Common Gutter and Siding Issues Found During A Home Inspection
Do you have a home inspection coming up? Here are some common gutter and siding issues that may be found.
A home inspector should ideally be looking thoroughly at all aspects of the home, both inside and out. Although they will likely spend the majority of the time looking inside and under the house to review everything thoroughly, they should also spend a good deal of time outside where they will inspect the gutters and siding.
If the gutters and/or siding have been neglected, this is asking for trouble. Down the road, you may be facing costly repairs due to water damage and a host of other issues. Here are the most common problems that your home inspector will be on the look out for.
The Gutter
The first and biggest issue found with a house's gutters are improperly pitched or leaking gutters. A gutter should be pitched at about 1/2 inch per 10 feet, going all the way to the end at the downspout. The gutters should be clean and free of leaks at all the seams. A flooded gutter can wick water up and into the roof's decking, causing the wood to rot. A leaky gutter will also leak water downwards into the home's foundation, which can lead to issues with settling and moisture intrusion.
A downspout should also be noted at its discharge location. If it's discharging water into the foot of the home, that's a big problem. The downspout should discharge at least five feet from the home, preferably draining steeply away from the home's foundation, in order to prevent it from draining back.
The Siding
When it comes to the home's siding, one of the biggest things the home inspector is going to be looking for are weathered or rotted trim and frames. If the caulking has gone bad and has yet to be replaced, then water is able to find its way into the cracks and crevasses. From the inside, the water will cause the siding to rot. The siding and trim should be completely sealed and caulked as part of a routine maintenance check.
If siding has been damaged or rotted out, then more water is able to get in and cause more moisture problems beyond the walls of the home. If there are damaged siding or trim pieces, they need to be appropriately addressed and further inspection will be required to check for moisture damage on the inside of the walls.
If your home inspector finds signs of siding or trim that is damaged, has leaks, or may have been damaged and replaced in the past, you should have this looked into closer to make sure there aren't any hidden issues that could cost you big later on.
The Author Adam Clark is the owner and operator of Shield Guard Home Inspections. Adam Clark is a local Home Inspector located in Albany NY that has performed over 6000 Inspections Book online Phone: (518) 720-7152
