Top Posts Tagged with #maintenanceinspection

The Importance of Garden and Grounds Maintenance and Management

When it comes to homeownership in South Africa, the conversation often centers around building integrity, compliance documents, or interior maintenance. Yet, the land surrounding your home, the garden, driveway, and perimeter, is just as vital. Moreover, effective garden and grounds maintenance and management not only enhances your property's aesthetic value but also safeguards its structural and legal integrity.

🏡 Why Grounds Maintenance Matters Curb Appeal and Property Value

A well-kept exterior immediately boosts first impressions. Consequently, neatly trimmed lawns, clean paving, and vibrant plants indicate proper garden and grounds maintenance and management and can increase resale value and attract buyers or tenants.

Structural Protection

Overgrown roots can threaten foundations, drains, and pipelines. In addition, proper drainage systems around your garden, a key aspect of comprehensive grounds maintenance, prevent water pooling, which can damage walls and lead to rising damp.

Legal Compliance

In many municipalities, maintaining public-facing spaces such as pavements or verges is the homeowner’s responsibility. Therefore, failure to clear overgrowth or invasive vegetation can result in fines or complaints from neighbors, emphasizing the importance of diligent grounds maintenance.

Safety and Security

Unmanaged vegetation can obscure visibility and offer hiding places for intruders. Importantly, proper grounds maintenance, such as keeping pathways clear and outdoor lighting, reduces trip hazards and contributes to overall safety, especially during load-shedding evenings.

Environmental Protection

Indigenous plants require less water and are better suited to local climate conditions, especially important given South Africa's water challenges. Composting garden waste and avoiding chemical herbicides, essential practices in sustainable grounds maintenance, promote environmental health.

🛠️ Key Maintenance Tasks for South African Homes TaskFrequencyTools Needed Before the rainy seasonWeeklyElectric mower, trimmer Weed & pest controlMonthlyOrganic sprays, hoe Pruning trees/shrubsSeasonallySecateurs, pruning saw Drainage inspectionBefore rainy seasonFlashlight, inspection rods Verge & fence clearingQuarterlyBrush cutter, rake ✅ Final Thoughts

Whether you’re nestled in Gauteng’s suburbs or overlooking the coast in KwaZulu-Natal, your outdoor space is more than just dirt and grass. It’s part of your home’s health and value. Invest in regular grounds maintenance to maintain compliance and cultivate a safe, serene, and sustainable environment.

#Groundsmaintenance #groundsmanagement #maintenanceinspection #propertyInspection

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Renting Out a Home

6 Major Things to Know Before Renting Out a Home

By Kay Pascale With the rising rate of short-term and long-term rentals, there’s a lack of knowledge when it comes to what exactly needs to be done. Different scenarios for renting out your home could yield different challenges. Overall, if you’re deciding to rent out a home to others, there are some basics you should know before you market the home to find a tenant. 1. Pay Attention to Your Home’s Exterior If you don’t think the exterior of your home matters, think again. Houses are instantly judged just by how the outside looks. If a home looks clean and manicured from the outside, potential renters will remember it and have a more positive outlook before seeing the inside. Although keeping up your curb appeal may be demanding for you and your wallet, you can follow some simple tips to manage the toll nature may take on your home and achieve a beautiful look. 2. Understand Indoor Mechanics The inside of your home goes a bit beyond just looking nice. You need to be prepared for questions about appliances, recent updates, home improvement projects, and how well the working parts are doing within the home. Specifically, air quality can be a huge question among potential renters. Become educated on indoor air quality and other mechanics of your home so that future tenants can feel safe inside. 3. Learn About Required Legal Actions Before renting out a house, know that there are some legal actions that need to be addressed if you’re becoming a landlord. Things like insurance and the Rental Housing Amendment Act are good places to start. There are also specific taxes that need to be considered and extra taxation claims to your personal account. Seeing a professional may be a good way to make sure your legal odds and ends are covered. 4. Lease Writing Is Not Simple Writing a lease is a way to cover your rights as an owner and your tenant's rights within your home. There is a multitude of things that need to be evaluated and thought about in detail when writing the lease. Leasing terms can be monthly or yearly—it depends on how long you’re planning to rent. Other things like security deposits, regulations, pet policies, utility payments, and behaviour expectations can all go in the lease. 5. Figure Out Pricing Setting a price on rent is very tricky. You want to make sure you’re getting a profit from all the money you’re putting into the home, but you don’t want to price the home too high. If your home is priced too high, it may turn off potential buyers. As a result, you may need to experiment with pricing and seeing if tenants will take the prices you set; this may be a long process so you’ll have to make sure your patience is in order too. 6. Prepare for Eviction and Lease-Breaking There’s always the unfortunate circumstance of eviction. People are not always as cooperative as you wish and sometimes they change their mind. However, if you’re prepared for these unfortunate circumstances before they arise, they aren’t as bad as you may think. Ask a professional what can happen to you and your money if you have to evict someone. It’s good to figure out what lengths you’ll need to go to if you get brought to court as a homeowner. Therefore, it’s also important to figure out what actions can be taken before it gets to this point. Note: Kay Pascale is a writer on the subject of real estate and will be contributing more interesting and informative articles towards my blog. Read the full article

#inspectioninpretoriaeast #inspector #landlord #lease #maintenanceinspection #RentalHomeInspections #rentalhousingamendmentact #rentalinspection #rentalinspector #rentalinsurance

Efflorescence

WHAT ARE THOSE POWDERY WHITE AREAS ON MY BRICK WALLS?

Efflorescence is one sign that is often dismissed as just being an eyesore and is given surface treatment only. This is the presence of the white powder that forms on the face or surface of concrete, plasterwork and brickwork. It is a cause for concern! Efflorescence is a build-up of minerals and salts on the surface of the concrete, brick and plasterwork due to repeated bouts of excess water in the material. The minerals and salts that naturally occur in the material are dissolved when the brickwork, plasterwork or concrete is waterlogged with water. Concrete, pavers, brickwork and plasterwork are porous and can absorb or wick water and draw salts to it like a tree transports water from its roots to its leaves. This is capillary action. When efflorescence happens, it can indicate a moisture issue that could potentially damage the structure. When water reaches a building material’s surface, evaporation will occur. Water absorption and wicking will continue after the water evaporates and the salt is left behind. This eventually creates a high salt concentration, leading to osmosis. What is Osmosis Simply put, osmosis in building materials is the movement of water from a region of low salt concentration to a region of high salt concentration in the material. During osmosis, when water moves toward salts and minerals to reduce its concentration, it can cause large hydrostatic pressures within the porous building material. As a result, these pressures can damage or destroy the material. Osmosis can cause pressure that ranges up to 200 bar, exceeding the structural strength of concrete. Therefore, osmosis may result in porous building material cracking, flaking or falling apart. While the efflorescence is only a cosmetic problem in itself, its appearance on the wall indicates an ongoing water intrusion problem. That means if you notice efflorescence on any concrete, plasterwork, brickwork and other structures, it’s important to take action by finding and eliminating the source of the moisture intrusion. Most Common Causes of Efflorescence Garden irrigation systems: One common cause of minor efflorescence is a sprinkler head that sprays on the walls of the building. Frequently wetted areas:

Repeatedly washed and wetted concrete can form efflorescence, such as a garage floor, stoop or paving. Leaks in walls: A leaking water pipe or waste pipe in the wall of the building may cause efflorescence both internally and externally. Condensation: Water may accumulate within a wall as a result of condensation. Things that take place inside such as cooking, bathing, washing and other actions employing water internally causes condensation. During cold weather, building interiors heated to normal comfort settings may contain enough moisture to cause condensation on cooler walls or on the underside of ceiling and roofing materials. Contact with the ground: When brickwork, plasterwork and concrete are in contact with the earth, groundwater may be absorbed by the material. Moisture may rise through capillary action several feet above the ground. This may occur in the building’s plinth brickwork and columns if there is water ponding against the plinth. Efflorescence also often occurs on the bottom of retaining walls. No roof drainage:

Lack of roof drainage such gutters and downpipes will allow rainwater pouring off the roof to splash up against the walls. This can cause moisture intrusion into the walls and efflorescence on the walls. The bubbling of the painted and plastered wall finishes will result. New buildings: A new building will sometimes have a minor efflorescence bloom. The moisture still in the material from the building process is evaporated away during the first months following construction. Freestanding structures:

Chimneys, freestanding walls and parapet walls on balconies and roofs are the most susceptible. Often they have not been properly waterproofed or not waterproofed at all. They will most likely show signs of efflorescence in the top section of the wall. Water Ponding: Water ponding on brick and concrete paving will cause efflorescence. Defective installations: Roof leaks and leaks around windows and doors may cause efflorescence on the structure of the building. Some of the best ways to remove efflorescence include: Pressurized Water: Applying a strong jet of water may dissolve efflorescence quickly. If you use water, dry off the water from the building material after application. If you fail to remove the water, salts may remain that can cause efflorescence to reappear. Diluted Vinegar: You can use diluted white vinegar on efflorescence. It’s less harmful than industrial chemicals. You most likely already have vinegar in your kitchen. Brushing: With a strong brush, you can remove efflorescence with ease. Removing efflorescence can be quick and simple. In fact, efflorescing salts are water-soluble, which means efflorescence may disappear on its own due to normal weathering. What can I do about efflorescence? The fact that water has penetrated the structure is the root issue. Furthermore, the moisture intrusion will likely be the cause of the eventual repair or replacement work that will be required. Efflorescence is associated with potentially severe underlying complications. Therefore, it is highly advisable to seek expert advice to determine the source of the moisture intrusion causing the efflorescence. If you have an efflorescence problem or suspect there may be a leak somewhere in your home, it's wise to call me before you call a repair company. Repair companies have a vested interest in getting work. As a result, you have to careful in accepting what they say requires repair or replacement. I provide an unbiased opinion. I have no gain out of the evaluation of things that need repair (e.g., your roof or foundation). Inspected once, Inspected Right!® Read the full article

#ComprehensiveHomeinspections #homemaintenance #inspection #maintenancedefects #maintenanceinspection #roofmaintenance

Sealing at Windows and Door Frames

Detecting Leaks Around Your Windows

Seals which are broken, pulling away, missing or which are damaged as a result of ageing or long-term weather exposure will cause windows and doors to leak. Furthermore, the sealant or window putty used to seal the glazing beads on wooden windows may crack and allow moisture into the gazed areas of your windows. In addition, when the glazing putty on your steel windows cracks or a section falls out moisture will corrode the steel window frame. These are the most obvious areas where leakages occur! However, the most undetected area for leaks at windows is the junction between the window frame and the brickwork, plasterwork and window sill. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most common defects that I have found on both new and older homes. There are multiple ways to detect leaks around your windows and doors: On the outside of your home, check the areas where two different materials meet. This includes your door and window corners and frame. Look for cracks in the door itself and in window panes. Examine the existing caulking (sealing) and window weather stripping and weatherboards on doors. Make sure both are in good condition. In addition, leave no gaps or cracks. If you can see daylight around a window or door frame, there will be a leak. Shut a window and check for gaps in which you can insert the paint scraper. If you can easily insert the scraper under the closing part of the window, it is probably not watertight! Types of Window Caulk The sealant used to seal windows is the caulk. Furthermore, caulking is the action of sealing the windows doors and so on. For one window, homeowners will likely use a half-cartridge of caulk. Also, be sure to use a UV resistant caulk for external caulking. Similarly, you will need to use an acrylic caulk if you are sealing around the edge of the frame on plastered and painted homes. Additionally, your local hardware or paint supplier will be able to give you advice on the different caulking materials you should use for differing applications. Seal the Cracks and Leaks Once you’ve selected the best caulk for your home, follow these best practices for sealing: Clean areas to be caulked. Remove old paint or sealant. Use a putty knife, screwdriver, or a rough brush to clean the area. To avoid sealing in moisture, make sure the area is dry. In addition, it is better to apply caulk during dry weather with low humidity. Apply caulk to all joints in the window frame, especially the joint where the frame and walls meet. Hold the gun or product at a 45-degree angle, and caulk in one continuous movement. Make sure the caulk sticks to both sides of a crack. If caulk comes out of a crack, use a putty knife or screwdriver to remove it. Reapply the caulk in the crack after making sure that the area around the crack is clean. Check the window sill for cracks in the plaster and mortar joints especially between precast window sills and seal them. Caulk the top edge (head) of the window frame. It will prevent moisture from running back along the underside of the lintel and entering the windows frame. If you don’t seal this area moisture can become trapped behind the frame and lintel. Be Careful Where You Seal It may be tempting to seal any and all gaps around your windows. However, some windows require the means to prevent moisture from accumulating in the frame itself. Avoid caulking: The window’s weep hole. This small hole at the bottom of the window frame which allows moisture behind the window to exit through the frame. Therefore, if you plug this hole, it could cause mould or rot to grow unchecked. Don't seal moveable parts. Caulking moving parts could seal your windows closed. Therefore, avoid affecting operable parts, like sashes in a double hung window. Be careful with caulking above the window frame. A groove in the plasterwork at the top of the window along the width of the window is a drip. It helps usher rain away from the windows frame. As a result, closing off this joint can allow moisture to become trapped behind the frame and lintel. Read the full article

#acrylicsealer #homemaintenance #maintenance #maintenancedefects #maintenanceinspection #paintdefects #propertydefects #sealant #siliconesealant #windowsills #Windows