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Winter Maintenance Inspection

The economy isn’t the only thing cooling down right now,  It’s getting cold outside.  With the onset of winter there are few things you need to inspect and repair to ensure the health and well-being of your house.  Some areas of the country have more extreme temperatures than others.  Here in Charlotte NC the winter temperatures usually range from about 30 – 50 degrees.  When it gets cold everything shrinks.  This shrinkage causes separation at the seams.

The first thing to do when inspecting the exterior of the house is to check for cracks and separation.  When the house is originally constructed, all the seams are caulked and sealed.  As the years pass through the seasons the siding and trim expands and contracts.  Eventually this causes gaps that allow moisture to seep in behind the wood where the wood is not primed and painted.  The see more information on trim damage and to see a home inspection video on trim damage please go to http://www.askthecharlotteinspector.com/?p=89#more-89

Where are the most common areas where trim damage occurs?  Seams at doors and thresholds are very vulnerable if not caulked properly.  The trim on the side of garage doors is also especially vulnerable especially if the trim is touching the concrete on the bottom.  This trim does not have to touch the concrete.  If it does touch, it needs to be sealed.  Another way to prevent this damage is to trim it off so it’s about ¼ to ½ off the ground.

Another big area for damage is the seams where the siding meets the trim pieces on the corners and around the windows. The seams need to stay caulked and sealed.  If moisture gets behind the wood it will rot it.

Another area that is vulnerable is the facia and soffit wood.  This is the board that the gutter hangs on and the corresponding board underneath or the eave.  Damage here is usually caused by the gutter not draining properly.  When winter comes be sure to inspect your gutters for debris, rust, and corrosion.  Also inspect the slope of the gutter to make sure the water flows towards the downspout.  If water backs up eventually it will overflow into the facia and soffit causing moisture damage. 

The thing to remember about exterior winter maintenance is to inspect, caulk, and seal.  For more information on inspecting the exterior of a home or any home inspection question, please cont Home Inspection Carolina at http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com

About the Author

Preston Sandlin is a home inspector and real estate investor in Charlotte NC. He has been performing home inspections and buying real estate in Charlotte NC for over 12 years. He is a member of the North Carolina Home Inspector's Association, the Charlotte Regional Realtors Association, and the BBB.

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If there are real damages, you better be able to prove it.

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