Fauser Home Improvement

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Tips for Warm Weather Improvements

Summer may be the hottest time of year, but that doesn’t have to stop you from taking a stab at some fun home improvement projects for the exterior of your home. Although the summer weather is warm, summer is still a great time to get outdoors, enjoy the sun, and enhance your home’s exterior.
Whether you’re looking for simple ways to give your house a facelift or you want to pull out all the stops and create a dramatic change, here are some common exterior home improvement ideas that you can tackle this summer.
Siding— Remodeling your home’s siding is an excellent way to drastically improve or change your home’s appearance. You can choose from a number of siding options, including aluminum, vinyl, wood clapboard, or brick.
Windows—Like siding, replacing your home’s windows is another way to change the look of your home in a dramatic way.
Roofs—Roof changes can be more costly, but replacing old, tired roofing will not only help enhance the quality of your roof, but it will also put a brand new, fresh spin on the look of your house.
Garden Sheds—If you already have a garden shed, try updating its exterior to make it more aesthetically pleasing, according to your taste, or consider adding one to your yard. It can add a cozy and practical element to your home’s landscape.

10 Home Improvemet Tips

Check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.

Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.

From the ground, examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.

Examine the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage. Have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

Inspect concrete slabs for signs of cracks or movement. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home's foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk. When weather permits, power-wash and then seal the concrete.

Remove firewood stored near the home. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground at least 2 feet from the structure.

Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you're at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.

Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.

Check your gas- and battery-powered lawn equipment to make sure it is ready for summer use. Clean equipment and sharp cutting blades will make yardwork easier.

Vinyl Window Replacement

Ditching a drafty window is a slam-dunk energy saver. You can even install Low-E (low-emissivity) ones that deflect heat in hot weather and keep it in when it’s cold. They cost 10%  to 15% more but cut energy loss by 30% to 50% according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Steel Entry Door Replacement

Security and energy efficiency are big musts for buyers, and replacing old doors address both in a snap.  Go for steel doors, they shout SAFE and cost a third of what fiberglass doors would cost. Another plus: New doors add to your home’s curb appeal, which is one of the first things buyers scrutinize when buying a home.

Seal Doors and Windows

Due to change in temperature, rain and snow, often times you will notice small cracks around the door or windows. The cold draft can find its way to your cozy house through these small openings. Sealing is a pretty simple and inexpensive way of insuring that the cold air does not sneak in. You should caulk and seal around your doors and windows to ensure that you close all those cracks

Protect Yourself

Homeowners should avoid putting contractors’ advice on a pedestal. It is easy for an over-zealous contractor to overwhelm an inexperienced home owner and escalate the scope of a job beyond what might really be needed. Take the time to verify unexpected problems or new recommendations with a knowledgeable second opinion, before you put any more money on the table.

Nearly all supplies and tools involved in home improvement can be the objects of desire to thieves. Whenever they are not in use, building supplies and tools should be kept safe. If you have a secure indoor place to put them, do it. A lockable storage unit can prevent theft in an open house.

Use a tricky remedy to block holes that you suspect are letting mice in: stuff them with steel wool. This will prevent the mice from coming in because they cannot chew through steel wool like they can chew through other materials.

If you want major work done to your house, hire someone who has plenty of experience. Designers, contractors and architects all work at their occupations for a variety of reasons. Their work is difficult, and they are skilled professionals. While doing it yourself can sound appealing, a professional will make your life easier and get the job done right.

Give Fauser Home Improvement a call for a FREE ESTIMATE on your project 309/792-3122.

Home Improvement Items to Consider

Top 5 items homeowners typically do when spring approaches:

1. Put up a Fence

2. Wash your Siding and/or Deck

3. Clean your Interior and Exterior Windows

4. Organize and Clean your Garage

5. White Wash your Picket Fence

You can obtain a Free Estimate from Fauser Home Improvement by phoning 309/792-3122.

Where to Start.

There are several simple projects that you could consider for increasing your homes value greatly, however; it is very important that you first set a budget and then create a basic idea and layout of what type of style you like best, based on the available funds you have set for your next home improvement project.

You might add a door to the spare bathroom and then some paint to make a substantial value increase to the over all homes value. Think of it like adding new tires to a car. You might be surprised how a few little home improvement tips and advice projects can make a huge difference in your home value.

Give Fauser Home Improvement a call for a FREE ESTIMATE and we will help plan your next project. 309/792-3122.

Energy Tax Credit's

Energy efficient windows, doors and skylights can reduce energy bills

   Tax Credit Amount: 10% of the cost, up to $500, but windows are capped at $200.

Requirements

Must be ENERGY STAR qualified.

You do not have to replace all the windows/doors/skylights in your home to qualify. And it doesn't need to be a replacement either - installing a new window where there wasn't one previously (like in an addition) qualifies.

Tax Credit does NOT include installation costs.

For products "placed in service" in 2011, you need to file the 2011 version of IRS Form 5695 and submit it with your 2011 taxes (by April 15, 2012).

On the 1040 form you enter this tax credit from Form 5695 (the residential energy tax credit) on line 52.

Save your receipts and the Manufacturer's Certification Statement for your records.

Submit Form 5695 with your 2011 taxes.

Remodel Tips

·         Select a professional contractor with experience, knowledge of local codes and a good reputation for quality work. This is the single most important step in your project.

·         Before you finalize your remodel decisions, research the improvements that will likely bring you the highest return on your investment.  A minor kitchen remodel should return more than 70 percent of its cost at resale while adding a bathroom pays back about 53 percent.

·         During the latest housing boom, remodels were all about big and bold. Now there is less emphasis on luxury and more on practicality. Take advantage of that trend, and you’ll make your home more competitive at resale.

How to Safely Remove Snow from the Roof

There are two very good ways to injure yourself removing snow from a roof. You could fall off the ladder while climbing onto the roof or fall climbing off the roof. You could always just fall off the roof directly.  Therefore, here are two good ways to not hurt yourself while clearing the roof of snow. First, use a roof rake or second hire a professional.

The do it yourself option of a roof rake is simple. A roof rake is similar to a snow shovel with a long handle. Instead of picking up the snow like a shovel you drag the snow down and off the edge of the roof. Rakes are safe because they are used from the ground and if used properly no damage will be caused. Never use a roof rake from a ladder for a couple of reasons. First balancing on a ladder while trying to rake your roof is simply difficult and second the snow comes directly down and potentially on the individual balancing on a ladder.

Hiring a pro is probably the safest way to remove snow from a roof. The service may cost upwards of $100 per hour but that is a lot less than emergency medical care. Give Fauser Home Improvement a call for a FREE ESTIMATE on your home improvement or maintenance needs. (309) 792-3122

Ideas for Winter Home Improvements

"Tighten" your home by sealing air leaks.

This project can even save you money! There are several ways to check for air leaks at wall openings. Some professional contractors use thermographs, a type of thermal imaging device, to locate the cool spots. D-I-Y enthusiasts can use smoky incense to indicate where drafts may be present.

A surefire way to catch all the leaks is to gather your caulking gun, weather-stripping, insulating gaskets and expanding foam; then, systematically address each hole in every wall (outlets, windows/doors, light fixtures, fireplaces, etc.). It can be time consuming, but, hey, winter can be very, very long.

Winter landscaping.
Yes, the words "winter" and "landscaping" can be used in the same sentence. If you are the type of person who can't stay inside for long, here are some ideas for sprucing up those dreary, winter yards.

Try installing some solar powered lighting to outline pathways or planting beds. It will help guide the snow shovel and add a cozy twinkle to the drifts.

Or consider attracting winter wildlife with a new bird feeder. An ornamental bird feeder can act as a landscape's focal point and there's really nothing like a bright red cardinal to animate a bleak, brown (or white) yard.

What Good has come from the Downturn of the Housing Market

A positive fallout from the downturn of the housing market is that people are staying in their homes longer. This enables individuals to form a “bond” with the places they live. Homeowners imagine the possibilities and think through the practicalities of remodeling their homes. Projects range from simple changes to extensive additions. For ideas on renovating your home give Fauser Home Improvement a call for a FREE ESTIMATE 309/792-3122.

New Siding

New siding can give your house the facelift it needs. Siding can be installed on your entire house or used together with other exterior cladding such as brick or stone. Steel and vinyl siding are fabulous alternatives to the traditional sidings. When these cost-effective sidings are installed correctly they are almost maintenance free!
Siding should be installed over the appropriate housewrap or building paper and all windows and doors should have proper flashing installed before the siding goes up. Any gaps in the exterior siding needs to have caulking and there should be sufficient venting for moisture. Have your siding done by siding pros and enjoy the fine results for years to come! Give Fauser Home Improvement a call for your FREE ESTIMATE, 309/792-3122.