The Secrets Hiding In Your Attic
Accessing your attic can be quite problematic - that little access panel in the attic isn't easy to crawl through and even pull down stairs aren't fun
. Unless you've got a finished attic, you probably only climb into your attic to put away holiday decorations or store things you might need for a few years.
Attics can tell you about the condition of your home and Clint McKie (from Desert Sun Home Inspections) reveals some secrets about it that can save you time and money.
Getting To Know Your Attic
When a home inspector finds an attic hatch sealed with paint he knows that no one has ever been up there. When later asked about the attic, homeowners may respond with, "Never had any reason to go up there ..." or "Didn't think it was safe."
While the second response may be true for the inexperienced homeowner, we do recommend homeowners become aware of and comfortable with what goes on in their attics. Just like so many components of one's house, the attic plays a strategic role in the home's overall condition in terms of structural stability, energy efficiency and fire safety.
The attic will always reveal a great deal about the house. It's usually one of the last places to be repaired or renovated during the life of the home. But quite interestingly, the history of the house, while not obvious at other locations, can frequently be understood when viewing the attic.
Homeowner's Attic Checklist
1. Is my attic adequately insulated? When it's cold outside the attic, it is probably warm inside. That's a clue that heat is escaping from the rooms below the attic and you're wasting money heating unused attic space.
Your homes geographic location determines how much insulation you need. You can work through what you need by starting with Energy Star's Recommended Levels of Insulation or you can get an energy audit which will tell you where your air leaks are and how to fix them. For example, we often find heating/cooling duct work that's come loose and that's not a difficult problem to fix.
2. Is my attic properly ventilated?
When you don't have adequate ventilation, you're at risk of a whole host of problems ranging from delaminating roof sheathing, water streaks on interior walls and rotting of wood framing. Moisture and attic temperature are related. Generally speaking, your attic temperature should be no more than 10 to 15F degrees higher than the outside air temperature. Your home's location, square footage of the attic and the slope of the roof all dictate the amount of ventilation required. Moisture is common in attics and needs to be exhausted to the outside. Too often we find soffit vents blocked preventing fresh air from coming in or walls of boxes blocking the flow of air between gable vents on either side of the attic.
3. Are there kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans terminating in the attic?
Too often when homes are built, the easy solution to venting bathroom fans is to run the duct work up to the attic. This violates building codes but most homeowners don't know the codes and don't realize why this is a problem. These are unwanted sources of moisture and need to be redirected to leave your house. This problem should be fixed right away.
4. Are there any issues with structural members?
Inspecting your rafters and trusses for cracked, broken and sagging sections should be part of every attic visit. If you see something you think is out of place, take a picture and discuss your concerns with a professional. Once you start inspecting your attic every year, you'll begin to learn what looks right, making it easier to spot changes which might signal a problem.
5. Is the roof decking plywood or OSB? What is its condition?
Is the bottom of your roof warped, water stained, or deteriorated? Does it appear to have been painted over or is it discolored? Many insurance companies will not replace roofs for interior fires, instead authorizing payment only for repainting smoke damaged framing and decking.
These are just a few reminders of what to look for in an attic. We see other problems too - wires chewed by rodents or worse, dead animals that finally explain why there's a strange smell in the house. If you're experiencing severe storms, you should inspect your attic more frequently. The best way to learn how to do the job yourself, is to schedule a home inspector and accompany them to learn from a pro.
by: Tina Gleisner
The Secrets To Skin Rejuvenation Increase Muscle Mass Naturally - 3 Secrets For Accomplishing Your Goal Revealing The Secrets Of Landscapers In The Southern Hemisphere For Rich As Well As Plentiful Garden The Secrets Of Industrial Furnaces Know The Secrets Behind How To Short Sale In Arizona Secrets For Successfully Making An Affiliate Residual Income 10 Secrets To Success Secrets For Looking Great In Life Secrets On How To Make Diablo 3 Gold To Be A Billionaire The Secrets Of Mezhyhirya Learn The Secrets Of Aging Beautifully The Secrets Of Building A Great Vegetable Garden Revealing Secrets In Hostmonster