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Show Give Your Home A Stitch In Time A home audit Mmply involves in-volves inspctintf r.ich of your homo' main protective components roof , siding, fountljlion for ign o f wear or cl.imane. The whole prrccs only t.ikes nbout half mi hour The important thinn is knowinii what to look for To help you evaluate the condition of your home. O wens-Corn inn Kilwrvla Corporation has prejiared a -implf audit form. Its main points Bre summarized helow. Slip 1 Check llif Knnf The roof is your home's first line of defense and should lie the first stop on your home nudit. fsm( field hI.t.m-s, insp.t-t the roof for: Lifted, torn or missing sh inules. Shingles that arc curled, hhstrred or have a shiny appearance "HaldinK" shinnies those that are losinc their protective coat of mineral Kr.i miles. Damaged flasluni; the asphalt or metal neal.mt around chimney, vent pipe and in roof valleys Look for cracks or yaps. Check the underside of the roof during a storm. Look for water marks, drips or other sign. that water in infiltrating the house. Hf-rmifmii Afu'y he Answer If your homo ha developed devel-oped n .serious leak, it may he time to put on a new roof. (let the ndvicp of a roofing contractor. He can make n more thorough inspection in-spection of Ihe roof and explain ex-plain your opt ions. If you do need new roof, he sure to check the guarantee that comes with the shingle.. Most asphalt , shingles carry a 15 , '0- or 'Zti year guarantee. Shingle with n 2.ri year guarantee usually cost a little more, hut the invest meut and ' ' ' V l i i J ROOF: Unnq field qlajiei, insprct your roof for torn, musing or dutreiied ihinglrt. 2. GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS: Hoi dovsn the roof and watch for leak in gutteri and downipoim. 3 CAULKING: Chetk roof flashing, corneri, window and door frames, pipe or conduit entnei, and framefoundation abutments. SIDING: SID-ING: Inspect for missing, cracked, warped or rotting boards. ,bN PAINT: Blistering, peeling, alhgatoring or wrinkling paint may rpos siding To possible damage. 61 FOUNDATION: Inspect for large cracks or faults. peace of mind is u.u!iv well worth it ANo check whither the shingles have a glas fiber or heavy paper base til. tvs fiber shingles are more durable, they won't absorb water and therefore resist blistering, blister-ing, curling and other prohlejivs They usually carry a "0-or "0-or 2'i year guarantee but cost no more than paper-based paper-based shingles and gl.is.s fiber shingle are f ire resist ant Slip 2. ChecK- Cutters an.! 'on nspiuits The best way to test your system is simply to hose down the roof and watch the run off Look for leaks. especially around joints and seams Cutters should e pitched so as to allow water to flow freely Clean your gutters, removing re-moving leaves and other debris. It's also a good idea to install leaf strainers Sli p ,7 Inspect C, !;,,; Caulking helps keep your home nir ami water tight as well as energy efficient. Make sure each of the billow, ing points is well caulked All roof flashing, pivi.iliy where the chimney meets the roof All comers formed bv s:dir.g Wherever window or door frames meet the tiding. Vherecr pipes, electrical elect-rical conduits or enls enter the house heie the siding meets the foundation or where masonry steps or porches in. el the body of the house. Step -I nsivcr S:,1:r.g If you have good siding, check it carefully for mis smg. warped or cracked hoards. They can admit water, which rots interior w alls Also check for rotting boards. This usually indicates indi-cates a household ventilation pioblem, i e w ater vapor I mm w ashing, cooking, even breathing is condensing to a li'tuid before reaching the on I doors. Keplace any damaged boards If you have a household house-hold venting problem, install venting fans or use a vapor barrier paint before replacing replac-ing the siding. Step .'. Ac,,,',,,,,',- ,,,- ',,,,i, ... A good paint job does more than beautify tee home; it forms a co"L-ous co"L-ous film that sheis and thus protecu the sidri If the paint job isbeglsi to faii, it m-.il Cispiiy ws warning t-knj as blis'rjs peeling, aliica'.ori-g li ps;-tern ps;-tern of recur.fu'ar evil which develop when is applied to an incor.pi'.-ible incor.pi'.-ible turface), and wr.ni.j (indicates paint wis ipis-i in too thick a coa;V Also check for ciiiSL-.i A'l paints are deserve chalk as a seif-clei" mechanism. Excessive chii ing, however, meins Lhit the pigment in the pi::.; s washing away too qus-tx ep"sing the siding to possible pos-sible darnace. Sten fi Check '-.( Fci.--::- f.-o-i Ail homes, new ii shift to a certain esterit.t you find a very wide ck's running throufh the -:' da! ion, however, you rrit have a serious problem. Its best to call a professional. Water in the bases: can mean that water Kir.?!? is not draining away fw the house properly. Si f:irs Ccve Se.t Now- that you've completed com-pleted vviur home auc.t. i is time to plan reps; There are lots of p'.oes go for help: home impron-ment impron-ment bok$. your b;! supply dealer, or for P"-1; fessional advice, a lo building contractor. Put whether you "c it yourself or call in fcsMonal, the effort ,v-worth ,v-worth it. Fy stayinj on to? of home repairs, you rr.JJ be preventing more serious problems later ors Hn'; the best way to pw'"v' vour home investment. For a free home au--' bmchure and audit fo-write: fo-write: N P I. Mevks. 0f Corning Kibcrglas Cor tion. Kibcrglaa To'-Toledo, To'-Toledo, Ohio 4oeo$ |