I Home and Garden Guide

Take Hard Look At Your House To Spot Problems

Love and familiarity can make a homeowner oblivious to potential problems with the roof and siding of his or her house. The experts point out that prudent homeowners know the importance of looking after small problems before they become big problems. THE FIRST step in spot ting problems before they becomfe disasters is to make an inspection tour of your own home. Make this tour with a critical eye — it is easy for the homeowner whd likes his or her home and sees it day in and day out to take it for granted, to overlook the little things which are going wrong. So. grab a note pad and a pair of binoculars and condition your eyes to look for trouble as you begin a slow walking tour around the premises. MAKE A LIST of each defect you spot; even the smallest flaw should go down on your "fix-it" list. First, check the roof. The roof and siding are the "skin" of your home and are under constant attack by the elements — wind, rain, hot sun. sleet, snow and ice To get a panoramic view of the roof, stand across the street and in the backyard. Use your binoculars for a ' close-up inspection. START AT the top. checking the condition of the ridge of the roof, an area where rotting material generally comes loose. If it's safe and easy, go up on the roof and inspect the flashing around the chimney and vents Look for cracks in the shingles and^dried and cracked roofing cement around vent flashing. Another spot'which can spell trouble is the chimney area, so check the mortar holding the chimney — be sure it is firm with no crumbling spots. NOW IT IS time to take a hard look at the gutters and downspouts. Both should be cleaned thoroughly in spring and fall to keep them free from leaves, debris and dirt. Gutters and downspouts are designed to carry water a«hfy and down troin your house, preventing water from backing up and causing roof leaks or from running down into the basement where it will encourage termites and rot FROM A LADDER, look for. holes or breaks in the gutters or broken support straps. Take your screwdriver and poke the wood at the eaves to determine if it is still sound — soft wood, almost like paper pulp, is a sign of rot and should be replaced. Conclude your inspection trip with a careful study of the siding. If there are loose, split or rotting boards or shingles, make a note of them on your list. When you finish your tour, you will have a list of all the trouble spots which should be fixed before disaster strikes. These repairs can i

be made without too much work, expensive equipment or profesisonal help — all you need is a good do-it-yourself guide.

BEACON POOLS II I 465-7877 325- Mechanic St., Cape May Court House t __________ — —————— — — a ■ I . ■ I I I 1 I CONCRETE POOIS ' .

Wallcoverings Mask Blemishes Architectural flaws can be masked by dislructing the eye. Wallcoverings are excellent way to do it Strong vertical stripes in a shade darker than thr^ ceiling can add height to room; a dark wallcovering on the ceiling with light colored walls can lower a high ceiling

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