Exterior

How long do Terracotta Tile Roofs Last? With proper care the terracotta tile roof will last thousands of years. 5 Places That Stucco Leaks and Homeowners Never Look 5 Places where stucco leaks, but no one looks. Check your house. Stucco cracks – What Structural Engineers Look For Homeowners need to know when stucco cracks involve structural issues. Stucco Cracks in New House | Which are Typical or Major Do you know how to identify which cracks are major? Learn now. Is Stucco Waterproof | Does Stucco Leak Water causes damage to homes, including wood rot and mold. Know where to look for leaks and how moisture gets in. Stucco Cracks at Door and Window Corners | which ones are serious Causes stucco cracks at window and door corners and when serious? Stucco Flaking or Damaged Under Door Threshold Stepdown Is stucco flaking or falling off under a doors threshold cosmetic or a warning sign? Stucco Cracks: Diagonal, Horizontal, Vertical | Serious? Cracks in stucco walls may allow moistures intrusion and cause mold and structural damage. Stucco Cracks Involving Foam Trim & Mouldings | If Serious Are cracks in stucco foam trim and mouldings serious and do they leak? Which Stucco Cracks Are Serious And A Structural Concern Structural stucco cracks can be serious and costly, but don't be fooled, they're not all big in appearance. Cracks and Problems with EFIS Synthetic Stucco | When Serious If you have cracks, improperly sealed penetration's or moisture trapped behind the lamina. See if serious. How to Tell if Traditional Stucco or EFIS Synthetic Stucco It is hard to tell if you have Traditional stucco or EFIS synthetic stucco. Try these 6 ways. How Thick Should Stucco Be, The Code and Why it Matters If stucco is too thin or too thick it can result in cracking, leaks, lose of strength and other problems. Just how thick should it be? Sagging, Bowed or Wavy Roof – Check the Attic for 6 Things The structural integrity of a roof is critical and one of the key areas to check is the attic Wavy or Sagging Roof May Be a Foundation Problem: 5 Things to Check Wavy or sagging roofs can be a warning sign that there are foundation problems with a house. Skylight Condensate Gutters or Channels: Ceiling Stains If Clogged Condensate will build up on the bottom side of skylights in bathrooms, kitchens and when the humidity is high. This can cause staining on ceilings. Roof Certification – Do I Need One ? Roof Certification - What Is It And Do I Need One for My Loan ? A Sun Screen Or Tinting Can Invalidate A Windows Warranty Sun screen or tinting applied by a homeowner may invalidate the windows manufacturer's warranty or cause dual pane windows to fail. General exterior step and railing information Handrails or guardrails. Stairs and steps without handrails are generally a safety concern. What should you do? Roof Waviness: Causes of Wavy Roofs Waviness may relate how the roof was originally framed or because... Cut, Modified or Damaged Roof Trusses Trusses that get cut, i.e. by an HVAC contractor or remodeling contractor may fail or sag over time. Fisheyes: A Painting Defect On Metal Doors and Hardware Fisheyes are common. Learn how to correct and avoid them. Blistering Paint What cause those paint bubbles, or blisters; how to avoid them and what to do about them. Two or More Roof Coverings: 2 May Be OK Sometimes, However, Look For These Problems A second or third roof covering may weigh too much for the rafters and cause sagging or damage. Moss on Roofs Enchanting story book "English Cottages" with moss all over the roof may look charming, however, too much moss will shorten the life of a roof. There are a variety of ways you can... Clogged Gutters: Clean And Check For Siding Damage Siding may become damaged or occasionally water may intrude into the wall. Water Puddling or Standing On Flat Roof Deterioration or leaking may occur if water stands on a roof too long. A little puddling is acceptable provided that it is not too deep. Gravel Voids On Flat Roofs May Shorten the Life Expectancy or Cause Leaking Gravel voids can cause a roof to leak, shorten it's life expectancy and deteriorate the tar or building paper. Clogged Drains and Debris Build-up on Flat Roofs Flat type roofs often have leaves and other debris that gathers on them overtime. If the leaves and debris are not occasionally removed, the drains may get clogged or restricted by the debris. If water builds-up, leaking may occur and if the water builds up high enough, it can cause structural damage. Roof Jacks; Help Prevent Rain Water From Penetrating The Roof Pipe or vents running through the roof should have proper roof jacks to help keep water from penetrating the roof. Kickers – Roof Flashing That Prevents Water From Entering a Homes Wall Crickets Help Divert Water Where the Chimney Penetrates the Roof Metal flashing where a chimney penetrates a roof helps divert water so as to reduce water puddling or leaks in that area. Tempered glass What's the difference between regular glass and tempered glass. If i need tempered glass and don't have it; then what are my options? Fogged or Cloudy Skylights Age, UV rays, moisture and many other things can cause a skylight to be cloudy. Skylight Leaks, Stains and Flashing Issues Generally issues with skylights relate to failure to properly maintain them. When is the last time you heard someone talk about maintaining their skylights? Been awhile? Cracked Or Damaged Skylight Repair or replacement. Several factors and choices usually exist. Look at... Weep Screed Blocked: Check For Stains and Mold If you have blocked stucco "weep screed," do you have mold or water trapped in a wall? Stucco cracks Contractors will tell you that concrete cracks; well likewise, stucco tends to crack. There are several things... Sagging Roof – Is It Damaged Rafters or Trusses, Too Much Weight, or Design? What type of roofing material is on the roof? Heavy tile, two layers of shingles, or has heavy snow loads and age caused a little sagging? Tiles That Have Slipped Out of Position: Check the Building Paper for Damage When Repairing Roof Tiles Cracked, Damaged or Missing; When Repairing Be Sure To Check The Building Felt Under The Tile Cracked and damaged tile can be easily repaired or replaced, but the roof may still leak because of the underlayment under the tile. Composition Shingle Missing or Damaged: Check the “underlayment, Installation and the Roofs’ Sheeting There is more to replacing tore and damaged shingles, then just putting on new shingles. General Roof Information There are a few things we all should know about our roof. For example, what can affect the health or life expectancy. Rusted and Dinged Metal Doors Is it the front door or the side door of the garage rusted? How bad is it? What to do may differ from person to person. Delamination of Wood Doors When the skin of a door pulls loose from the frame, there are usually several reasons. The first is... Interior Key Lock On Dead Bolts Is A Major Safety Issue Inside-key dead bolts are a major safety concern. Find out why and what the exceptions are...