Fall is Always Fix Up Time

Fall is lways Fix Up Time

Fall is always fix up time. This is the time of year when lots of folks call us to get those projects they have been putting off completed. I’ve always wondered why fall is fix up time and spring is spruce up time. Hold the horses I just came up with a new slogan-Fall’s for Fixing and Spring’s for Sprucing. Well—maybe its not so good.

I guess the cooler weather combines with a little more time on our hands so we tend to spend a little more time thinking about our houses. A few months ago I suggested that everyone should walk around their house and check for signs of failed caulk and/or painting. You should do that now. If you find some bad areas poke it a little with your finger. If it’s mushy there is an issue. If your finger makes a hole it’s a big issue. Caulk and paint are protective products. They keep the water out of your house and away from raw wood. I think we forget this sometimes and just think about paint as being something that makes our house pretty. So, sometimes, when we see it failing we let it go until it becomes too ugly to bear. That can lead to major repairs instead of just repainting. Check it out.

When exterior caulk fails water enters. It happens 100% of the time. When water and wood (especially the wood used for trim material) meet lots of things can happen. Bugs can eat and drink at the same time. Mold can slowly change the wood to mush. And in the winter the water freezes and expands (see I listened in whatever class that was) it forces the fibers of the wood apart. Then it thaws. Then it freezes. Then it thaws. Kinda like taking a coat hanger and bending it back and forth until it breaks. Walk around and look at your trim on your doors and windows. Look up at the overhangs, especially at the corners. If you see dark spots or it feels mushy call us and we will come check it out for you.

Here are a couple of other things to check out before winter. Climb up and look in your gutters and clean them out if they need it. If they are holding water it can freeze and build up. Look up at the spots where two pieces of your roof intersect. Make sure there is no leaf build up. If it has been doing it for a while it can act like a mini compost pile and can hold water above the level of your flashing. Check your dryer vent for lint. Go to each window in your house and cycle it a couple of times. If there is grit where the sashes seal, clean it out. If you have little holes at the bottom make sure they are clear. These are called weep holes and need to be able to drain the water off.  Change your furnace filters.

I want to say that fall is a great time to redo your bathroom. I want to give you a great reason that fall is the time to redo your bathroom. It’s tough to do because the reality is that its always a great time to redo your bathroom. So—I guess fall is just as good a time as any. Did I mention we remodel bathrooms?

Bad Halloween joke: Why do Demons and Ghouls hang out together? Because Demons are a Ghouls best friend. Bad joke period: “Waiter- this coffee tastes like mud.” “That’s because its grounds”.

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