Home Inspection, Repair & Maintenance Tips from Paint Works, etc.

    NORTH ANDOVER, MA, June 01, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- "The good news for Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire residents is that sunshine and warmth appear to be upon us," shared Robert Olms, Founder of Paint Works, etc. "The not so good news is that it is now time and really important for homeowners to do a careful inspection of their residence to see what mother nature has done to both the interior and exterior of their dwelling in terms of harsh wear and tear and just plain physical damage. Inspecting your home and keeping it tight and free of interior leakage related damage as well as exterior siding, trim and window related damage is well worth the effort to preserve the integrity and value of your home."

Checklist for Home Inspection & Maintenance

Here are some inspection tips that Paint Works, etc. recommends.

• Siding & Trim: Inspect and then wash all siding surfaces, trim boards, corner boards, soffit and facia areas, some homes have materials that can be pressure washed, but on those home be careful to stay away from areas such as windows that can be damaged by the high pressure. This will actually brighten the appearance of your home, but also keep mold from adhering and growing on surfaces that might further degrade them. Inspect 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 thoroughly before priming and painting. If you are uncertain about the condition of the underlying wood, do the "screwdriver test" to determine if the wood is soft and beginning to deteriorate before priming and painting.

• Exterior Window, Sill & Threshold Caulking: Inspect any and all calked areas around windows, doors, sills, thresholds. If there is shrinkage, drying or excess space around the caulking, scrape it out completely and recaulk the areas. This helps provide both a thermal seal as well as a water and moisture barrier.

• Interior Ceilings: Inspect the ceiling and drywall seam adjacent to the ceiling of any interior areas where the roof may have leaked or gutters may have formed ice dams and allowed water to penetrate the drywall. Using a flashlight to look for discoloration of the ceiling or paint can be helpful. Ice dams are sneaky and disappear on their own and you may have had leakage into the drywall without even realizing it. If you are uncertain about the condition of the drywall you can push on it with a screwdriver handle to see if it is soft. Any appearance or discoloration or presence of mold requires evaluation by a professional as it is likely to be more significant than it might appear and will often require drywall removal and repair before priming and painting.

• Roof: Carefully inspect all shingles to be sure if the extreme wind this winter has blown off or damaged roof shingles. Any shingles that are cracked, buckled, are loose or missing need to be replaced. Curling or lifted shingles need to be replaced as well. Inspect all flashing at the eaves, soffit, plumbing vents, skylights, chimneys and repair or replace them as necessary. Your best bet is to have an experienced and qualified roofer do the inspection and perform the necessary work.

• Deck and Porches: Physically inspect your decks, porches, wooden stairs, and railings for loose boards, railings, steps and components for stability and deterioration. In general, decks exposed to the New England winters need to be treated and/or stained every 3-5 years to prevent degradation and rot. Sun and rain along with temperature and moisture extremes are very harsh on wooden decks and porches. Sealing and staining your deck properly is a sound investment to prolong the safe useful life of your outdoor wooden structures.

• Gutters and downspouts: Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.

To learn more about home inspection, repair & maintenance tips visit http://www.paintworks-etc.com, http://www.paintworks/facebook or call Paint Works, etc. at 978-697-5782.

For additional information contact,
Robert Olms, Paint Works, etc., 62 Davis Street, North Andover, Massachusetts 01845 [email protected], 978-697-5782

At Paint Works we understand that it is imperative to conveniently and reliably provide a quality service, in order to sustain a successful business. Not only do we want to provide great value to you, but we want you to feel great about the whole process and relationship with us from our initial conversation through to the final walkthrough. We are an established painting contractor with a track record of success, serving the Merrimack Valley and surrounding area since 1996. We perform our work with the highest standards in the business, while maintaining reasonable and affordable pricing. Over the years, I have found two qualities that distinguish one contractor from all others: superior workmanship and personal integrity. I demand both of them from myself as well as the rest of my team. It is for those reasons that most of Paint Works projects and business comes from customer referrals. This alone is why you can feel comfortable and confident in hiring Paint Works to work in your home or business! Please take some time reviewing our site at http://www.paintworks-etc.com to see samples of our work. We look forward to working with you.

SOURCE: MMSG, L.L.C.

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