Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina was recently doing a home inspection in Monroe NC near Charlotte when hw noticed some trouble with the gutter system There are several causes of overflowing gutters. In could be that they are clogged, rusted or leaking at the seams. They might also be loose or sloped the incorrect direction. To find out for sure what the problem might be you need to climb up on a ladder to inspect your gutters.

Overflowing gutters can cause problems worse than just stained siding. The repeated flow of water from overflowing gutters can cause wood siding to rot. A more serious problem can be caused when gutters overflow and water backs up under roofing shingles and flows down inside the wall cavity. Moist conditions like these can also increase the likelihood of termite infestation.

Every homeowner should clean and inspect his or her gutters twice a year: once in late fall and once in the spring. If you cannot do it yourself and cannot afford two cleanings per year, clean your gutters once after the last of the leaves have fallen in late fall. Don’t wait until spring because seeds will have sprouted in the leaves and other organic matter that accumulates in your gutters, which makes them much more difficult to clean.

If you have a single-story house, first use a gutter-cleaning attachment for a leaf blower/vacuum or a wet/dry vacuum. These attachments have a long tube with a U-shaped bend on the end designed to reach into gutters. The ideal time to clean gutters is after a long, dry spell so the debris in the gutters will be dry and more easily sucked into the tube.

Next, climb up on a ladder near the downspout end.
Always have a helper steady the ladder. Move the ladder often and don’t try to reach too far because it is easy to lose your balance.

Wearing gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal or protruding screws clean out the downspout opening and stuff a rag in the opening so debris will not fall into it. A garden trowel works well for scooping out debris.

After you have the gutters cleaned out, remove the rag from the downspout opening. Move the ladder to the other end of the gutter. Flush the gutter with water from a garden hose and observe the flow of the water. It should flow toward the downspout and there should be very little standing water when you turn off the water. Also, check for leaks from beneath the gutters.

If you notice leaky spots, hopefully they are at the seams. You can repair leaking seams with caulk and probably get many more years of service before the gutters need to be replaced. If the leaks are from a non-seam section, the gutters likely need to be replaced.

When water is left standing in the gutter, this means the slope of the gutter is incorrect or it is sagging. Changing the slope is a major job you might not want to tackle yourself. If there is a just a sagging spot, several of the mounting nails have pulled out.

Don’t just drive the nails back into the holes. They may feel tight, but they will pull out during the next rain. Go to your home center and get some long gutter screws made for this purpose. They screw into the old mounting holes and support the gutter. http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com

There are a few different methods for removing outdoor paint. Depending on the overall project, you’ll either want to remove all of the old paint or remove enough of it to allow a new coat of paint to adhere without the risk of chipping.

If the painted surface is wood:
When refinishing a wooden deck or fence, the best method for removing old paint is to use a power sander. A sander will take off the top layer of the wood, however be careful not to overdo it. Because the project is outdoors, ventilation is not a problem, but you should still wear a breathing mask.

If the painted surface is concrete or brick:
Concrete and brick are porous surfaces and getting paint out of all the cracks and crevices is no easy task. The best way to tackle the job is to use a steam pressure washer. This type of pressure washer uses steam which essentially melts the paint, allowing it to be washed away by the pressurized washer.

If the painted surface is metal:
It can be very difficult to remove paint from a metal surface, especially if you want to preserve the original look and quality of the metal. If scratching the surface is not a concern, then sandblasting will probably work best. If you are concerned about scratching the surface, a chemical paint stripper is ideal, but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding proper handling and use.

For more information please go to our website: http://www.homeinspectioncarolina.com/

When you invest the money to purchase new carpeting or furniture, you want your investment to look as new as possible for as long as possible. Unfortunately, dirt and dust begin to accumulate on your new acquisition almost the minute you have it installed or bring it home from the showroom. If you have kids or pets in the house, this process is exponentially expedited.

The good news is that with a little know-how and some preventative care, you can keep your carpet and your upholstery in top condition for many years to come. The first step to effective carpet and upholstery cleaning occurs when you make your initial purchase. Make sure that you have information from the manufacturer on the best ways to care for a clean your purchase. Identify the materials and fabrics used in the construction of the item, since this will determine the types of cleaning solvents and products you will need to use.

An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure

This old adage is invaluable to the care and cleaning of your carpet and upholstery. Regular maintenance can significantly cut down on the amount of deep cleaning you will have to do, and light, frequent cleaning can extend the life of your carpet and upholstery. Vacuum your carpet and upholstery often, and clean up spills and stains as soon as possible after they occur. There are many good choices for stain removal that are both commercial and handmade varieties. The key is to find the proper solution for the particular substance you are trying to eliminate in your carpet or upholstery clean-up.

When Spot Cleaning Is Not Enough

When you have tried vacuuming and stain removal, and your carpet or upholstery still doesn’t look clean enough, it may be time to haul out the heavy equipment. You can choose to buy or rent your own carpet and upholstery cleaner, or you can hire a professional to do the job for you. Carpet and upholstery cleaners are available for rent at a number of locations, and can be fairly inexpensive to use. Often the machine itself is the least expensive part of the process – the larger cost comes in when it is time to fill it with cleaning solutions. Most rental systems use the steam cleaning method, where steam is used to extract dirt from the carpet fibers. It is generally considered a fairly effective means of cleaning carpets and upholstery. The only drawback to DIY machines is that they require some furniture moving and elbow grease to get the job done. Most will agree that the result is worth the effort however, when you have a cleaner carpet and upholstery for minimal cost.