Roof Stains

Siding

It is no secret that buyers form an opinion of a home in the first few minutes and frequently will eliminate a home even before they get out of the car. In many cases the owners will spruce up the front with a few flowers and paint the front door, but have they stood at the curb and looked at the entire home? I frequently see homes with stains, moss and lichen on roofs and can see where that can turn off a buyer. With a little work an owner can get their roof looking great.

Black algae stains on asphalt shingles tend to be fairly uniform over the stained area, appearing more on shaded and more damp roof slopes. You will see the stains get lighter under metal vent pipes and flashing . Why does Moss, Algae and Lichen grow on roofs? The spores or seeds are naturally in the air in most areas of the Pacific Northwest. Algae and lichens grow on building surfaces where it finds food (organic debris) and moisture; it tends to grow in the shade areas favoring the north and east sides. Moss, algae and lichens are more than a cosmetic issue on many kinds of roofing materials - asphalt shingles, roll roofing, wood shingle roofs and wood shake roofs. By holding moisture against the roof surface lichens, but more so moss, speed the wear of the asphalt shingle surface in freezing climates by increasing frost damage to the mineral granule coating on the shingles. Often algae that is identified as green when studied microscopically, also looks "black" or quite dark on a roof surface.

It is easy to take care of these problems. If you have the time, "Moss Off" or soap powder with beach can be applied to the roof. When the moss has died it can be swept of the roof and disposed of. If you need to quickly clean the roof I would recommend a licensed professional. These professionals will most likely use chemicals and a pressure washer to clean the roof. I do not recommend a homeowner using a pressure washer to clean their own roof. Most homeowners do not have the experience to pressure wash  shingles without damaging them. Once the shingles are damaged then in most cases sections of roof will need to be replaced.

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Buni's corner

Even in the summer we will have a crispy night that I crave a nice hot soup!  I found this recipe that has helped with just that craving!  Enjoy!

Chicken Pesole

 
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
 

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon chili powder  

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (8-ounce) package pre-chopped onion and celery mix

4 canned tomatillos, drained and coarsely chopped

2 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less sodium chicken broth

1 (15-ounce) can white hominy, rinsed and drained

2 cups chopped skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 ripe peeled avocado, diced

4 radishes, thinly sliced  

cilantro, fresh sprigs, for garnish

Directions:

- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium- heat. Add oregano and next 4 ingredients (through onion and celery mix); sauté 2 minutes.

- Stir in tomatillos; cook 1 minute.

- Add broth and hominy; cover and bring to a boil. Uncover and cook 8 minutes.

- Stir in chicken; cook 1 minute or until heated.

- Remove from heat; stir in lime juice, salt, and pepper.  Divide evenly among 4 bowls. Top with avocado and radish.  Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

Many of our areas homes built between 1985 and 2000 had LP or hardboard siding installed. There were approximately 12 manufactures of this type of product but all of it is commonly referred to as LP siding. As everyone in the real estate industry knows the siding casts a stigma on homes that have it. It doesn't help that many inspectors and contractors see it as a material that immediately needs replacement. The most common failure seen is moisture damage that can cause siding panels to swell, buckle and warp. It also can cause the panel’s protective paint coating to crack, which allows more moisture to penetrate and more damage to occur. And if moisture gets behind the siding panels, it will never dry out completely. The wet material becomes a feast for bacteria, fungi and other decay organisms. Unlike woods such as old-growth cedar or redwood, hardboard and OSB have no natural resistance to such organisms, which can turn a solid board into something the consistency of soggy bread.

So what is a seller or listing agent to do? We recommend that an unbiased inspection be completed at the time of listing. In the hundreds of siding inspections we have completed it is rare that all the siding is bad. In many cases only a few boards need to be replaced. In cases where the damage is worse the seller can choose to disclose, repair or give an allowance for replacement.  Most siding inspections will cost between $200-$300 and this will give the seller a better understanding of the potential issues and their options.

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