Repair & Improve

January Weekend Projects

Tips to get your home in tip top shape for the season

by Leslie Segrete

The holidays are over and the New Year has begun.  Now’s the time to get cracking on lots of little winter projects that can avoid big winter woes later on.  Here’s where to start.

WEEKEND #1: Put the Ho-Ho-Home ‘til next Season
The holidays are officially over so it is time to put away those sparkly decorations so you don’t become neighbor with the petrified wreath up come April!  Remove all of your holiday decorations and while you are taking them down, examine them for any damages.  Check to make sure all the lights are working, replace any burned out bulbs and make certain the holiday season has not caused wires to fray.  Now is the best time to make sure your lights will be in good working order next season.  Plus if any damage is found, you can replace them while they are still 50% off!

To store your holiday lights, cut some cardboard into 12” by 9” pieces and wrap the lights around it to keep them tidy and at the ready for next year.  Be sure to store decorative items in clear plastic bins so you know exactly what is in there and to be sure moisture does not deteriorate any of the cheer.  Place all stored items at the back of your storage area to allow the current seasonal items to be accessible.

 
WEEKEND #2:  All Cracked Up
By now you have spent some time indoors due to the wintry weather and you have no doubt noticed a few cracks here and there.  This is a good time to repair them.  Here are a couple of tips to help.  If you see cracks where your walls meet the ceiling, don’t worry.  While unsightly they pose no structural risk.  These are just from the normal expansion and contraction of your house where the two pieces of drywall meet.  You might also notice cracks in seams in your ceiling or along the wall, also joints where pieces meet and just the joint compound over the seam drying out. 

To fix these, start by removing the old piece of drywall tape.  This is going to cause some damage to the surrounding area but will ultimately allow you to make a repair that will stand the test of time.  Next, apply a continuous piece of meshy fiberglass drywall tape over the joint.  Then apply a thin layer of joint compound using a wide spackle knife and let dry.  Continue to apply layers, allowing each to set before applying the next.  You can apply three layers and on your last layers use a narrow spackle knife.  Once the tape is fully covered, sand the area using a fine sand sponge or paper to smooth the texture of the wall or ceiling and repaint.

If you see cracks along your crown moulding and the ceiling you can easily fix that with a latex paintable caulk, be sure to smooth the bead of caulk with your finger.  Once dry you can paint the caulk to match the trim if necessary.

WEEKEND #3: No Grout About It – Sure Fires Ways to Clean Tile And Grout

Whether it is used for floors, backsplashes or walls, grout is possible everywhere in your home.  Our guess is that no matter how clean you are - your grout is dirty!  Grout does not have to be darker than it was when first applied so here are some tips to get it clean and bright once more and do a little something to help it stay that way. 

The type of tile you have and the amount of discoloration on your grout is going to determine how we clean it.  If you have an unglazed tile, you want to always use a natural cleanser; glazed tiles allow you to work with a stringer chemical cleanser.  You can use a home made solution of baking soda, a bit of water and a medium bristle toothbrush.  Make a paste of the baking soda and water and apply with the toothbrush and work in small areas so the baking soda doesn’t dissolve and loose its abrasiveness.  Rinse away with water and rinse the area with water once you are done cleaning the grout. 

For more stubborn stains use diluted bleach before bringing in chemical striper for the most difficult projects.  Once the grout is clean and thoroughly dried apply a grout sealer, epoxy or acrylic, which is going to help the grout to not absorb any dirt and stains.  Do it once, do it right and your grout will look as nice as your tile for the long haul.

WEEKEND #4: Squeaks and Creeks
Has old man winter got your joints aching?  Well no doubt it has got your houses joints aching and creaking as well.  If you notice any door that are not opening as smoothly or sliding the way they used to, that is an easy fix.  Grab some WD-40 and attack the working parts of those creaky doors.  Lubricate the hinges and the sliding tracks to help smooth out the sticky situation. 

You can also lubricate the hinges on medicine cabinets, kitchen cabinets, every so often place the WD-40 on your key and slide it into the lock to keep those parts working.  Once you start you will find your self working on just about anything that opens.  That’s okay, home improvement addictions are perfectly allowed.

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