27/4/2015Author: Geraldton Property Inspections

HOME MAINTENANCE

WHAT TO DO & A GLOSSARY OF BUILDING ELEMENTS:

GERALDTON PROPERTY INSPECTIONS HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS

It is our pleasure to provide this free maintenance program designed to provide essential information to maintain the well-being of your new home.

Cleaning your Brickwork: (WARNING read the product Safety Data Sheets before using any Chemicals)

REMOVING MORTAR RESIDUE:
Clean with 1:20 mix of Hydrochloric Acid and water for lightcoloured bricks and 1:10 for other bricks and wash away acid from wall once the cleaning process is complete.
VANADIUM STAINS:
Clean with Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Hydroxide or OxalicAcid and wash away acid from wall once the cleaning process is complete.
EFFLORESCENCE STAINS:
A white salty substance found on masonry surfaces,
Clean with a stiff bristle brush,
Remove salt residue off masonry face,
CALCIUM STAINS:
A white milky film,
Use Noskum or equivalent chemical at full strength, scrub areaand once clean thoroughly rinse the surface clean.

General Information:

DIAL1100 BEFORE YOU DIG, it’s the law!
Clean up each room as required to prevent clutter and build-upof junk.
Invent and form a place for everything.
DO NOT leave food scraps in sinks or on the cook top in pots.
Clean around the cook top and hot plate edges.
A general way of organizing your home is to maintain a 15minute a day clean up of basic items.
Remove stored goods and obstacles from doorways andstairways.
DON’T leave small objects on floor areas.
ALWAYS turn off Dishwashers, Ovens and Hot Plates androom Heaters.
Learn to understand what is required to operate your A/C unitsand hot water units.
Smoke Alarms are required to be in place and to be hardwired. Smoke alarm regulations are available on the internet or by contacting a Licensed Electrical contractor.

You should carry out the following every 3 months:

Clean out the gutters and flush out all the downpipe inlets.
Ensure the surface water inlet drainage points around thedwelling’s perimeter are not covered with leaves or blocked byforeign objects.
Walk around your home and check the (visible) exposed slabedge for any potential termite leads!
If found, contact your Pest Inspector.
Open and close all internal and external doors and check forgap difference and ensure they do not stick or bind.
Open and close all aluminium windows and check fordifferential movement.
Check window and door glass for cracks.
Check window timber sill reveals internally for any water stainscaused from external leaks.

Clean floor waste drainage points and flush with warm water and disinfectant.
Inspect cornices for cracking and separation to internal and external corners and also walls above the doors and windows and refer the visible cracking to the table below.

Cracking: Cracking is also categorized into the following 5 categories with a description of typical damage and required repairs:

0-Hairline cracking, under 0.1mm,

1-Fine cracks that do not need repair, under 1.0mm,

2-Noticable cracks, yet easily filled 1mm -5.0mm,

3-Cracks that can be repaired and possibly some of the wall sections will need to be replaced. Note weather tightness can be impaired, 5.0mm-15.0mm,

4-Extensive repair works required involving breaking out and replacing these sections. Walls can become out of plumb and fall and causes reduced bearing capacity, 15.0mm -25.0mm.

Check the base of all shower screens for water or mould stains.
Check the adjacent walls of all showers for water or mould staining and/or bulging or the wall linings or rendered surfaces.
Inspect the ground floor vanity and kitchen drain pipe penetrations at the bottom shelves for any termite leads.
Inspect the drainage under sinks for any “P” trap leaks.
Check for leaks in gutters and downpipe joints.,
Look at all downpipes into their base stormwater connectionsto see if these connections are coming away from the PVC stormwater pipes. If so, call your Licensed Plumber for rectification.
Check all floor tiles for any cracking and “drummy” sounds. Drummy sounds can be tested by rolling a marble over the suspected areas and listening for a different tone,
Clean the Air Conditioner unit’s return air filters.
Ensure the safe operation of all smoke alarms and replacebatteries as and when required.

Replace vacuum cleaner bags and clean the unit’s filters.
Check the operation of the pressure relief valve on your hotwater unit by running it for approximately 5 seconds and ensure it shuts off effectively and is not leaking. If so, seek your Licensed Plumber’s advice.
DO NOT store any timber against the exterior of your new home, as this can be a conducive condition to possible termite attack.
ASSESS surface drainage run-off and monitor that NO water ponds next to the dwelling, as wet foundations cause heaving upwards and dry foundations shrink and crack, causing settlement to the dwelling and the formation of cracking internally and externally.You should do the following every 12 months.

You should do the following every 12 months.

Inspect external painting for any areas of flaking painted surfaces.
Inspect internal painting for any areas of flaking or stained painted surfaces.
Inspect walls and ceilings for any cracking and refer the visible cracking table.
Inspect side gates for binding against the external walls of the new home.
Check roof tile ridge bedding and pointing for cracking and visible movement.
Check the operation of all exhaust fans and clean the vented cover and the inside of the stained roof loft areas.
Clean the kitchen Range Hood filters.
Clean your clothes dryer filter.
Replace washers to all taps.
Replace your water filter, filter cartridges.
Replace any damaged flyscreen mesh.
Replace the silicone seal to all shower tap flanges.
Replace the perimeters sealer to the bath, all vanity tops andkitchen bench tops.
Clean gas heating filter system.

Have an annual General Pest Spray for Spiders and Cockroaches and an annual Pest/Termite Inspection as required under the Warranty of the Termite Treatment in place. Reviewed as per the warranty notice in your meter box unit.
Steam clean carpets and floor tiles annually or as required.
Check all toilets that their flushing operation is as intended.
Check WC cistern return PVC pipe seals are not leaking.
Adjust cavity sliding doors as and when required.
Have your A/C units serviced by the original installer.
NOTE:By adhering to this schedule, your home will be maintained to a good standard which will add to its value over time.Ever thought if I had maintained that section of my home before I put my home on the market, I may have reached a better sale price?

All the Best the Geraldton Property Team.