Home Improvement with Andy Lindus

Every homeowner should perform home maintenance tasks to in order to circumvent costly repairs and maintain the overall aesthetic appeal and value of their home.  Below, we’ve laid out some maintenance plans for the summer months.

Decking-We recommend self-inspecting your deck each year for issues such as: loosenails & screws and wood that is rotted or warping.  Ignoring these issues can compromise the deck’s stability.  Adeck will last longer if it is power washed annually & stained as often as needed.

Roofing-It’s important to inspect your roof every 6 months to insure it’s in good working order.  It’s best to catch potential issues in good weather, rather than in the middle of a thunderstorm when you encounter water leaking into your home.  Warning signs your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan include: curling shingles, loose granules & discoloration.  It’s also a good idea to have a professional come out and inspect your roof after storms with heavy winds, excessive rain or hail.  (Shameless plug—call us at 800-873-1451 to schedule a free, no obligation estimate or visit us at http://www.lindusconstruction.com/MN-Remodeling-Estimates-WI.php if you’ve experienced possible storm damage in your area and would like a professional to inspect it for you.)

Siding-Closely examine your siding to see if any of it has become loosened or has startedto rot.  It’s imperative that damaged siding is addressed as quickly as possible so that moisture does not have the opportunity to set in.  All types of siding can benefit from a spring cleaning.  This can be done by the professionals or by using a long-handled brush dipped in soapy water.  Power washing is not recommended in most cases because it can damage the siding.

Temperature Control- Check for cracks and drafts in windows & doors which not onlyraise the temperature of your home but also your energy bills.

Air Filters- The purpose of an air filter is to keep airborne contaminants out of your home.  The cleaner your air filter is, the less your home’s HVAC system has to work to keep your home cool.  How often you change your air filter depends on the following:

-Pets

-Number of people living in your home

-Type of filter being used

-Level of air pollution & construction around the home

Driveways & Walkways- Small cracks can be remedied by visiting your localhome improvement store and purchasing a product that allows for patching and resealing.  If there are a number of cracks or ones that are significant, we feel it’s best to call a professional so that there’s little to no evidence of the patching.  Looking for a way to ditch the weeds that keep making their way through cracks in the pavement?  While it’s tempting to pull them, doing so does not eliminate the root system and before you know it, the weeds are back.  A solution that eliminates this problem for the rest of the season is boiling a pot of water on the stove and carefully dumping it on them.

Tune into AM 830 WCCO on Saturdays from 9:00-10:00am hosted by Denny Long and Andy Lindus to ask questions regarding your home improvement projects. Call us now at 1-800-873-1451 or check us out on the web at www.lindusconstruction.com to schedule a free in-home estimate for your home improvement needs today!