Maelly Home Improvement

04/09/2018

The following link contains some great painting tips that every DIYer can learn from. Painting is mostly about preparation and patience, so take your time. Using the correct tools, equipment and a good quality paint is key.

Learn how to paint the interior of your home from six journeymen who reveal some of the things that make them so good at their craft.

04/02/2018

I’ve received many phone calls and texts about roof leaks this year. Here are some tips on how to stop the leaks from causing major problems.

A roof that leaks is a problem in any weather, but a roof that suddenly begins to leak during a heavy rainstorm can quickly turn into an emergency. With heavy runoff, water may start seeping through ...

03/26/2018

Thinking about selling your home? Check this out first:

Make your home stand out with a few easy improvements.

03/19/2018

Thinking about updating your home? Check this out before you start.

Find out how the top 15 home improvements rank, plus get tips on maximizing the return at resale.

03/12/2018

Programmable thermostats can save a lot of money on utility costs

ENERGY STAR products are independently certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality. Saving energy helps prevent climate change. Look for the ENERGY STAR label to save money on your energy bills and help protect our environment.

03/05/2018

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

Spring is around the corner. Start thinking about planning for some spring maintenance on your home.

Gutters and downspouts: Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house.

Siding: Clean siding 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 screens and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in.

Foundation: Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for cracking, heaving, or deterioration. If you can slide a nickle into a crack in your concrete floor, slab or foundation call a professional immediately.

Roof: Inspect roof surface flashing, eaves, and soffits. Perform a thorough cleaning. Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls.

Deck and porches: Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every 4-6 years, depending on how much exposure they get to sun and rain. If the stain doesn’t look like it should or water has turned some of the wood a dark grey, hire a deck professional to treat your deck and fence.

Landscape: This is a natural for spring home maintenance. Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures. Limbs and leaves can cut into your home’s paint and force you to have that side of the house repainted. A little trimming can save a lot of money and time.

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 l...

02/26/2018

Caulking is a common maintenance task. Doing it well takes some skill and an understanding of which caulk to use.

The Four Basic Caulk Families:

~Rubber Caulks

What the label say: Butyl or rubber caulk; asphalt filler; roof or gutter sealant.

Main uses: Sealing and repairing aluminum gutters; caulking aluminum flashing; filling cracks in asphalt; sealing siding around doors and windows.
Cleanup: mineral spirits or lacquer thinner.

~Latex Caulks

What the label say: Latex; acrylic; vinyl; siliconized acrylic caulk.

Main uses: Utility caulking for nearly all interior and some exterior sealing.
Cleanup: water.

~Silicone Caulks

What the label say: Silicone; Silicone IITM; 100 percent silicone sealant and caulk.

Main uses: Sealing around tubs, shower stalls and sinks; caulking exterior trim; repairing gutters; sealing or caulking against aluminum, glass and other nonporous materials.
Cleanup: mineral spirits.

~Polyurethane Sealants

What the label say: Marine adhesive; polyurethane window and siding caulk; polyurethane concrete/masonry sealant.

Main uses: Sealing control joints in concrete; repairing cracked masonry; exterior caulking around windows and doors; repairing cracked vinyl siding; bridging gaps between porous and nonporous materials.
Cleanup: mineral spirits.

~Please let me know if you have any questions about caulking.

02/19/2018

Life expectancy of materials and equipment found in a home.

Make a list of the objects in your home, noting the year they were installed, and set aside money for their eventual replacements.

Here is a list of the average life expectancy of items found in a home.

InterNACHI's Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for a home's appliances, components, materials and systems

02/19/2018

Renovations

02/17/2018

If you have a nasty shower/tub or if your tenant left you with a nasty shower, I have some tips.

First, you will need a few items (see picture) and remove the drain cover - if you can.

Second, make baking soda into a paste with water and cover the nasty area. If it’s real bad I would pretreat with a cleaner/degreaser like scrubbing bubbles or a citrus based cleaner.

Third, boil some white vinegar in a glass bowl in the microwave. Then carefully pour it into a chemical resistant spray bottle. Spray the vinegar on the shower/tub.

Fourth, use a dobie pad by scotch brite and scrub it down followed by a good rinse. The mask isn’t required but highly recommended if you have access to one.