Major Home Repairs You Can Not Put Off
As a homeowner, you constantly make practical decisions, from what appliances to choose to when you need to clean the windows. Home maintenance, as much as any other decision-process, constantly evolves. However, among your checklist of repairs, some are so critical that you need to attend to them in a timely manner. Here are some of the maintenance tasks that should be mandatory, not optional, items on your homeowner to-do sheet.
Foundation Cracks
Homes in some regions of the country are subject to extreme weather conditions; cycles of heating and cooling can cause subsidence, where the land beneath your home continually shifts and settles (as does underground mining). This shifting can cause cracks to form in your home’s foundation. Pay note of these cracks, especially when they appear to grow over time. While some cracking can be acceptable, you should enlist the services of a company specializing in slab repairs to help you determine whether yours are serious and in need of remediation.
Pests
Noisy relatives are not the only guests homeowners find unwelcome. Rodents and insects can invade your home and cause a range of problems ranging from annoying to destructive. Mice, for example, carry disease and eat your food. Worse, termites will chew through wood in foundations and walls, diminishing your home’s integrity. Look for signs of invasion that include mouse droppings near stored foods and termite mud tunnels running along your foundation.
Plumbing Leaks
Water is one of the more destructive natural elements. If you notice drips on the floor, wet walls or other signs of leaking plumbing, you need to call in a plumber immediately. If not addressed, these leaks can quickly lead to catastrophic mold growth and crumbling walls. You should also repair a dripping faucet; while this issue is not as concerning as a pipe-leak, the drip will worsen over time, leading to dramatically increased utility bills.
Roof Concerns
Roof leaks can cause as much damage as pipe leaks. An old, worn roof will provide insufficient protection against sun, rain and snow. You can spot some signs of wear from the ground: missing or curled shingles in various areas; peeling flashing around chimneys and vents; and faded coloring in some sections. However, if your roof is more than ten years old, consider having it inspected by a roofing specialist for peace-of-mind.
A well-built home should last a lifetime. However, even the best structure can be compromised by serious structural issues. To ensure your home remains structurally sound for years to come, annually inspect your home for major maintenance concerns that you can immediately remediate.
