Apr 13
Look Before You Leap, Especially When Buying a Home
Regional climate can be a big factor in assessing the types and amounts of maintenance required on a home, and a buyer would do well to pay attention to these issues when considering a purchase. According to this Realty Times article, climate, weather conditions, geography, and integrity of the builder are all things to be aware of. Some conditions are more prevalent than others, depending upon the region of the country.
The Southwest has its own set of problems. Dry heat in this region can be brutal on home building materials. Relentless exposure to the hot sun will compromise the longevity of roofing, vinyl siding, and windows. Thermal expansion and contraction eventually takes a toll on even the finest built homes.
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) also warns Southwestern homeowners to beware of water build-up under the foundation causes pressure on house structures. Upward pressure caused by water build-up under the foundation is a result of expansive soil.
In Houston, the 1980s droughts caused millions of dollars of damage to homes when normally wet soils dried out and shrank. Conversely, homes in Amarillo experienced considerable damage in the early 1980s when a part of the city constructed on normally dry soil was flooded in August and the soil expanded with the extreme moisture.
Extreme changes in soil volume cause the most damage and homeowners should take care that the soil beneath the foundation doesn’t drastically expand or contract. Keeping the soil water content constant is challenging if you live in the southwest, but is just as important as any other lawn or home maintenance.
The ASHI advises buyers to be familiar with these and other maintenance issues when purchasing a home in any region of the United States.
