Roof, Siding & Windows Articles
Articles on Roof, Siding & Windows from Russ Motyko, a Certified Master Inspector with 3,000+ inspections in Oregon and Washington.
Brick and Stone Veneer: Weep Screeds, Flashing, Clearance and Mortar
Brick and manufactured stone look solid but let water in. Missing weep screeds, buried veneer, unflashed windows and cracked mortar from Russ's reports.
Tempered Safety Glass: Where Houses Need It and How to Find the Mark
Glass in doors, by tubs, near stairs and in big low windows should be tempered. Where the rules...
Shrubs, Vines and Planters Against the House: What Landscaping Does to Siding and Meters
Shrubs touching siding, vines under the trim and planters built against the wall keep the house wet and...
Peeling, Faded and Failed Exterior Paint: What the Paint Tells You About the House
Exterior paint protects wood and fiber cement from water and sun. Fascia peeling, faded siding, debris under new...
Exterior Caulking: Which Gaps Need Sealant (Butt Joints, Windows, Trim) and Which Don’t
Cracked or missing exterior sealant came up at 147 of Russ's inspections. Which gaps need caulk, which shouldn't...
Windows That Won’t Stay Up, Stick or Won’t Latch: Balance Springs and Sash Hardware
Windows that drop, stick or won't lock came up at 81 of Russ's inspections. What a balance spring...
Flashing at Trim: Gable Corbels, Belly Bands, Horizontal Trim and Rusty Lintels
Russ found missing flashing at corbels and horizontal trim, and rusty lintels, at 36 houses. Why flat tops...
Wasp Nests, Bird Nests and Gaps at the Eaves: What Russ Notes at the Roofline
Wasp nests under the soffits and open gaps at the eaves showed up in dozens of Russ's reports....
Apparent Mold at the Eaves: Why Exposed Roof Sheathing Turns Dark
Dark, mold-like growth on the roof sheathing at the eaves came up at 19 of Russ's inspections. The...
Two Layers of Shingles: What a Roof-Over Means for the Next Roof
Two or three layers of shingles came up at 9 of Russ's inspections. Why roofers lay over, what...