Every House Has a Story to Tell, Catch the Signs!

Recently the house I did was on the top of a hill, on the seacoast, with a steady wind upon arrival. The wind actually caught my hat as there were few trees on the top of the hill with the house. The view was tremendous but the house a story to tell. First indication was the excessive wear on a 14 year old roof. Then there was the missing mortar in spots on the chimney. There was heavy erosion and shifting of concrete supports on the back deck facing the water and weather side as well. In the garage were the doors with water stains inside. The water stains on the ceiling at the back wall, again the weather side, indicated water from above, and a strange 1/2 inch drain pipe. Standing water in the bulkhead, but no cracks, just seals that needed replacing to keep the driving rain out. Efflorescence on the walls indicated a high water content in portions of the foundation, despite the perimeter drains that were supposed to be there.

The hole and pipe for the air vent on the stove were there but not connected? Bathroom on the second floor had a vent, but not vented outside to the weather side. Water stains on the sheathing in the attic on the chimney side and a ridge vent that was cut in , but capped over?

The master room upstairs actually had floor drains in the tile in front of the picture window doors leading to the small cantilever deck. Drains for what you ask. For the wind driven water!

The doors were old and tired, but caulked. All the doors on the weather side were caulked extra and sealed against the water. The owner had installed the drain as a second line of defence!

The price of the great view, is a constant battle against the weather, water, and wind. All homes face the elements this way, but coastal homes with few tree's face the battle even more. They have more extensive wear and tear, more chances of leaks, and wind damage. The story is this 14 year old house showed the scars from battling the coastal elements and had fared well, but needed a tune-up for the next 14 years of water and wind. My client understood the story, and now he is making an informed purchase. He knows that the price of the view, is a constant war with the weather!

So watch the signs and it will tell you the story of what the home is up against, but you have to connect the dots, and not miss anything to get the full picture!