How to Perform your Fall Home Maintenance

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Inspect and Seal your Home

Survey your home and see what needs to be fixed. Pay particular attention to the roof, windows and doors.  You want to make sure that when looking at your roof that you do not see damages like shingles that have curled or leaky vents, if you do spot this then replace the shingles.  The same can be said for your windows and doors if you see cracks then seal them with caulk or weather stripping. Cracked doors and windows let in the cool air which can make your electricity bill increase.

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Keep the Fire and Heat Blazing

During the fall, the weather becomes cooler and therefore you will most likely spend most of your time indoors.  With that in mind you should look into having your furnace being checked by a professional that way you can make the corrections for it to be working properly for your home.  And if you can, replace within the filters in the furnace.  Also, fireplace maintenance is essential. Make sure that soot hasn’t built up and if it has then invest in a chimney sweep.  Keep warm all you can this fall and going into the winter.

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Keep an Eye out for the Gutters

Gutter maintenance can be challenging. Even though the gutters seem insignificant and unimportant, don’t let them fool you.  Your gutters can cause quite a bit of damage if they are clogged or not cleaned out.  Your gutters help to regulate and flush out the water that accumulates on your roofs during the year so if they get clogged then it could lead to water leakage into your basement or exterior damages.  Better safe than sorry, all you have to do is take a day and remove the leaves, debris and etc from your gutters and they should be in good standing for your home maintenance.

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The fall season is amazing.  You see the colors change, football season, and most of all good eats.  And since most of the activities will be done in the homes during this season, how about making sure the home is in the right shape for the festivities.  Simple things like inspecting your roof, gutters, furnace and such will all help not only your home safety but your wallets, because if damages occur with these items it can become very costly to repair.  So this fall season get your home maintenance in order.  And Stagetecture readers, do you happen to have any suggestions on some home maintenance you like to do?  Then share them with us, we’d love to hear about it!

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Your windows are not just decorative accessories but one of the essential structures at home. Windows serve as your access to outdoor surroundings. Also, your windows provide ventilation to your home. So it’s not just something installed without a purpose – home windows are vital structures.

But windows need to be maintained regularly. Otherwise, it will look terrible and spoil your interior and exterior home design. A regular cleaning is a must to maintain the looks and prolong the life of your window.

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Check out these 3 effective ways to Spring clean your windows:

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1. Use rubber-edge squeegees

This is one of the most effective ways to clean your windows. The steps involve are very simple and quick. You just have to prepare a container of warm water, sponge and dishwashing soap. Mix dishwashing soap with water and dip the sponge. Wet the window and rub it away with the sponge. Dry it out using the rubber-edge squeegee. Start the procedure on the upper corner going down.

2. Sponge and towel

This combination is a sure hit. With sponge and towel, you can be sure that you dirt and dust are removed from the surface. To start the cleaning process, dip sponge to a warm water with mild detergent. Wet the window glass by rubbing it with a sponge. After rubbing the entire surface, wipe it out with a dry towel.

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3. Using paper towels can be effective

This is a simple yet effective way to clean your windows. All you need is a bucket of water, paper towel and alcohol. Pour 10 ml of rubbing alcohol into a gallon of water. Shake the mixture and dip the paper towel. Gently wipe the windows and let it dry.

These are just three of the effective ways to Spring clean your windows. You can try all these options and see which one fits your window type.

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If you’re like most homeowners, you’ve never had any desire to learn the art of plumbing. And yet, when you’re scratching your head, mystified about the cause of your leaky faucet, your clogged toilet, or the water stain that seems to have appeared on your basement ceiling, you might wish you had picked up a home repair guide at some point and studied common plumbing issues. Luckily, it’s never too late to learn something new. And your ability to troubleshoot problems with your pipes could let you know when an issue is something that you can handle, thus saving money that you might have otherwise spent on a professional plumber, although you can also tell when you’re in over your head. So here are a few tips and tricks that should help you to get a handle on your home plumbing and troubleshoot any common issues that could arise.

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Most common problems with plumbing

The first thing you’ll need to do is become aware of the most common problems you’re likely to face where your plumbing is concerned, and there are a few. For example, you may find that the toilets and drains in your home seem to get clogged frequently. Or you might suffer from leaky faucets. You could also have issues with the hot water in your home, as in it doesn’t get hot enough or it turns cold before you’ve finished a short shower. Leaky pipes and water stains are also a problem, especially in older homes. However, an awareness of common issues that could pop up will give you a starting point when it comes to learning to diagnose and perhaps even fix or prevent some problems on your own.

Fixing drains, clogged pipes , and toilets

As for what to do once you’ve discovered an issue, there are a couple of options. An old-school home repair guide may suit some homeowners just fine, but if you’re looking for a little help from modern sources, you can’t go wrong by hopping on the internet to troubleshoot and find instructions and video tutorials, often from professional plumbers, that will help you to figure out what’s causing the problem and find a solution. Clogged toilets and drains, for example, may need nothing more than a plunger or some Drano to fix. Then again, you may need to start flushing more frequently to prevent the toilet from backing up, or snaking the drains on a regular basis to remove hair clogs.

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Leaky faucets are often a quick fix, as well, since the most common cause is a rubber ring that has deteriorated (they’re cheap and easy to replace in most cases). As for hot water issues, you might just need to turn up the temperature on your water heater (although you shouldn’t go above 120? Fahrenheit if you want to avoid scalding) or flush the tank to remove a buildup of debris. Of course, you could be facing more serious issues, in which case you might contact Aqua Plumbing & Air or another local vendor to provide you with a professional opinion and some expert assistance. But if you can troubleshoot a plumbing issue on your own you may find that you can also address it without too much fuss or expense. In the long run, this could save you a ton of money.

For more plumbing and maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

They say the windows are the eyes of the home, and if your eyes are starting to look a little tired, it may be time to update the old girls. You can do this in several ways, through cosmetics, selective surgery, or an outright facelift. And even if you don’t perk up surrounding areas, these changes are sure to brighten up your home. So if your windows are making the house look a little rundown, here are just a few solutions to perk them up post haste.

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1.     New framing.

If your window frames are cracking, sagging, rotting, or letting in outside air, it’s definitely time to consider replacing the frames. In some cases you can save some money by reusing the panes of glass that are currently in your windows, especially if they are custom sizes, shapes, colors, or types of glass (leaded, for example). But if you want an allover update you may end up replacing the entire assembly. Although this update is probably the most pricy option available to you, it will result not only in cosmetic improvements, but also a likely reduction in your energy bill when air is no longer seeping through the cracks. Plus, it can add to the value of your home if you’re looking to sell in the near future.

2.     New glass.

If the frames are still in good condition but you’re having problems with high energy bills and noise pollution from outside the house then the glass in your windows could be to blame. This is a big problem in both older homes and low-cost housing, where single panes are most common. Luckily, modern advances have provided you with a slew of options that can help to insulate your home as well as cut down on energy consumption. Both double- and triple-paned windows are an option (although new framing could be required to accommodate the additional panes), or you could simply opt for a higher grade of single-paned glass that will help to reduce noise and temperature fluctuations.

3.     Energy-saving film.

As it turns out, you don’t actually have to replace your windows if saving energy is your main concern. Instead, you can get the eco-friendly upgrade you seek by applying low-E coatings to your window panes. This invisible film goes right over your existing glass to bounce the rays of the sun and keep your home significantly cooler during the summer months. You can even get products that let you see out, but obscure the view into your home (like a 2-way mirror). And it’s a lot cheaper than replacing windows.

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4.     Power wash and paint.

Perhaps your windows are in relatively good shape but over the years they’ve seen some surface wear and tear. If you just want a cosmetic fix to get rid of cracked, peeling paint on the frames and stuck-on grime on the glass, simply rent a power washer (try your local hardware store) and get to work blasting the windows. After that a couple coats of paint will make your windows look good as new.

5.     Window treatments.

If you just don’t have the cash on hand for major upgrades when it comes to your windows, at least you can mask any problem areas with some ready made curtains, blinds, or shutters. Insulating panels may even help to reduce energy drain and outside noise.

For more home maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

When it comes to certain parts of your home, do it yourself or DIY projects are easy to handle. While when it comes to repairs of important functioning parts of your home such as doors and windows, the answer may not be as easy. How handy are you? Your answer to this question will dictate whether or not you should hire a pro to fix that broken door or glass window. You may need to consider using Handyman Express for a professional job that you can assure will be done correctly, but you may pay more than you expected.

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If you’re feeling confident, then with a bit of research you can probably perform a smaller repair on your own.

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Repairing windows

If you are dealing with a broken window pane, there are some things to consider before repairing it yourself. First off, getting a new window pane cut to the correct measurements can be tricky. You really need to know how to properly measure the opening as the new glass will break if there is not enough room left for expansion.  What you don’t know about window and door repair may cost you more money in the long run if you attempt to pinch pennies and go at it alone.

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Repairing doors

Repairing doors can also be tricky. If you are replacing an existing door remember it is not a one-person job. You will need at least one other person to help you with the lifting and steadying of the door while it gets installed and leveled.  The type of door can also cause an issue. Are you repairing a front entry door? If so, don’t do anything that could compromise the safety of your home.  It is best left to a professional if you have any doubts about your abilities.

However, if you feel confident about your abilities then go online and watch some tutorials that show step-by-step instructions for repairing doors and windows. There are lots of DIY websites, online tutorials, and online forums that can offer the do-it-yourselfer with the right tools and tips for the job.

When in doubt, leave it to the professionals or at least do all the research needed to fix your doors and windows yourself.

For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

If you’ve been thinking about investing into some real estate, rather than purchasing a brand new home (that can cost quite a bit of money), you may have been considering buying a “fixer upper”, instead. That way, you can get the property for much less money and then fix it up at your leisure (which usually means, as you can afford to do so).

However, just because you get the home for a fairly cheap price initially, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you ended up with a bargain. In other words, sometimes you can purchase a piece of property at a really great deal, while getting into a situation that ends up being way over your head.

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So, how can you know if a fixer upper is something that you can realistically handle? Here are some really great tips:

Consider the Perks of a Fixer Upper

When it comes to actually looking into some homes that need a little bit more work than others, there are some definite benefits. Aside from the lower asking price that you will probably be able to get on the house, it may be a way to get into a neighborhood that’s property value would otherwise be too expensive for you (if it were a newer home). Plus, as a major DIY project, it gives you the freedom to use your own creative ideas to bring out the individuality that you would like for the house (especially if you plan on living in it rather than flipping it over and reselling it to someone else).

What You Should Look Out for Before Making the Purchase

Now that we’ve explored some of the pros to purchasing a fixer upper, let’s take a minute to talk about some of the cons that can make getting the home a real headache rather than a true blessing. Sometimes, people are so quick to want to get a certain home (at a certain price), that they never take out the time to consider why the house may be up for sale (for so cheap) in the first place. Therefore, in order to spare yourself a lot of potential regret, it’s a good idea to take a home inspector along with you to thoroughly look through the house. They will know to look for rodent (include termite) infestation, structural damage and wiring and plumbing issues. If you discover that the maintenance on the house will cost more than the home is actually worth, that is a reason to seriously reconsider it. For instance, paying half a million to restore a home that is only worth $200,000, especially with this current real estate market, may not be the wisest kind of investment.

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Review Why You Want to Do It…Before You Do It

As you’re looking for the right kind of house, whether it’s Houston real estate, Nashville real estate or anywhere else in the country, make sure to keep your eyes on the prize by staying focused on the ultimate reason why you desire to make the purchase in the first place. If it’s to buy the home, fix it up and resell it, then make sure that the purchase will ultimately make you a profit. If it’s so that you can create your own dream home, then don’t buy the home unless it can meet your basic needs. Bottom line, when it comes to a fixer upper, you’ll know that you can handle it if it seems like a fun thing to do that will not put you into long-term debt; if once you fix it up, all of the work was truly worth it. Literally.

For more home buying & selling tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Keeping your windows clean and operating correctly is not an easy job – much more when you hear them squeaking and quirking. You will certainly get distracted by the sound and quite frankly it isn’t good for your windows. The good thing is that you can do something about it. Whether you are moving into an older home that has rusty windows or your current windows are starting to show their age, here are tips that will help.

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Here are several ways to keep your windows looking and operating correctly.

Prepare your cleaning tools

Make sure you have a cleaning pad, squeegee blades, and spray bottle before you start. It is very important that you’re careful in cleaning your windows. You have to observe the proper cleaning motion. When you clean your windows, use one direction – it can be the up-down motion or the left-right. Make sure to clean the squeegee blade after every application so that it won’t cause dirty streaks.

Try organic cleaning solution.

You will need a bucket of warm water, washing liquid, clear household vinegar, clean washer, window wiper, pair of rubber gloves, and outdated newspaper. Before you start, put on the rubber gloves then prepare your solution. In making your soap solution, add a scoop of washing liquid in a bucket filled with warm water. Add 200 ml of vinegar solution. Vinegar gives you the real shine that you are looking for on windows. This also serves as a disinfectant. In cleaning your windows, start cleaning outside and make sure to use the right tools and equipment. Then, sponge it using your window washer. Wipe the window using the window wiper blade or a squeegee. After doing so, wipe your windows with newspaper to fully absorb the dirt and moisture.

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Apply a lubricant to hinges and joints.

You may use contact cleaner or oil lubricants like WD-40 for this step. Used cooking oil can also be an effective alternative for commercial lubricants. Don’t forget to prepare a piece of cloth of towel to wipe the drippings. Move the windows back and forth so that the oil can penetrate.

When cleaning your windows you have to consider the weather, it’s best to clean your windows on a cloudy day so as not to dry out quickly your cleaning solution thus avoiding streaks.

For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Looking for worthwhile household fixes you can do in your spare time? All you need is no more than 15 minutes of your time to repair and maintain various parts of your home. Whether it is squeaky hinges that you never got around to, or it’s your stained tub that you can’t quite get it sparkling, here are tips that will help. Who said repairs require hiring a handy person and an expensive bill attached to the service?

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Squeaky Hinges

The easiest way to fix this is by spraying a lubricant like WD-40 onto the hinges. You may apply this to your door, cabinets and other furniture. If you do not have a spray lubricant, you may use petroleum jelly or baby oil. To do this, rub the hinges with petroleum jelly or have a few drops of baby oil. Then, move the hinges back and forth so that the jelly and oil can penetrate. Be ready with a rag or paper to catch the drips.

Peeling Wallpaper

Don’t you hate when wallpaper starts to peel at the corners? Here’s a simple fix. Smear the wallpaper paste or glue on a piece clean paper. Use the paper to rub against the underside section of your wallpaper. Afterwards, press the wallpaper and carefully slide out the paper. Get a clean cloth to smooth away the bubbles.

Dusty Chandelier

Make sure that the chandelier is unplugged to the electrical source. Let your chandelier cool down its bulbs before you start. Wear cotton gloves – one depressed with glass cleaner while the other one is clean and dry. Use the depressed glove to wipe the prism first and then followed by the dry glove. If your chandelier has crystal materials, use a mixture of rubbing alcohol and three parts distilled water in cleaning.

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Stained Tub

Make a mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar with a little amount of lemon juice. Rub this homemade cleaning solution onto the stained parts of your tub. Use a clean and soft cloth to do this. Let it stay for at least half an hour. Then, rinse it thoroughly with water.

With these quick and effective home fixes, you will be glad you saved a few dollars and time. Your 15-minute home projects will also lengthen the existence of your home furnishings and fixtures. Use these tips and see how many other items you start to find that suddenly need fixing!

For more maintenance tips on Stagetecture, click here.

You stroll into the bathroom and discover water across the floor and say “oh no” to yourself. You look into the cabinet beneath the sink and find that one of the pipes has developed a leak. What should you do?

Well, there are two options to treat a leaking pipe. Fix it yourself, or get someone else to do the job for you. The point is; how would you know whether or not this problem is something you can and must fix yourself?

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Choosing The Best Option

If you are either experienced or familiar with plumbing work, perhaps, you will be in a better position to fix a leak yourself. However, if this is a task you have never done before, take a closer look at the problem at hand and then decide whether you can handle it, or need the services of an expert to get the job done.

Doing The Job Yourself

More often than not, if you have identified the problem, it will be easier to decide whether or not you can fix it yourself. For example, if a leak is merely caused by a cracked seal, applying plumber’s putty may be all that is needed to stop it.

On the other hand, if you are clueless as to why a pipe has developed a leak and sense it is part of a larger or more complex problem than a minor one, the smartest thing to do is to hire a professional plumber before the problem worsens.

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Following Directions

Following directions is a crucial aspect insofar as plumbing installation, maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, some people dislike reading detailed instructions and therefore tend to wing problems. Failure to read instructions thoroughly often results in a bathroom floor strewn with plumbing parts, and utter confusion about how a leak can be fixed.

Of course, if you are a person who follows instructions meticulously regardless of the nature of the task, repairing things will be much easier. Moreover, adhering to instructions will also end in a job well done, and in a shorter period of time.

Consulting A Friend If at times you are unable to do a job yourself, consult a friend who may have the knowhow to do it for you. However, it is essential for such a friend to possess enough experience and knowledge in the field of plumbing in order to do justice to the job entrusted to him or her.

Alternatively, if you have no friend who is conversant with plumbing, then the smarter way to go is to hire a qualified plumber, especially when a particular job is beyond your level of competence.

Emma Cub is a specialist in interior design and home improvement. She writes for Liberty Bathrooms, who are an online retailer of bathroom suites, bathroom furniture and bathroom accessories including heated towel rails, vanity units and cheap bathroom suites.

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As we all try to improve our home environment and green our lives, have you ever considered that home repairs can also make your home eco-friendly? While many of us think that buying all new energy efficient appliances, and all new low-flow plumbing fixtures is the only way to conserve precious resources, so is repairing your existing home.

Guest Blogger, Crispin Jones, gives tips for making home repairs to make your home eco-friendlier.

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Do you want to do your bit to save the environment? Are you convinced you could be doing more, but confused as to where to start? If so, the good news is that there are some simple steps you can take – for example, shower tray repairs and bath repairs could save you water and energy, and avoid the wasteful issue of having to replace an entire unit or fitting.

Fixing vs. Replacing

Yes – eco-friendly life doesn’t just mean recycling and remembering to turn the lights off.  As a general rule, if you can fix something, that’s much better for the environment than replacing it (except for really old, energy wasting appliances). Shower tray repairs are generally much more cost effective than replacing the whole tray, and bath repairs can give your entire tub a new lease of life.

If you don’t currently have a shower, then there are still some things you can do to protect the environment. For example, if your bath taps are leaky, or your tub is damaged, then you can take advantage of bath repairs to save you water, and also save you money at the same time.  Bath and shower tray repairs could save you a fortune.

Fixing Plumbing

If eco-friendly living is a priority of yours, then small steps such as fixing leaky taps should definitely be near the top of your list.  They’re easy to do, and will have a lasting impact.  In some cases, you can do shower tray repairs yourself, but if you don’t have the time or feel that the job is too big for you to do on your own, then you could call in a bath repairs company to do the job for you. Many specialist companies can do almost invisible repairs, making your fittings look as good as new!

Water wastage can be a serious problem in homes with older plumbing.  A leaking tap can waste as much as 3500 litres per year, assuming it drips once every two seconds.  If your water usage is metered, you’ll quickly see why bath repairs are useful! Shower tray repairs could save you a lot too – a cracked, leaky shower tray could be doing a lot of damage to your floor. Not only that, severe cracks or chips could be unhygienic, or even dangerous – especially if they’re sharp. Do you really want to risk catching your bare feet on a sharp edge when getting out of the shower?

Cosmetic Repairs

Even from a cosmetic point of view, shower tray repairs make a lot of sense. The cracked enamel or the hole in the tray may not be doing any damage, but if it looks ugly it doesn’t exactly make your bathroom a desirable place.  You can spice up the rest of the room with a bit of paint, some new tiles, and a bit of time. Replacing your bath or shower fittings is an entirely different proposition, though. Before you rip out some perfectly serviceable fittings, why not investigate the option of bath repairs. If your existing fittings are fairly modern, then there’s a good chance that they’ll spruce up nicely, and you’ll save time, hassle, money, and waste.

This post was written by Crispin Jones on behalf of Hometech, experts in bath repairs and shower tray repair. Crispin writes on home improvements and interior design. He is particularly interested in sustainability and environmental issues.

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