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Tag: home repair

The Importance of Regular Home Maintenance: A Checklist for Every Season

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Regular maintenance is necessary if you want to keep your home in the best shape possible. The effort you put into these seasonal tasks directly affects how expensive repairs will be if things go wrong, cuts down on time needed if things get out of hand, and can even help you protect your property investment better due to better durability and a prolonged lifespan.

Of course, we can do all of this and more with out HomeCare Plan!

Therefore, we have compiled a checklist covering all four seasons so you can get a good overview of some of the most important maintenance tasks to cover year-round. Most of the items on this list can be performed by yourself, or you can hire a professional handyman to relieve you of the burden and stress involved. Enjoy!

Maintenance During Spring

After the darker winter months, many of the maintenance tasks move outside to ensure that the snow and cold have not caused too much damage. Now is also when you will need to consider doing yardwork to keep the grass or weeds from growing too tall and troublesome.

  • Inspect the roof
  • Inspect the exterior siding
  • Clean the gutters
  • Service the HVAC system
  • Maintain your lawn
  • Check for pest infestations
  • Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Check outdoor faucets and irrigation systems
  • Clean windows and screens
  • Check and repair outdoor lighting

Maintenance During Summer

Many of the tasks from spring still apply during the summer, such as moving your lawn or checking for pests. As Canadian families tend to spend more time outside during this time, certain tasks become more important to ensure a safe and inviting environment and keep everything in working order.

  • Inspect and clean outdoor decks and patios
  • Power wash the exterior surfaces
  • Check and repair any cracks in driveways or walkways
  • Prune the trees and shrubs
  • Clean and maintain the outdoor furniture and grill
  • Check and repair window screens
  • Test and service the air conditioning system
  • Inspect and repair the caulking around doors and windows
  • Check for leaks in hoses and sprinkler systems
  • Inspect and repair any damaged fences and gates

Maintenance During Fall

Once the days begin to grow shorter, it is time to prepare for the cold winds and increased rainfall. These tasks will help you maintain a home in good shape and protect against wind and water damage from the seasonal changes in the weather.

  • Rake the leaves and clean the gutters
  • Inspect and clean the fireplace and chimney
  • Seal any gaps and cracks around the doors and windows
  • Drain and prepare outdoor faucets and irrigation systems for winter
  • Inspect and service the heating system
  • Clean and stow away the outdoor furniture and garden tools
  • Check insulation in the attic and crawl spaces
  • Test and replace all batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Check for drafts around the doors and windows
  • Inspect and repair any roof shingles and flashing with signs of damage

Maintenance During Winter

The Canadian winters can be rough, so it is important to properly prepare for the cold times ahead. As you can see, the checklist is focused on preventing cold damage, in particular, to keep your home warm and comfortable.

  • Inspect and clean your snow removal equipment
  • Check and replace worn weatherstripping around doors and windows
  • Check for ice dams on the roof
  • Insulate any pipes in unheated areas
  • Test and service the generator if you have one
  • Clean and maintain your humidifiers
  • Monitor the indoor humidity levels
  • Check for drafts around electrical outlets and switches
  • Check and replace the furnace filters
  • Inspect and clean the dryer vents

Click here to learn more about our HomeCare Plan!

If you find that some of these tasks are becoming too much trouble to keep up with, The HandyForce employs a dedicated, experienced handymen who are always ready to step in and help out. Contact us today to learn more.

Should you fix your drywall or let professionals handle it?

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When renovating an older home, it is often a good idea to replace the old wall finishing, in order to get a more energy efficient home, a modern and fashionable look, and to eliminate any potential issues before it is too late. But should you take on this project on your own, or leave it to professionals?

All this and more will be covered in this blog post, where we aim to provide our readers with an easy overview, so enjoy!

The basics of drywalling

Drywalling is essential for keeping the winter temperatures outside, and your home nice and warm. But why is that? And what benefits does drywalling and insulating offer that similar methods do not?

Drywalling is a method used for wall finishing, similarly to plastering, but compared to this method, offers the following benefits:

  • Easy to install
  • Great insulating effect
  • Looks good and can be painted on
  • Cheaper
  • Resistant to fire

Doing it yourself

Alright, now that we’ve covered the drywall basics, it’s time to look closer at whether or not you should take on this project on your own.

One of the major considerations is the overall scope of the damage, cracks or wear and tear on the existing drywall. For tiny holes or issues, it is often possible to adequately repair these yourself, as long as you are willing to invest time into researching the proper methods, as well as money into the necessary equipment, tools and materials.

However, it is important to be aware that even minor drywall damage can be caused by a structural issue, meaning that any potential problems will most likely recur after patching up the drywall itself.

The process of doing this yourself can be time consuming, but for tiny patches it should be doable. You will need various bits of kit, such as drywall compound, masking tape, a special knife for cutting drywall, and more.

It can require a steady hand and a good eye for details when doing this yourself, as the end result will depend on how well each step in the process is completed.

Leaving it to professionals

Many homeowners in Canada prefer to let a skilled company handle drywalling projects, since there are many things that can go wrong, but also because it provides comfort in knowing that a professional and skilled worker has looked closer at the structural integrity of the home.

As mentioned earlier, issues with holes or cracks in your drywall can be caused by a serious issue with your walls or other parts of the structural and load bearing construction. At The HandyForce, we will always do a proper inspection to rule out any serious issues before starting work.

At the same time we will also be able to leverage our many years of experience in the industry, to help guide you towards the optimal choices for insulation, whether it is spray foam, batten, blown-in or foam boards.

We are also able to schedule an appointment with a professional from HandyForce, in order to evaluate the necessary steps, leaving the final decision of who to perform the actual work up to you.

The Importance of Regular Home Maintenance

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Once you buy your first home, you realize that you will never be bored again. There is always something to fix, upgrade or change in a home. Home maintenance is a topic most of us have some level of experience with, but few think about how important it really is.

So in this article we would like to direct your attention towards some of the main reasons why you should never ignore signs of wear and tear, and why regular home maintenance is so crucial. Enjoy!

Keeping dry and warm

Canadian homes are susceptible to roof damage due to the harsh weather conditions in many parts of the country. Thus regular maintenance and inspections can help detect and repair small issues, before they become major problems that will force you to take drastic measures.

Preventing water damage

Unfortunately it is not just the roofs that can suffer from the weather in Canada. Everything from the basement, windows and door openings can also leak water if not maintained properly. And water damage can be an expensive issue to fix once it has taken root.

Avoiding issues with the HVAC

As you know, the Canadian winters can be harsh for our homes. Thus it is essential to have a heating system that works when you need it. You should regularly maintain your HVAC system in order to ensure you can always turn on the heat to avoid mold and humidity issues.

Protecting against pests

Depending on where in the country you live, Canadian homes are vulnerable to certain types of pests, especially during the colder months. Regular pest control and prevention measures can help keep your home safe from infestations.

And on the topic of pests, a regular inspection will also identify whether you have critters gnawing away at your insulation or wiring, hopefully before the problem becomes too severe.

Improving the indoor air quality

Proper air filtration and ventilation can help improve indoor air quality, which is especially important for those with allergies or respiratory issues. HandyForce can provide air duct cleaning services to remove dust, dirt, and other debris from your HVAC system, improving indoor air quality.

Increases the property value

Regular home maintenance helps to maintain the value of your property. When you eventually decide to sell your home, the condition of your property will significantly impact the selling price.

By keeping up with the regular maintenance, you can ensure that your home is in top condition and can command the highest possible price when it becomes time to sell on the market. You will also have a better conscience, knowing that you left the new homeowners in a good starting position.

Reduces the repair costs

By keeping your home well maintained you can also fix issues before they turn into larger projects that require expensive materials and weeks or months of contractors. As with many things in life, it is often best to act as soon as possible, and by catching potential issues early, you can thus save money in the long run.

Saves time and stress

Last but not least, if you are regularly maintaining your home you will also save time in the long run. By fixing issues while they are small and insignificant, you avoid the larger projects, or at the very least postpone them significantly.

This will also lead to less stress, as you will not have to worry about the upcoming snowstorm, as you will feel more comfortable and confident, knowing that everything is in good working order.