Dear Jeff,
“We have a fairly large house, an extremely busy schedule and, with the
last of our five children off to college this year, it seems we are noticing
more and more maintenance issues that need to be addressed in this
30-year-old home. Since we are now faced with some significant home
repair costs, such as roof replacement and siding replacement, is there
anything we can do to make our house ‘maintenance-free’ in the future?”
Jessica – Ashland
Dear Jessica,
There are certainly many products on the market these days
that boast of maintenance-free ownership, but the cold
reality is that nothing lasts forever. The best we can do is
reduce maintenance in certain areas by choosing higher
quality, longer-lasting building products. The only way to
ward off those costly repairs in the future is to adopt a
continuous maintenance program for your home and catch
those issues early before the real damage is done. Identify
those areas of a home where repairs, due to lack of
maintenance, are extremely costly and focus your attention
there. Our homes are under constant attack by the elements,
but water and insects are probably the cause of the most
common and costly home repairs. Always be wary of water
leaks and evidence of insects, regardless of how mild they
might seem. Left unattended, these are the problems that
only grow worse with time.
Try this springtime home maintenance checklist to start the season off right:
Springtime Home Maintenance Checklist
Exterior
Does water drain away from the home, including downspout drainage?
Are gutters and downspouts securely fastened and clear of debris?
Are hose bibs and exterior faucets leak-free?
Are trees and shrubs pruned away from the house and roof?
Is there any evidence of animals using the attic or chimney for a nest?
Roof
Are shingles in good condition?
Does the roof have any obvious dips or waves?
Does the chimney have evidence of cracks?
Has the fireplace been cleaned and inspected?
Are attic vents clear and attic fans operational?
Siding, windows and doors
Is siding showing signs of water damage?
Are all trim pieces rot-free and securely fastened?
Is caulk around doors and windows free of cracks?
Are doors and windows closing and sealing properly?
Is there evidence of peeling paint around windows or doors?
Interior
Are there any water stains on the ceiling or walls inside the home?
Are interior doors operating correctly?
Have HVAC filters been changed?
Has the HVAC unit been serviced within the past six months?
Have batteries been replaced in smoke detectors?
Is caulk around bath/shower free of mold and cracks?
Are shower or floor tiles around toilets cracked or loose?
Are sinks, traps and faucets free from leaks?
Plumbing
Is the water heater free of visible rust or leaks?
Is the water heater protected with a drip pan?
Are the washing machine supply lines free of leaks and cracks?
Is the dryer vent and hose clear of lint?
Is the floor under the dishwasher free of moisture?
Crawl space or basement
Is there any evidence of moisture buildup or mold?
Is the sump pump operating correctly?
Is there any evidence of insects or rodents near foundation walls?
Are crawl-space vents open to allow adequate ventilation?
Are floor drains clear?
The second way to reduce the amount of maintenance in
your home is to build, renovate or repair your home with
high quality products and use professional installers. In
your case, Jessica, I would highly recommend you question
your repair contractors about the materials they plan to use.
It generally costs the same amount of money to install
inexpensive materials or high quality ones. I always opt for
the highest quality available, and that has always paid
dividends in the end. Installation generally goes more
smoothly, the product usually looks more attractive and the
warranties are significantly better. The other benefit of
higher quality materials is a higher return on your
investment should you decide to sell your home in the
future.
Remodeling magazine’s November 2007 “Cost vs Value
Report 2007” (Hanley Wood LLC, www.costvsvalue.com)
allows us to illustrate an example of this return on
investment with a simple siding replacement job. In our
area of the country (South Atlantic Region), the average cost
of siding replacement with standard materials such as vinyl
would cost $8,990. You can expect to recoup approximately
85.1% of that cost upon resale. If, however, you decide to
use an upgraded product, such as cement fiber siding, it
might cost you closer to $11,125. But you can expect to
recoup about 89.4% of your costs on average. So not only
would you get a better return on your investment upon
resale, but you would also benefit in the coming years from
a product that looks better, requires less maintenance and
carries a better warranty.
Jeff Quinn is a licensed general contractor and bathroom and kitchen remodeling
specialist based in Richmond, Virginia. He established his own company, Quinn
Home Improvements, LLC in Northern Virginia in 2005 after a very successful 20-
year career in the United States Army. You may reach him by email at
Jeff@QHImail.com.
