield strips. Replacing faulty gutters or having gutter shield professionally installed can cost $1,500 to $3,000 for a medium-sized house. A professional gutter cleaning and inspection starts at about $60.
What you could save: Tens of thousands in foundation damage and thousands in repairs of finished basements. Source: AARP
Keeping an Eye Out for Mold Growth
Mold growth is a huge health and safety issue, and it can be found anywhere and everywhere, growing on any surface with present moisture.
Common building materials that provide food for mold include plywood, drywall, furring strips, carpets, and carpet padding. It can also grow in walls. Almost always when mold growth is indoors it is related to water or moisture caused by incomplete drying. Flooding, leaky roofs or indoor-plumbing problems can lead to mold growth.
When mold growth is evident in areas larger than 10 square feet, a professional remediation is required because of its serious health hazards, particularly allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
The best way to avoid mold growth is to get rid of the source of moisture, fix any leaks, and properly ventilate damp areas. Source: DoItYourself
Replacing Aging or Malfunctioning Appliances or Fixtures
Aging and faulty electrical wiring can pose a risk of fire. Old appliances should be inspected by an electrician and replaced or reconditioned when no longer in safe condition. Any wiring in your home with stripped or frayed insulation should be replaced immediately. Small fixtures like lamps can usually be completely rewired with little trouble. An electrical fire can very easily get out of control and cause major structural damage. Source: wikiHow
Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains Ltd.
168 W 71st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5X 4S7
(604) 360-2114
