Household Structures That Are Often Overlooked and Needs Maintenance Procedure

12:07 30 March 2020

Given the option, especially after having worked so hard the whole week, not many would sacrifice their day off to attend to some maintenance procedures in their homes. The best most will do is postpone the issues with their structures and this only works towards jeopardizing the structural integrity of the house. There are various areas in your home that require constant monitoring. Unfortunately, these are the areas that are often overlooked and neglected. One thing to note is that maintenance and repairs help to extend your home’s longevity, increase the value of your home, reduces health risks, and improves livability. Let’s now take a look at the various household structures that are often overlooked and need maintenance procedures.

1. The Roof

Hardly, not many homeowners will notice the effects of time on their roofs. This is an area of your house that is constantly exposed to the elements, one among the many reasons that can cause your roof to deteriorate. Unfortunately, when these issues are passed from one homeowner to the other, it makes it even worse. Preventative maintenance procedures are essential in helping keep the roof structurally intact. To learn more about this and what you can do to prevent your roof from further deterioration, you’ll need to know about the major causes of roof damage such as aging shingles, weather changes, improper installation, and animal damage to mention but a few. While some roof issues can be repaired and the damages reversed, knowing when it’s time to replace the roof will help to save you from the burdens of constant repairs. Here’s how to tell if you need a roof replacement:

• You’ve been living under an old roof for decades
  
  
• Leaks in the attic
  
  
• Shingles buckling and curling
  
  
• Compromised roof valleys
  
  
• Missing shingles
  
  
• Sagging
  
  
• Rotten purlin, kingpost, or strut
  
  

2. The Attic

Not so many people enjoy the attic experience. First, it’s that old squeaky ladder that gives you the creeps. Secondly, it’s the filthy dust that’s up there. And last but not least, it’s the fear that there may be monsters living in the attic! Really? Well, there might be some truths in it. Neglected attics can be home to pesky little monsters known as rodents. In addition to this, if you have a leaking roof, there are higher chances that your attic has become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. To help you take better care of your attic, always be on the lookout for water damage, check for rodent infestation, if any, check the ductwork, and ensure that the wiring up there is intact.

3. The Basement

The basement is yet another area of the house that’s often if not all the time overlooked. Paying attention to your basement will help prevent a variety of risks including too much humidity, drainage risks, foundation risks, flooding, and electrical malfunctions and what have you. These are major risks that if left unresolved will cost you dearly in repairs. The thing is, we are living in a new era that unlike in years past when the basement was used as a storage room, today, most people are remodeling their basement and transforming these once-neglected areas of the house into fully furnished living spaces. Below are ideas you can use to transform your basement. They include:

• Adding functional lights
  
  
• Retouching the basement walls with a fresh coat of paint
  
  
• Transforming the basement into a minibar
  
  
• Transforming the basement into an entertainment center
  
  
• Creating a cozy reading space
  
  

4. Gutters

Most homeowners take their gutters for granted. In silence, gutters are crucial in diverting large amounts of water away from your house thus preventing your house from water damage. As you can see, they are more important than you might think. Neglected gutters will in the long term cause you frustrations, cost you both in terms of time wastage, and monetarily. Cleaning your gutters as often as you can, will help keep your gutters in top-notch shape for long. Below are handy tips on how to clean the gutters:

• Have someone on standby when cleaning the gutters
  
  
• Always use a sturdy ladder
  
  
• Wear safety gear such as gloves, eyes protection, and boots for your feet
  
  
• Start with the rooftop and work your way down
  
  
• Use a gutter scoop to remove debris from the gutters
  
  
• Hose everything else both in and on the gutters
  
  
• Don’t leave before unclogging the downspouts
  
  

The house being your biggest investment deserves more than just the title of being your home. You should put more effort into making your home livable and functional. Neglecting your home, as earlier mentioned, will only cause the most important of your household structures to further deteriorate.