The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

First Aid For The Ailing Houses

There is no chemical or material that can be depended on to keep them away. As snakes make no permanent nests, their presence in any particular place is temporary. Should they collect under a building, playing the hose will drive them out; spraying any bare ground, close to the foundation, with kerosene will discourage their return. (Don't spray this on any planting!) They can be driven from holes in the ground by pouring in a mixture of carbolic acid and kerosene in the proportion of 1 ounce of acid to the gallon of kerosene, but be careful of fire.

SOME OF THE WORST DAMAGF. from storms is caused by wind-driven rain or snow. The wind may force this moisture through roofs and around windows which were thought completely watertight. To prevent this type of damage, the outside of the house should be regularly inspected.

Roofs and roofing surfaces are often lifted from underneath by heavy wind pressure and may be partially or completely stripped off. An important part of inspection is to look for loose, curled, or split shingles. They should be examined for loosening nails and splits. If the shingles have been oiled, they will require closer inspection, for oil and stain will hide cracks.

A good way to inspect your roof is from a neighbor's upstairs window, using binoculars. Doing this on a windy day will reveal any fluttering shingles.

Be extra careful about walking on a roof. A roof was not meant for strolling about; unless a roof is planned for regular use, the weight of foot traffic can cause extra leaks and cracks by breaking or splitting the roofing. The best method for moving around is to put a chicken ladder (a wide flat board with cleats nailed at 12-inch spacing along one surface) on the roof and work from that. The board will distribute weight evenly over a greater area. A ladder, equipped with special hooks to fit over the ridge, is also a practical device.

On asphalt roofs, torn edges and curled brittle shingles should be fastened down. Although most asphalt shingles are merely nailed down, a combination of nails and asphaltum cement makes the job more secure in strong winds. Lift the bottom edge of each shingle strip carefully so as not to tear it away from the nails, and with a paintbrush spread a dab of asphaltum under the edge.