wHffY FM P£~SS, EDNESDAY, AUGUST 21,1991, PAGE 19, Use, Lbour Dayweekend to preparefor*a"utum n Tias article ùr prouided by local realtors and thé Ontario Real Estate Association (OR"A for the benefit of consumera in the real estate maerket. Are you a procrastinator when it cornes to home repaire? Do yeu habitually put off checking thinge like, the , lashing around your chimney or the state of your shingles, downspouts' or eavestoga .If so, you may want to take full advantage of the Labour Day weskend to give your home a thorough top-to-botto inspection so both you and your home are well-prqeedforall and winter. Althouhtjhe thrsat of s iset and' snow is sti a long waty off; you may flnd that an, oues of prevention now could save you a lot of headache -- and passibly more expens -- later on. You'll also flnd that it's sasier -- flot to, mention more enjoyable and less rushed -- todo a lot of this work now. You may even find if?. 'sasier to book appoentiment4 for certain typesof professional repaire before the traditional fi rusèh begins. Whee tosart Before yon begin your actual inspection, it's a good idea te, make a thorough checklist. Then, walk around your hous a few tirnes. As yau .go around, check for, different thingsa, ile lases or rnissing mortarP damagedbrcs holes, lace or damaged siding, rotting window saille or door fr mead loess or dilapidated downspouts. Be sure to make a note of where repaira are required and how bad the damage is. Cracks SMake sur you add > exterior walls ta your checklist -- te sS if there are any signa of movement. Cracks are often an indication that the hous has settlsd. Look at the fondation carsfully for any signa of deterioratien or change. Consult an expert if yeu. suspect any problema. Aise te sure ta check your patio, porch or deck for signa of deterioration or change. Consult' an expert if you suspect any problems. Aise be surs ta check your patio, porch or deck for signe cf damage. Take a good look at the railinge, stops and beams -- net'ta mention daznaged floorboards. Be surs ta repair these areas quickiy, ince they cari pose a major afety hazard. Don't forget ta take a good look at ths garage, if you have oe. Make sure the windows are secure and that the main door eperates properly. If you have an attached garage, check for cracks or holes ini the wall which connecta it'ta the hous; cold air from an unheated garage cari ses p in thrpugh large cracks and h oies into an adacent room in the house. Be sure ta check the trim around doors and windows for signa of rot and ta ses if they require any painting or puttying. Window wells should aie be checked ta make sure there are ne leaka. You may want ta, purchase protective plastic coverings - known as bubbles -- ta, protect them and make sure water- cannot seep through. Check with your local building centre or hardware stars ta see if they stock them. Aise , o sure ta give your driveway a thorough inspection. If it's asphalt, seaant can ho used ta, seal cracks and hles and protect the surface aganst the elements. If your, drive is made cf atone i .brck,,check #for ounoe of prevention now can sve, a lot. of headache Check eavetrougha and ;You should also get a ladder and. carefully inspect the eavestroughs for signs of wear, damags and clagging. You may find that you!Il have ta replace eavestrough sections. You may also want ta consider instaling special screens ovsr ths tapa of your downspouts ta keep them free of debris. Wh. iile yours up on the ladder, take the opportunity ta look at your chimney for signa of damags. However, if you're not fond cf scrambling around up on the roof, get a pai«r of binoculars or a camera, with a zoom lense ta get a dloser look. If yoeu'livs in a neighbourhoed that's chock ful cf wildlife, you may want ta have a special chimnsy cap installed te dseter raccoons or squirrels fram camping eut in the openixig at the tep. 1.You should alse check on the overail state of your roof. If you have missing or rotting shingleés, they s3huld be replaced as soon as Ûle. If you canet do the someone- to do it. And if the damage is severe, you may want to consider having the entire roof replaced before winter. Trees NoW's also a good time to trim any tree branches that are growing tac close to your hous. When &&adecown with snow and ice, fir- tree branches,, in particular,*can bru.sh againstroof shingles, windows and eaves- trougha, sometimes cauaing damage. Aise check the branches of any trees growing. along your driveway - branches that: are weighted clown could damage* your.car. You may have other additional items te check, depending on your home. 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