For many families, our home is a testament to all the hard work that we have done throughout the years. It takes a lot of commitment, time, energy, and effort to make a house into the home that you know of, and a significant part of keeping much of your home in pristine condition is by being conscious of damages. However, the process of identifying damages, pests, and environmental factors that could be a threat to your home’s overall foundation is easier said than done.
Just like every structure and human-made object, homes do have a lifespan. While time and age are an inevitable part of life, it’s still possible to extend our home’s lifespan through the right care and maintenance.
So what are some ways of effectively extending the lifespan of our home? How do we identify hazards and dangers before they can start becoming a threat? We’ll be answering some crucial questions regarding home maintenance and the services that you’ll need to utilize.
What’s a Home’s Average Life?
Well, that will depend on a variety of factors. Most experts would say that the average lifespan of a home is around 20-50 years, depending on the construction materials that are used, the weather condition in the area, and the amount of maintenance that it receives.
However, it’s important to note that certain types of conditions can often lead to long-term or permanent damages. These types of damages can often lead to replacements, which can often have heftier costs than the average maintenance process.
Addressing and Identifying Damages
Whether you’re maintaining a business establishment or a residential home, being able to determine early signs of aging and damage can help stop any further damages. After all, prevention is better than spending thousands of dollars in repair.
Not only will homeowners need to be aware of damages that might spread to other aspects of their home, but they will also need to be cognizant of the annual budget that they’ll need to maintain the home’s structural integrity. Luckily, with a good amount of comprehensive planning and insight on your home’s systems, lengthening your home’s lifespan to a few more decades is possible.
It’s important to remember Murphy’s law when it comes to identifying potential safety hazards and damages to your home: anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Not only will maintaining your home ensure that you’re safe, but this will lengthen the lifespan of your home.
Keeping Your Home Dry
Some forms of damage are more subtle than others. While damages like dents from hailstorms, leaks, and broken glass are quite noticeable and can be remedied through replacements, some form of damage in the form of moisture and water can slowly chip away at the overall lifespan of your home. In fact, most residential and structural engineers will usually design homes that are situated in colder climates or humid areas to be resistant to water damage. However, these types of damage are known for getting increasingly more prevalent as a home inches closer to the end of its lifespan.
Damage from leaks and the build-up of moisture can lead to the formation of molds and mildews. Mildews can unsightly for walls and ceilings, while molds can produce spores, which could be detrimental to the inhabitant’s respiratory system. Compared to other types of damage, moisture, and water-related damages are long-lasting. Fortunately, there are water damage specialists that are well-versed in restoring widespread damages that are caused by molds and water damage. Not only are these professionals known for sealing up leaks and removing organic materials, but they’re also quite keen on fire hazards around the household.
Cleaning Your Exteriors
Although there are damages that will gradually “develop” from the home’s interiors, most damages will usually come from weather conditions and natural elements that will damage your home.
It’s important to keep in mind that leaks, dents on your roofs, and clogged gutters are caused by foliage that is in close proximity to your home. Much of this foliage will often lead branches, dead leaves, and sometimes dead animals on gutters. Not only are these an eyesore, but they can redirect water from your roof to your home’s foundation or inside your home’s interiors.
There are a variety of aspects of your home that you’ll need to be mindful of when you’re keeping your home in pristine condition. Although your lifespan will depend on your gutters, your roofing system, and your HVAC, keeping a keen eye on early tell-tale signs of damages can prevent having to replace your structures.
Contrary to what most homeowners think, the amount that you’ll be spending on annual repairs and maintenance, which is around $2000-$8,000, is a better choice than having to spend tens of thousands of dollars in replacement and installation costs.
