Do You Find Home Projects Daunting?

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I haven’t blogged in awhile, because honestly, I find the task of sitting down each week and writing an article daunting.  So this week as I break my procrastination streak and blog again for the first time since January, I am also finding my inspiration for this article.

It occurred to me that homeowners may feel daunted by home projects just as I am about blogging.  Even though you know it is important to maintain your home, you just don’t know where to begin.  So, I as I begin again with blogging, I hope to give you some pointers and ideas on how to begin with your home projects.

Most home projects fall into 1 of 2 categories, home maintenance/handyman projects and major renovations (bathroom/kitchen/basement remodels).

Home Maintenance Projects

Home maintenance projects are the little issues that most homeowners let build up because they want to do them, but they just can seem to find the time.  Ideally you deal with each little home issue, when it happens, but usually this just isn’t possible for most homeowners.  Therefore, the best recommendation I have for this is to designate a “house day” or a “house weekend”, 2 or 3 times a year.  Mark it on the calendar, make sure the whole family knows, and if necessary ask a friend to come over and help.  Then, at least a week before your “house day/weekend” make a list of all of the odd jobs that need to be done.  It may look something like this:

  1. Patch drywall and re-hang towel rack in the guest bathroom
  2. Replace cracked tile in the master bath
  3. Fix the screen door
  4. Repaint the front door
  5. Replace the front door knob
  6. Re-caulk the tub/shower in the kids bathroom

The next step is to visit your local hardware/home improvement store and purchase the supplies and tools that you are going to need to complete the projects.  You’re probably going to want to do this before the weekend begins.  You’ll probably still end up going to the store at least once on your designated house day, but it is a little less daunting on a Saturday morning when you have everything you need to begin.

Research how you’re going to complete each repair.  These days you can find a YouTube video on how to do almost anything.  Recently, I learned how to “fold” a box spring by watching a YouTube video.  You may also want to check out manufacturer’s websites when applicable.

So now you’ve done all of your homework and have everything you need for a home maintenance day.  Go for it and “Do right by your home!”

If you are still daunted, and you live in Northern Virginia, you may want to consider one of our Home Services Contracts or a Handyman Services Gift Certificate to deal with all of those daunting home maintenance tasks.

Home Renovation Projects

Major home renovations are not typically completed by the homeowner, despite all of the fervor of DIY home improvement television shows.  Why? Because it is very daunting endeavor even for those who have had a major home renovation previously.  A major home renovation usually means pulling the proper permits, which creates the need for “plans”, which are usually drawn up by an architect.

In addition to the architect, if you are renovating a kitchen, you’ll probably want to hire a kitchen designer or at the very least have a kitchen design drawn up at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Then, once you have a plans, you need to hire the contractors.  Usually you’ll want to hire a General Contractor (GC) to oversee all of the other contractors with special skills (plumber, electrician, etc) that will be doing different parts of your renovation.  The GC will also coordinate the subcontractors for your renovation.

Hopefully, this article has helped home improvement projects to seem just a little less daunting.  So, go ahead and get started on those home projects sooner rather than later.

Get “Caulky”!

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Water intrusion is a leading cause of damage in homes. An easy way to prevent this is to take some time a few times a year to inspect your caulk.  While caulk can last for a long time when properly selected and applied, it does eventually breakdown.  For example, while the caulk you should use in your shower is permanently waterproof, it may not standup to harsh cleansers and frequent scrubbing.  Therefore, periodic inspections of the caulked areas of your home is critical to the maintenance of your home.

You should be looking to see if your caulk is cracking or if there are holes or pieces missing.  If so, water is getting into your walls; the bigger the hole, the more water that infiltrates. The best way to prevent this is to take notice of the condition of the caulked areas in your home and to be sure you are using the right kind of caulk for the right situation.

First let’s start with what caulk is.  Caulk is a flexible material used to seal gaps and cracks. The most common types of caulk are acrylic and silicone. There are other variants such as blended caulk, kitchen and bath caulk, butyl rubber caulk, and asphalt caulk.

Below are brief explanations of the different types of caulk:

Silicone caulk is the most common caulk. Silicone’s greatest attributes are that it does not degrade and it is very elastic. The elasticity of silicone allows it to contract and expand as the weather changes. Silicone is also waterproof. It costs $5- $8 per tube. For bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas exposed to moisture it is the best choice. Its biggest downfall is that you can’t paint it.

Acrylic caulk is for jobs that need to be painted and won’t be exposed to water or outdoor elements for a significant length of time.  This type of caulk is ideal for interior molding and baseboards; when you will be painting the surfaces and possibly the caulk itself.  This caulk is usually costs less and is easier to apply. It is more prone to cracking and not waterproof.

Blended caulk is a silicone based caulk that is paintable like an acrylic. Some projects require a caulk that is waterproof and paintable. If the area will be exposed to water or the outdoor elements, a permanently waterproof and shrink-/crack-proof caulk is needed. If the caulk is not permanently waterproof and shrink-/crack-proof, the area could be left vulnerable to water damage, mold growth, and air leakage. If the caulk needs to match the exact color of the adjacent surface, it also needs to be paint-able.

Kitchen and bath caulk is permanently waterproof and will not shrink, crack, or deteriorate over time. Moisture and repeated water exposure can take a toll on sinks, tubs, and showers. Kitchen caulk is impervious to water, meaning water can’t get through it and will never break it down. When caulk doesn’t perform in this way, the moisture from water and humidity can attack it and break it down. And, when an area repeatedly changes from wet to dry, water-based caulk, like acrylic, can degrade more rapidly. Its cracking may accelerate and its ability to adhere to a surface can lessen. When caulk dries out, shrinks, or cracks, gaps may form, which can lead to water damage and mold growth.

Butyl rubber sealant is a high quality sealant that is ideal for outdoor jobs requiring a durable, watertight seal. Butyl rubber sealant is designed specifically for use on metal buildings, windows, doors and aluminum gutters. It remains permanently flexible and is suitable for below-grade applications.

Asphalt Caulk is perfect for playgrounds, driveways, pavement, and parking lots. It provides a durable, elastic seal with excellent adhesion. Repairs are ready for traffic in about 24 hours.

Backer Rod is a non-absorbent, closed-cell polyethylene pre-caulking material (aka foam insert). This is used before caulking to fill gaps and openings larger than 1/2″ x 1/2″. Backer rods prevent 3-point bonding, which can ruin the caulk seal when expansion and contraction occurs in the seams.

Now that you know entirely too much about the types of caulk, you can use this knowledge to pick the right caulk for the right project.

Next blog we’ll talk about applying caulk.   If you need to have something in your home caulked, but don’t have the time, give us a call!

Garbage Disposal Woes

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Your disposal is more than a noise making device hidden in you sink cabinet. It is a useful device used many times a day by homeowners. Many people abuse their disposals, by throwing all types of waste into them and do not realize the potential damage that can be done.

First you should try to avoid throwing the following items into your disposal:

  • Bones
  • Shells from seafood
  • Popcorn kernels
  • Anything that is fibrous or stringy such as celery, banana skins, corn husks
  • Egg shells, which are commonly thought to be good for cleaning your blades are not good (unless you are careful to remove the thin membrane inside the egg shell, which can wrap around the disposal blades.

Many of us are guilty of putting things we shouldn’t into the garbage disposal causing it to “seize up” or become stuck.  Below are two easy things you can try to clear the obstruction.

  1. There is a red reset/circuit breaker button located on the bottom of most units. If this button has popped out it will stop power going to the motor. Press this button back in. Try the disposal again; if it works, Great! If not, move on to step two.
  2. There is a place in the bottom center of the disposal, where you can use an Allen wrench to manually turn the motor.  You probably don’t have the hex key that came with your disposal, so you might want to invest in an Allen Wrench Set.  I personally like the kind that fits in your pocket and the wrenches fold out much like a Swiss army knife.  Figure out which size Allen wrench/hex key you need and use it to turn the motor a few turns to get it unstuck. Remove the Allen wrench and try to run the disposal again. This may need to be repeated numerous times to clear the debris from the disposal.

Firebelly Renovations provides Handyman services and many times we have been called in to replace a garbage disposals only to find that it could be easily fixed using the above tips.  If you have tried the steps above and your garbage disposal still isn’t working, call us to replace it for you.