Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
Posted to misc.consumers.house
|
|||
|
|||
The Bottom Line 2008 Home Maintenance Month-by-Month Guide
The Bottom Line 2008 Home Maintenance Month-by-Month Guide
Danny Lipford I nvest a few hours each month, and you can keep your house looking great and avoid expensive repairs down the road. Here's my smart home owner's maintenance calendar... January This is a good time to address some interior issues... Start a to-do list. Walk through your home, jotting down projects and maintenance problems you notice or that have been on your mind. Carry a screwdriver and a can of machine oil so you can immediately take care of minor issues, such as loose door handles and squeaky hinges. Declutter your closets. Throw away anything you don't need. Buy additional shelves, hooks and boxes to organize everything that remains. Next: Declutter the laundry room, another often disorganized, small space. Consider your flooring. January is a slow month for carpet sellers and floor refinishers, so it is a good time to get a deal on a replacement or spruce-up. February Tackle more indoor tasks before the warmer weather arrives... Examine bathroom and kitchen caulking. If you find gaps between the tub or shower and the floor and walls, or between the countertop and backsplash, recaulk. Check under sinks and around toilets and showers for signs of leaks. Also repair dripping faucets -- if you don't know how, a local handyman may do the job at about half the price of a plumber. Save plumbers for bigger, complex jobs. Call to have your central air-conditioning serviced. Set up the appointment now for March or April to avoid the summer rush. The service will make sure that your compressor and air handler are working well and that the condensate drain is clear. March Winter's ending. It's time to... Search for peeling exterior paint. Harsh winter weather can cause paint to chip, peel or flake, exposing wood to the elements. Touch up bare spots now to prevent moisture problems later. First, scrape and sand any loose paint, then prime and add at least one top coat. Prep your lawn. Apply a preemergent fertilizer to your grass in March (or as soon as the snow melts), and you'll have fewer weeds and healthier grass come April. A local nursery can recommend a fertilizer appropriate for your yard. Examine the foundation. Take a walk around the exterior and interior of your foundation (if accessible) in search of cracks. Small cracks should be filled with caulk and monitored to make sure they aren't widening. If you see large cracks, call a building contractor or structural engineer to inspect. Check cement walkways and driveways. If you find a crack, use a leaf blower to clear out debris, then seal with caulk made for your type of surface (asphalt, concrete, etc.). Use mortar only if the crack is more than a half-inch wide. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you change the clocks for daylight saving time. April Start your spring cleaning... Wash your windows, both inside and out. Also scrub the window frames and shutters. Replace storm windows and doors with screens. Pressure-wash outside surfaces. Spray sidewalks, driveways, exterior siding, decks and fences. Pressure washers can be rented for $50 to $75 a day -- split the rental cost with a neighbor. Important: High- powered pressure washers can damage siding and decks if used improperly. Read the unit's operating instructions carefully. Test your underground lawn sprinkler system. Monitor the system through a full cycle to make sure it survived the winter in good shape. Some sprinkler heads might need to be cleaned or adjusted. Degrease your barbecue grill with a stiff brush and detergent. Gas grills require disassembly to clean burners. Use a soap solution to check the regulator and hoses for leaks (see your owner's manual). Clean and check gutters. Remove leaves and other debris from gutters. If you find any cracks or leaky seals, clean the area and use a putty knife to apply a thick coat of butyl rubber caulk. When the caulk dries, flush out your downspouts with a garden hose. If the downspouts don't effectively divert the water away from your foundation, buy splash blocks and place one under each gutter downspout. May Make sure the dehumidifier is working properly if you live where it's humid and your entire home isn't air-conditioned. Vacuum window air conditioners, then make sure there is no air leakage around them (use removable rope caulk if necessary) and they are operating properly. Examine your deck for signs of deterioration. Tighten screws and railing bolts, and hammer down any exposed nails. Clean and reseal wood surfaces. Also check patio furniture for rust. Scrub rusted areas with a wire brush, then prime and paint. Check and repair weather stripping and caulking. Gaps around your doors and windows inflate energy bills. June Time to make some final preparations for the hot weather... Change the filters at all air returns of your air-conditioning system. While you're at it, vacuum out the cavity behind the filters. If you have a fan in the gable end of your home to evacuate hot air from your attic, make sure it is working. Confirm that the turbine vents spin freely. While you're in the attic, look for signs of moisture that might indicate the roof is leaking. Hire a chimney sweep. If you use your fireplace regularly, you should have the chimney cleaned at least every other year. The best time to schedule an appointment is early summer, when business is slow for chimney sweeps. July The month for outdoor projects... Paint. July is warm and relatively dry (in most regions), making it a good time for exterior painting projects. Inspect your roof shingles. If you don't want to risk climbing on your roof, use binoculars to carefully scan it for damaged and missing shingles. Care for your garage door. Tighten screws and bolts. Make sure the auto-reverse is working. Use a light grease recommended in the owner's manual to lube the rollers. Important: Don't use a spray-on lube, which will sprinkle down on the car when you open the door. August August is the time to tackle those remaining outdoor projects or head inside if you've had enough sun... Mend fences. Replace broken or rotting boards. Repaint fences if necessary. Oil hinges on gates. Trim bushes and shrubs around your house. Your home has an increased risk of mold and mildew problems if you let plants grow within 12 inches of its exterior walls. Clean your dryer vent system. Disconnect the vent from the dryer and remove built-up lint. A leaf blower attached to the inside end of the vent can quickly clear it out. Call to have your gas or oil furnace or boiler serviced. It is best to set up the appointment before the cool weather comes. For forced-air furnaces, install a new filter every month during peak heating season. September Summer's over. Time to... Protect your firewood. Cover your woodpile with a tarp, or move a winter's worth of wood into the garage or under an overhang, where it will stay dry. Drain and refill your water heater. Cleaning out sediment once a year will improve efficiency and extend the life of the unit. Check the manufacturer's instructions. Clean bathroom exhaust fans and kitchen vent hoods. Dust, dirt and mold can build up, reducing efficiency and air quality. Vacuum the fan assembly. Clean the grille and vent hoods with a mild detergent, and dry with a soft cloth. Never use abrasive cleansers. Shut down dehumidifiers for the year. Empty the reservoir completely, and wipe it down with a bleach solution to kill any mold growth. October Cold weather's on the way... Take in or cover outdoor equipment. Clean and store the barbecue and patio furniture. Change the mower's oil, clean its blades and drain the gas. Call your town to find out about disposal points for the drained gas. Test your snowblower. Make sure that all winter equipment is working. Drain your lawn sprinkler system. Follow your system's winterization instructions. Also, store hoses and turn off the water to outside faucets, but leave them slightly open so that they drain. Rake often. Aim for every week or so when leaves are falling. If you wait until the end of the season, the job will be much harder, and your lawn will be starved for sun. Buy a leaf blower if raking is too hard on your back. Service your generator if you have one. Stock up on flashlights, candles, canned food and water in case of power outages. November Late-fall chores... Tidy up your yard. Trim plants, remulch gardens and rake up the last leaves to keep your yard looking nice through March. Clean and stow lawn and garden tools. Use a wire brush to remove any rust, and apply a thin film of oil to metal-on-metal surfaces. Replace batteries in fire and carbon monoxide detectors. Do this when you adjust clocks for the end of daylight saving time on November 2, 2008. December Winter is here... Make sure extension cords for holiday decorations that are used outside are rated for this use. All outdoor lights should also be plugged into a ground-fault-interrupter (GFI) receptacle. Add adhesive-backed nonskid strips to stairs and other dangerous areas, because you will be indoors more. Keep walkways free of ice. Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated program Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford and home- improvement expert for The Weather Channel and CBS's The Early Show. Based in Mobile, Alabama, he has worked as a remodeling contractor for more than 28 years and has renovated more than 3,000 homes. www.dannylipford.com |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
$50,000/month from home. as seen on TV | Woodturning | |||
Tip 'O the Month,for Drawer Bottom Dadoes | Woodworking |