THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503230484
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN MILES, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Medium: 95 lines
With the birds singing and the cats bringing home mouthfuls of feathers, you know it must be getting close to that time again - spring maintenance time.
Local tradesfolk who look forward to spring agree that to some folk the chores it brings can involve a strenuous and invigorating workout, both physically and mentally.
If you feel you're in that category, there's still time for hope. Preparing for the workout with a checklist of chores can help you face that impending-sense-of-overwhelming-work feeling.
Lee ``The Handyman'' Springer, a local home repair and maintenance specialist, suggests checking your home for possible water damage from the shifting in your vinyl siding. And speaking of water, check your rain gutters.
``They may have filled up and pulled away from the house,'' says Springer. The fascia boards behind the gutters should also be checked for rot. Before you can even think about painting, you need to check for rotten wood, which once replaced, should be primed before painting, says Springer.
Also, if you have caulking to do, it's something you surely want to accomplish before you paint.
If you see a burgundy truck with a ``Paul-of-all-Trades'' sign on it, then your neighbors may be a jump ahead of you on those spring cleaning chores. They may have hired Paul Roberson, who has been repairing and maintaining Virginia Beach homes full-time for almost four years.
His wife, Debbie Nikolaus, owner of Executive Cleaning & Maintenance Services Inc., has been in the home cleaning business for about 10 years. Together, they offer inside/outside house cleaning, repairing and maintenance.
Roberson's repair and maintenance services runs from assembling such nuisances as bikes and gas grills through cleaning windows. The A-to-Z of their services are listed in their pamphlet, which they will be happy to mail you.
Roberson gets many requests for pressure cleaning of exterior surfaces each spring. Through this process, mold and mildew, as well as accumulated dirt, is removed from houses, concrete driveways or porches, as well as wooden decks.
After the pressure cleaning, the decks should be re-sealed for protection. These areas should all be checked for mold and mildew if you are considering painting. Pressure cleaning should be done prior to painting.
Roberson suggests taking a walk around your house, to check its upkeep. How's the putty around your windows? Does it need to be re-glazed? How's the molding around your doors? Do you need new caulking around the windows or doors?
Is your vinyl siding in good repair? ``Vinyl is constantly moving,'' says Roberson ``and the heat and cold can cause it to be brittle, crack, or split.''
Are you window sills getting soft and need to be replaced? Have any of your shingles torn or blown off? Do your gutters need cleaning? Are your splash blocks under the down spouts and keeping the water away from the bottom of your house?
And, finally, how about those screens on your windows and doors? What kind of shape are they in? Will you need any storm doors replaced before next winter?
Once your list is complete, perhaps then you'd like to consider a lawn and garden check list. Conveniently, hardware stores carry merchandise to cover almost any house or lawn need.
Cathy Hamilton, manager of the Green Run Taylor's Do-It Center, says Spring is their busiest season. Fertilizer and grass seed are probably the most requested spring items, she says. Keeping that in mind, she'd like to remind people to please size of their yards before coming to the store for lawn products.
Other popular spring items, says Hamilton, include paint, sealant, window washing products, lawn bags, pool cleaning material and gardening items.
One item that people may not even think about is the condition of their mulch. If you have leftover mulch, says Hamilton, it's a good idea to check it for termite infestation.
Also, if you're into backyard gas grilling, check to make sure your ``propane tanks have safety plugs and are in good condition, not rusty,'' she says. Look at your outside spigots, to make sure they're functioning.
Something else to check is your well. ``A lot of people winterize their well or take in the pump during the winter,'' says Hamilton. Inspect the pipe and fittings, and remember to prime the pump to get it started.
Your house really needs upkeep and maintenance with the arrival of mild temperatures. Take that walk around the house, pen and paper in hand now.
Depending on the length and difficulty level of the discovered chores, you can then decide whether you need to hire some help or you'd like to tackle them yourself. Either way, just like at Christmas, making that list and checking it twice may bring a welcome peace of mind. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Paul Roberson pressure-hoses a house in the Middle Oaks area of
Virginia Beach. The process removes mildew and mold and should
always be done before painting.
by CNB