A Lack of Drainage
The biggest issue to look out for is a patio with poor drainage. You want to
make sure water isn't pooling anywhere, and that drainage heads away from the
house. Pooling water will attract mosquito's and cause deterioration, and water
that trickles toward the house will damage the walls of the home and possibly
compromise the foundation.
One of the best things about summer is sitting outside on the patio
with a cold drink, taking in the sights and sounds around you. Done right,
it can be an oasis from your daily life that transports you to a calming
atmosphere. Done poorly… and patios can be a pretty big pain. If you're
planning to buy a home with a patio that'll become your outdoor sanctuary,
watch out for these red flags.
Wood That Wasn't
PrE-treated
Be sure to ask your agent if
the wood on a wooden pa-
tio or deck was pretreated. If
not, there is the potential for
dry rot and termites. This is
not earth-shattering and can
be dealt with, but it can be
an expense to replace the
wood with pre-treated wood.
Sometimes you won't need
to ask; if the wood looks
ashy or flaky, chances are it
wasn't pretreated.
