Basic Carpentry And Home Improvement Tips
Basic carpentry and home improvement tips. Roof First, note the style and covering of the roof. It's generally advisable to match the roof of an addition to the style and material of the original. Next, check the condition of the roof. You'll probably be looking at asphalt (also called composition) shingles, the most common roofing material in this country. Are the shingles broken, cracked, or curled? Are any missing? Is discoloration or other deterioration visible? Dark patches on asphalt shingles indicate that the surface material has worn away. Again, look for any sagging at the ridge or on the roof faces.
Try to find out the age of the roof so that you can estimate its remaining life. (Asphalt shingles, for example, can be expected to last 15 to 25 years.) Look at the metal skirting (flashing) around the chimney and vent pipes. Do they form a complete seal? Are there any indications of leaking here or where the roof faces join? Move closer to the house and look up at the eaves for obvious signs of rot or decay. Do the gutters sag? Note the position of any questionable roof areas for closer inspection from inside the attic.
More basic carpentry and home improvement tips. Also check the condition of the chimney. Is it plumb, or does it lean away from the house? The joint between the chimney and the house should be tightly sealed. Check the mortar of masonry chimneys, and look for discolored bricks that might indicate leaks. The top of the chimney should extend 3 feet above a 11 roof and 2 feet above the nearest high point on a pitched roof. Foundation. Now walk around the perimeter of the house. Inspect the foundation, paying particular attention to any areas that appeared from a distance to be settling. Check for cracks—particularly vertical ones larger than 74 inch poured on concrete or masonry foundations, and examine the mortar between bricks.
The foundation should be exposed for 6 to 8 inches above ground. Peeling paint on a concrete foundation may indicate moisture build-up in the basement. Soil should be graded away from the foundation to channel runoff water away from the house. Look for signs of runoff pooling against the foundation. Check ti see that downspouts have splash plates to channel water away. Thanks for reading this page on basic carpentry and home improvement tips