What are your thoughts on gutter leaf guards? Did you know that even with leaf guards, your gutters still need to be monitored and cleared at least three times a year? It is especially important to check on your gutters in the fall – an October, early December, and April cleaning will help keep water […]
Gutter Leaf Guards – Do They Work? Read More »
What’s wrong with this picture? If you said the chimney is missing a chimney cap, you’re right! Such a simple, inexpensive fix. However, if this is left like this, you could be facing one or more of the following issues: Chimney caps keep out birds, BATS, squirrels, and other small rodents. If something crawls into
You likely wouldn’t know it by looking at it, but the first two photos are of a ROOF. A Mansard-style roof, to be exact. And yes, those are leaves and plants growing ON the roof. A Mansard roof is characterized by having very steep slopes/pitch on each side of the house and a flat or
Unique Roofs Mean Unique Challenges Read More »
Can you spot the problem here?We’ll give you a hint… it rhymes with ‘hissing clownsprout’. . . . This gutter is missing a downspout (right side). That means that all of the water from rain, melting snow, etc. drains directly into the area next to and into the foundation. As water penetrates into the foundation
What’s Wrong with This Picture? Read More »
Rick Doherty, NC Licensed Home Inspector, on a roof checking for wood and structural damage. Roof inspections, when safe and accessible, are just one of the critical areas covered in our comprehensive home inspections. Rick moves through your home (or potential new home) foot by foot in order to provide the most thorough inspection possible.
Comprehensive Inspections Read More »
This home had a significant – but not obvious from the outside – gap in the attic. I discovered it during the home inspection and made sure to alert my client, the buyer. Gaps like this are an easy entryway for animals and insects like bats, squirrels, birds, hornets, etc. If a bat colony decides
HVAC TIP: Check to make sure there are no gaps! Gaps in the metal exterior duct that leads from the HVAC to the home lets heat escape and lets water in. It can also contaminate the air supply with undesirable fungal growth (think mold). The metal box should be flush and sealed to the home
HVAC Tips – Watch The Gap! Read More »
This water stain on the ceiling might seem pretty obvious – but would you, the buyer OR the home owner, notice this in the guest bedroom closet? That is where I found this stain and it led me to the attic to investigate further, where I found evidence of a past active leak. Leaks like
Sneaky Leaks, Part 2… Read More »
Does this look odd to you, too? This is a picture of two exhaust fan pipes from two separate second floor bathrooms vented into – but not out of – the attic. Excessive moisture from these fans is constantly vented directly into the attic, which causes condensation on the wood sheathing of the roof, on
Bathroom Exhaust Fans Must Be Vented OUTSIDE Read More »
After all the rain from Hurricane Florence, we thought it would be a good time to remind everyone about a very simple fix that can save you thousands of dollars in water/foundation damage. ALL of the downspouts and pipes around your home should extend at least 6 feet away from your foundation. You can do
RAIN RAIN, GO AWAY … AT LEAST 6 FEET AWAY Read More »
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