CHECKLIST

Good bones: the foundation of every good home

PUBLISHER

Maureen N. Maratita

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Morgan Legel

CONTENT COORDINATOR

John I. Borja

EVENT COORDINATOR AND DESIGN CONSULTANT / CONSULTANT TO REJ

Alan Torrado

CREATIVE CONTENT MANAGER

Vikki Fong

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Conrad Calma

DIGITAL MEDIA SALES

Natalie Gilbert Raizalyn Soriano

ADMINISTRATION

Jennifer Orot

DIRECTOR Ken Duenas

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Marcos W. Fong

In the case of a home’s structural integrity, a simple visual check can go a long way in saving thousands of dollars in damages.

A crumbling house is the last thing a homeowner wants, so it is important to watch out for signs of bad structure, and, if any are seen, have a professional work on it right away. This means that residents should make it a habit to give a thorough look of their home, both inside and out, to look for anything that may raise concerns.

But what are the signs? Certified home inspector Tevita Tuituu of Home Solutions Guam said cracks and water leaks are two of the most common ones to look out for.

“A [do-it-yourself] test can be conducted by simply applying a quality exterior paint over the general area that is showing signs of cracks,” Tuituu said. “If the paint shows signs of cracking or stretching, it means there is movement in the foundation.”

Also, be on the lookout for bowing walls — walls that look like they are caving in or bulging. This is a sign that the walls are not properly supporting the weight of the roof, which could lead to serious damage or injuries.

Although a property may be fairly young, rainwater can easily degrade its structure quality, which can lead to worse situations in a short amount of time if not addressed quickly.

“Water is the number one cause of damage and deterioration of a home,” Tuituu said. “This — coupled with humidity and heat — can cause cracks that you may not notice until leaks occur, become severe and lead to bigger issues with structure and foundation.”

He added that flowing water outside the home can soften surrounding soil in the property and allow movement of the home’s foundation. If this is the case, try to mitigate by redirecting the flow of water away from the home. A professional may need to be called in to re-level the space.

Keeping a log or mental note of these visible signs in the home can help a professional tremendously when they assess the property. In some cases, concrete cracks occur naturally and are not too serious. However, when a crack gets bigger over time, that is a sign of worse things to come.

“You cannot put a bandage on something that needs stitches or requires more work. They heal differently when it comes to time and work. Professionals will provide you a full report and assessment of your structure and foundation as well as what is recommended to help the situation,” Tuituu said. p

The Real Estate Journal — July 5, 2021. Entire contents copyrighted 2019 by Glimpses Media. The Real Estate Journal is published monthly by Glimpses Media. 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, Guam 96913. (671) 649-0883; Fax (671) 649-8883. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Glimpses Media, P.O. Box 3191, Hagåtña, Guam 96932. Send e-mail to glimpses@glimpsesofguam.com. All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher. Printed by Guam Daily Post LLC, on Guam. In the Northern Mariana Islands, contact Glimpses Media at Glimpses of Saipan Inc., 2nd Floor Transpac Business Center, Middle Road, Gualo Rai, Saipan, MP 96950, or call (670) 235-7645; Fax (670) 234-1801. Send e-mail to subscriptions@ glimpsesofguam.com.

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