Our Website

Visit us online at www.FauserHI.com

New Windows

The weather conditions outside your home should not appear on the inside—a good sign that your windows need to be replaced. Inefficient windows can leak, allowing water to come into your house both in front of and behind the walls—a leading cause of mold and mildew in homes. Old, worn-out windows or patio doors often leak air, resulting in high energy bills during peak heating and cooling months. The glass may be loose or the seal between the sash and frame may have weakened. Give Fauser Home Improvement a call for a FREE ESTIMATE on new windows. (309)792-3122.

Easy Gutter Cleaning

Cleaning the gutters on your home can be a frustrating and difficult task. Before pulling out your ladder and hose, make sure you know the proper way to clean your gutters.

The most straightforward way to clean gutters is to place a ladder against your house, climb high enough to see into the gutters, scoop out and discard all debris. Begin at the farthest end of the house, working your way toward the downspout. Use a garden hose to rinse the gutters.

Flush the downspout with the hose, and the debris should come out the bottom. If the downspout is so clogged that it cannot be flushed, you will need to insert a probe into the downspout to dislodge the clog. A "plumber's snake," available at most hardware stores, works well for this. Also use this opportunity to make any repairs to your gutters. Replace any missing nails or screws, and repair any cracks or leaks using silicone caulk.

It is easy to just throw the debris you pull out of the gutter on your lawn, but it is likely that you will forget to clean it up. Cleaning up the debris is also much easier if you plan ahead. Instead of throwing it to the lawn below, tie a trash bag to the ladder where you will be working. As you work, you will be able to place the debris directly in the bag instead of raking it up later.

Vinyl Siding

Install vinyl siding  and you will never have to paint your house again. Unlike wood or cedar, this durable plastic will not rot or flake. Vinyl is available in several dozen colors, and can mimic architectural details that were once made from wood. It's no wonder that vinyl has become the most popular siding material in the United States and is quickly gaining momentum around the world.

Weatherproof Your Deck

The first step in weatherproofing a deck is to thoroughly clean it. You can clean it with a hard bristle brush and a deck cleaning solution or you can use a pressure washer. If you elect to use a pressure washer it is important to use a low pressure nozzle and keep the nozzle an adequate distance away from the decking boards (approximately 12 to 18 inches) so that you do not damage the wood grain

 While cleaning the deck look for and replace any rotting or damaged decking boards. Also, hammer down any loose nails, or replace them altogether. In addition, make sure to use non-corrosive nails when fastening down new deck boards.

 After the deck has been cleaned, and has had time to thoroughly dry, you can then apply the deck weatherproofing solution. Typically deck weatherproofing products used to seal the deck are clear deck sealers, semi-transparent stains, colored stains, and paints. I prefer semi-transparent stains the best as they provide color and protection, and they don’t peel.

 I find the best way to apply the deck sealer is with a roller and a 4 inch wide brush. However, before weatherproofing your deck, make sure the weather forecast is clear of rain for at least 24 hours, and preferably 48. 

With the weather forecast clear of rain, start in a corner of the deck and work your way outwards in small sections at a time. First apply the deck sealer with a roller, and then follow up behind with a paint brush to work it into the decking boards.

 For the deck balusters and railings it is best to apply the deck weatherproofing sealant with a brush, albeit it is time consuming. Spraying these items simply wastes too much sealant, and it doesn’t get worked into the wood pieces as well.

 Once you’ve weatherproofed your deck allow it to dry for 24 to 48 hours, depending up weather conditions, prior to walking on the deck or placing items on it.