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We haven't done any formal research on this, but we'd be willing to bet that spring is the busiest season of all for homeowners. Clean-up, planting, mulching, mowing, etc.... The list seems unending! To help you get a head start, we've got two articles packed with information for getting it all done. And remember, you're not alone! HRC is here to give you a hand. "We do the little things that never seem to get done."
| | It's Time for Some Spring Clean-Up!! | | |
Let’s talk about getting some spring cleaning done. Now, there's the standard "Spring Cleaning" that may take place inside your home, but that’s not what we’re talking about today. Today, in this article, we’re going to talk about doing some spring cleaning OUTSIDE your home. Take a look!
Look Over Wood Surfaces
- Check your wood deck, fences, railings, etc. for rotted areas, wobbly posts and rails, etc. Make repairs, as needed.
- Look for signs of termite infiltration.
- Stain and/or reseal wood fences, decks, railings, and other wood structures every year or two. Inspect fences for any damage from snow blowers, high winds, etc.
Inspect Masonry, Walkways, Paths, & Driveways
- Be sure to look for any damaged, cracked concrete areas where railings, lamp posts, etc. have been secured.
- Evaluate any pathways, driveways, and sidewalks for cracks or broken areas that could become a tripping hazard, and make repairs if necessary. The freezing and thawing from winter can be tough on concrete, asphalt, and the like!
Have Your Central Air Conditioner Serviced
NOW is a great time to make an appointment. The closer you get to summer, the harder it is to get a timely appointment. There are some things, like changing the filters at least once every season, and removing any debris from around the exterior unit, that you may be able to accomplish yourself. However, making an appointment for a professional to come in for the annual servicing is your best bet.
Inspect All Windows & Doors
- Clean out weep holes (the little holes on the bottom of the exterior window frame, made to drain rainwater away from the home). Clogs from debris can be sprayed away with a garden hose, or forced out with the use of a wire hanger or compressed air.
- Keep those insects out of your home! Inspect screens for holes or tears, and repair.
- As needed, repair any cracked glass, paint, and add fresh weather stripping.
Tend To Your Gutters & Downspouts
- Prevent any damage to your home by keeping your gutters and downspouts clean and running freely.
- Address any disconnected areas, damage, holes, etc. by having them repaired.
Check Irrigation Systems, Outdoor Plumbing, & Sprinklers
- Repair/replace any broken, damaged, or malfunctioning sprinkler/irrigation heads.
- Adjust any heads to spray away from the house and off of street/sidewalk areas.
- Inspect hose spigots and hoses for any damage and/or leaks.
Inspect Your Property
- We’ve dealt with a lot of high winds this winter! Look for any downed, damaged, or dying trees that need maintenance or removal.
- Clean up yard debris (fallen branches, leaf piles, refuse, etc).
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homesweethomemaker.com has a great spring yard clean-up checklist! Be sure to check out their website for more information.
Home Looking Dingy? Power-Wash It!
HRC uses a more effective, less damaging "soft-wash" process to clean not only your home, but other areas as well, including decks, walkways, patios, and more. Read our article, below, for all the benefits of having your home power-washed!
Take Care of Your Mailbox
If your mailbox has been the victim of a snow plow or bad weather, or has simply seen better days, consider replacing your old mailbox with a new one! We install a wide variety of beautiful mailboxes. Give HRC a call to find out more!
Do you know what the best thing is about getting these outdoor spring cleaning tasks done? We can help! Whether you are unable to tackle any or all of these maintenance tasks yourself, or you simply don't want to do them yourself, HRC can help you get some or all of it done. Feel free to give us a call!
| | 7 GREAT Reasons to Have Your Home Power-Washed! | | |
When most people think about power-washing their home, they probably think that it's done solely for aesthetic reasons. While ridding the exterior of your home from that greenish-black muck DOES make a big improvement as far as how your home looks, what is really surprising is all the other reasons there are for having it done!
Let’s Start With the Obvious: Curb Appeal
- As we said above, power-washing can make a big difference in how your home looks, removing years of baked-on dirt and stains, refreshing the appearance of your home, and helping it look almost brand new. What you may not know, however, is that it’s more than just your home’s structure that power-washing can make such a difference with. Brick and/or concrete pathways and patios, decks, patio furniture and more, can also benefit from a good power-washing. These, too, can look brand new again, which also helps to boost your curb appeal.
- If you are a brick-and-mortar business owner, power-washing is doubly important. Unfortunately, many people will judge your business by the appearance of your building, so increasing the curb appeal of your business can actually help to increase your business!
Damage Prevention
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Dirt, moss, mold, algae, and other built-up grime on your building and other outdoor surfaces and items can cause corrosion, damage paint/concrete sealants and other surface coatings, and cause damage to the materials underneath such as vinyl siding and deck surfaces. It can also accumulate for YEARS in small surface crevices and create an environment for bacteria to breed. Pressure-washing lifts this dirt, moss, mildew, etc., even getting into the tiniest of crevices, stopping the damage from starting or progressing.
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Dirt and grime can sometimes hide issues with the siding of your house that need to be repaired. Power-washing can shine a light on once hidden issues that need to be tended to.
Saving Money
By keeping the outside of your house or business clean and free of damage, you are helping to prolong the siding, brick, stucco, or whatever surface the outside of your home is made of. Replacement of siding can be an expensive home improvement, one that can be avoided with regular power washing.
Saving Time & Energy
If you’ve ever tried to clean your buildings, deck/patio, etc. manually, you know how time consuming and exhausting that can be. The amount of time and effort you save with pressure-washing instead, is HUGE, especially when you hire a pro to do the job.
Help With Allergy Relief
Power-washing creates an environment that is less hospitable to vermin, and it also removes built-up pollen, mold and mildew, from exterior surfaces, which can be a big plus for you or anyone you know who suffers from pollen and/or mold allergies.
Increased Home Value
A thick coat of dirt and grime on your home’s exterior can leave prospective buyers (or renters) with the assumption that the home they are looking at is in poor shape, neglected, and not worth the price being asked for it. Instead, have your home power-washed BEFORE putting it on the market, leaving your home and other exterior surfaces looking cleaner, newer, and worthy of the price tag. Simply said, a good-looking house is much easier to rent or sell.
Surface Priming
- Thinking about renovating outside? Get it power-washed first! You can't paint on a dirty surface. Pressure-washing cleans the surface and is also capable of removing loose or peeling paint, creating a smooth and primed surface.
- Re-staining your deck or refinishing your pool? Get it power-washed first! Any coating you apply on these surfaces is more likely to fall off if you don't properly clean the surface first, removing old paint, mildew, dust, chalk, etc.
Are you surprised at how many benefits, beyond aesthetic, that power-washing can offer you? So many! Why not take a moment to evaluate your home exterior's need for a good cleaning? Be mindful, though, that inexperience and the wrong equipment and cleaning products can damage siding and other delicate surfaces, so hiring a pro to do the job is a great idea. That's where we come in. It will soon be power-washing season here at HRC, and we specialize in using a "soft-wash" process that protects surfaces from damage that can happen with other, traditional power-washing services. Give us a call now to be put on our list for power-washing this spring!
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Looking to upgrade your deck? Look no further! These photos are pure "Project Inspo"!
Recently, Scott did a MAJOR transformation of this old, pressure-treated deck (top photo). The result is a beautiful composite deck with a contemporary metal cable rail system (bottom photo). The "before" and "after" of this project is stunning. What a difference! This is one of MANY projects Scott has done that our customers don't always realize he can and does do! Give HRC a call to talk about any projects you might be thinking about having done. We'd be happy to talk with you about it and get "the little things", and so much more, done for you!
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Home Repair and Care has a facebook page! We put reminders for upcoming events and other useful things here! CLICK HERE to follow us. You can even leave a review for HRC! We greatly appreciate hearing some kind words from our long list of terrific customers!
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You can also give your review of Home Repair and Care on Google (CLICK HERE!).
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We also have a nextdoor account! You can join our neighborhood, HERE. Feel free to "Fave" us and leave a review, also!
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4/5/25: Bucks County (PA) Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event, Newtown, 8:30am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/5/25: Bucks County (PA) Shredding Event, Doylestown, 9am-11am. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/5/25: Bucks County (PA) Shredding Event, Langhorne, 9am-11am. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/5/25: Somerset County (NJ) Electronic Waste Recycling Event, Hillsborough, 8am-2pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/12/25: Hunterdon County (NJ) Shredding Event, Flemington, 8am-11:30am. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/12/25: Mercer County (NJ) Paper Shredding Event, Trenton, 9am-12pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/12/25: Somerset County (NJ) Shredding Event, Hillsborough, 9am-1pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
4/26/25: Bucks County (PA) Shredding Event, Doylestown, 10am-12pm. For more information on this event, CLICK HERE!
Bucks County (PA) Electronics Disposal Information. The following is a list of locations for electronics disposal. NOTE: A fee will be charged at these sites. Contact individual locations for further details. For list of
locations, CLICK HERE!
| | March Monthly Maintenance List | | |
- Clean drains with baking soda. Pour water down unused drains.
- Check toilets for stability issues & leaks.
- Check interior doors to see that they close/latch properly. Lubricate hinges.
- Clean dust & dirt from windows. Lubricate rollers/latches.
- Clean/replace heating/cooling system filters.
- Remove & clean kitchen exhaust fan filter. Clean grease deposits from fan housing.
- Check interior grills of bathroom exhaust fans. Check outside vents for obstructions.
- Inspect exterior foundation, vents & ducts for cracks, leaks, blockages.
- Check landscaping for proper drainage. All landscaping should slope away from house.
- Inspect attic for evidence of any leaks, birds, squirrels, etc. Remove/add insulation, if necessary. Check for proper ventilation.
- Check attic fans for proper operation.
- Adjust or replace window & door screens & caulking, if necessary.
- Check roof for leaks & damaged/missing shingles. Check flashing around vents & louvers for bird, squirrel & insect nests.
- Check exterior walls for deteriorating bricks & mortar, damaged or missing siding, & flaking painted surfaces.
- Trim shrubbery so that it is no closer than 3 inches from house. Remove tree limbs, branches, & debris that may attract insects. Maintain grading.
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HRC is always thankful for having such wonderful customers to work with. Owning a home takes a lot of work but, if we work together, we can get it done! We're just a phone call away, so remember: "We do the little things that never seem to get done", and so much more!
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