Tasks all homeowners should do before it’s too late

Has the phrase, “I wish I would have…” ever crossed your mind? Well, Rosie calls it the “woulda, shoulda, coulda syndrome!” Most commonly, we face this reality when we don’t prepare.

Preparation is the act of putting in proper condition or state of readiness an event, or in this case, your home. Seasonal preparation is a common and important topic at Rosie on the House. Each season has chores specific to that time of year. Let’s do a quick review of the most common chores and look at some tell-tale signs that need to be addressed.

Prepare for weather

Heavy storms can hit without warning. Get ready for storms before they come.

Drainage: No matter where you are in this great State of Arizona, you are susceptible to copious amounts of water coming your way. Check your rainwater drainage systems, including gutters and downspouts. Make sure they are not clogged with debris and are ready to keep the water moving away from your home. If you have drainage swales on your property, make sure they are clear, too. The goal here is to keep the water away from your home.

Wind: Along with or even without the water, comes the wind. Y’all know how wind bursts can achieve tornado-like effects. Every year roofs are damaged, and the coverings outside our homes can be affected. Making sure there are no loose tiles on your roof is a good start. We often overlook other items such as yard or patio furniture. Not having these secured can pose a real hazard if they become airborne in a strong wind. Store them in a garage or shed, or if you can’t do that, try to tie them down.

Preparation before winter

Winterizing is another annual chore that takes on different meanings in different parts of Arizona. The valleys that aren’t subject to sustained freezing typically don’t have the same scope of tasks as our mountain-dwelling homeowners.

Water pipes. Are they insulated from the freezing temperatures? Faucets and valves should be checked as well.

Heating system checkup. Do this in September in the colder climates and no later than October elsewhere. This is definitely one of those “before it’s too late” tasks.

Window and door seals. Weather stripping and caulking go a long way in keeping the indoor air climate controlled. Infiltrating air can make a cold winter feel a lot colder.

To do anytime

Aside from the seasonal preparation, some issues arise at any time of the year. Those need to be addressed “before it’s too late,” too.

Survey your home for cracks. A crack in the surface of any material indicates a problem. These problems can multiply and become costly fixes if they are not addressed promptly.

Let’s look at a few cracks and what they could mean.

Concrete. Whether a driveway, walkway or retaining wall, cracks in concrete could be serious. Concrete, by its very nature, cracks.

Expansion joints and score lines are put into both flat and vertical surfaces to tell the concrete where to crack. These joints, when done properly, are treated to prevent any associated damage when they do crack.

Horizontal surfaces such as sidewalks, will allow for the minor infiltration of moisture to flow through, which will not cause damage.

Vertical surfaces will typically have expansion joints that are designed to allow for movement but not moisture to penetrate.

When cracks occur in unplanned areas, you need to pay attention. Cracks in your driveway cause heaving and irregular surfaces.

Cracks in your foundation or retaining wall need a professional’s attention.

Other areas that need preparation

• Pool decks. If the pool area has a surface treatment on it, cracking can lead to an eventual failure of large portions of that surface. It can also be a tripping hazard.
• Pavers. One of the beauties of this product is that a cracked paver can usually be easily replaced. It’s the cause of the crack that is the real issue. Failure of the subbase is a common reason for a paver to crack. Look at surrounding drainage and consider burrowing animals as a potential cause.
• Tiles. Most tile systems, inside and outside, are set on a solid subsurface. If the tiles crack, it is almost a given that the subsurface has failed or is failing in some way. A small crack could be masking a much larger one if on concrete, or a structural flaw in a framing system.
• Stucco. Regardless of the specific stucco system used, a crack is not good. Some systems will incorporate expansion joints or planned and treated cracks. If a crack occurs in any other area of the surface, moisture can infiltrate and potentially cause significant leaks, or even a dreaded build-up of mold.
• Wood. Our Arizona sun is usually not kind to untreated or poorly treated wood surfaces. Cracks or “checking” in a wood product typically indicates a need for better treatment, or in some cases, replacement.
• Glass. Any crack here is not a good thing. Minor cracks in the seal of a double-paned window (usually indicated by a fogging effect between panes) mean the window is not functioning as designed.
• Caulking. Inside and outside, caulking is used to seal two dissimilar surfaces from some form of moisture infiltration, such as a counter from wiping it down or a doorjamb from allowing water through. It is also used to unify the continuity of two surfaces, as in painting. When the two materials move differently, the caulking can crack.

Cracks are caused by differential movement. Finding out and fixing that cause is in your best interest. Rosie says, “I can’t recall any crack fixing itself.”

Pay attention to any crack or any other damage or potential damage in and around your home before it’s too late