Home Inspectors

Clean gutters ensure that rainwater drains away from your home effectively. If your gutters become clogged or broken, you could experience expensive water damage in many areas of your home. Take time to regularly check and clean your gutters throughout the year, especially at the beginning of winter when they may be full of fallen leaves. Check for broken brackets and cracks in the gutter troughs. You can also explore gutter protection options, such as sheathing that allows water to enter your gutters while keeping out debris. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about preserving or improving your home’s gutter system.

If you own a home with a basement, you may already have big plans for using it as additional space. Some people use it as an office, mother-in-law suite or even storage. Whatever the purpose you have in mind, keeping the space dry is important. To combat dampness in a basement, common home maintenance tips include purchasing a dehumidifier. This is a low-cost solution that helps to remove much of the humidity in the air. If you have water seeping in through the basement, take a look outside to see if you can divert drainage from your house by using longer gutter hoses.  In some cases, you may still have dampness inside the basement. When this happens, you can rely on professional services to help you rectify the problem quickly.

A leaky faucet can seem like such a tiny thing, but fixing those drips can provide major benefits for your wallet and your sanity. Getting rid of nighttime leaks can help you fall asleep more quickly and enjoy a relaxing night’s sleep. At the same time, you can literally save hundreds of dollars on your annual water bill. All of that for taking care of a little leak? Yes, please! How To Fix a Leaking Faucet You don’t need to call a plumber for this super-easy home maintenance project. Dripping faucets are the epitome of a quick fix. Many homeowners can tackle this task in 20-30 minutes.  First, check the handle for leaks by taking off the handle and tightening the packing nut. All you need is a wrench for this part. If there’s still a leak, the next step is to replace the seal underneath the stem assembly. Shut off the water for a minute and unscrew the assembly. Once you’ve changed the washer and put things back together, turn the water on again.

1. Cutting concrete undermines structural integrity: When you cut a slab you compromise the foundational integrity of the building. You may be able to patch the hole so it’s aesthetically appealing, but the floor will not be as solid as it was to begin with. Plus, if your home sits on ground that’s less than solid, such as sand, it may settle differently after the cut. 2. Cutting concrete is never perfect: You may need to cut a circle, square or rectangle into a floor for burying a sewage ejector and its waste-storage basin, but that perfect shape will inevitably crack on the edges and fray outward in unintended directions. Once a stress crack is created, it can extend into the footing or into the walls. 3. Cutting concrete is unpredictable: It is difficult to know the depth of the concrete and whether it sits on rocks or a ledge, as well as if it contains rebar or tension cables. You can cause major damage if you accidentally cut one of those cables, so many professional contractors use an X-ray machine to determine the positioning of the cables, which is an additional cost. 4. Cutting concrete creates leaks and seepage: Once a stress crack is generated, radon and ground-water penetration are major issues, with the latter bringing unwanted moisture and mold problems as well. You don’t need a major flood to trigger these hazards. A higher-than-usual water table, because of extended wet weather, could be the culprit. 5. Large amounts of dust: Breaking through concrete generates a large amount of noise and dust. The noise stops when the jackhammers and saws shut down, but the dust doesn’t fade as quickly. That’s because it is not conventional household dust, but a thick particulate that gets into the central air system, which means it can be around for a long time if not properly handled. Consider smart alternatives Beyond these red flag reasons, cutting concrete can be time-consuming and expensive. The actual expense of cutting concrete depends on the size and complexity of the job, as well as local labor availability and rates. In some parts of the nation, the per-foot rate may be a few hundred dollars; in others, $1,000 or more.