NOVEMBER 15, 2017 • Volume 12 • Issue 46
RE WEEKLY RESIDENTIAL • ACREAGE • FARM • COMMERCIAL • AREA DEVELOPMENT 515-233-3299 • 317 5th Street, Ames • All REALTOR® ads within are REALTORS® licensed in the State of Iowa
Online at www.AmesTrib.com/realestateweekly
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e l o H roof in the
Don’t let a small one turn into a big problem
By Laura Firszt
More Content Now
A
hole in your roof can be truly bad news unless you get prompt repair. To detect any possible holes, keep your eyes open for the following signs of damage to your roofing, particularly after a heavy rain or snowstorm. Dangers of a hole in your roof It’s a really, really bad idea to ignore even the tiniest hole in your roof, because that can lead to: Roof material damage. Even a small amount of moisture penetration can damage the roofing materials and left untreated, will only end up getting worse (meaning more expensive — possibly lots more expensive — to repair). Health hazard. Humidity that gets into your house via a hole in the roof will eventually lead to mold and mildew. These are hazardous to the health, especially for someone who suffers from asthma or other breathing difficulties, has a compromised immune system, or is an infant or elderly. Critter access. Another danger is that a hole in your roof “invites” all kinds of unwanted animal life inside. Think squirrels, mice, or raccoons. Warning signs of a hole in the roof Check your attic for one or more of the following warning signs of a hole in the roof: Dripping. While water dripping from the attic ceiling is an obvious indication of a hole in the roof, it’s often not so easy to pinpoint the hole’s BIGSTOCK
location. It could be several feet away from the drip. Damp areas on your ceiling or walls. In your attic or upstairs, surfaces may actually be moist to the touch, or simply appear discolored. Unusual wall or ceiling bulges and BIGSTOCK peeling paint are also clues that you might have leakage from a hole in your roof. Visible daylight. Inspect your attic on a sunny day. If you can spy one or more patches of daylight through the ceiling, unless your home is equipped with skylights, you’ve got a hole in your roof. Missing or cracked shingles. If you can safely perform a roof inspection, check your shingles. Missing or cracked roofing shingles may mean a hole in the roof. Repair a hole in your roof You may be able to make a minor DIY roof repair IF (and only if): • The hole in your roof is small and accessible • Your roof is basically sound and within its expected lifetime (20 years for an asphalt shingle roof) • You have solid knowledge of home improvement and roof safety — plus a proper roofing ladder, good nonskid shoes, and a buddy to assist you. Otherwise, it’s a much better idea to hire a reliable roofing contractor who can fix up the hole professionally. Once the roof repair is complete, treat related problems, such as mold or bubbling paint.
Common reasons for a hole in the roof Tree damage Powerful winds can knock a branch or even an entire tree onto your roof, gouging a hole. Check the roof in the aftermath of an especially severe storm.
Nail hole An empty nail hole or an incororrectly placed nail may not seem like a major deal, but either of these may spell big trouble for your roof.
Satellite dish removal If you’re removing an old satellite dish and decide to take down the mount as well, you’ll leave behind holes in your roof from the attachment screws.
Seals around penetrations s Roof penetrations, like vents, chimneys, or skylights, must be well sealed. A broken or inadequate seal literally opens your roof up to problems.
Rust or rot With time and weather exposure, a metal roof could develop rust holes. Similarly, wooden roofing components may eventually rot.
Poor quality roof repair Repairs by an amateur or unscrupulous roofer just might leave the situation in worse shape, especially if the would-be repairperson walks around on your roof.
Laura Firszt writes for networx.com. FLICKR/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS IMAGES
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DEAR MONTY
Avoiding emotional relocation turmoil
RICHARD MONTGOMERY
R
eader question: A job-related move to a new community is in our near future. We have friends that made such a move, and with some bad advice they ended up in a marginal neighborhood. What can
we do to prevent a similar mistake? Monty’s answer: My friends John and Mary chose not to rent short term. They did share highlights with me that shows what you can do, and should not do when relocating. John’s company paid for two house-hunting visits. One of the secrets for reducing errors is not to buy a home on the first trip to an unfamiliar city. Their adventure began by prescheduling an area tour with an agent the company recommended. Susan sounded very helpful on the phone and Mary provided her with their requirements and expectations. They requested she schedule four to six showings in different areas of the
community. They planned on arriving Thursday night, and the tour would begin Friday morning and conclude mid-afternoon. They turned the trip into a game with their two grade-schoolers. They intended to familiarize themselves with the area, the schools and the housing market, including the neighborhoods, and the kinds of activities available in their new environment. This trip gave them a chance inspect, to visualize, and think about the big picture, not distracted by a steady stream of houses. They came home excited. The kids interacted with people their age. They
liked the school they visited and may be attending. John and Mary were feeling good. They took advantage of every opportunity to learn and engage with community members. About three weeks later, they bought a house they looked at on the first trip. It has been several years, and they have integrated into their home, and the community, quite nicely. Richard Montgomery is a real estate industry veteran who has championed industry reform for over a quarter century. Send him questions at DearMonty. com.
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What to consider when choosing siding
Give your heating system a tune-up this fall
Selecting new siding is one of the most important decisions homeowners face when building new or remodeling an existing home. Here are four key areas to consider: Durability. Look for a siding option that is resistant to every element, including rain, wind and even the sun. Design. According to PlyGem, there are seven primary siding material options available — vinyl, metal, wood, brick, fiber cement, stucco and stone — and countless color and style options within each material type. Ask a siding specialist like a contractor, builder or architect for help. Maintenance. Seek siding that is low maintenance. Each siding material type has a different level of care and maintenance required. Affordability. Do your homework on the options and secure estimates, then compare them with your budget. Investing a little more into the project up front may reduce issues and maintenance costs down the road. BRANDPOINT
Neglect is a top cause of heating system inefficiency and failure, according to ENERGYSTAR.gov. A tune-up is an inexpensive way to ensure heating equipment is operating properly, and provide peace of mind that no potentially harmful blockage exists in a flue or exhaust vent. According to the home maintenance experts at HomeServe USA, a typical professional heating system tune-up will include: • Inspect safety features and controls • Check thermostats (including adjustment if needed) • Inspect burners (with adjustments if necessary) • Check and clean the pilot light • Check and clean the gauge • Flush low-water cutoff • Inspect filters, belts, oil motors, pumps and condensate line (if applicable) • Check the flue pipe and chimney draft • Inspect and clean the blower assembly BRANDPOINT
/,*+7,1* LED bulbs save on energy LED bulbs look and act just like the conventional bulbs you are used to. They turn on instantly and provide quality light all around. Most are also designed to dim, and some even get warmer as they do so. There are even LED solutions designed to match the look of trendy vintage-style bulbs so you can have the look you want without wasted energy expenses. — Brandpoint
25*$1,=$7,21 Create a mess-free mudroom Instead of a pile of shoes and outerwear greeting you each time you come home, add some structure to your mudroom with an organizer that allows you to hang coats and scarves and stow away shoes. While keeping clothes orderly, it can also help keep you and guests from tracking salt, mud and other messes throughout the house. — Family Features
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