With the premiere of Holmes Makes it Right, we had renos on the brain, and we guessed our fans did too! So we turned to HGTV Canada’s facebook and twitter followers for questions to pose to the man himself. Check back each week for a home reno-related Q&A, packed with expert tips from Mike Holmes.
Our twitter fan @ReadyOwl asked, “What sort of monthly maintenance should homeowners be doing? What should be checked?”
Mike Holmes replied, “Change your air filter at least every three months-once a month is better. If you’re renovating change it every two weeks. The more you change it, the cleaner the air is inside your home.
Check your roof at least twice a year, and after major storms. You also want to check for cracks in the foundation, leaks and water damage-both inside and outside your home. Look for water stains in the attic, especially around the rafters. This can tell you if your roof needs to be checked by a professional.
Also check for cracks along exterior walls. If they’re hairline and don’t change in size, a pro can fill them in with some expandable foam. But if they get bigger it could mean a structure issue, which means bringing in a structural engineer. One way to check is to mark cracks with tape. Then check the tape every one to two months. If the crack doesn’t change it can be filled with some epoxy.
Keep an eye out for water pooling on your property. If there is, it could mean you have grading issues. If you don’t address it, it can get worse and lead to a leak in the basement!”
Check back next week for more of Mike Holmes’ expert tips!
