When selling your home, curb appeal is essential. However, it isn’t all pretty flowers and shrubs that your buyer is purchasing. It’s the house itself.

For a very modest investment, you may find giving your house a little facelift by restoring or repairing your siding will greatly improve the appeal and structure of your home, and increase it’s odds of selling.

REFRESH the LOOK of YOUR SIDING
Below here are some easy and inexpensive cleaning routines to revive your home’s siding by cleaning it with the right tools and chemicals.

Wood Siding
Wood siding on homes are typically made from Cedar wood. This material is susceptible to growing alge of mildew so it should be cleaned periodically. Left untreated the dampness can rot the wood and lead to the siding having to be replaced. Cedar can be cleaned safely and easily by using a light power washer. Simply hook a power washer up to a water source such as a garden hose and insert the yellow tip to avoid damage. Apply the pressure washer detergent as the instructions indicate. To eliminate mold and mildew use a solution purchased from your local hardware store. Test a small section to ensure there is not too much bleach. Spray your entire house and watch the soiled siding become new again.

Vinyl Siding
Although vinyl siding is fade resistant, this material is susceptible to discoloration and chemical staining. The good news is that a simple water and mild detergent solution can remove those imperfections from siding. In addition to the cleaning solution, you may need a pole to attach to a soft brush for scrubbing the upper rows of siding. Once all of the supplies have been gathered and prepared, wet the siding. Starting at the bottom, scrub the siding with the solution, gradually moving toward the top row until the siding has been thoroughly cleaned. Rinse the siding again and the task is complete.

Aluminum Siding
The basic cleaning process for aluminum siding is very similar to vinyl siding: soak the siding, scrub the siding and finish by rinsing the siding. The differences in restoring the two comes from the finish on aluminum siding. Since aluminum siding can be painted, obtaining the original paint and luster requires more intensive scrubbing and stronger chemicals.

After the siding has been cleaned, you can apply Armor All other approved products to the area to restore the luster of the siding.

In cases where the discoloration is severe, repainting the siding is a good option. To ensure a flawless paint job, clean the siding and then paint with 100 percent acrylic paint.

Brick Exterior
If you’re lucky enough to have a home with charming brick walls, keep them looking their vey best by keeping them clean. Cleaning brick is actually fairly simple as long as you have the right tools. Prep the area by covering any shrubs or greenery with a tarp, and sealing the windows with painters tape. To get rid of the first simply attach a pressure washer to a water source such as a garden hose.If there are any areas where the brick is damaged refrain from using the pressure washer in that area. Take a steel brush and scrub with detergent and warm water.

Hard to Remove Stains
For any difficult stains, consult www.winylsiding.org or 1.888.367.8741 for advice or reference the following chart to remove stubborn stains.

RENEW
If you choose to repaint your wood or aluminum siding, clean the surface before applying the primer coat. A primer is necessary particularly when painting over darker surfaces with lighter colors or over glossy finishes. Paint can be brushed, rolled or sprayed onto the siding.  Avoiding painting in direct sunlight or in poor weather conditions to achieve the highest quality paint job.

You may also have to replace caulk on your siding. Purchase the best option available to you at a price point that you feel comfortable spending on the product.

RESTORE
Using this information as a reference will make restoring your siding well worth your effort. If you feel that cleaning and resurfacing you siding still is not enough, consult your local NARI chapter of licensed and bonded contractors for a quote on comprehensive restoration.

Do you have a question regarding your existing or future home? 
Send us an email at scot.mclean3@gmail.com

When it comes time to replace that old furnace, you may have tons of questions and probably a few concerns. You can speak to as many contractors as you wish and get as much advice as possible, the choice to replace it will ultimately be yours to make. Knowing the key things that go into you making an informed choice is most important. Most people don’t know much more about their furnace other than how to turn it on and/or where the filter is located. Below are answers to key questions that should be answered prior to replacement.

Key Terms

Ductwork/Ducts –
A system of tubes in rectangular and circular shapes that carry heated or cooled air throughout your home. Supply ducts move the heated or cooled air into the room, while return ducts help the internal air from rooms return to the furnace.

Heat Exchanger – This is a device in your furnace that keeps the exhaust from the fire in the furnace separate from the air that blows it out of the supply ducts and into the rooms of your home. The flames heat the inside of the heat exchanger, and the exhaust flows through it directly to the exterior of your home through the exhaust vent. The air coming into the furnace from the return duct then passes over the outside of the hot heat exchanger; heating the air which then blows out of the supply ducts into the rooms of your home

Blower – This is a fan that moves the air through the furnace. It sucks air into the furnace through the return ducts and blows it out of the furnace into the supply ducts.

Inducer/Draft Inducer fan – The fan that moves the combustion products (exhaust) through a mid or high efficiency furnace and out through the exhaust vent. Standard efficiency furnaces do not have this feature.

Thermostat – A device that senses the temperature of the room and uses the information to turn the furnace off or on as needed.

How does a furnace work?
A forced air furnace burns fuel and distributes warm air throughout your home. Gas is burned below the heat exchanger. The heat that has been produced flows up through the heat exchanger and then out through the exhaust vent. Depending on your furnace, the exhaust vent maybe be a metal vent that goes into a chimney or through the roof, or it may be a plastic vent that exhausts directly to the exterior of your house.Anytime the thermostat senses that the temperature is too low in the home it sends a signal that turns on the furnace. Combustion occurs and warms the heat exchanger. After a short period of time the blower turns on and circulates the heated air.

The furnace circulates the warm air through your home using the supply ducts, and the cool air is sucked in through the return ducts and goes back to the furnace to be heated again.

Types of Forced Air Furnaces

Standard Efficiency Furnace – A furnace that has an efficiency of about 60%. These types of furnaces are used to heat homes built in 1970 or earlier. They must be vented using either a masonry or metal chimney. It uses a simple system with no draft inducer fan, but it wastes energy and heat.

Mid-Efficiency Furnace – A furnace that has an efficiency of about 80%. It has a better heat exchanger that utilizes more of the heat created from the combustion to heat your home. Condensation is mostly prevented inside the furnace but is possible in the chimney. This condensation is acidic and puts wear on chimneys.

High-Efficiency Furnace – A furnace that has an efficiency of about 90%. It uses a second heat exchanger to remove even more of the heat from the exhaust before venting, making it even more efficient. Because the exhaust is cooler, the furnace can be vented with a plastic pipe instead of metal. There are also furnaces that can go beyond the 90% efficiency.

Which Efficiency Should I Choose?
When deciding between a mid or high efficiency furnace, there are several things that should be considered beyond just cost and energy savings.

Water heaters, like furnaces, can have different types of exhaust vent pipes or none at all. Electric water heaters do not have exhaust since there is no flame inside heating the water. Direct vent water heaters use a fan to blow the exhaust outside through a plastic pipe. Most water heaters use a metal exhaust vent which they often share a chimney from a standard or mid efficiency furnace.

If you update to a high efficiency furnace that doesn’t use the chimney, the chimney flue is too large for just the water heater. This can result in damage to the chimney and exhaust back drafting into the house. A metal chimney liner must be installed to prevent this. As a result, many times the cost of either installing a chimney liner or updating the water heater must be considered as part of the process of picking a furnace.

One of the potential benefits of installing a high efficiency furnace and either electric or direct vent water heater is that a chimney is no longer needed and can be removed. The space can then be opened up or used to add extra storage shelving. Another great use in older homes with two stories or finished attics is to run additional return ductwork up through the space where the chimney was since often these areas weren’t built with sufficient, if any, return ducts to allow a central air conditioner to cool the air.

Does the Size Matter?
The “size” of a furnace is based upon the input BTU per hour. A residential furnace can be as small as 40,000 BTU or larger than 200,000 BTU. Furnaces installed more than 20 years ago are often oversized and can be switched out for a smaller one. Your contractor will help choose the correct size of your furnace size by performing a heat loss calculation and taking into account other factors (e.g. square footage, home type, number of stories, number of windows, insulation, orientation and sun exposure.)

Do I Need a Contractor?
Furnaces and air conditioners should be maintained every year by a qualified contractor. It is vital that you find contractor that you are able to trust. He or she is responsible for helping you choose the right type of furnace as well as maintaining it. When asking others for a reputable contractor be sure to check their online ratings and customer references. A good contractor is the key to a safe and comfortable home.

Do you have a question regarding your existing or future home?
Send us an email at scot.mclean3@gmail.com

We are growing and are pleased to announce that Joy Douthwaite has joined the Towne & Country Building Inspection team.

Joy has nearly 10 years as a home inspector and is dedicated to helping prospective home owners of Southeastern Wisconsin with the very best home inspection and evaluation services.

Joy is an active member of her professional community — 

Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors 
– past president of the Milwaukee Chapter
– Committee Chair for Website & Message Board
– Frequent speaker and presenter on inspector training and ethics

American Society of Home Inspectors
– National Leadership Conference
– CORE member invitee to Board of Directors

Business Networking International 
– Secretary & Treasurer of Milwaukee Chapter

We all spend a lot of time in our kitchens. It seems that any time family and friends come together, the kitchen is the center of all the activity. We like our kitchens to be welcoming, functional, and beautiful. But what if your custom kitchen cabinets are old and worn, out of style, or have those dark, nasty stains around the handles? Cabinets are the face of your kitchen; when they are in poor condition, they can affect the whole atmosphere of your space and even decrease the value of your home.

If you decide that it’s time to update the look of your cabinets, you have 4 options with different price ranges to consider:

• Repaint
• Refinish
• Reface
• Replace

Repaint
Using paint to change the appearance and color of your cabinets provides a modern look for your kitchen. Repainting is also the cheapest option because materials are not too expensive and you can do the work yourself. However, repainting does not allow for changes in design or layout. If a more significant change is what you are looking for, you will want to consider re-facing or even replacing your cabinets entirely. But for a simple change, repainting is the way to go.

Despite what you may see on some of the popular (cheap, quick, and wrong) DIY shows on TV, you should not just slap a coat of paint onto your existing cabinets. You may get a quick and easy change of color, but in the process you will also be getting a maintenance and durability problem. If you decide to repaint your cabinets, you will need to dismantle, prep the surfaces, prime and then paint for a durable and professional look.

Refinish
Many kitchen cabinets are finished just like furniture- the wood is stained and then covered with a clear, protective top coat. Refinishing these types of cabinets requires a similar process to refinishing old furniture. You can clean and remove part of the top, clear surface with solvents, even out the color, and then apply a fresh top coat for a perfect finish. Basically, you are maintaining the color and appearance of the wood while restoring the top coat of clear finish.  Please note that cabinets made prior to 1980 may have lead in the paint or finish. If you think this may be the case with your cabinets, make sure you consult a professional for your refinishing needs.

Like repainting, refinishing must be done correctly. You will want to dismantle the cabinets and properly prep the surface before you begin refinishing. Typically, there is no need to completely strip the finish from the cabinet door unless paint has been applied and you want a stained and varnished finish.  Keep in mind, however, that stripping paint and refinishing is a big job. If you really want to strip the paint from your cabinets for a real wood finish, it is usually better to just go with refacing or replacing your cabinets entirely.

Reface
If you want to make a more substantial change to the look of your cabinets, you may consider refacing them. Refacing your cabinets can get pricey, but this option is still cheaper than replacing your cabinets altogether. You maintain the framework of your existing cabinets and simply replace the door and drawer fronts.

If you decide to reface your cabinets, make sure that the existing frames are in good condition. If your cabinets were not made of quality materials to begin with or the frames are old and worn out, refacing will only postpone a problem that will need to be fixed eventually. Chances are that later down the road you will end up completely replacing your cabinets anyway. If you decide to try refacing your cabinets, it is best to bring in a professional; he can tell you if refacing is the best option for your kitchen and ensure that you get a quality and updated look that will last.

Replace
Replacing provides you with the opportunity to not only change the appearance of your kitchen cabinets, but the style and layout as well. Replacing is also the best option if your existing cabinets are made out of poor quality materials or are in poor condition. In either case, replacing your cabinets can not only improve and update the look of your kitchen but increase the value of your home as well.

Replacing your kitchen cabinets is the most expensive option. You will want to hire a professional to install your cabinets for you, and bringing in an interior designer may be a good idea as well to ensure that the style of cabinets will best suit your lifestyle and the design of the rest of your home. Replacing cabinets often makes up the majority of the cost of a kitchen renovation. However, if done properly, it is usually worth it.

Whichever option you choose, repainting, refinishing, refacing or replacing, the decision to update your cabinets is one that you will be happy you made every time you walk into a kitchen that is uniquely yours.

Do you have a question regarding your existing or future home?  Send us an email at  scot.mclean3@gmail.com

The holiday season is fast approaching. So, now is the best time to check and make those needed plumbing repairs. These tips make this sometimes-daunting task simple and easy for anyone to do.

Repairing a dripping faucet
The newer faucets without washers are relatively easy to repair. Anyone with average “fix-it” abilities can fix a drip or leak. The hardest part is determining the type and brand of faucet.

Look for a brand name on the handle, spout or base of the faucet. Take a picture if necessary.

Ball type faucet-the base of the handle has a circular fitting.

Barrel cartridge or disk type faucet-the handle moves up and down for volume and left and right for temperature

If you go it alone in the store, you’ll need to locate parts based on the brand, type and appearance of the faucet. Most of the repair part packages will have sketches of the faucets and descriptions of parts.
Once you have the correct repair kit, read the instructions on how to dismantle and repair the faucet. Some kits also include special equipment you’ll need, such as an Allen or spanner wrench.

Dripping Interior Valves
Sometimes an indoor valve (e.g. a basement valve for an outside water connection) develops a slow drip. Fixing it Is simple. If you take the time to look closely at the valve, you’ll see that the handle is mounted on a round brass stem or shaft. The shaft enters the body of the valve through a hole in a hex nut. If you tighten this hex nut (packing nut), the leak should stop. You only need to tighten this packing nut slightly to stop the drip.

Dripping Water Heater
On the side of the water heater is a temperature/pressure valve with a handle. This valve is designed as a safety measure. In the event that the water heater overheats and creates excessive pressure the valve will open.
When the valve develops a leak, water runs down the tube and drips on the floor. A leaky valve should be replaced because the leak can get worse. Also, the constant flow of water can corrode or seal shut the valve with hard water scale. A new valve costs about $20 and takes approximately 30 minutes or less to install.

Garbage Disposal repair and tips
Even if you do not frequently use it run the disposal every once in a while to prevent the buildup of any food or waste. If you leave it out of operation, it will eventually freeze up and be ruined.

If you do use your garbage disposal fairly regularly and it simply stopped working it is a fairly easy fix. Turn the unit off at the wall switch. Then look under the sink and locate a small red button on the base of the unit. This is the electrical reset. If the unit is no longer humming, it probably means the overload has been tripped. Push this button in to reset the thermal overload/reset.
Try to switch the unit on. If the unit now hums but will not run, turn it off immediately. You have a jam in the disposal that needs to be cleared.

Check under the sink for a small L-shaped service wrench that looks like an Allen wrench with a bend on each end. The installer of the disposal unit left it there for you (very thoughtful, wouldn’t you say?). It may be in a small plastic pouch stapled to the side of the cabinet. At the end of this tool is a hex wrench that fits into a hole you’ll find on the bottom of the disposal, in the center. Work the wrench back and forth until the unit moves freely for several revolutions. As you move the wrench, you are moving the shaft of the disposal.

Preventing Grout stains
Grout is very porous, and once mildew and other stains penetrate deeply, the only solution is completely replacing the grout.

To prevent problems it is a good idea to seal the grout with silicone based sealer. This will help to keep water stains from penetrating and causing damage.

Do you have a question regarding your existing or future home?  
Send us an email at scot.mclean3@gmail.com