H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 16

16

DIY Home
Inspector
Checklist

What to Bring
1. This checklist
2. Wear: Gloves
3. Carry: Flashlight, flathead and
Phillips-head screwdrivers

By Jim Gorman

Outside
Bad Shingles: Use a ladder or binoculars to check asphalt shingles

for curling, blistering or other signs of wear.
Fix It: Control ugly and roof-damaging algae, fungus and mould by
installing zinc strips along the ridge.
Gaps Around Doors: Uneven spaces around doors and windows

can indicate shifting of the foundation.
Clogged Gutters: With gutters and downspouts in good shape, it’s

Leaky Roof: During a downpour, climb into the attic to look for

leaking around chimneys, plumbing stacks, vents and skylights.
Scan the underside of the sheathing for water stains.
Overused Insulation: Batts that cover recessed lighting fixtures

are a fire hazard, unless the fixture is “IC” rated. And blocking soffit
vents can drive up energy and repair costs.
Fix It: For good airflow, pull batts off soffit vents.
Heat-Leaking Stairs: Are pull-down stairs letting heat pour into the

rare to get water in the basement.

attic? Turn on the attic light, close the steps and look up to check
for a loose fit.

Pushy Plants: Branches can form a bridge to the attic for rats,
mice and other critters. Overgrown shrubbery near the house
encourages mildew to grow on siding--and can conceal human
intruders.

Living Spaces

Cracked Caulk: The sealant around doors and windows is vital in

base, leading to major water damage. With every flush, water can
escape, gradually rotting the subfloor.

keeping water out. “Caulk is like the brakes on your car. You’ve got
to replace it or bad things happen.
Peeling Paint: It not only looks bad, deteriorated paint also

exposes wooden siding to weather damage.
Bad Grades: Soil needs to slope away from the house at a grade
of 3 in. for every 5 ft. to avoid basement flooding. This is often a
problem in new homes, because backfilled soil subsides.
Fix It: Until you can regrade, add extensions to downspouts to
carry water 10 to 15 ft. from the house.

The Attic
Truss Trouble: Any tampering with an engineered roof truss

compromises its strength and can create a dangerous condition.
If you notice that truss elements have been cut by a previous
homeowner to make more headroom, call in a structural engineerthis is serious.

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