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Power Washing 101
How would you feel if you had to stand outside 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – regardless of weather, and with very little protective barriers? Very likely, you’d feel like you want to head indoors, which is possibly how your siding would feel if, you know, it could talk.
Your home’s exterior has to stand up to the elements and those elements can take a real toll: dirt and other grime build up over time. One way to combat the aging effect weather can have is to power wash.
Here are the basics of what you need to know.
What is it?
Very simply, power washing is like blasting your car with a really good cleaning after a long winter of salt build up. It’s an efficient way to clean the siding with a powerful stream of water and cleanser.Why should I?
Depending on where you live, you may need to power wash your home more or less often. In the Northeast, wind and weather blow up pollen, dirt and leaves. Like other regions, we’re also susceptible to insect nests and spider webs.Sure, but when?
No one wants to do too much outdoors during New England
winters other than ski. Fall is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but
probably not to power wash, given the falling leaves. Here, the best time to
give the siding a good cleaning is during summer when the weather is sunny but
the pollen has passed. It’s a great way to prepare your home for the coming
seasons.
What if a cleaning isn’t enough?
It may be time to replace the siding if there’s damage
beyond unsightly grime. Damage good include dents, cracks, rotting or warping
in several areas. While a replacement might not be top on your home improvement
wish list, there are several advantages. It will help retain your home’s value,
curb appeal and refresh the color. Additionally, the new siding may be lower
maintenance than the prior.
Rainy Day Ideas
Just because you're stuck inside doesn't mean you can't do some home improvements. Here are a few ideas...
Rearrange
Try switching around a sectional sofa or side
table or swapping some artwork and framed photos onto different walls. If you have any built-ins, add some more books
with covers that coordinate with frames or other ornamental objects. Remember that not everything has to match or be completely symmetrical. Keep it balanced, but make it interesting. Minor changes
can make a big difference in reviving a space. And if you don’t like it? It’s
not permanent.
Paint
A new color goes miles in changing the feel of a
room. If you don’t have an entire room in you, paint one wall to create an
accent or stencil the area surrounding a focal piece of art. Crack the windows
and bring in a space fan to ensure proper ventilation.
Refinish
Apply a new finish to an old or outdated piece of
furniture to bring a more modern feel to a room. If you’re feeling more shabby
chic, there are several easy ways to distress a table or bureau. The most
straightforward way is to paint the piece a base color – this is the color that
will show through. The next layer of paint will be the top coat – this color is
the main one and should be the one you wish to appear most dominantly. After
allowing ample drying time, gently rub sandpaper over the areas that would
normally get the most wear. The base coast will begin to show through.Insulating Your Home ... During Summer?
We've all heard about insulating your home in the fall to help with heating costs in the winter. But did you know that insulation can also help keep you cool in the summer? Think about it -- how many of us have visited the attic in the summer only to emerge from a sauna? If your home isn't properly insulated, rather than that heat staying trapped in the attic, it seeps out and makes your entire home warmer. Insulation aids in blocking that flow of heat. While heat escapes in the winter, it flows in during the summer.
Clues Your Home Needs Insulation
- The age of your home: If it was built in the 1960s or earlier (pretty common in the Northeast), you could likely benefit from added insulation.
- Inconsistency in temperature: For example, your home may have colder spots in the winter and hot spots -- like the upstairs -- in the summer.
- Snow melting from your roof in the winter a little faster than your neighbors' or frequent ice dams or icicles.
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