We often forget about the toll that winters in Toronto take on our houses and buildings. The freezing and thawing cycles, snow, salt and winds can contribute greatly to shortening the lifespan of driveways, foundations, roofing and windows. Proactive preventative maintenance can repair much of this wear to extend lifespans, better protect your home from the elements, avoid costly unplanned repairs and, perhaps most importantly, preserve the value of your property.
Now that spring has officially arrived (on the calendar, anyways!), it is a great time to walk around your house to check for visual signs of wear or damage after the winter. Small repairs now can save greatly in the future! Below you’ll find some guidelines to help you know where to start and what to look for:
- The eavestrough (or gutters): Improper drainage is one of the most common contributors to damp or leaky basements. Ensuring that eavestroughs are free of dirt or debris will help the system to work effectively and drain water into the downspout. Check that there are no gaps between the eavestrough and the roof, and that connecting pieces are securely fastened. Lastly, make sure that the water is directed at least six feet away from your home’s foundation walls to allow reabsorption of water through the ground (and not your foundation!).
- The roof: Your first line of defence from the elements is your roof. Regardless of the age of your roof, all homeowners should have a look up to ensure all shingles are present and none are damaged, curling or cupping. The lifespan of asphalt shingles is usually somewhere in the range of 15-30 years depending on quality and environment.
- Foundation walls:Foundation walls are susceptible to damage over the winter months as the freezing and thawing cycle can exacerbate small problems. Check the exterior of your house for cracks or any other wear. Small cracks can be patched yourself or by a handyman. Larger cracks should be investigated further to ensure that the foundation is not compromised, requiring expert help. Check around windows and doors for damaged or rotten trim, missing flashing, mold or other evidence of water entry on the interior of the house.
- Grading:Rain and runoff can wash away valuable soil around structures. Ensure that all of the ground around your home is sloping away from the house, to safeguard against water pooling near foundational walls.
- Major systems: The change of seasons is a great time to check all major systems. You’re likely still using the furnace, but a filter change may be due and the humidifier could benefit from a cleaning. Now is also a good time to check the Air Conditioner to ensure that it’s functional. Check your outdoor faucets, clean and service any sump pumps or backflow valves.
- Don’t forget the yard: After the thaw, it’s time to rake the grass to collect anything missed in the fall or that has landed there through the winter months, to encourage new growth. Trim back any trees or shrubs, especially those near air conditioners, dryer vents or roof lines.
If you’re new to home ownership or not sure how to approach some of these tasks, we recommend a walk-through with a qualified Home Inspector. We work with great inspectors who can help to explain the age of major components, how each of these systems interact, and the best way to approach general home maintenance. If you need a referral to someone who can help with this, let me know!
If you are considering selling this year, we would love the opportunity to meet you, explain our array of services and tell you how we can help to prepare your house for sale. Our communal goal is always to maximize value for our clients, and we are committed to helping you through this process.
Thanks for reading!
Marcia Martin
Note: This article was written for April issue of Neighbours of Bloor West Village, The Junction & Lambton Baby Point
