{"id":445,"date":"2013-09-10T13:03:19","date_gmt":"2013-09-10T13:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.londonecometal.com\/metal-roofing-ontario-blog\/?p=445"},"modified":"2013-12-06T15:45:34","modified_gmt":"2013-12-06T15:45:34","slug":"diy-home-inspections-what-to-check-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonecometal.com\/metal-roofing-ontario-blog\/2013\/09\/diy-home-inspections-what-to-check-first\/","title":{"rendered":"DIY Home Inspections \u2013 What to check first!"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re out shopping for a new home, or perhaps an investment property and you finally find \u201cthe one\u201d \u2013 here are some things you may want to check in order to avoid buying a money pit.\u00a0 These points are just meant to be used as guidelines, always enlist a professional for your home inspection.<\/p>\n

1. The Roof<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shingles will always be a cheaper and a less environmentally friendly way of covering up the roof; however you don\u2019t want to buy a home and then have to spend another fortune putting on a new roof.\u00a0 So consider this \u2013 today the most common type of roofing shingle is the fiberglass shingle.\u00a0 Fiberglass shingles are composed of a woven fiberglass mat that is covered in a coating of asphalt and sprinkled with ceramic granules to protect the asphalt from UV rays.\u00a0 Thanks to our Canadian climate, the granules soon will come off and litter your eaves troughs, exposing the asphalt to the sun.\u00a0 This causes the shingle to start curling and cracking, creating the possibility for leaks and the need to reroof – again.<\/p>\n

Since most houses in the same area get their roof replaced around the same time, take a look at the other homes in the area. If they have newer roofs and yours looks older, that means that most likely it will be time to replace the roof.\u00a0 Negotiate the cost of a new roof into the selling price of the home and consider getting a permanent metal roof.\u00a0 Metal roofs will last a lifetime, are more environmentally friendly and often have a much better warranty.\u00a0 To find out how much a metal roof will cost you, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Windows and Doors<\/strong><\/p>\n

With years of opening and closing, windows and doors definitely wear out.\u00a0 Inspect them to find out if you will need to replace them or not.\u00a0 If you have a hard time opening or closing them, that is a sure sign it\u2019s time for new ones.\u00a0\u00a0 This is especially true for wooden windows; after being exposed to moisture and the elements for decades, they become warped.<\/p>\n

This can allow air to pass through the loose sashes and the corners of the frame.\u00a0 Check all around the frame and the sashes for air flow.\u00a0 Make sure to also check for any condensation within the window itself, between the glass panes.\u00a0\u00a0 This indicates that there is a loose seal which allows moisture to enter the window \u2013 thus making the window ineffective at creating a barrier to cold air.<\/p>\n

3. Hot Water Heater Tank<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you live in Ontario, chances are it\u2019s a rental \u2013 you\u2019re all set.\u00a0 If it needs to be replaced or serviced, that\u2019s just a phone call away.\u00a0 If you own the unit, it will likely last around 10 to 15 years with good maintenance.\u00a0 Check the water tank for any stickers that indicate maintenance has been recently completed on the tank.\u00a0 Proper maintenance can increase the life of the tank by up to 5 years.\u00a0 By draining the tank every now and then it helps eliminate hard water buildups at the bottom, gets rid of any sand that may have made its way in and in return, increases the life of the tank.<\/p>\n

4. Furnace<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your basic gas furnace will run for about 20 years, maybe even 25-30 years if it was properly maintained.\u00a0 Check the stickers or tags here too, this will let you know when it was last serviced or cleaned, if ever.\u00a0 A furnace is made of metal, and metal that is heated and cooled over and over will contract and expand.\u00a0 With many years of expansion and contraction, cracks in the steel are possible.\u00a0 This is very important as cracks within the unit can lead to gas leaks, like carbon monoxide.\u00a0 This can be very dangerous and that\u2019s why proper maintenance is crucial.\u00a0 Always make sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in your home!<\/p>\n

If the home you\u2019re looking at has an older furnace upwards of 20 years, you should definitely negotiate a change in the price of the home so that you can purchase a new one.\u00a0 Keep in mind that a newer more efficient furnace will also help lower your heating bill.<\/p>\n

5. Electrical Wiring<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most homes built the after the 1980\u2019s will have copper wiring, be sure to check the year the house was built and verify if it has aluminum or copper wiring.\u00a0 Aluminum wiring was used between the 1950\u2019s and 1970\u2019s because the price of copper was so high.\u00a0 This type of wiring can begin to fail over time due to expansion and contraction as well as oxidization, which can result in overheating of the wire.<\/p>\n

If you decide to go ahead with the purchase of a home that doesn\u2019t have copper wiring (either has aluminum or knob and tube),keep in mind the cost of rewiring can be upwards of $10,000 depending on the home.\u00a0 In most cases the drywall will have to be removed and replaced.<\/p>\n

6. Plumbing<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most common types of piping used in homes today are copper, PVC, ABS and CPVC.\u00a0 However prior to the 1960\u2019s cast iron waste water pipes were used, although they can last up to 100 years, the problem is that they begin to rust from the inside out.\u00a0 This means that flakes of rust will eventually break loose and clog the pipe.\u00a0\u00a0 Without proper maintenance, these pipes will rot out and collapse.\u00a0 Prior to the 1980\u2019s lead piping was used in homes throughout North America.\u00a0 Not only was this not the best option for drinking water, it ultimately would rot out just like the cast iron pipes and need to be replaced.\u00a0 Check what kind of piping your home has, if you have to replace them \u2013 negotiate that into the sale price of the home.\u00a0 If the home is over 60 years old, chances are you will be replacing piping.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re out shopping for a new home, or perhaps an investment property and you finally find \u201cthe one\u201d \u2013 here are some things you may want to check in order to avoid buying a money pit.\u00a0 These points are just meant to be used as guidelines, always enlist a professional for your home inspection. 1. … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “DIY Home Inspections \u2013 What to check first!”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60,1],"tags":[7,95,32,31,6],"class_list":["post-445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-maintenance","category-metal-roofing","tag-home-improvement","tag-home-inspection","tag-metal-roof","tag-ontario","tag-roof-renovation","entry"],"yoast_head":"\nToronto Metal roof DIY inspection tips by London Eco roof<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You\u2019re out shopping for a new home, or perhaps an investment property and you finally find \u201cthe one\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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