Is Your House Ready for Winter?

We still have some warm days, but the weather is changing, and before we know it, it will be winter again. Now is the time to start preventing heat loss this winter. A well-prepared house means a warmer and safer family, lower heating bills, less air pollution and and a smaller contribution to climate change. Take a few minutes and make sure your house is ready. Here's what to look for:

The roof:  

On the outside, there should be no missing or damaged shingles. The lines of the roof should look straight, with no sags or bumps in it. On the inside, look for signs of water damage.

The door and window frames:

Look for cracks or gaps that can let in a draft. Home improvement stores sell draft detectors if you want to pay for them, but generally speaking, old window frames that look like this:

will be drafty until they are wrapped in metal trim like this:

And while we're on the subject,

Windows:

Make sure your house is equipped with thermal windows with low-e glass.

Insulation:

Be sure your house has enough insulation to keep your heat inside this year. Check the attic, the walls and the basement.

Foundation:

Look inside and outside and check for large or new cracks.

Metal Trim Work

We recently did an exterior trim renovation job for a customer in Milford:

Before: 

The house was resided a few years ago in vinyl. The white J channel and some of the short cuts tell you we didn't do that job. But we're here for the painted wood trim, which has seen much better days.

 

During:

Some peeks at the work in progress:

After:

 

The customer was very happy.

Home Maintenance - New Hampshire Homeowner Tips

The weather is heating up. Just a few weeks ago, there was snow on the ground, and today we're all in shorts - or wishing we could be. With the ice dams and giant icicles of last winter a very recent memory, now we're looking summer in the face. Here are a few quick tips for helping your home or business building make the transition:

• Inspect the roof. A tough winter like we just had can really do a number on a house, if it wasn't built for the climate and kept in great condition. And, unfortunately, most houses and other buildings in New Hampshire weren't built for the climate. Go figure. Check the roof for leaks and missing or damaged shingles.
• Open and close all the doors and windows. If they bind or stick (and they didn't last summer), that could be a sign of structural damage.

• Look for any cracks or gaps around the edges of windows and doors, cracked paint on your interior walls, and screws poking out from the walls. Again, any of these could be a sign of structural damage.
• Check the foundation. Again, you're looking for cracks.
• Assess your insulation. Adequate insulation will do three things for you, even in the summer: save you money, keep you more comfortable, and help your house handle temperature changes with less stress.

If you find any damage, or anything you're not sure about, don't just sit on it. Make sure you know what you're doing, or find someone who does, and take care of the problem as soon as reasonably possible. Damage only gets worse the longer you wait.

Thanks,

New Hampshire Construction

Spring Maintenance for Your Home or Building

In spite of our recent April snowfall, spring is actually, finally here. While extreme cold and heavy

snow loads are not an issue any more, we do have plenty of other things to deal with, including melting snow and ice, mud, rain, and dampness. Here's a list of places in your home or place of business that may need some attention:

• Roof and attic: Your roof should be inspected every spring, and after the winter we just had, that's more important than ever.
• Windows and doors: Do they still operate freely? Is there any visible damage? Are the thermal panes still intact? Do you need to repair or replace any screens before black fly season hits?
• Basement/foundation: Check for moisture and cracks. In both cases, catching them early is key.
• HVAC: Your furnace should be serviced and your chimney cleaned and inspected during the off-season. Booking those appointments now could save you some headache when things get busy. Now is a great time to make sure your air conditioning system is ready to go.
• Insulation: Even if yours is one of the lucky few New Hampshire homes and buildings that have enough insulation, it could still be compromised by leaks, insufficient venting or rodents.

Thanks,

New Hampshire Construction