FALL!!
What's not to love about October-my favorite month of the year?! From the crisp clean air, to the smells, the colors, not to mention the perfect conditions to work in the yard before winter comes, it's all good. As much as I'd like to just stay outside, I know now is the best time to tackle some of the indoor as well as outdoor home improvement tweaks. It's time to run through the house and make a short and simple checklist of things that need tending to that will save you energy dollars and aggravation if seen to now. Here's a good list to get you started.
Indoors:
- Start by checking the interior walls of the house by feeling around all of the windows and doors for drafts. If you are having a hard time locating those drafts, light a candle and hold it by the window and door frame. If the smoke is wavering, you may have an air leak. The size, shape, and location of the air leak will dictate how it is to be filled. If the leak is around a door or window frame, the best sealant is a paintable latex caulk. It will give a smooth and clean seal that will best blend into the surrounding areas.
- Lubricate locks and hinges: Those squeakers are so annoying and will be history if you'll just apply a little dose of WD-40. One shot will lubricate as well as clean.
- Clean and reverse ceiling fans. After cleaning the fan, reset the switch to make it spin in a clockwise direction to push the warm air downward.
- Cabinet doors and drawers. Now is the time to clean and lubricate drawers and hinges on all cabinets (especially in the kitchen). Yep, WD-40 again.
- Check all handrails inside and out. Make sure all inside and outside handrails are secure, and repair loose railings, posts and spindles. Indoors, loose wood spindles can be repaired by dipping a wooden toothpick in glue and wedging it in where the spindle goes into the handrail. Once the glue is dry, break off the excess toothpick or trim it away with a utility knife.
- On the exterior, check around windows and doors to make sure that the caulk around the frame work has not dried and become cracked. If it appears worse for the wear, remove the old caulk with a blade or a caulk softener and then spray the opening with bleach and water solution to kill any mold that might be growing back there. Let the area dry thoroughly and reapply a paintable latex caulk. If you notice any space on the exterior that might accommodate pests or air leaks, fill those with expandable foam because it will expand to fill the exact shape and size of the opening, its water proof, and easy to use.
And, of course, if you need any help with this or any other projects around your home give us a call, we would love to help! |
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Roofing
Metal Roof or Asphalt Shingles, which should I choose?
A home's roof is arguably the most important feature. The two most common residential roofing materials are composition shingles (or asphalt shingles), and steel (also known as a metal roof). Whether you're installing the original roof or a replacement roof it would be good to weigh out the differences. Here are some of the pros and cons of each.
Composition/Asphalt Shingle Roofs
Asphalt shingle roofs are the most popular because of cost and the number of options available. The composition shingle has a fiberglass mat core. The fiberglass gives the shingle flexibility and provides some fire resistance. The exterior of the composition shingle has a weather resistant asphalt coating embedded with crushed rock. The lifetime of the composition shingle is 15 to 30 years. The price varies widely depending on a number of factors. On the low end of the price scale are the plain, flat shingles. For a more appealing appearance, many homeowners opt for a slightly more expensive shingle, one that incorporates a three dimensional look or the "shadow" look. These shingles have more of a beefy look, reminiscent of the cedar shake shingles of years past. One of the few "cons" are that they are susceptible to algae growth which is the stain-looking light streak seen on many roofs. Shingles with an anti-algae coating are more expensive but worth it if curb appeal is an issue. The most popular attic venting systems today is a ridge vent which has largely replaced whirlybirds. Cooling can be further enhanced with radiant barrier paint on the underside of the roof sheathing.
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs are a good choice for areas that experience high winds. They withstand far higher mile per hour winds than composition shingles. The metal roofing material only weighs approximately one seventh what a shingle roof does, putting less stress on the home's structure. In addition, they are fire proof which is not only safer but may result in a lower insurance premium. A brick house with a metal roof stands a better chance of surviving a fire coming from outside the home. Roof longevity is a factor for the homeowner planning to stay in the home. Although a metal roof often costs more initially, in the long run it's cheaper. Most metal roof manufacturers will give a guarantee of around fifty years but experts believe this is a conservative estimate. Metal roofs need not look commercial. Other styles are available. Some look like conventional shingles and others look like cedar shake shingles.
The length of time you'll be staying in the home and cost are the two factors that will help you make your decision. For more information and help give us a call. We enjoy making life easier for you.
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