by Charles Loveless | VP of Company

Get the Binoculars and Check It Out

“Out of sight out of mind” is a true statement for areas of the exterior of your home that are seldom seen or noticed. Once a year I suggest that you visibly walk around with a pair of binoculars or telephoto lens and examine the upper levels of your home; especially where the wood touches the roof.

If you drive down the block you may notice about 20% of all homes have some type of damage to their chimneys.  On 70% of homes we paint, the carpenter first has to replace rotten wood trim or siding on chimneys. The chimney is one of the most exposed surfaces on your home. Wind damage, driving rain, occasional lightening, squirrels, raccoons, and sun cause substantial damage.

You might say, “Charles, we have no problem; my home is not that old or it has been painted in the last couple of years.” Believe me when I say, do a visual check once a year of your home’s exterior. You will save yourself a lot of money by being aware and catching the maintenance items on your home before they become major problems.

Remember this: wood rot usually begins with water penetrating cracks which affects the interior of the wood surfaces.  Look and see if the painted surface looks like it may be waffling or collapsing on itself. This is a sure sign of internal wood rot. You usually cannot see this from the ground without binoculars.

Don’t worry about getting up on a ladder to do your repairs, contact us, we do it all the time in the Greater San Antonio area:
Renovate Paint and Design, 210-403-3232, [email protected].