H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 17

17
shifting. Also look for cracks above doors and windows, indicating
the possibility of structural problems.
Water Stains: Don’t mask brown stains on ceilings or walls with
primer until you find the cause. The likeliest source? A leaking
pipe or shower pan. However, a persistent yellow-brown stain and
off odour might mean that rats or other critters are living in the
attic above.
Faulty Grout: Shower leaks can lead to rot in studs and wallboard.

Run the butt of a metal flashlight across the bottom few tile
courses and listen: “Click, click, click, thud. “ The deeper sound tells
you a tile is loose or the backer is wet.
Fix It: Tiles still okay, but the grout’s showing its age? Clean it out
thoroughly before replacing it, then apply sealer.
Loose Railings: Give stairwell railings a good tug. You don’t want
your mom or a child grabbing it and it falls off the wall.

The Basement
Rotted Wood: Probe joist ends and sill plates with a screwdriver
or an ice pick. Soft spots may indicate wet or dry rot, especially if
the floor above sags.
Holey Joists: Poorly placed drill holes or notches for wire, pipe
or duct can sap a floor joist’s strength. What’s safe varies by
manufacturer, but here are some rules of thumb: No holes or
notches in the top or bottom flanges of an I-joist. Even big holes
could be okay in the center, but not the ends, of the framing.
Drilled holes must be at least 2 in. from top or bottom and
no greater than one-third the depth of an I-joist. Notches in a
conventional lumber joist should not exceed one-sixth of its
depth or penetrate the center third of the joist span.
Termite Tubes: Pencil-thick tubes snaking along joists may mean
trouble. Break the tubes. If termites spill out or the tube is repaired
in a few days, call an exterminator.
Heater Noise: If you hear your water heater gurgle, pop or snap,
it’s time to drain out sediment. Flushing 3 to 4 gal. prolongs the
life of the heater.
Shoddy Splices: Spliced wiring outside electric boxes is a sure
sign that an unskilled electrician has been at work - and a good
reason to check out the rest of the home’s wiring. If you find
sloppy work in such a visible place, then what does that say about
wiring hidden in the walls?”
Foundation Cracks: Hairline cracks in a block or poured concrete
foundation are nothing to panic about. But watch for cracks that
are both horizontal and vertical, or ones that are growing. Keep
track of how wide they are--if they get bigger, call in a pro.

Sponsored By