Preventive Maintenance Instructions
These instructions are provided for the home owner so it can help you in maintaining the house and property in tiptop shape and avoiding any major repairs. This will help you in knowing when to notice problems before things get worst and fix them. Depending on your expertise you can either to them yourself or hire a professional. NOTE: These are suggestions only, always refer to a professional contractor who specializes in these areas.

Roofs
The roof should be kept clean of all debris, from trees and any accumulation will cause the roof to deteriorate faster. It is because debris holds in moisture causing rot and decay to happen.

Shake and Tile Roofs - Occasionally check for cracks in tiles or wood shake. Check for cracks, because it can cause water leakage. Also check for missing shingles or tiles that have any abnormalities in appearance or texture of roof structure.

Asphalt Roofs - Occasionally check for worn out or uneven texture (missing granules) on shingles. Check to see if any shingles that are buckled, torn or missing. They should be replaced.

Tar and Gravel Roofs - Same care as an asphalt shingle roof. Look for worn out areas, buckling, lost of tar at roof edges. Check for cracked tar and any abnormalities for overall appearance of roof texture.

NOTE: Most roofs depending on pitch, can be inspected from ground level with a pair of good binoculars without climbing on roof.

Gutters - try to keep al gutters clean of any debris so drainage flow from the roof will not be obstructed. When gutters are not cleaned out periodically, if not, water will overflow onto exterior walls and trim, causing rot and decay of wood frame members Check all gutters for rust and corrosion, broken gutter support brackets, sagging gutters and damaged gutters (damaged by ladders or tree branches). Any damaged or broken gutter section should be replaced with new material is not repairable.

Downspouts - Check all drain pipes for open joints, corrosion, rust, and that they are properly secured to house and gutter area. Keep all drain pipes clean of all debris for normal flow of water run-off from roof. Any damaged broken down spout section should be replaced with new material for proper operations.

NOTE: All water draining out of down-spouts should be diverted away from the house foundation area approximately 5 feet away. Use splash blocks or corrugated piping in diverting water from foundation area. All foundation areas should be kept dry at all times. Any water in these areas will cause water seepage into crawl space or concrete slab (depending on the type of construction) causing soil erosion and eventually structural damage to house due to soil settlement.

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Exterior Walls and Trim
Exterior walls depending on construction, outer facing is either stucco, wood siding or aluminum siding.

Stucco Exterior - Look for cracks in stucco as cracks can create moisture penetration to the walls wood framing causing possible hidden decay if cracks are wider than hairline consistency. Always patch any cracks and keep surface properly painted as this will protect surface from weathering conditions
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Wood Exterior Siding - Check for cracks or splits in siding and any signs of rot or decay. If any rot or decay is noticed, try to find the source of why the area is in this condition before repairing. May be due to roof leakage, clogged or leaking gutters or drain pipes that are allowing water to flow and settle on these areas. Overall any damaged section or house wood siding should be repaired or replaced as required.

Aluminum or Vinyl Siding - Check for buckling or uneven surfaces splits on blistering. Also check that siding is tightly secured to house and no missing pieces or dents. Any damaged section should be replaced.

On exterior trim areas check mostly for any rot or decay present and split or cracked trim around the house perimeter, replace any bad sections as required. Always keep all exterior surfaces painted for best preservation from environmental hazards of weather (such as ultraviolet rays from the sun and rain).

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Windows
Aluminum Windows either sliding or casement type, make sure to inspect frame occasionally for any signs of corrosion and rust, also windows should operate with ease, not physical force. If windows do not slide freely try examining tracks, are they clean? If not, clean tracks and apply some petroleum jelly or WD40 to the area. Also examine rubber seal around glass area, note if it is cracked or deteriorated, replace before water or wind draft comes through. In some older type casement windows the glass is sealed with glazing compound and in time due to weather has a tendency to crack, repair any damaged area, a good seal will protect from any water seepage.

On wood type windows examine wood frame structure for any signs of wood rot and decay also any split or damaged sections of window frame. All windows should operate with ease, if tight try lubricating with some petroleum jelly. Check all ropes and weights if so equipped replace any ropes that are frayed or missing (broken).

On most wood windows glass is sealed to wood frame by glazing (putty) compound and will eventually crack and deteriorate due to weather and age, try to replace any damage areas around windows if noted as this will keep a tight sealed protection from wind and rain. For best protection from the weather, keep all wood frame members properly painted to preserve its life.

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Doors
Occasionally check all door operation to see if they are functioning properly. Make sure all lock sets and hinges are operating properly. Check to see that lock set is not loosely mounted and all hinges are properly secured to door frame (any loose hinges on doors can cause door to stick to door frame when opened or closed).

On exterior doors, try to keep freshly painted for protection from ultraviolet rays (sun) and rain as required. Replace any doors (interior/exterior) that are warped, cracked, or split at door facings as they are damaged and cannot be repaired. Keep all locks and hinges properly lubricated for ease of operation.

On sliding glass doors, always keep all tracks clean to make door operate efficiently. Any dirt on door tracks will cause door to be hard to slide open, also most doors have steel or nylon rollers for guides, make sure door is adjusted right to proper height clearance as not to scrape metal frame when opened or closed. Lubricate all tracks and rollers occasionally per maintenance requirement to keep door functioning properly.

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Garage Doors
As with exterior doors keep freshly painted for protection from the weather. Examine all hardware and check for ease of operation and functionality. Occasionally check doors equipped with spring loads, that tension to be checked for ease of operation and adjusted if necessary.

Garage Door Opener - Either chain driven or screw drive type, always keep all tracks lubricated for proper operation. Occasionally check all cables, rollers and pulleys and note operation, any unusual squeaking or rattling sound should be examined, also make sure that safety feature on opener is operating properly as door should reverse when obstructed with any object when closing.

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Landscaping
Most landscaping should be planned and laid out for best decorative and functional appeal. Try not to plant any climbing vines next to house wall as this sometimes can promote moisture to wall area, especially wood siding. Keep all trimmed as vines can out grow themselves and enter roof overhang area were damage to roof may occur.

WARNING: On landscaping design on hazard that some home owners overlook is that of building retaining walls for planting against house exterior walls, dirt is filled over the boundary of foundation area and dirt level is at wood structure of house, eventually water damage will result on house structure wall causing rot/decay and termite infestation.

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Bathrooms
Occasionally examine tub and sink areas, always keep properly sealed and chalked to prevent any plumbing leaks and repair as required. On tub shower combinations water spray from shower may settle on floor area. Try to wipe floor dry after using so any water will not seep down to sub-flooring and cause water damage, if shower area has a curtain for protection suggest a glass door as its more water tight.

If bathrooms are vented to outside by a ceiling fan, make sure its operational and functioning properly. Bathrooms should be well ventilated to guard against any moisture buildup.

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Kitchens
Examine cabinets and countertops for any functional discrepancy, loose or cracked tile, (if so equipped) broken door hinges and drawer hardware not operating properly and of course any plumbing leaks if noted. Keep all sink areas sealed with chalking compound to prevent any water leakage and damage to wood cabinets. As part of regular maintenance apply some furniture oil (polish) to cabinets to preserve the appearance and wood surface.

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Appliances
Stove/Oven: Keep clean for best operation. Do not let grease accumulate as this can cause a grease fire. Examine burners (gas or electric) unit for proper operation. If it is not functioning to specifications have it repaired
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Ventilator Fan: Replace the filter element occasionally when it is dirty for best operation.

Garbage Disposal: Check for proper operation and signs of any water leakage. Examine the interior blade assembly for corrosion and rust. If it is heavily corroded, it may have reached its serviceable life space and needs replacement.

Dishwasher: Check operation, if you hear any unusual motor noise or rattling do not continue usage. Try not to overload as this will cause some dishes not to be cleaned properly. Occasionally check rubber seal around door area for any deterioration or signs of water leakage. Examine all water supply lines and waste lines. Inspect for any signs of corrosion or leakage. Be aware where your dishwasher outlet is located for quick disconnect in case of electrical problems.

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Electrical
Learn where your main electrical panel is located and the location of the main shutoff and circuit breakers are. Try to keep all breakers labeled to what they control in the house. This will help in case of an emergency. Examine all outlets, wall switches and light fixtures for proper operation. If you see any discrepancies such as cracked outlets, intermittent switches or fried wiring on light fixtures, it should be replaced and repaired as required.

On light fixtures, some manufacturers recommend the maximum wattage of light bulbs to be used. Please follow these recommendation as a higher wattage bulb will cause wiring to burn out due to excessive heat radiation. This causes an oven effect, especially when secured in a closed outlet.

NOTE: Any electrical problems should always be referred to a qualified electrician for repair and evaluation.

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