Care for Your Home: Top Ten Tips

You've just made one of the largest investments you'll ever make. You want to protect that investment for years to come. Maintaining your home is not difficult, as long as you know what to look for. Do your check-ups regularly, and keep on top of things before they become too challenging.

Top Ten Service Tips:

Exterior

1. Check the caulking and paint on the exterior. Are there cracks or peeling?

   Tip: If you have joints in the wood trim opening up, scrape off the paint, stain or caulking. Make sure the surfaces are clean and dry. Then apply new paint and caulking (checking that it's the proper caulking and paint/stain for the job).

2. Lawn looking poorly? Insect damage on the grass roots?

   Tip: Fertilize your lawn twice a year - check with a local nursery for advice on the proper formulation for your area. When watering your lawn, use your sprinkler in late evening or early morning, to avoid putting the lawn under undue stress from the full heat of the day. (Respect water-rationing and water only on days allowed for your address.) Also check for "leatherjackets" - keep pesky insects under control by spraying with Diazinon in the spring and fall.

3. Overflowing gutters? Debris in your down-pipes?

   Tip: Inspect and clean gutters and down-pipes at least twice a year (spring and fall) to remove leaves and debris. This ensures rain can drain freely into the run-off system.

Exterior and Interior

4. Squeaky latches or stuck door locks?

   Tip: For proper operation of all door locks and latches, use a "graphite" lubricant and spray into the lock mechanism. Do not use WD-40 or a silicone spray since this tends to "gum" the mechanism and make operation difficult over time.

5. Windows and patio doors stiff?

   Tip: If your vinyl windows and patio doors become stiff and hard to open and close, apply a small amount of silicone spray to the track. As in 4) above - avoid WD-40.

Interior

6. Filthy Furnace Filter?

   Tip: Inspect and clean the furnace filter regularly. Replace the filter at least once a year, just before heating season, more frequently if any renovations or drywall work has been done in the home. Have the furnace cleaned and checked by a professional once a year to ensure proper operation of all components, and to maintain the warranty.

7. Any caulking problems in the kitchen or bathrooms?

   Tip: Check that silicone caulking around the kitchen and bathroom sinks is in good condition - if worn or deteriorated, replace immediately. Check around tubs and shower enclosures at least once a year, where problems frequently occur, and replace any worn or damaged silicone. For tubs, fill with water before installing new caulking to allow tub to settle away from the wall tile to its fullest extent.

8. More caulking concerns?

   Tip: Maintain the caulking between the tub, toilet, cabinets and vinyl flooring. Water on the floor can penetrate below the vinyl, causing it to discolour and the underlayment to swell. Be alert, because if that happens, it will have to be replaced entirely.

9. How about grouting problems?

   Tip: Reseal the grout on tub and shower surrounds at least annually. Be sure to use a silicone sealer spray, available from your local home improvement centre or hardware store. Allow it to dry completely before reusing the tub or shower. Useful hint: It is best to wipe the tile down after a shower to remove excess water.

10. And finally, the wax seal.

    Tip: If a toilet is removed to replace the flooring, and especially if a different type of floor is installed such as ceramic tile, ensure that the wax seal in the plumbing drain line is also replaced with one large enough to match the depth of the new floor.