The first thing most people notice about a home is usually referred to as the curb appeal. An integral part of the appeal is the landscaping. Beautiful blooms and striking shrubs intertwined with walks and accents draws one in like a moth to a flame.
Looking with an inspector’s eye I often see landscaping gone amok. Bushes bursting onto the house, ivies entangled with wires and snaking under siding, it all begins to look ugly to me. As delicate as plants look, they are incredibly strong. Left alone plants will cover a property in little time, soon obscuring the house working to turn it back into soil. The very thing plants need. One could say they are purposeful as well as beautiful.
On a bright brisk morning not long ago I was reminded of the humble plants strength. Walking around the exterior of this neglected home I saw numerous over grown plants. A large vine meandered its way up the side of the home, reaching around the chimney.
Walking the roof I noticed the vine was well established up here where the light was better. It could be said plants are the ultimate sun worshipers.
Seeing branches tangled among the chimney is not all that unusual for me to find, but finding them growing through the flashing is a rare first. The sheer will and strength it took for these first tiny branches to find and exploit a weakness is amazing.
And a reminder to keep your landscaping in check.
James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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