News from Contractor Hotline LLC

Dependable, pre-screened professionals for all your household needs

June 2008
Volume I, Issue II

The lazy days of summer are almost upon us (despite the cold, wet days we've had this spring!) and we're sure you'll want to be ready to enjoy them once they arrive. Whether it's sprucing up your outside living area or completing those warm weather projects you've been planning, we're here to help you every step of the way.

Whatever you do, we hope you enjoy the summer season!

Best regards,

Cari Barron

Inspect Your Home's Exterior!

Maintaining the exterior of your home ensures its functionality and efficiency, as well as increasing curb appeal. Long Northwest winters can hammer away at your home's exterior, especially the roof. Keep in mind not all leaks are visible on the inside until they have reached an advanced stage. Left undetected they can cause dry rot, mold or insulation damage. If you're not experienced working on roofs you can inspect a good portion of it from the ground. Using a pair of binoculars will help you get close up without risking a fall. Look for buckling, curling or missing shingles while also paying attention to the metal flashing around chimneys, vents and in the valleys. Flashing should be firmly adhered and not show signs of lifting along the edges or corners.

An easy way to inspect your gutters and check the seams for leaks is to flush them out with a hose. This can usually be done from a ladder but be sure to carefully place your ladder on level, solid ground and wear goggles to protect your eyes from splashing debris. If there is a lot of debris you may first want to scoop this out by hand. When flushing the gutters note where you detect any leaks. Thoroughly dry the area to be repaired and apply a quality exterior caulk to seal any holes, joints or gaps. A fresh coat of paint will help protect the gutters next winter and finish the job nicely.

If you have a fireplace, inspect the chimney's mortar for cracks or crumbling and the brick or stone for signs of peeling or flaking, known as spauling. Significantly damaged or missing bricks or stones should be replaced. Cracked or crumbling mortar should be removed and replaced with new mortar, known as repointing. Thoroughly cleaning and then sealing the chimney's entire exterior surface with a high quality brick and stone sealer will help reduce future damage. There are many factors that can lead to masonry damage which are often not easily detected without a proper inspection. While some minor repairs can be done yourself, it's generally best to consult with a professional.

And don't forget your driveway, sidewalks and patio. Minor cracks and pits in concrete are often easily repaired but large jobs may require removing old concrete and pouring a new section. Keep in mind it can be difficult to match a patch to existing concrete so you'll want to carefully consider repairs, especially in high visibility locations.

If some or all of these projects are more than you want to tackle on your own we can refer you to professionals that will inspect and make any necessary repairs to your roof, gutters, downspouts, chimney or concrete surfaces.

Get Your Deck Ready For Summer -

Or Build One Now!

What better place is there to spend summer time with friends and family than outside on your deck? If you already have a deck, now is when you want to examine it for any damage or wear from the past winter. Cycles of wetting and drying cause wood to expand and contract, leading to cracking and warping. You may need to power wash the deck to remove any fungus or mildew, and replace any rotting boards or loose nails. If the deck is made of wood it may need to have a coat of waterproofing or stain applied. This will help stabilize moisture loss and help prevent decay. Be sure the deck is clean and thoroughly dry before applying any stains or sealers. Pick a warm day and spruce up your deck for summer!

If you're thinking of adding a new deck to your home careful planning will help you enjoy your deck for years to come. Consider your outdoor lifestyle when deciding on how large your deck should be. Allowing for a usable dry-space underneath may be a useful option as well. There are also several choices of materials to consider. The most commonly used are redwood & cedar, treated wood, or engineered wood, such as TimberTech or Trex. Many decks are built using a combination of one or more of these materials. Decks made from engineered products are a popular choice in the Northwest. Engineered decking looks and feels like real wood, but is made of everything from plastic to peanut shells, making it more stable and long-lasting, and easier on the environment too. You can learn more about these products by clicking on these links. TimberTech or Trex Whatever you decide, we have skilled professionals to assist you from start to finish.

If you have a specific topic you would like to see covered in a future issue please let us know about it. Your feedback is important to us!

Contractor Hotline LLC

Email: cari@contractorhotline.net

Phone: 425-775-9085

Fax: 425-775-9150

www.contractorhotline.net

Spring & Summer
Checklist!

Inspect exterior of your home

Make necessary repairs to roof, gutters, chimney and concrete

Get deck or porch ready for summer (power wash)

Bring out lawn and patio furniture

Enjoy the summer!

Name That Newsletter

Winner!

In the April issue we asked for your help in naming our newsletter and want to thank everyone who submitted suggestions. We had a lot of fun going through the entries and although it was a tough decision we are happy to announce the winner is Melissa Nelson with Nelson Carpet Cleaning for her very clever name - On The Level. Our goal is to provide you with informative and useful tips to maintain your home and On The Level fits our objective perfectly.

Thank you Melissa!

Visit Our Website!

Contractor Hotline is your FREE resource for dependable, home improvement professionals that have been carefully pre-screened and proven to be some of the best in their field.

Whether you have an immediate problem or a long delayed plan to refurbish your home we can help. We welcome you to visit our website at www.contractorhotline.net for a list of all the household services we can assist you with!