What should I check in the first year after a renovation?

Three things to watch: water, humidity, movement

The first year shows what the finished work could not. Most of what you are looking for is water or humidity where it should not be, and anything that moves, sticks or stops working as the house goes through its first heating and cooling seasons. Your records and your written notes are as important as your eyes.

If the job has not been signed off yet, read what has to be in a Virginia home improvement contract first.

Before the first month ends: paperwork

Do not pay 100% of the total bill until the work is 100% complete.^[1] Never sign a completion certificate until all the work called for in the contract has been properly completed.^[1]

Then build the job file. The Board for Contractors suggests keeping a copy of the signed contract and any change orders.^[1] It also lists the plans and specifications, the permit, bills and invoices, and lien releases from subcontractors and material suppliers.^[1] Add the model and serial numbers of anything installed and every warranty card. When something fails in month ten, you will not have to look for them.

Water and humidity

New plumbing, new roofing details and new windows are where a mistake leaks. Check ceilings below bathrooms and kitchens, window and door trim, the area around the water heater and any wall that was opened for pipes. Look for stains, bubbling paint, a musty smell or soft trim. After the first hard rain, look at ceilings and at the walls under new windows.

The EPA's rule of thumb is speed. It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.^[2] The same guide says: "If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity."^[2] A small moisture meter at a hardware store will tell you. Fungi (molds) grow in air over 60% relative humidity,^[3] so a new, tighter house with no exhaust fan running can drift into the range without a leak anywhere.

If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes, act quickly to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source.^[2] Run the bath and kitchen fans, and tell the contractor if condensation keeps coming back.

Things that move

New materials settle and dry through the first year. Through the first summer and winter, try every door, window, cabinet and drawer, and note any that bind, rub or no longer close. Watch for hairline cracks at drywall joints, gaps opening at trim or flooring, and a door that has begun to swing open by itself. A pattern, such as cracks that widen across one wall, is a reason to call the contractor rather than patch.

Systems and fixtures

Run every system through a full season. Turn the heating on in autumn and the cooling on in the first hot week, test every outlet and switch you can reach, and run each tap and drain for a few minutes. Note anything that trips a breaker, hums, drips or takes longer than it should to get hot. Keep the manufacturer's maintenance schedule for filters and anything else it names.

Radon in winter

If the renovation touched a basement, crawlspace or ground-level rooms, or you have never tested, plan a radon test for the first winter. Winter readings are typically higher than those taken in summer,^[4] and EPA recommends testing in the winter.^[4] EPA recommends that action be taken to reduce the indoor radon levels that are 4.0 pCi/l or above.^[4] Fixing a high reading is a job for a certified radon professional, not a home project.

Report problems in writing

If problems do arise, either during construction or afterward, contact your contractor first.^[1] Be sure to address all problems or complaints directly to your contractor in writing, so that you both have a record.^[1] Include the date, photographs and the part of the house affected.

If the contractor refuses to make corrections, you should file a written complaint with the Board for Contractors,^[1] which is covered in how to file a complaint against a contractor in Virginia. A claim against Virginia's recovery fund has its own rules, in the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund.

When to call a licensed pro

Call one for anything you can see but should not open yourself: a roof or flashing leak, a wet wall, an electrical outlet that is warm or trips a breaker, a gas smell, sagging framing, or a cracked beam or joist. Start with the contractor who did the work, and if you need someone else, use a business with a DPOR licence. Check the licence before you hire.

The cost side of a repair visit is in how much it costs to renovate a whole house in Virginia. Browse remodeling services or more remodeling answers.

When something needs a fix, describe the project and licensed local contractors quote it.