Home Maintenance Tips - Springtime

Springtime is here… and a contractor’s fancy turns to …grout. Not very exciting, but those little lines of the cement-type stuff in the joints of your tile are a very important component of your bath. First of all, if the grout in your bath looks bad, the appearance of the whole room will suffer. But more importantly, faults in the grout can cause serious water damage, and dreaded mold can gain a foothold.

Check your grout (and caulk seams) after winter every year. Pay particular attention to the following:

Exterior walls, since heat and cold can cause movement and gaps

here vertical and horizontal surfaces, or two vertical planes meet

The base of your whirlpool, where it rests on the tile

In the first year after a new remodeling job, visually check all surfaces, as settling may have occurred. The investment of time is worth it! If you have any questions on what to look for, how to fix any gaps, or who to call to do it for you in Chicago, call Dina at Littlerock Construction, Inc, (773)772-0789.

Call to get your air conditioner serviced now, before the cooling season. You’ll get better service and may be able to get a lower price. The same holds true for other seasonally related work, such as landscaping and exterior construction.

Lubricate your garage door tracks and mechanism. Most problems are a result of not lubricating.

Clean your gutters- scrape winter debris out and run a hose down the downspouts to wash them out.

Check the roof- how is it holding up? Look for signs of deterioration, like curling or missing shingles, grit washing off shingles in a rainstorm, or interior leaks. On a flat roof, raised “bubbles” or any open areas.

Check wood trim on the house- is any paint peeling, chalking, bubbling, or discolored? What about splitting or rotting wood?

Finally, walk through the basement. Any new drainage problems, or anything look different?

If some work needs to be done, plan to get started on it early. Weather can be uncooperative if you wait till fall…

About the Author

In construction and home remodeling since 1984, Dina advises clients planning or undergoing remodeling projects. Her expertise includes kitchen and bath design, maximizing resale value, selecting a contractor, and unique finishes for custom design.

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