New Year's Resolution: To Take Better Care of My Modern Florida Home

If you’re a stickler for home maintenance, completely committed to making sure your modern home is healthier than you are, come back later to see what our next post will be. You don’t need this one. In fact, you may be unduly shocked by the notion that not everyone is as committed (read: anal) as you about home maintenance.

If, however, you’re like the rest of us who are guilty of letting certain tasks slide, sit down and get comfortable. We need to talk.

Unlike our friends in Northern states, those of us who live in warm, sunny, Southern Florida don’t spend a lot of time, energy, and money on “winterizing” our homes. We’re more concerned about damage from rain and summer humidity. And hurricanes. 

Until the temperature dips below 70. OK, 65. To a South Floridian, that’s chilly, right? That’s also when those tasks you’ve let slide will make themselves known in very uncomfortable ways.

So get out whatever device you use for note-taking and prepare to write your first...

I Love My Modern House Checklist

(1) Have a professional check out your heating system. (Yes, Northern neighbors, houses in Florida have heating systems.) A pro can assess the health of your system, repair flaws, and order and install parts if necessary. Don’t wait until the first 60-degree day to call because everyone else will be doing the same. Call an HVAC pro when the weather is sunny and warm.

(2) Take a long, hard look at your roof. If your modern house has a flat roof, there are several issues you need to be aware of. Click here to read about them. If any of those issues are present, call a flat-roof expert right away. If you have a tile roof, check for broken or cracked tiles. Again, if you find a problem, call a pro. And take pictures so you can text or email them to your roofing pro so he or she will know exactly what you’re talking about. Don’t delay, either. You don’t want to wait until a leak comes through that could damage a host of things in your house. Also, cleaning your roof at least once or twice a year, from debris such as leaves or from mold with a pressure cleaner, is good maintenance.

(3) Speaking of cleaning roofs, when was the last time you cleaned your gutters? Clogged gutters allow water to stay on your roof. Water that stays on your roof will eventually cause trouble. So get up there!

(4) Is your modern house well insulated? Are you sure? Attic insulation is imperative in Florida homes for so many reasons. We tend to think of it as a way to keep our Florida homes cool, but when chilly weather hits, it means everything when you want to keep your home warm. Please take a minute and check out this excellent article: “Why Insulation is a must-have in FL Homes.” And don’t forget: An under-insulated house uses far more energy than a well-insulated house. Not only is that bad for the planet, it’s also bad for your budget. You don’t want to be an energy hog, do you?

(5) Check your windows and glazing for gaps. You know how awful it is to feel hot air seeping through the gaps around your windows, glazing, or sliding glass doors. Chilly air will seep through those same gaps. So proper caulking is a no-brainer. (Go back to #4 and re-read “don’t forget…”)

(6) Finally, if you have a fireplace in your modern house and you haven’t had it cleaned in, well, ever, a beautiful sunny day is the perfect time to call a chimney expert and have it thoroughly cleaned. You’ll nip a fire hazard (creosote build-up) in the bud and be ready to build a beautiful, crackling fire on the first chilly night that creeps into warm, sunny Southern Florida. That is likely to be right around the time this post is published.

Of course, there are a host of other home maintenance issues to consider. But if you resolve to start with these, your modern house will love you for it.

Happy New Year!

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Remembering Mima, 1920–2006

Homeowners Advice: Get Ready for Fall

Mid-century modern home near Munich. Photo ©tckaiser

 

Just because some folks live in warmer climates like Florida, it doesn't mean there are no fall home maintenance chores. Having experienced winter temps in the mid-30s as far south as Fort Lauderdale, we sure won't need snow blowers, but we shouldn't just shrug the cooler season off either by limiting it to removing the occasional dead palm frond.

 
All homes require maintenance. And to retain your home's best value, it's important to stay on top of projects and repairs, both large and small. Seasonal maintenance is a great way to be sure new issues are quickly addressed.

Small repairs may seem insignificant, but letting them add up over time means an overwhelming list down the road.

Take a personal inventory of repairs that need to be addressed. These could range from paver stones that need replaced in a patio to a large-scale roof replacement. Walk your home from top to bottom and make a list of issues.

Look for paint that needs retouched, tiles that need grouted, loose or scuffed baseboards, broken screens, squeaky doors, and everything in-between.

Budget and prioritize what can be addressed now, what needs a professional to fix, and what needs to wait for available funds.

Fall is also the time of year to prepare your home for Winter. It is much easier to install storm windows during temperate weather than during a blizzard!

Be sure to address each of these issues each Fall:

• Call the HVAC guy: Your unit has been working hard all Summer during this brutal heatwave. Now is a great time to service your unit before the hard work of Winter.

• Check and clean chimney: Dirty chimneys cause hundreds of home fires every year. Be sure to have a professional clean and inspect your chimney each Fall.

• Clean the gutters: It's not just about appearances, though clean gutters do look better. A clogged gutter system can back-up water on your roof and cause leaks.

• Yard maintenance: Be sure to rake leaves and pick up downed limbs during Fall. Empty and put away flower pots. Address flower beds and put down new mulch for a clean appearance.

• Prepare Winter Equipment: Put away your lawn mower (yay!) and service your chainsaw, snowblower, and other fun winter tools. It's better to know now that a tool isn't working than to discover this on a day you need it!

Fall is a great time to address the needs of your property... all in beautiful weather. Take an inventory of your home's needs and be sure to follow through with proper home maintenance. Your home's value will thank you.

How do you prepare your home for fall and winter?

by Realty Times