The Structure and the Site

FOUNDATIONS, FRAMES AND SUPPORTS
You may think of your foundation and concrete slabs as massive and invulnerable objects; well for the most part, they are. However, damage is possible and prevention is the watchword.

Avoid planting trees close to your foundation. They have a way of growing large over the years and their roots system may drink soil moisture out from under footings or the roots will push against foundation walls. Maintain positive drainage away from the foundation so that roof and yard runoff waters will not be able to press in. Look for voids around or under patios, porches, and walks. Fill them with tightly compacted soil so that water will not be able to consolidate soil or promote settling and heaving. Masonry block foundations may sometimes display a white powder on their inside surfaces. This “efflorescence” is an indicator that moisture is against the outside of the wall. You would do well to heed the warning and improve the exterior drainage on the surface. Check your guttering and downspouts to be sure they are running all the roof runoff water well away from the foundation. If the soil around the foundation has settled somewhat, add fresh soil around foundation. Build soil up near foundation, then taper till level with landscape. You may want to paint the block walls of the basement to make the area appear lighter and brighter. To do this, you can moisten the masonry, which is very porous, with a garden sprayer and then roll on latex paint with a thick napped roller sleeve. The moistened block will allow for the most desirable look. The block will absorb considerably less paint, while not looking too lightly covered. Most often a sump pump is installed in the basement to
pick up and discharge this water. It is important to read the instructions carefully and check the pump frequently. You should consider supplementing it with a DC battery backup model, especially if you are in an area which experiences frequent power outages.

ATTICS – CRAWL SPACES
New homes benefit from the usage of materials that were not available in the past. Trusses, which sometimes make up roof and floor framing, may allow both wider spans and greater strength. These materials often are assemblages of individual wood pieces and it is important that no individual pieces be removed. Homeowners are sometimes tempted to cut through these individual “chords” of attic trusses to make access to storage areas. This is a very destructive and dangerous practice. The attic was neither designed nor intended for storage. Access to this area is for maintenance. When you perform necessary tasks in the attic, do not step off of wood frame, as you could cause damage or, worse, personal injury. Damage to ceiling below is not covered in your limited warranty. Should you wish to install “pull down” stairs or make other changes, it is possible to do so without any cutting as long as you work parallel to the run of the trusses.

PESTS AND ENEMIES

WATER-INTRUSION AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
All building foundations must be prepared to deal with the effects of soil and water in soil. This is one of the functions of the guttering and downspouts. That roof-water collection system must remain capable of shunting its water well away from the foundation. Inevitably, leaves and debris will collect in the gutters and spouts. Keep your gutters clean. Use strainers in the downspout connections to prevent blocking up downspouts and extension piping. The soil surrounding the foundation of the home is soil that was previously excavated to make way for the building of the foundation. This back-filled earth will gradually compact as it settles. Weather conditions play a large part in how much settling will occur. Be prepared to reestablish a positive slope of grading soil away from your foundation after a year or two. The positive slope away from the foundation is a measure of water-intrusion protection. Gemcraft Homes has provided downspout “splash blocks” or “leader pipes” at the bottom of the downspouts. The splash blocks never clog up with leaves or debris, however it is necessary to check that they deliver all of the runoff water sufficiently far from the foundation. Signs of dampness on the inside of your foundation wall or moss growing are indications of standing water near the spouts. In this case you may want to consider attaching flexible solid plastic piping to extend the drainage flow. Standing water along foundation suggests that you may need to build up the landscape grading as well.

Gardens are best placed away from foundations. They require soil aeration and frequent watering, which can cause water penetration. Find a sunny spot away from the house.

INSECTS, PESTS & “CRITTERS”
New building sites are treated to destroy termites before construction. However, this does not mean you will neverexperience a problem. Termites can cause substantial damage, and the termite family lives happily everywhere.

Check annually for signs of termites such as:

• Earthen tunnels at ground level near the foundation or points where pipes enter the house.
• Points where wood meets masonry, including walls and piers.
• Check all wood that is close to the ground. Remember to check the crawl spaces; these areas are good locations for termite infestations.
• Watch for termite swarms or the shed wings. You can check wood for termite damage with a knifepoint or an awl. If the point enters farther than an inch with gentle pressure, there is probably termite damage.