As a homeowner, your responsibility is the upkeep and maintenance of your home. You are also protecting your investment.
Periodic maintenance will ensure that your home maintains or increases in value. By following a maintenance schedule, you’ll keep your repair and replacement costs to a minimum.
Mow the lawn and pick up litter in order to keep your property attractive. It’s important to clean air conditioning filters and check the earth leakage circuit breakers each month.
However, there are many maintenance tasks that require planning to ensure that the resources you need are in place. Many jobs can become household projects and some will require outside help. By developing a list, you’ll see the difference. You’ll also give yourself lead time for setting aside the money you’ll need to spend.
Your goal should be to keep your home safe, secure, comfortable and attractive. You’ll need to repair weather and water damage. Eliminate fire, electrical and safety hazards. Repair problems in major systems such as plumbing, heating, and cooling. A practical approach is to list tasks on a seasonal basis and divide them into indoors vs. outdoor work.
You need to decide how to allocate the tasks. Which tasks will be your family projects and which are better left to professionals. If you have the skills, tools and time, you can often do some yourself. Most hardware stores will provide you with supplies and equipment. They also provide guidance and professional support for the homeowner. You will find “how-to” information on the internet. No matter how you manage the tasks, you will save money in the long run by having the work done regularly.
Don’t let mould take over your bathroom! Prevention is better and less costly than cure!
The source of moisture in bathrooms is mainly the steam from hot baths and showers condensing on the ceiling and walls making bathrooms the ideal breeding ground and bacteria. Mould on bathroom ceilings, walls and tiles is mainly the result of condensation and poor air circulation in the bathroom.
How to get rid of bathroom mould
The first step to cleaning mould from a bathroom ceiling and walls is to use a product that will kill the mould and remove the staining. Therefore, this means using products like Domestos, Jik or any other bleach you may have in your kitchen. However, there are also propriety products like Mould Buster which have been specially developed to get rid of mould. If you prefer to use one of them follow the instructions carefully!
Safety first when cleaning up bathroom mould
Always use PPE (personnel protection equipment) when using dangerous chemicals like bleach and even vinegar!
The PPE listed below is essential to protect yourself against the cleaners:
Rubber gloves
Eye protection
Breathing apparatus (not dust or medical masks)
Coveralls
How to kill the mould
If you decide to use bleach, create a mixture of bleach and water, using a spray or sponge to apply it to the mould areas in your bathroom. The bleach removes the mould stains!
Wash down the area with water.
Apply white vinegar with a spray or sponge to the mould area. Vinegar will kill the mould!
Wait about an hour before cleaning the area with water again.
Let the area dry thoroughly.
Ventilate the bathroom to help remove fumes and to help the drying process. Use a fan or heater to speed up the process if required.
Safety Warning
Never mix any other cleaning ingredients with bleach as it could create a toxic gas. Therefore, wash your mouldy ceiling with bleach first, then apply the white vinegar solution separately.
How to prevent mould from forming in bathrooms
Ventilation is the key to preventing mould from forming:
Leave shower and bathroom doors and windows open to provide proper ventilation to the bathroom, particularly after hot showers or baths.
Wipe down your walls with white vinegar whenever you see mould starting to appear.
Now that you know how to keep bathroom mould from ceiling areas and walls for good, prevention is the key! Be proactive by wiping down the tiled walls in your bathroom and the floor in your shower with vinegar once a week, especially in showers, and you’ll never have problems with mould again.
Imagine What Can Happen If You Don’t Have A Home Inspection!
Do not let this happen to you! Be wise! Rather have one of my property inspections like a Comprehensive or Critical Home Inspection in Gauteng or part of the North West province!
Why use THE HOME DETECTIVE for your home inspection?
Firstly, you get the best home inspection and most detailed home inspection report in Gauteng! You not only get a defects report but you also get a property inspection report detailing future maintenance issues! Moreover, my inspection reports include advice for repairs and maintenance which is helpful if you are a DIY enthusiast or handy around the house!
There is no doubt that without a home inspection and report, you are at risk! This is especially true with the “Voetstoots” clause in the “Offer to Purchase“!
At The Home Detective, I understand just how stressful it can be to buy a new home. A home is not just what it appears to be on the surface. It can consist of more than 500 different components, some of them very complex. This includes the roof, windows, doors, structural concrete, brickwork, framework, and components such as electrical, plumbing, cooking, heating, and air conditioning systems.
When considering a home for purchase, minor cosmetic repairs are usually acceptable. However, you need to make sure that everything beneath the surface is in good shape.
How I can help you
I will help you reduce your stressand uncertainty when you are looking for a new home. I will help you choose the right property. My Comprehensive or Critical Home Inspection will help reduce the risk of buying a house with structural defects, leaks, dampness and other defects.
Furthermore, I work only for you! My home inspection services give youunbiased, objective information about the property. Above all, I am an independent and impartial home inspector.
In addition, a comprehensive or critical home inspection and report is not going to cost you an arm or a leg! Don’t let the home inspection cost put you off! It may cost a bit, but it could end up saving you many thousands in repairs and maintenance!
My inspection services for your peace of mind
You don’t need to attend the inspection if you do not wish to. Your inspection report with marked-up photos of the defects will clearly illustrate the condition of the home to you. However, attending the home inspection will give you more insight into the property. In addition, you will also be able to raise concerns while I am inspecting and have your questions answered.
Your comprehensive home inspection report will include:
Defects of the property and suggestions for repairing them
The property’s strong points,
Regular maintenance is a feature of any property. The report will give you a good idea of the maintenance you may need to do.
For ease of understanding the inspection report will include photographs. I am also happy to give telephone support if required!
Why choose The Home Detective?
At The Home Detective, I strive to ensure my home inspection services and reports are not only the best in Gauteng but are the best in the business. I value customer service above everything else.
I use the latest home inspection technology and equipment. Therefore, you can rest assured that you’ll receive a thorough and detailed property inspection service you won’t find elsewhere!
In addition, I inspect properties in Gauteng from the north of Pretoria to Johannesburg South and from Brits in the Northwest Province to Springs in the east.
Worried About Cracks In Your House? Having Sleepless Nights?
Here the foundation on the corner of the domestic bathroom had subsidised! Disguising cracks with paint and Polyfilla won’t work! You need to find the cause first and fix that before you patch walls!The problem here was with the pooling of water on the paving and the level of the paving being close to or at the floor level of the bathroom. In addition, it appeared the bath waste or water supply may be leaking.
How to monitor cracks in your walls and floors!
Often, home buyers and homeowners are worried by cracks in the house and boundary walls, especially plastered walls!
The good news is that, generally, concrete, stone, brick and masonry walls and concrete or screeded floors that have cracks less than 1 mm wide (the thickness of a credit card) are common and usually do not warrant any corrective action. Most of these small tight cracks are caused by normal shrinkage as the moisture in the walls and floors evaporates over time or settlement of the structure which usually occurs within the first few years after construction.
Be warned, however, that changes in condition around the structure may also cause settlement many years later! Examples are planting a new garden or tree or removing a garden or tree that is against or close to the house.
Crack Fillers
Note that all cracks should be sealed with paint, caulk (sealer) or mortar to prevent water from getting into the structure.
Moreover, if a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal masonry crack is filled with hard masonry patching compound, any substantial future movement is likely to show up as a new crack in the patched area or nearby. Therefore, always use a non-shrinking grout to prevent stressing yourself!
Continued movement
Cracks that continue to move are a reason for concern! Continued movement in cracks should be evaluated as there may be a need for corrective action. Therefore, if you notice a crack has re-cracked or the crack has opened or gotten larger it should be monitored! However, first, make sure there is no shrinkage of the filler product. All cracks that are 5 mm and greater should be carefully monitored to ensure there is no continued movement.
WHAT IS ROOF CROCODILING AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR FLAT ROOF?
Flat roof waterproofing looks like crocodile skin. This is crocodiling!
Waterproofed concrete and composite flat roofs on residential and commercial buildings require more maintenance than sloped roofs. They react differently to sun and moisture than tiled or sheeted roofs and require more frequent maintenance to ensure they function as they should. One common problem with many flat roofs is crocodiling.
What is Crocodiling?
Crocodiling is a crazed cracking pattern on the surface of the waterproofing. It looks like crocodile skin, which is where the name comes from.
Crocodiling is a sign that your waterproofing is ageing. The sun’s UV rays dry out and damage the waterproofed surface, and after five years or more years, the coating may develop small cracks. The older your roof gets before you repair the crocodiling, the more expensive it will get.
Extreme temperature changes, changing from hot sunshine to sudden cloudbursts and rain, and even hot winter days and very cold nighttime temperatures will cause new cracks to appear and will make existing cracks worse.
Leaves and debris will allow water to pool on the membrane which, together with the elements, will hasten the deterioration of the protective coating and waterproofing itself.
What is a mould Inspection and should you have one?
The house had been standing empty for some months before my mould inspection. A particularly serious black mould infestation was the result of leaking water supply pipes at the kitchen sink! In this case, besides having the leaks repaired, the sink unit and the units on either side had to be replaced! The wall and floor tiling also had to be treated before new units were installed.
A mould inspection is a different process from a typical home inspection. Besides searching for the mould itself, a mould inspector concentrates on finding damp or wet conditions conducive to mould growth in and around the outside of the house. Mould spores can be found everywhere inside and outside the house! The secret to controlling mould growth is eliminating the moisture that allows mould spores to grow.
There are a few different situations in which you might want a mould inspection. Below you will find out what a mould inspection entails when to do one, what mould testing proves and the average cost of an inspection.
What is mould?
Mould is a fungus, and like all fungi, it thrives in moist places. Mould spreads by emitting spores, microscopic particles that are often as small as a single cell. Spores float around in the air until they land on a surface. Mould spores are everywhere, outdoors as well as inside your house. It would be impossible to remove all mould spores from a house without installing a massive industrial filtration system.
Luckily, mould spores only form mould when they land on a moist surface. If you can keep the interior of your home dry, you can avoid having any problems with mould. You should clean up spills, and repair leaks in your roof, plumbing or air-conditioning systems. Also, make sure your kitchen and bathrooms are properly ventilated to keep moisture out of the house.
Removing any mould in your house will prevent the surface it is on from being damaged and prevent allergies or asthma.
Can mould affect your health?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mould exposure has the potential to cause adverse health effects. If mould is growing in your house, it can release spores that are easily inhaled. Moulds can cause nasal stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation and in some cases, skin irritation. People with mould allergies may have more severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung illnesses may get serious infections when they are exposed to mould.
A type of toxicosis can result from exposure to black mould. Disturbed black mould releases mycotoxins as a defence mechanism. These mycotoxins travel through the air on tiny mould spores and are easily inhaled. Black mould may cause the symptoms mentioned above and can cause depression, cognitive impairment, sleep difficulties, circulation problems, digestive complaints, fatigue and joint pain.
When to inspect for mould
If you can see it or smell it, you have mould in your house. You need to discover the magnitude of the mould infestation! Seeing mould in the cracks and corners of your walls means it is growing and spreading more spores. Mould may also grow in places you cannot see, such as on your ceilings or in your cupboards. It may also form colonies so tiny they escape the eye. A few situations should make you look for any mould problems in your house.
Water damage. If your bathroom flooded, the roof leaked, or a broken pipe sprayed water all over the kitchen, you need to inspect for mould. Any wet area not quickly dried (within 24 hours) could become contaminated by mould.
If you are purchasing a pre-owned home there is no way to know what kind of water damage may have happened in the house. The only way to find out if mould is present is to do a mould inspection.
After a house has been unoccupied. Houses closed up and unoccupied for a long time, may have humidity built up that could cause mould to grow. This is especially a problem in warmer areas with high humidity.
After mould remediation. If you have had a mould problem, have regular mould inspections to ensure it does not reappear.
You see some mould. If you notice some green, blue, black or white stuff growing in your house, do a mould inspection to make sure you find it all. It might not be restricted to one location.
A mould inspection vs. mould testing
If you are researching for a mould inspector, you will find different services and costs with mould inspections and mould testing.
Mould inspection
A mould inspection simply confirms the presence of mould and generally defines the extent of the problem. The main purpose of a mould inspection is to identify the source or sources of the moisture that allows the mould to grow! The second most important purpose of the mould inspection is to recommend solutions to eradicate the sources of moisture!
Mould testing
Mould testing attempts to identify what specific type of mould is in your home and how many mould spores are in the air. However, keep in mind the following:
The carefully controlled conditions required to conduct a proper scientific test of mould are extremely difficult to achieve in a home. Mould testing, especially air testing, is often inaccurate. Air samples at best give a snapshot of the air in one location at one time. The samples do not represent the air conditions unless many air samples are taken over a long period of time. Air sampling typically overestimates or underestimates the number of mould spores in the air on average throughout the day.
All indoor spaces have mould spores that drift in from the outdoors. Mould tests will generally provide a long list of species, most of which are not growing in your home.
The WHO has set no guidelinesfor an acceptable amount of mould or mould spores in a house. WHO therefore agrees that mould testing is not always useful for this reason. Instead, they recommend hiring a professional inspector to look for why the mould is present.
Mould testing is expensive. Any money spent on mould testing will not be available for cleaning up the mould and fixing the water problem that led to the mould. Furthermore, the Laborities can take days or weeks to analyse samples. It is better to use this time to clean up the mould and fix the water problem. No recognised authoritative public agency recommends mould testing as a guide to the cleaning up of mould or the correction of the water problem.
What happens during a mould inspection?
A mould inspection is a visual inspection of a house. Aside from a good flashlight and camera, the specialised equipment needed is a moisture meter, a humidity meter, a temperature meter and possibly an infrared camera. This equipment is used by the mould inspector in determining whether a particular area is wet, humid and warmer than other areas of the home.
On the setting shown on the moisture meter, a normal “dry” wall would have a reading between 8 to 9%!
A typical mould inspection involves finding out about any areas where you have seen mould, or where there have been moisture problems or water damage in the past. I inspect the house thoroughly, inside and outside, looking in places known to be prone to mould growth. When I find mould, I try to find the source of the moisture that is causing the mould spores to grow and suggest a remediation plan.
Mould inspectors must have a mould certification. I am mould inspection certified and experienced in mould inspection and mould remediation.
Factors affecting the cost of a mould inspection
The size of the house being inspected is the main factor affecting the cost of a mould inspection. Quite simply, a large house is going to cost more to inspect because the inspection and the report are going to take longer.
The second factor is the travelling cost! The further away from my office the more it will cost. However, you will find that in my inspection area, my prices are substantially less than those of other mould inspectors.
The cost of a mould inspection
As a rough guideline, mould inspection costs about ⅔ the cost of a comprehensive home inspection. On average, mould inspection costs around R1,500 to R2,000 for small to medium-sized houses (up to 250 m²) depending on how far the property is from my office. Above 250 m², the cost increases to the R2000 to R3000 range. Keep in mind that these costs are for inspection only and do not include testing. Skipping unnecessary mould testing can save you a lot of money.
Finding the right mould inspector
Look for an InterNACHI inspector with specific experience and expertise in mould inspections and remediation. Call around your area and get a few quotes. There might be a wide price range, so shopping around could save you a few hundred Rand.
Importantly, you want to make sure you only work with a properly certified inspector.
Remediation after the inspection
If the mould inspection finds or confirms mould in your home, the next step is to make a remediation plan. This always begins with removing the source of the moisture that’s allowing the mould to grow. If you fail to remove the moisture, you can clean up all the mould and it will just grow back again.
Following that, you can scrub and wash hard surfaces with specialised chemical cleaners. Surfaces such as carpets, timber, laminate and similar finishes will have to be cut out or lifted up and replaced. You will then have to treat hard surfaces below these finishes. It is impossible to clean all the mould off of porous surfaces. Furniture, mattresses and built-in units should be discarded.
You need not hire a qualified contractor for mould remediation of smaller areas. However, mould can be dangerous, or at least unpleasant to work with,especially for someone with allergies or asthma. Professionals with the correct safety gear and cleaning equipment are better qualified to deal with large areas.
Preventing mouldbefore it starts
Getting rid of mould in your house can be a major task, and remediation can be expensive if the mould is widespread. The best solution to mould problems is to prevent them from ever happening. Here are some tips on preventing mould:
Repair leaks promptly whether it is a leak in your roof, a window or a leaking water pipe. Fix leaks and keep moisture out of your house.
Clean and dry things promptly. If your bathroom or laundry floods or condensation from your air-conditioner drips onto a carpet, dry everything out within 24 hours, if possible. Mould needs moisture to grow, so prompt drying is vital.
Control humidity. Extremely humid aircan provide enough moisture for mould to form on some surfaces. Use a dehumidifier in humid and damp areas and run air-conditioning when possible during the summer. Keep windows open or install vents in your kitchen and bathroom windows. This will keep humidity down and keep moisture under control.
Mould is a serious problem, and spotting mould contamination before it grows out of control can save you many thousands of Rands. This makes the cost of a mould inspection well worth a few thousand Rand, especially when you are buying a new house. Mould testing, however, is not worthwhile. The important thing is, if you see mould in your house, you need to get rid of it, and the reason it has formed as soon as possible!
Mould can adversely affect your health. If you suffer a pre-existing respiratory condition such as asthma, mould can aggravate the condition.
