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Glass

2011-04-01 13:55:00

Springtime repairs at the home front!

Question: You wrote about some “get outside now before it gets hot” springtime home window and other repair recommendations sometime back…but I lost the paper…can you repeat some of that for me and others who need to do some of that stuff now that Spring is finally here?

Answer: Here in Kansas, this time of year is about my favorite time, cause I can get out there, with the sunshine and spring breezes blowing the frost on out of my way, and I can start touring around outside my home and other buildings to see what the harsh presence of winter has done to me. I really enjoy that first chance to get out and do something, after being “holed up” for several months. And the surprises I find are usually in one of several forms. The first thing I like to do is start making a list of projects I need to take care of that have been necessitated by all that cold weather and freezing rain and snow. Besides, I feel more important when my wife sees me walking around outside with a clipboard. ;~) You might want to do something similar. Even though we specialize in window glass repairs and replacements in all residential, automobile, trucks and motor homes, as well as all commercial applications, we also like to help our readers with some other tips that will benefit them during special times of the year. Like the end of winter!! Here’s a reasonably good outline for your springtime checklist: 1. Windows first! Warm weather is coming, and so are the bugs. Take a look at each window screen for damage, and repair or re-screen those as necessary. Shop vacuums work really well for cleaning out window tracks to keep those windows moving freely. While you’re at it, go ahead and clean the exterior glass and frames. You might need a razor blade scraper and some vinegar water mixture for that to get the best result. You can make an inexpensive home made mixture for cleaning glass as follows: Using just vinegar and water, you’ll add a half-cup of vinegar to one gallon of water. Or, for smaller jobs, add two tablespoons of vinegar to one quart of water. This makes a very good mixture for this purpose. For an Ammonia based cleaner, add a half cup of sudsy ammonia to a gallon of water, or for smaller jobs, add two tablespoons of sudsy ammonia to a quart of water. On tougher window stains, you can mix a half cup of sudsy ammonia, two cups of rubbing alcohol, and a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent to a gallon of water. Mix that well, apply it to your glass with a spray bottle, and wipe it till it’s clean. This solution is good for use in the colder parts of the year, because it is less likely to freeze. Another good formula is to combine ammonia, vinegar and cornstarch to make a good window cleaning solution. Do this by adding a half-cup of ammonia, a half-cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of cornstarch to a gallon of water. This cleaning process is also a good time to check out the frames and sills on your windows for dryrot or wet rot. If you find that going on, you’ll want to correct that as soon as possible, as that problem only gets worse with time. Repairs are normally cheaper than a replacement of all those windows. A great glass shop can advise you on the most affordable way to stop the damage and end the drain on your money, comfort and the high cost of the energy lost through weak windows and frames. Single pane windows are one of your biggest sources of lost energy, costing you money each and every day! Get more glass now! 2. Decks! Your wood decks take a beating during our cold, below freezing Kansas winters. Yes, even that treated lumber is susceptible to this kind of deterioration due to the weather conditions. Take the time to make a slow and thorough examination of your deck boards, railings, posts, stairs, and other structural members and look for loose fasteners, cracks, dry rot, or other damage. Remove loose nails and replace them with weather-resistant deck screws that are made for that purpose. Just hammering loose nails back in won’t do you any good. They’ll just pop back out again. Now is also the time to completely clean the deck. Rent a power washer if necessary, and then re-apply deck coatings. Those hours you’ll spend on your clean, well repaired, shady deck will be a great reward for the work you’ll do now in all these areas. If you have brick, concrete, or stone patios or walkways, it’s good to go ahead and get them cleaned up from the winter debris. You can use a hose or that pressure washer you rented to accomplish this. Broken out grout or caulk should be redone right now to prevent more damage of the same kind. After re-caulking, seal with a good product. Later you’ll look back and believe that was money and time well spent. 3. Fireplaces & Wood Stoves! You’ve enjoyed your wood stove or wood burning fireplace all winter, and now is a good time to empty the built up ashes. Use an airtight metal container that is approved for this use, until you know the ashes are completely cooled. Even if its been a while since your last fire, the ashes can be a fire danger for a surprising long time. Now is also the time to check the condition of the fireplace, and make any necessary repairs. Clean doors and screens, clean fireplace tools, and check and repair door seals and hardware. 4. Miscellaneous checks! Spring is a great time to check all of your exhaust fans, cooling fans and air conditioners. Check dampers for smooth operation. Remove interior fan covers, and wash in mild soapy water. Clean dust and debris from inside the fan unit using a shop vacuum – do not operate the fan with the cover removed. Check the roof or wall caps where the fan ducts terminate to make sure they are undamaged and well-sealed. Check the dryer vent hose and cap for damage or loose connections, and clean out lint buildup. Check outdoor central air conditioning units for damage or debris buildup. Clean and check window or wall air conditioners, especially the filters. If you utilize a portable or central humidifier during the winter to improve indoor moisture levels, now is a good time to clean it out. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, disinfecting and de-scaling. Clean or replace filters as necessary. Now is also the time to replace furnace filters that have become choked with dust. This is especially important if you have central air conditioning or if you utilize your heating system’s fan to circulate air during the summer. As soon as you’re comfortable that the danger of winter freezing is over, remove foundation vent blocks or open vent covers to allow air circulation in the crawlspace. While removing vent covers, check the grade level around the foundation vents – winter weather can move soil and create buildups or grade problems that will allow ground water to drain through the vents into the crawlspace, so re-grade as necessary. Remove outdoor faucet covers. Turn on the water supply to outdoor faucets if it’s been shut off. Last but far from least, now is the time for your semi-annual checking of all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace the batteries, writing the date you changed them out on the batteries themselves with a sharpie, because if you’re like me, you can’t remember when you changed them out last, and you want to make sure they are ready if you have a problem…test the unit’s operation…your life really could depend on it. Hopefully, this list of projects will help you get organized on your outside work, and if it gets to the point that it’s interfering with your golf time, just call in an expert to assist you with the work. Remember, a great glass shop can help you with lots more than just your residential window glass! Automotive glass, motor home windows, Commercial glass windows and doors for businesses, mirrors, shower doors, French doors, in town or out in the country! Some info was researched on the worldwide web…more next month…