Fall Tree Maintenance | Home Inspector Albuquerque

As we enter into the fall season here in Albuquerque, NM there are multiple home maintenance items to prepare for and complete before it is to cold outside and winter sets in. I am often asked as a local Home Inspector Albuquerque what do I look for when I am inspecting the exterior of a property? I look for several things as I begin my exterior property inspection. I first step back and look at the overall property. This includes the site, yards, grading slope for water to drain away from the house, any vegetation that is encroaching over the roof or any vegetation that is growing to close to the structure. I often see in neighborhoods that have more mature trees and overall more mature vegetation that most often trees are neglected in being properly pruned by homeowners to keep branches from encroaching over roof tops.

The tree pruning maintenance issue is often overlooked for various reasons and it really should not be as it can pose many different hazards. First, if there is a large tree on the property that looks to be sick in areas of the tree where there are large dead branches encroaching over the roof top this can be a safety hazard. We often experience wind events here in Albuquerque that can very easily snap large dead and heavy branches which will possibly fall and damage roof tops severely. This scenario happens to many homeowners in our area who have neglected over time the fact that the tree was posing a significant safety threat to the house and the homeowner. This scenario can be costly and also maybe hard to claim on a home insurance policy as an adjuster may site that the homeowner neglected to prevent the scenario from happening by failing to properly keep the tree from encroaching the roofing system. As one of your certified local home inspection companies I am diligent in reporting possible problematic exterior property situations that may exist, or may lead to a more severe problem if not properly addressed.
Another problem I often see as a home inspector in Albuquerque concerning trees is often that homeowners neglect to properly clean out roof gutters and downspout draining systems. Leaves, seed pods, small branches, rotten fruit can often fall into gutters and downspouts clogging and blocking water from properly draining away from the roof top. Should this condition exist when we would happen to experience a weather event that brings water, snow and ice the clogged gutter drains could become to heavy to be supported by their attachments and thus breakaway from the roofing structure. This would cause unnecessary roofing system damage and roofing repair costs. Therefore, the autumn season is a great time to inspect your gutter systems to ensure that the system is clear and able to operate correctly if we should experience a cold or freezing water weather event. If you cannot or do not want to inspect your gutter system call your local Albuquerque Home Inspector to schedule a home inspection before an event occurs that most likely could have been avoided had there been some warning of a clear and present dangerous condition.

One last problem I see with old growth trees on properties is often a root system that has spread underneath driveways, and adjacent walkways cracking and uplifting the concrete. Sometimes the roots have compromised the concrete significantly to where there are tripping hazards created and on rare occasions root systems can damage a property’s foundation in the same fashion. Root systems that are to close to a structure’s sewer clean outs have also been known to compromise the sewer clean out system as well. It is the roots nature to seek out moisture and they do this by penetrating the piping walls and ruining the integrity of the sewer pipe. As a home inspector I will identify any and all of these issues and make the proper recommendations for my clients to discuss and make a plan of action.

​As a homeowner there are some steps you can take to help to prevent some of these problematic situations from getting out of control and from causing future property damage, accidental harm to others or potential property repair costs. By properly maintaining overgrown trees and vegetation around the house annually and by maintaining the roof gutters and downspout draining systems you can take a proactive and preventative approach to protecting your property and your family today and in the future.

​​Call 505-333-4041 to Schedule your home inspection TODAY! Or visit http://www.homeinspectoralbuquerque.com/contact.html