Month: February 2011 - page 2

Replacement Window: An Easy Renovation

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We are looking at purchasing a new home. There are so many things to consider in making this purchase. We love our current home and have installed replacement windows, siding and landscaping that we adore. The problem is that there just isn’t enough space for entertaining inside or out. It is becoming evident that we have outgrown our cozy home and that even with all the work that has gone into this investment we need to start looking for something with a lot more space. The good thing is that we have renovating experience and the market is fair for what we are looking at. All of those things are in our favor. We are also aware at how we can make certain renovations ourselves that others consider large deal busters.

In looking for a new home many potential buyers get caught up in new roofs, replacement windows and other purchases that they feel are deal breakers. We are fortunate to have the skills under our belt to tackle any home renovation project the new house will lead us too. If new home buyers took a second and looked into things such as replacement windows they would see just how easy it is to replace them. Now more than ever it has become one of the few home improvement project that people can look forward to. It will not be a deal breaker anymore after you review these handy steps in dealing with the purchase and installation of your new replacement windows.

First you will need to locate reputable replacement window dealers in your area. You will want to get quotes from at least three dealers. Compare the type of windows offered, the quality of the product, the ease of installation, available warranties and how satisfied previous consumers have been with the service provided. You will want to make sure that you premeasured all of the windows that you are interested in replacing and take your measurements in when you are speaking with the dealer.

When you are taking measurements you will want to measure your existing windows thoroughly. Make sure your measurements include the left jamb to the right jamb from the bottom, middle and top of the window. It should be the same but overtime windows often warp and shrink so measure everywhere to be safe. You will want to use the same technique to measure the height of the window from the inside jamb to the inside window sill. Make sure when you are ordering your windows that you specify that these are exact measurements.

The next step after you have ordered the new windows and received your replacement windows is to take off the old sash and remove the jamb liner from the existing windows. This should be done one window at a time so that if you run in to a window that needs extra installation time you don’t leave your home open to the elements.

From here you prep the existing window frame and the area for the new window. You will add a new jamb liner, spray in a low expansion foam insulation to seal the area within the wall if any gaps are present and caulk the opening for the window to be placed in. You will be installing your new windows before you know it.

The installation of the window involves placing the window and fastening it in loosely at first. You will want to shim around the window making sure that you have a completely level replacement window. If the window is not completely level you leave room for movement and air leaks. Once all the shims are in place and the window is completely level fasten all screws for permanent placement. That is it. You are done with your replacement window installation. Now all you need to do is caulk the inside frame and add a finish to the interior of the window. This finish can be paint or stain but you cannot leave your windows without any sealing touches. If you leave room for the window frame unsealed your replacement windows will have a shorter lifetime then if it had been sealed.

Congratulations you have just learned to replace a window. Now when you are staring at your dream home but see the windows could be replaced you won’t just walk away. Pull on some boots and a hard hat and get to work replacing them.

Heatkeeper

Water Extraction: Caring for Your Carpet Investment

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Buying a home is such an adventure. It is so exciting to walk in to a world of complete possibility. Most homes that are purchased need tweaking. You buy a house that you like and turn it into a home by the improvements you invest in. For instance, when we purchased our home we loved the open air feel, cozy kitchen and layout of the bedrooms in relation to the other rooms in the house. However there were things cosmetically that we were unhappy about. We needed paint, stain, cleaner and carpet. The only thing that mechanically was needed was a water softener and insulation was needed but that wasn’t too major. We thought we were getting off pretty cheap. That was until we priced out carpet for a 1400 square foot home.

Carpet is pricey. It is one of the largest investments that you can cosmetically make that doesn’t involve a renovation. We ended up with a beautiful frieze carpet that will hopefully stand the test of time, two kids and three cats. There were so many things we learned during the installation process that made us aware of how fragile this investment we were making was. If we did not properly care for our purchase with proper cleaning techniques we would end up making this investment more often than we would like too. I am not only talking about vacuuming and spot removal but also the cleaning that will need to be done by a professional.

Professional carpet cleaners are not all the same. We learned this right away. There are many different types of cleaning methods and many types of professional carpet cleaners. Researching the different techniques made us realize that without a professional who knew our carpet and knew what cleaning method would work best we could end up with a big mess. The most important factor, we found out, is the professionals method of water extraction. Without proper water extraction and drying water sits beneath the carpet and soaks into the padding leaving room for mold, mildew and carpet delimitation.

There are five major methods professional carpet cleaners use to clean carpets. A carpet professional should come out to your home, inspect your carpet and then suggest a cleaning method that would best suit your need.

The hot/cold water extraction method is what most people relate to when speaking about carpet cleaning. This method involves using a carpet cleaning machine along with detergent to “steam clean” the carpet. As the machine shoots out the water solution there is a vacuum inside the machine pulling out the dirt, water and detergent. The major drawback to this method is if done incorrectly the carpet and padding can become saturated. Also if all the detergent is not pulled from the carpet you run the risk of the detergent becoming a dirt magnet. Your carpet professional must make sure to completely dry all the areas cleaned. This is a top priority in making sure that your carpet stays as good as new. No one wants to deal with mold and mildew removal especially when carpet is involved.

The next method is a dry extraction method. This method involves taking detergent and brushing it into the carpet with a machine especially designed for this. The soil and dirt adheres to the chemicals and then is removed by vacuuming the detergent and dirt away. The problem is that this method is not always effective for areas that are heavily soiled. The foam extraction method is similar but instead of a dry detergent you use foam. The foam is vacuumed out while it is still damp.

Another method is the rotary foam method. A machine pushes a foam solution into your carpet and gently works it deep into the fibers. Then a second process takes the dirty foam and wet vacuums it out. This method also involves making sure that the carpet is thoroughly dry before resuming regular activity. Water extraction will be the key in keeping your carpets clean.

Finally the last method in carpet cleaning is the absorbent-pad technique. Make sure if you choose this technique that your carpet professional is trained. It is easy to ruin carpet if you are not skilled at this technique. The absorbent pad method involves spraying cleaners into the fibers of your carpet and letting them set. During this time it is said that the chemicals will pull the dirt from within the carpet fibers out. A machine with a large spinning absorbent pad will then pick up the chemical and dirt. If you have a carpet with a deep pile this might not be the best technique for your carpets. If not done properly you can end up with a mess.

Properly caring for one of the biggest investment in cosmetic repairs to your new home is a must. Make sure you ask for referrals and that you discuss why the technique that they choose is the correct method for your carpet. It is best to ask for the opinion of at least three carpet professionals. Remember this is only for the first time you have your carpets cleaned. If you find someone who you are happy than each year you will be able to call them up and have them back out. Remember that this investment in your home is upwards of five thousand dollars don’t trust it to just anyone do the research.

TCI Restoration