Before experiencing any structural problem in your home, visible signs will appear on your property’s exterior. These signs include sagging gutters, deformed sidings, and loose windows and doors. Regardless, a home exterior that’s out of shape should be attended to at once.
Whether you’re a home lessor or a property owner, below are just some of the reasons you should have regular home exterior inspections done.
1. You Can Get A Clear Picture Of Your Property’s Structural Health
Home inspections should be carried out at least once every year. At the end of these maintenance checks, professional companies such as Nova Exteriors will submit a report about your home’s overall structural health.
Most often, the inspectors will evaluate how your home fares in terms of the following criteria:
- Strength – A structurally sound home exterior should look and feel strong. There should be no deformed parts and flimsy sections.
- Reliability –The property should be intact and capable of providing protection against harsh elements without fail.
- Resilience – Home inspectors have the tools and skills to assess whether your property can withstand harsh weather and other threats.
- Insulation – Your home exterior has to be able to contribute in keeping you comfortable inside your home. If it’s in good shape, it should keep your heating and cooling system efficient by not allowing air to seep in or out.
To assess your property, a home inspector will check everything from the roof, gutters, basement, and attic to the siding, doors, windows, and the foundation itself. You’ll find out more about this in the succeeding sections.
2. You Can Properly Allocate Resources
Having your exterior checked regularly also means you can decide what to do in terms of maintenance work and minor fixes. For instance, if the inspector notices some signs that you need a roof replacement, you can have it fixed right away or as soon as you have enough resources or funds.
3. It Helps Prevent Serious Damage
When it comes to home repairs, time is crucial. Often, when the signs become apparent to the homeowner, the damage may already call for major repairs. For instance, by the time you notice water marks on your ceiling, you roof may already need to be replaced.
Without knowing your roof’s condition prior to the leaks, it’ll be too late to request minor fixes. Inversely, regular inspections will notify you of less visible problems so you can have them solved before they turn into a serious issue. If you leave them unaddressed, you may soon experience water leaks, encounter mold, and have less efficient heating and cooling systems.
4. May Reduce Maintenance Costs
Because problems are detected long before they worsen, homeowners can save on costly home repairs. Depending on the size, age, and location of the property, a home inspection can cost anywhere from USD$300 to USD$500. Property fixes, on the other hand, can range from a few hundreds to thousands of dollars.
With regular maintenance checks, you won’t have to spend on major repairs as small issues can be fixed immediately. Repairing cracks, re-caulking your windows, and replacing the window screens in your home may only be a few of the tasks you need to do. In some cases, you won’t have to do anything but apply a fresh coat of paint to get the look you want.
5. Gives You Peace Of Mind
With proper maintenance, your exterior can provide both comfort and protection from harsh elements. A well-kept home can be free of molds, pests, leaks, and other problem-causing elements. With your windows and doors tight and sealed shut, you don’t have to worry about thieves attempting to break in as well.
In addition, some replacements done in your home’s exterior may require regular maintenance as a condition to keep warranties valid. One such example is your roof. Some contractors and manufacturers will declare your warranty void if they find out that you failed to maintain your roof.
How To Check Your Home’s Exterior
- Check the paint for peeling, chipping, or cracking.
- Clean and sweep your chimney to prevent it from becoming a fire hazard.
- Check your siding for dry rot.
- Gutters should be intact and free from debris.
- Any problems like missing and deformed shingles should be fixed. Roof flashing has be jointed.
- Check for loose window edges where water and air can seep though.
- Make sure there are no bushes near your air conditioning unit.
The Wrap-Up
Almost all threats to your property’s structural integrity start from the outside. As the initial point of contact for elements, you have to see to it that the external section of your home is as strong as possible. Regular maintenance checks can keep it in top condition and prevent small issues from becoming worse.
While best done by professionals, you can perform minor maintenance checks in the event that you think something is off.