Whether you intend to stay in it for the long run or sell it in the future, you must ensure that your house is a safe haven for you and your family by ensuring that it’s structurally sound. The same standards apply to those looking to buy a new home. However, this article’s topic is about improving your home’s structural integrity, allowing it to be safe for occupation.
Despite being divided between these two themes:safety and structure, it’s also wise to make the most of online resources that can instruct you on conducting your own inspections. Of course, the frequency at which you carry out these tasks is up to you. But the fact is that it depends on how old your home is.
In light of that, here are a few home repair tips to help ensure your home is structurally sound.
1. Waterproof Your Home’s Walls
If you’re living in a city like Denver, you’d understand how important it is to ensure your property is structurally sound. Why? Because Denver is prone to extreme weather conditions. And if global warming wasn’t acting as a catalyst, newly built homes won’t be crumbling within 8-9 years.
Even in Colorado, one of the biggest nuisances is water damage from rains and storms. So you have to ensure zero chances of seepage and foundation degradation by waterproofing the walls.
Waterproofing also helps reinforce the foundation and keep the structural footings from deteriorating. Of course, you can do this on your own, but hiring a home improvement company, like National Home Improvement in Denver, Colorado, would be a better idea in this situation.
Once you consult experienced waterproofing specialists, they’ll inspect the foundation walls for damage, like cracks and voids. In addition to placing gravel around the house, they will also put in a weeping tile system to guard against further harm and improve drainage.
2. Repoint Your Home’s Chimney
The fillings in mortar joints weaken over time. Typically, they can last for up to twenty-five years. However, repeated climatic fluctuations, especially those brought on by heat, wind, and rain, will result in the mortar crumbling and drying out.
Leaks, ice draughts, and further property damage could be the outcome. If left unaddressed, poor pointing, particularly when combined with a chimney, can result in structural damage.
3. Avoid Termite Damage
There is a legitimate reason why a termite infestation causes fear in the hearts of homeowners. After all,nothing is deadlier than termites feeding on wood-framed ones and making nests.
However, you can easily detect a termite infestation by wood shavings or sawdust, bubbling or peeling paint, tiny holes in the drywall, etc.
Once termite damage is apparent, it can be challenging to save your property. Butfrequently spraying your home with a termite repellentcan keep them away.Moreover, you can also hire professional exterminators to spray down your home to get rid of any bug infestation, let alone termites.
4. Remove Gaps in Window Frames and Doors
Your doors and windows may also point to problems with structural stability. Your internal walls wouldn’t bow as quickly if one part of your house started to sink as the other.
This leaves gaps in your interior walls, which can lead to draughts throughout your house and be very annoying to deal with. However, by caulking the holes in your door and window frames, tightening the hinges on your doors, and installing new weather stripping, you can stop the consequences of this problem.
Check for leaks in your windows and doors, and don’t forget about your chimneys and vents. Expanding foam can be used to close up wide gaps around windows and act as a moisture barrier while allowing movement without breaking or cracking.
5. Repair Interior Wall Cracks
Although exterior wall cracks can be ugly, they signify that your home’s foundation is not strong.Therefore, having a professional evaluate any obvious fractures could be a good idea because interior home issues are frequently the first indications of wider foundational issues.
If you decide to take a DIY approach, start by assessing whether the crack is purely aesthetic or if there is a problem with your foundation or roof. Regardless of the type of crack you have, correctly fixing it will help extend the life of your walls and preserve the building’s structural integrity.
If you want to DIY this, you only need a putty knife and some all-purpose joint compound to smooth out cracks and fractures. Remember that not all cracks can be fixed, so research the subject thoroughly before handling it yourself.
6. Replace Worn-out/Damaged Sills
The foundation of your house is made up of various significant parts. The sill plate, which rests on top of concrete piers and supports vertical support beams known as “posts,” is one essential component of this system.
Usually, termites and mold are to blame for damaging your sills, damaging your home’s structural stability, and making it dangerous to live in.
In addition to ensuring that posts will remain sturdy, replacing outdated sills with new lumber also increases the lifespan of your house. Thankfully, most sill damage is simple to fix with common tools and wood boards.
But remember that the repair will be considerably more complex and should only be done by experts, especially if you’re dealing with rotten posts or moist crawl spaces.
7. Replace Worn-out Floor Joists
Floor joists are a critical component of your home’s foundation. They support your house and distribute the weight from the roof to the ground below. Damage to floor joists occurs in many homes due to rotting lumber, frequently seen along the edges. If ignored, joist damage can eventually result in expensive repairs or structural failure.
The good news is that, depending on the severity of the damage, repairing or replacing floor joists is a simple enough process. That said,looking for damage before it worsens is a good idea. You can access your floor joists from the basement or crawl space.
However, if you’re not the handyman type, speak with a qualified contractor to find out how to repair the issue or, if it is too severe, how to replace the joists.
The Final Words
A house’s structural health determines how long it will last. If your home is not constructed correctly or with the appropriate materials, it won’t be able to endure environmental factors like wind and water.
Maintaining your property’s structural integrity will help prevent significant damage to your property or its inhabitants. Furthermore, by maintaining your property, you can ensure that you don’t suffer any more financial or personal losses and that it lasts many years.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
