Spring Maintenance

    Greetings one an all.  Now is the time to start thinking about those wonderful spring activities...  Yep, I'm talking about baseball, golf, bbq, and of course, spring cleaning.  One thing that is generally missed in this time is the spring maintenance for the exterior of your home.  As a home inspector, here are a few things I recommend you look for now that the snow is melting (unless you're in Montana like me...). 1.  Check your gutters.  Make sure there is no debris accumulated in your gutters.  I know you did this in the fall, but there is still a lot of material that can collect here. 2.  Look at the fascia  and siding around your home.  You're looking specifically for areas of water penetration.  Look for stains on your fascia that could indicate a problem with your gutters or roofing. 3.  Get into your crawlspace and open up your foundation vents.  You should have closed all but one when the snow fell, but now it is time to open them back up.  While you're down here, look for any signs of moisture intrusion into the crawlspace.  Also, look at your subfloor and flooring system for any evidence of fungal growth. 4.  Check the caulk around your house.  Specifically, look around windows, doors and all trim to make sure the caulk is in good shape.  If you see any cracks or missing caulk, then replace it to prevent any potential moisture intrusion into the siding.  I usually carry a couple of tubes around with me as I'm looking over my house during this time. 5.  Check the roof and make sure you're roofing material is in good shape.  Anymore, a good asphalt roofing shingle will give you 20-25 years of life.  Look for grit erosion, cracks, and any other holes that will allow water to penetrate into your attic. 6. Follow up step 5 by getting into your attic and looking at your roof sheathing for any evidence of moisture intrusion and fungal growth. 7.  Check your furnace filter.  If you've had a cold winter and your furnace has been working hard, then it's most likely time to replace. it. Believe me, these things are necessary and will help to prolong the life of your home and it's components.  If you have any questions or comments, please check us out at http://www.CriterionHomeInspection.com or call us at 506.595.0134.