Does the Exterior of Your Home Need Repair?

Homeowners that are conscientious about the maintenance of their home sometimes have a greater concern about exterior maintenance versus interior maintenance.  After all, we have the ability to control the environment (humidity, temperature, etc.) inside our homes, but we have very little control over the environment outside of our homes.  So the question many homeowners face is both what to look for on the outside of their home in order to determine if a repair or replacement is required and how to look for it. 

The most efficient way to look for areas that may require maintenance is to harness the power of simple technology to see places that could be dangerous to inspect (i.e., roofs and related areas) and use visual inspection of areas that are easily accessible.  A good pair of binoculars or a digital camera (with a zoom in feature) should be used to inspect: 1) roof shingles to see if any are missing or not lined up properly due to wind damage; 2) flashing around anything that is on the roof, especially chimneys, but also dormers, plumbing vents, and skylights to make sure it has not become loose or misaligned and; 3) roof valleys where different sloped roof sections meet to make sure leaves, snow and of course water are not collecting. 

For the following areas a visual inspection should be easily accomplished by the homeowner without the need for anything but perhaps a ladder and a keen eye: 1) gutters and downspouts for cleaning and/or repairs in late spring after trees have greened; 2) siding and corner boards for condition and secure attachment with painting required to prevent water damage and power washing for vinyl siding or perhaps replacement if the age and condition warrant it; 3) windows for painting if made of wood and caulking of seal gaps for all window materials. 

A key priority for a homeowner is to make sure exterior preventive maintenance is done and needed repairs are made in a timely manner. This will minimize the cost of home repairs, so you can invest in more home improvements. The first step to good home exterior maintenance is inspecting your house.  After your inspection if you have concerns, then feel free to contact Feazel for free inspection and an honest opinion on a course of action.

Feazel’s mission is to be the top choice for residential home services in Ohio & North Carolina by delivering the best customer service and stress-free buying experience in the home improvement industry. Our core values of service, integrity, quality, continued improvement, employee appreciation, community support, and environmental conservation are on display with every job we do.  

 

Home Ownership 101

Deciding to own a home could be one of the best decisions you ever make.  But making sure it is the right choice requires more than just being able to afford the purchase of a home.  There is a great deal more to being a homeowner than just signing the mortgage and moving in.  You quickly become aware of a new role that you must assume since there is no landlord to call when your home needs maintenance or repairs. 

So are you ready to be a homeowner when it comes to exterior home repair and maintenance projects?  You can find out by reviewing some of the most common maintenance and repairs which become your responsibility when you become a homeowner. 

First consider maintenance and repairs that are often performed by the homeowner.  These include cleaning of your home’s exterior (siding, windows, gutters, etc.) and painting, including staining and sealing of any decks or wood fencing as required.  Additionally, there is routine lawn cutting, weeding and landscape maintenance.  You need to be prepared to dedicate a portion of your free time (on average 2 days per month or more if you have a large lawn) to complete these types of projects yourself.  Of course some or all of these can be hired out but the cost needs to be considered and if your budget can handle it. 

Other major exterior projects are best left for the pros.  Fortunately, these repairs and / or replacements won’t be required often.  But when they are needed they will require an investment of money and some time as well to make sure you are comfortable with the company and the cost of the residential home service provider you trust for the job.  These projects typically consist of roof repairs (and after a certain amount of time, replacement), siding replacement and window replacement as well as other projects that are specific to an individual home such as chimneys and skylights.  

If you are new homeowner or existing homeowner, Feazel offers residential home services including roofing, windows, siding, gutters, chimneys, masonry, skylights, insulation and more.  We are a trusted company that you can rely on now and in the future for your needs.  Please contact us to learn more about our services. 

Feazel is a trusted residential home services company serving Raleigh NC, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland Ohio.  We have built our reputation by offering superior roofing, windows, siding, gutters, chimneys, masonry, skylights, insulation and more.  Since our founding in 1988 we have been a top choice by offering the best customer service, stress free buying experience and the highest standards.

Why the Lowest Roofing Bid May Not be the Best

It is always a good idea to get at least 3 bids for any major residential home service such as replacing a roof.  When you are going to spend thousands of dollars for the project it just makes sense.  However, for anybody that has experienced the confusion and frustration of bids for the same project having prices that vary significantly here is some helpful information. 

First, each contractor bases their bid on many factors including material cost, hours to complete the project, and other variables.  So bids can differ based on those factors.  Therefore, when selecting the contractor it is not always the best practice to select the low bid.  As the old saying goes: “you get what you pay for” so understanding what is included in each bid could be a very good reason to select one that is not the lowest.  If the higher priced vendor is providing better materials that last longer and are warranted longer and doing a full replacement instead of a cover over, then the higher bid is a better value.  In fact, your selection should be based more on overall value than on the lowest price. 

Second, don’t hesitate to get recommendations from friends and family members that have replaced their roof with expectations that were exceeded by the contractor that performed the work.  After you get 3 bids that include the recommendation you may find the recommended contractor is not the lowest.  But you will have the past experience of a satisfied customer which is priceless when it comes to an important project like replacing your roof.  After all, a solid roof that does not leak and is properly installed the first time is worth more than one that does not last or experiences problems due to poor installation. 

Our experts here at Feazel are happy to come out to your home and provide a free 17 point inspection and free estimate.  In fact, we take pride in taking the time to make sure all your questions and concerns are addressed.  You can even schedule the free inspection with us online.  If you know a trusted neighbor, family member or friend that used Feazel, then ask them about us.  We are proud of our record of service. 

Feazel’s mission is to be the top choice for residential home services in Ohio and North Carolina by delivering the best customer service and stress-free buying experience in the home improvement industry.  We strive to maintain our highly regarded reputation earned over the past 28+ years.  Call or visit us online to learn more.