Building Envelope, Gutters and Sealant
Walk the outside of every building twice a year and catch water getting in, cracks growing and railings loosening. FixGrid standard: fall inspection before the first fall frost or Nov 1 (sealant needs about 40 °F and up); spring inspection within 30 days after the last spring frost; gutter cleaning 30 days after the first fall frost.
FMP · 20-yr maintenance pro · v1.0, Oct 2026
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Walls, joints, windows
Walls, joints, windows
The printable PDF has 10 blank lines with these columns.
- Building / elevation
- Write in
- Cladding cracks (brick, stucco, siding) 1/8 in+
- Tick
- Sealant at windows, doors, joints intact
- Tick
- Foundation cracks 1/4 in+ or horizontal / stair-step / bulging
- Tick
- Grew since last season?
- Y / N
- Result
- OK / Monitor (photo + width) / Needs repair
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Guards and railings
Guards and railings
Balconies, breezeways, stairs: every round. The printable PDF has 8 blank lines with these columns.
- Location
- Write in
- Push test: rail solid, posts tight, no rot or rust at the base
- Tick
- Height and 4-in opening measured once (first round or after work)
- Write in
- Result
- OK / Fixed / Needs repair
Checks
- 1Gutters cleaned (fall, 30 days after first frost); extra cleanings if heavy treesMark: Done / Due
- 2Spring: gutters and downspouts flowing, discharge away from the foundationMark: OK / Needs repair
- 3Any guard under 36 in, or a loose rail: ticket openedMark: Done / N/A
- 4Cracks below the threshold photographed with a crack gauge card for next season's compareMark: Done / N/A
If Needs repair
What to do
- A loose railing: block it off and ticket it the same day.
- Guards under 42 in are noted for review (older buildings may be legal at 36 in); under 36 in always opens a ticket.
Call a licensed vendor when
- Horizontal, stair-step, bulging or offset foundation cracks: refer to an engineer.
FixGrid standard practice. Your local codes and your equipment manufacturer's instructions come first.