April 24th, 2008
by International Code Council

While designed to withstand the forces of nature, most home damage is the result of wear and tear and poor maintenance. Now is an ideal time to examine the inside and outside of your home for damage and problem areas. If you need to make repairs, especially major projects such as replacing a roof, be sure to contact your local building department for necessary permits and hire licensed contractors when necessary. Here are five areas of your home you should pay close attention to when conducting spring/summer maintenance:

5. Plumbing
4.Heating and cooling systems
3. Windows
2. Roofs and gutters
1. Smoke detectors

For details on each of these, visit buildingsafetyweek.org. Check your in-box for top green building tips on May 1.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the International Codes, building safety codes developed by the International Code Council.

About the Author
International Code Council
The International Code Council is a nonprofit association that provides a wide range of building safety solutions, including product evaluation, accreditation, certification, codification and training. It develops model codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.