Keeping On Top Of Things

Keeping On Top Of Things

We all understand the importance of routine or preventative maintenance - to limit our risk of premature failure on large- ticket items, such as cars, furnaces, and air conditioning units. However, millions of dollars a year are spent replacing roofs that may have lasted a lot longer, had routine maintenance been done. 

Roof maintenance is an important part of overall home maintenance and should get the same routine check-up that we give our heating and cooling systems. With any system, routine maintenance will help prolong the service life and keep it at maximum efficiency.

Many things can contribute to shortening your roof's life, including algae build-up. If your roof has dark spots, you may have algae. These stains are often confused for sap, soot, and rust. Algae needs inorganic material to support its growth, which it gets from the filler material in the asphalt/fiberglass shingles. Algae is found in approximately 75 to 80 percent of the United States, but grows best in warm, damp climates. If algae staining is the only symptom your roof is exhibiting, it may be professionally cleaned to add years to the life of your roof system.
Proper ventilation of the attic space is important to prevent premature aging of the shingles due to excessive heat. Proper ventilation also will reduce moisture build-up that can damage the wood components of the roof. An easy way to check for attic ventilation is to observe the attic space in the daylight with the attic lights off. Where you see daylight, you see venting. It is also important that you have cross ventilation. For example, if the roof has soffit vents (vents at the eves) and ridge vents, the air will flow from the soffit vents through the attic to the ridge vents. Cross-venting helps prevent hot spots in the attic. You may see soffit vents on the outside, under the eves, but may not see light in that area from the attic side. That commonly occurs when the attic insulation has covered the soffit vents. If this is the case, pull the insulation back until the soffit vent is open and look for light.
It is also important to have good insulation in the attic, especially if you live in a cold climate. Proper insulation will help prevent ice damming. Ice damming occurs when the heat from your house passes through a poorly insulated attic, thus melting snow or ice on the roof, allowing the melted snow or ice to run down to the lower edge of the roof where it can refreeze. As the snow or ice refreezes, it forms a dam. When the dam gets large enough, the water that is hitting it will start running back and under the shingles. This will cause the roof to leak and can damage ceilings and walls.

Here are some preventive maintenance tips that can help reduce leaks and avoid premature roof failure:
 Trim back any overhanging tree branches.
 Keep the roof free of debris.
 Keep gutters free of debris and in good working order.
 From the ground, with the aid of binoculars, inspect the roof for missing or broken shingles.
 Inspect all flashing around chimneys, valleys, pipes, and butting roofs.
 In your attic, with the aid of a flashlight, inspect the wood decking under the shingles for water stains.
 If you see signs of leaking, have it repaired right away.

If your roof is more than twenty years old, you should consider having it inspected by one of our professional roofers. Remember your roof is a major system of your house. Deferred maintenance can be very costly.

Get Your Home Ready For Back to School

School supplies are showing up on the shelves of stores everywhere reminding everyone that the final days of summer are edging closer.

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to evaluate your home to make sure you are organized and prepared for the approaching back to school days. Even if you do not have children in school, shortened daylight hours and changing traffic patterns can affect your neighborhood and home life, giving you a reason to pause and consider changes you may want to incorporate now.

Home Improvement Projects

With extended daylight hours, now is the time to evaluate your home and complete any projects you’ve been contemplating.  In addition, some work such as repairing or replacing a roof, should be done before the fall and winter weather arrives.  Now is the time to plan for any remaining home improvement projects to be done this year.

Are you going to do the work yourself?  Summer schedules and vacations are a bit more open typically, allowing you more freedom to work on your project and recruit friends who may be available to help, too. It’s easier to do work on your house with the summer weather.

If you’re not going to do the work yourself, call Man With Tools to get an estimate now, and then schedule the work to be done.  Tradesmen tend to get busy in fall as others realize that fall may be the last opportunity to get work done before the holidays (and guests!) and before work may be affected by the weather.

Finishing projects up now will give you peace of mind in the coming months, including those busy first weeks of fall and through the holidays.

Personal Planning Around Your Home

With sales on school and office supplies, now may be a good time for you to do personal planning and organizing as well.   Take a look at your home office.  Do you need a new wall calendar or a dry erase board, or can you de-clutter your home office space using home organizers or storage containers?  You can save time and money by shopping now while inventory is high. Watch for sale promotions during this period also.  With the extra daylight hours, this time of year is the perfect time of year to dedicate yourself to organizing.

Enjoy the rest of summer

Regardless of the projects you embark on as you enjoy the lingering days of summer, now is the time to prepare for the transition from summer to fall.  Make the most of the last part of summer – take trips, visit friends and family, have special time for yourself!

Pot Racks, Kitchen Racks, Shelves & Kitchen Storage Solutions

You may dream of totally remodeling your kitchen and doubling its cabinet space but you only have a budget for small changes. That’s not a problem. You can expand your storage by adding a rack with shelf or kitchen cart.

Install a Pot Rack Over the Island

Photo Credit: brittreints on Flickr

You aren’t doing anything with the space above the kitchen island, so why not put it to good use? Hang a pot rack. This serves as one of the most popular places to install such a rack because the island creates a barrier of sorts that keeps heads from getting too close and bumping into the items hanging down.

Add a Rack Above the Sink

Photo Credit: lancefisher on Flickr

Above the sink proves another common place for a pot rack. The location makes it easy to grab a pot and fill it with water for boiling purposes. It also allows you to let the pots hang dry if you so choose. Simply wash, rinse, hang and don’t worry about water dripping down as it dries, as it lands in the sink. You also won’t bump your head with this placement because the sink itself keeps you at a safe distance.

Hang a Rack on the Wall

Photo Credit: JohnE777 on Flickr

Racks also exist that sit flush with the wall and have hooks in front for hanging pots and space above to slide in lids. This turns a wall that might normally have held a lovely piece of art into an extension of your kitchen storage. Avoid putting such a rack in a pathway where it could get bumped by a passing shoulder.

Pot racks come in a variety of sizes and finishes, allowing you to choose one that suits the space and your kitchen. For example, you would not want a small rack over a large island for both aesthetic and functional purposes, as it would unbalance the room visually and make reaching pots in the center a chore. When choosing a finish, keep in mind the hardware in your kitchen and choose to match or complement. Stainless steel, wrought iron and brass are among the many options available. And don’t limit what you place on the rack. Many come with space above for items such as pans and cooling trays, and hooks can hold everything from pots and utensils to herbs that need to dry.

Add a Kitchen Storage Cart

Photo Credit: marusula on Flickr

A cart also adds to your storage space without requiring construction. Simply roll it into place, lock the wheels and leave it there, or you can tuck it away in the pantry when not in use. These handy items get used for everything from baking projects to serving as a cocktail cart during get-togethers of family and friends. If you do decide to give a cart a permanent place in your kitchen, the space above it makes an excellent spot for a pot rack just like with an island.

And as with all home improvement projects, your professional handyman would be more than happy to take on the installment tasks. Hanging heavy items such as pot racks requires proper placement on the ceiling or wall to avoid having it all come crashing down because of a lack of support. You also will want to take any lights on the ceiling into consideration.

Man With Tools can maintain your home to save you money. One call really does take care of everything on your to-do list. Make sure to stay on top of all your household repairs, improvements and maintenance needs and request service online today.

• Increase The Value Of Your Home

  

  
  

  You heard this before because it’s true: the most valuable asset that most people will ever own is their home. Over time, homes generally appreciate even when only essential maintenance is done. By investing just a little time and money in some home maintenance services to update and replace worn out fixtures and furnishings you can greatly increase your home's value. Here are some tips for increasing your home’s value:

  
  

  Upgrading your kitchen:

  • If you can only do one project, update your kitchen. The kitchen, as we all know, is an essential part of the home and will typically be the driving force behind buying decisions.
  • Consider upgrading or re-facing your cabinets, as they are the most visible element of your kitchen.
  • If your cabinets are in decent shape, consider painting them bright white and replacing the hardware to make them look new again.
  • You may want to replace your old countertops with new granite countertops, a solid surface material or even Formica. If you have the room, you might consider increasing your countertop space with an island. Or perhaps you could remove a wall and open it up to an adjoining room.

  Upgrading your bathroom:

  • Look critically at your bathrooms, particularly the master bath.
  • Consider replacing old wallpaper or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint.
  • A new modern vanity and sink are relatively inexpensive and can be installed in just a few hours.
  • Your tub and toilet may need to be replaced because they are old or don't match.
  • Updated ceramic tiles and hard flooring are attractive to new buyers who don't want to go through the process of updating the bathrooms themselves.

  Open things up:

  • Another valuable change you can make is to take down walls to enlarge small spaces and create a more modern and open floor plan, particularly if the area connects to the kitchen.
  • Ceilings can be vaulted to give the appearance of more space and sometimes make rooms seem brighter.
  • Choosing to add on a room or bump out a wall will increase square footage and automatically add value to your home.

  Other home maintenance ideas:

  • Update worn out or outdated items, such as carpet, door handles, lighting fixtures or draperies.
  • Painting rooms and removing clutter can also help increase your home's value should you wish to sell or just need to get it appraised.
  • Replace old flooring with wood, laminate or tile.
  • Replace windows, which will appeal to buyers and can increase the energy efficiency of your home.

  All of these home maintenance services will increase the value of your home. If you’re looking for support along the way, hire an experienced handyman to ensure that your home gets the expert craftsmanship it deserves. We pride ourselves on first-class work and superior customer service that will save you time, money and headaches.

  We’re ready when you are. Contact us today and let’s get started.

Steel Wool

Steel Wool

Steel wool is in inexpensive and comes in a variety of grades of coarseness and you can use it all over your house.

If a screw is too loose, stuff some steel wool into the hole and then replace the screw. The steel wool will give the screw threads a new surface to grip and the screw will stay nice and tight.

Push steel wool into gaps around the foundation of your house, and around pipes and vents.  Critters like mice and squirrels can’t chew through the steel wool so it will keep them outside where they belong.

If you have pets that you bathe at home, or if you tend to get a lot of clogs in your shower, stuff some steel wool into the drain before you use it.  The water will drain through but it will catch the hair before it becomes a clog.

Superfine steel wool will scuff scuffs and imperfections from wood and vinyl floors.  Just get it a little damp and buff in the direction of the grain.

Along those same lines, steel wool is perfect for    removing the gloss layer from paint and stain finishes when you want to prime. So you don’t need to sand the entire piece. 

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Too many homeowners believe spring maintenance is all about the cleaning. Sure, spring cleaning comprises a big chunk of any spring home maintenance schedule, but maintenance aimed at various structures, appliances, and systems within the home is, arguably, just as important. Nearly all homeowners love to see spotless windows for that first sunny, 70-degree day, but you can't forget your roof and the possibility that it needs attention. Indeed, just as much as that first spring day should provide an excuse to go for a hike or a picnic, it should also provide a reminder that your outdoor spring maintenance is waiting.
Follow this spring maintenance checklist to ensure your home is in optimal condition for the rest of the year.

Spring Maintenance Checklist:

Gutters and downspouts: Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

Siding: Clean siding with a pressure washer to keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If wood is showing through, sand the immediate area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting.

Exterior caulking: Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all of the eroding caulk and recaulk needed area.

Window sills, door sills, and thresholds: Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint or replace if necessary.

Window and door screens: Clean screening and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen. Save bad screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Replace broken, worn, or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they are allowed flap and move so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.

Hot water heater: Lubricate circulating pump and motor.