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Gutter downspouts should lead away from the foundation at least 6 feet, 10 feet is better. Covering the foundation can lead to water infiltration, insect intrusion, rot, mold and structural failure.
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1. Foundation
1. Foundation
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Roofers in Illinois are required to be state licensed and insured, but most are not. Contractor E & O insurance guarantees the quality of the work.
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Upper gable attic, roof decking rotted and soft. Upper attic had un-vented bathroom exhaust fan.
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Heating systems are most commonly plagued by the lack of the proper amount of combustion air. Make sure that the furnace has an adequate source of combustion air. The rule is 10 cubic feet of air for each cubic foot of gas burned. Without exterior venting, a 100,000 BTU furnace requires a room 25 X 25 X 8 at a minimum!
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Always have all house repair done by professional, licensed and insured contractors.
Make sure that you are fully informed when you make any do-it-yourself repairs
Most times, money you think that you are saving, up front, is eaten up later.
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Structural damage is probably the most expensive type of damage to repair. If not done properly, your house can collapse.
Structural problems, though rare, are usually very expensive to repair.
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Plumbing problems are most commonly caused by inadequate maintenance or owner repairs.
Plumbers, in Illinois, are required to be state licensed and insured, but many are not.
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Water infiltration is, often, the most easily avoided house problem. Remember, to a house, water is the enemy.
Water in wood = ROT, regardless of the age of the wood. A brand new 2 x 4 can completely rot in 4 months if its moisture content is greater than 38%. Kiln dried wood has a < 4%.
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Along guarding against water infiltration, proper ventilation is the best way to make sure that water is kept out.
Crawlspaces and attics must be ventilated in order to avoid wood rot and mold.
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Just because your house passed a governmental code inspection, that is no guarantee that it is free of defects. Code inspectors are overworked and building codes are merely minimal requirements.
Even brand new houses can have substantial and expensive defects and safety hazards!
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