NEW YEARS HOME MAINTENANCE/REPAIR CHECKLIST

Has the New Year heightened your desire to start making improvements around your home wherever possible?

Someone once said that “little things after a while get to be bigger things, so now is a time to start a Home Maintenance Checklist”.  Once you have your list together, it enables you, the homeowner, to plan out repair, maintenance and improvements for the coming year.

Here are some basic repairs/improvements to include on your home maintenance and improvement checklist:

1    Change out your light bulbs for some energy-saving light bulbs.  They really aren’t that much more expensive and they will save you on your energy bill.

Energy Saving Light Bulbs

2      Do something about your clutter…I admit, I am guilty here.  We tend to have a lot of clutter around the house and garage.  Start going through your stuff, throw out what you don’t need and maybe have a garage storage system installed, pull-down attic stairs, or another type of storage unit installed in your house/garage to organize what you plan on keeping. 

3     Get your gutters cleaned and have some gutter shields installed so there won’t be so much buildup the next time around.

4    Seal windows, doors and cracks with caulking.  Weatherstripping is inexpensive and easy to use and a way to help keep the cool air outside and the warm air inside and yet another way to help you save on your energy bill.

5    Updating a room at a time…whether you decide to apply a fresh coat of paint or some simple trim around the window, this is a cost-effective way to spruce up your home…one room at a time.

Dirty and clean filter

6    Change your filters – these should be cleaned or replaced every three months.  If your filter is dirty, not only are you breathing in the dust and other particles that can’t come through the filter, but it is making your furnace run harder which makes it less energy efficient.

 7   Check the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors.  I like to do this at the begi
nning of every year as it’s an easy way to remember when the last time it was done. 

 8    Popcorn Ceilings are stale…not much more dates a house than having a popcorn ceiling.  Removing popcorn from your ceiling not only updates your home but adds value as well.

Before and After Popcorn Removal

 9   Check all your faucets and toilets for leaks and replace as necessary.

10  With all the damp weather we are having, have you noticed some green buildup on your sidewalk, decks, siding?  Having your decks and other areas of your home power washed will not only remove all the grime and dirt, but will make these areas of your home look newer.

So, what is at the top of your home improvement/maintenance checklist?  If you need some help crossing some of these items off, give Steve’s Handyman Service a call.  I would love to help out…and remember, No Job is Too Small!!!

Happy New Year!!

GREEN LIVING TIP - RAIN BARRELS

The raining season is fast approaching and one way to “Go Green” this year would be to use a rain barrel. What is a Rain Barrel, you ask? A rain barrel is a container that simply captures and stores rain water draining from your roof.

Benefits of using a rain barrel:

1. During the summer months, a rain barrel can save up to 1,300 gallons of water.
2. Typically, one inch of rain on a roof produces 600 gallons of water!
3. Approximately 40% of our water usage, during the summer, is for watering plants and yards.  Using the water collected in your rain barrel will help save, not only the environment, but money as well.
4. Keeps runoff from washing into yards and nearby drain systems or streams by placing a rain barrel under a downspout.
5. Makes you feel good about yourself for helping the environment.

Barrels can range from a 40 to 200 gallon capacity and have a convenient spigot for filling water cans as well as a connection for a soaker hose. They usually sit up against your home under a water spout you insert to direct the rain water down from the roof gutter. The barrels have a screen on top to help filter out debris as well as keeping mosquitoes from getting inside. Barrels come in all shape and sizes and can also be painted to match the color of your home. Some barrels have containers on top that can be used as flower planters as well. 

Watch this short You Tube video on the Benefits of a rain barrel.

If you would like to talk more about getting one or more rain barrels installed, please give me a call.  I would love to help out.

Gutter Cleaning Tips

It’s that time a year again that you’ll need to keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance of your home’s gutters.  Gutter cleaning can be not only time consuming for the homeowner, but also dangerous. 

Cleaning your gutters is a necessary job, as overtime, an excessive amount of dirt and debris can put too much strain on your gutter system and cause them to not function the way they are designed too.  Gutters are designed to control the water that gathers around your home.  If your gutters don’t function properly, the water buildup can eventually lead to much more expensive home repairs, such as moisture damage to the wood siding of your home, leaks, cracked wall foundations, mold and washed out landscaping.

You know it’s time to clean your gutters when you have significant leaves, twigs, dirt or debris in your gutters.  Overtime, this buildup can weigh down your gutter fasteners and eventually they will come loose from your house.  Another expensive home repair!

If you want to do the gutter cleaning yourself, you will need a ladder, gloves and a hose.  As I mentioned earlier, cleaning gutters can be dangerous, especially if you are afraid of heights and not too comfortable on a tall ladder.  You also need to watch out for power lines as well.  I recommend working from the ladder as the roof may not be all that stable to walk on.  If you find any loose gutter sections along the way, make sure to tighten them up as you go along.

Once the gutters are completely cleared of any debris, consider installing Gutter Guards to keep leaves and other debris from building up.

If you don’t want to take on the task yourself, consider hiring someone to do your gutter cleaning for you or you can give Steve’s Handyman Service a call.  You can schedule this exterior home repair or other home maintenance projects by calling me today.

FALL MAINTENANCE TIPS

Fall is just around the corner and the cooler air outside means goodbye summer! The next few weeks are a good time to get outside and provide some important maintenance to your property.

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As the weather grows colder,  and the days get shorter here in Marin and Sonoma county, it’s important to start preparing for the fall and winter months ahead by completing your outdoor home maintenance chores.  

I have listed some fall preventative home maintenance tips that every homeowner should follow:

Gutters should be cleaned at least once a year to rid them of clogs from damp, heavy, fallen leaves. Gutters that are not properly cleaned are havens for insect infestations. Clogged gutters can also lead to much more costly repairs due to water damage and wood rot. 

Windows and doors can cost you lots of money on your heating bills. You don't have to replace your windows and doors, but just by simply replacing seals and caulking around them can help improve on your energy costs.  

If you have a fireplace or wood burning stove, you want to make sure that they have been thoroughly cleaned and inspected before use. This should also be done annually before you start burning wood. Make sure that the chimney is also free from excessive creosote, which could lead to chimney fires.

Before the cold weather sets in for the winter, it's important to be sure to inspect all of your duct work and your heating system. Be sure to also open up the vents and vacuum out any debris. Change your filters before firing up your furnace for the first time this year.

Be sure to check your roof for any leaks or missing tiles. You will want to replace the problem tiles and/or shingles that need to be replaced, and patch any holes to help prevent further damage from the wet winter weather.

It is also important to make sure all wood decks, fences and outbuildings have been properly stained and sealed for the seasonal weather.

Finally, fall is also a good time of the year to do any interior painting. Give your walls a fresh new look.  If you have dull, dark rooms in your home, this is the time to brighten them up with a fresh new coat of paint.