How to maintain the frame of a home

Although wood as a material is very durable, it still requires tender love and care to maintain its condition. For this reason, if you have a large amount of wood in your home, it would be important for you to understand how to care for it. More specifically, if the structural elements of your home are made from wood, then it will need regular upkeep in order to stay in shape.

In this article, we will be looking at the frame of the home. Since it is holding up the four corners of your home, the frame is a very important facet of your house as a whole.

If you want to keep family and loved ones safe, as well as maintain the longevity of your overall home, then read on about the steps necessary to maintain the structure of a home.

How to maintain the structure of a house

It’s all about the build!

Source: Canva

Historically, wood was the most widely used material to create the structure of a home. Wood has not always been treated before building, and this is because the key to having a strong and sturdy wood frame comes down to the correct usage of the material itself.

One thing to bear in mind is that wood is a living material, and this essentially means that it absorbs and releases moisture incessantly. For this reason, it will often move or change shape slightly during the seasons or when any drastic movements in temperature occur.  

Another common problem based on the elements of wood as a material is the fact that it's so often ruined by mould, rot and various fungus. This fungus develops at times when a buildup of moisture occurs.

Moisture buildup generally relates back to problems with construction. This is especially true when the material is not able to air out and thus, does not allow for the overly moist parts of wood to dry. Moisture is a pretty serious factor when it comes to wood in relation to rot development. Making sure to keep moisture levels at bay is one of the key ways to maintain the frame of a home.

To the ground, to the sky

Another critical area for the frame of your home is the place where it connects to the ground. In most cases, your home will have a foundation, and the wood frame will not come into direct contact with soil, including the moisture that breeds within it. Soil and air are critical factors when it comes to keeping your wood in good condition.

If the frame of your home has been dug deep into the center of the earth and is protected by cement on either side, both the piece within the earth as well as that which stretches above and below should hold up for a long time.  However, the middle point is at risk of deterioration. One example of a way to take care of the frame of your home is keeping the lawn around the perimeter in good order.

This is because grass maintains the moisture around the home, and thus, will lead to the frame to rot over time. If you live in an older building or home, you may notice a pattern of decay at the lower levels.

The easiest way to combat this problem is to make sure that your foundation has been properly restored. If it hasn’t yet been restored, make sure to use a material other then wood at the base of your home and any board levels should be placed above ground level. Also, remember to mow your lawn regularly!

Another common issue is the rain gutters. Look up and check, when was the last time you cleaned your rain gutters out? If your gutters aren't cleaned regularly, water will collect and has the potential to seep into the frame. For this reason, be certain to clean out your gutters on a regular basis. 

Ways to protect your wood frame!

Source: Canva

There are a variety of solutions on the market to protect the wood frame of your house both before and after the construction process itself. However, with this in mind, it is important to remember that the longevity of a house mainly comes down to how it’s built and not necessarily by the way it is being maintained.

If you’re looking to keep the frame of your home looking fresh and young, whether that means keeping exposed beams or wood siding beautiful, they will need to avoid UV rays, in other words too much sun. This is one of the main ways that wood ages. There are many finishes on the market that directly combat against UV rays, so it would be important to look for these if this is your ultimate goal.

Linseed oil is highly credited as a popular substance to treat the surfaces of wood. However, make sure that if you are choosing this option, it has been confirmed. This is because some will actually cause rot in the wood itself. If you are inspecting your wood siding, look for cracks as well as wet spots using an ice pick to examine any rot behind the wet spots themselves.

Another way to preserve the frame of your home is to impregnate the wood. This is a common process in newer buildings and is mainly accomplished with electric wires which are embedded into the wood. These wires hold up against all outdoor elements and have a lifespan of approximately 40 years.

Unfortunately, termites are a common problem that housing with wood frames or siding face. Depending on the species, termites can be fairly difficult to detect. If you see piles of sawdust building around the frame of your house, chances are you could have a termite problem. In this case, it is highly recommended that you call a professional to deal with any type of infestation. 

Do you have a framing renovation project coming up? Check out our House Framing Handy Reference Guide to Success.