How Long Does It Last?
By homejack | July 6, 2008
The National Association of Home Builders and Bank of America Home Equity has issued a February 2007 report “Study Of Life Expectancy Of Home Components”. The report is based on information gathered and analyzed by the National Association of Home Builders in 2006.
While the report is to be used as a general guideline, it confirms that nothing lasts forever. The report also reminds us that a house of any age performs better, looks much nicer and certainly will last longer with proper maintenance of all its parts.
And remember, proper maintenance also increases the value of your home.
Materials Example Life expectancies.
Masonry Chimneys, fireplaces . . lifetime
Brick walls . . . . . . . . . More than 100 years
Stucco …………….. 50to100years
Foundations . . . . . . . . Lifetime-with proper
construction
Roofing (slate, clay) . . . 50+ years
Wood Decks ……………… 20years
Siding . . . . . . . . . . . . lifetime
Roofing (cedar shakes) 30 years
Shutters . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years
Windows . . . . . . . . . . 30 years
Metal Gutters . . . . . . . . . . . 20 years if aluminum;
50 + if copper
Aluminum windows . . . 15 to 20 years
Exterior doors Fiberglass, steel, wood. Life of house
Asphalt Roofing shingles. . . . . . 20 + years
Driveway 15 to 20 years
Plastics Vinyl Siding Lifetime
HVAC Furnaces 15 to 20 years
AC Units 10 to 15 years
Misc. Insulation lifetime if kept dry
Paint up to 15 years
Window Glazing 10 + years
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Secure The Hatches - Help Prevent Break-Ins
By homejack | June 29, 2008
Yep, it’s true. Most break-ins occur at the most obvious places. Statistics from the Burglary Prevention Council show the following information. The number one choice for a burglar is the front door, closely followed by a ground floor window, or a side entrance.
The good news is you don’t have to install an alarm system. With a few preparations and a small investment, you can secure your home and help prevent a break-in. Remember, nothing can make the home totally secure.
Front Entrance: 34% of break-ins happen here. All exterior doors should be solid wood (or quality metal) without glass inserts or side glass panels. A peephole can be placed in the door, even one lower if needed for children. Install solid, pick-resistant locks in the doors.
Place a timer on the outdoor entrance light to illuminate the house at night.
Windows on First Floor: 23% of break-ins happen here. The windows should have a quality sash lock. Wireless alarms for windows are also available. If the window is opened, an alarm is sounded.
Side Entrance: 22% of break-ins happen here. Remember the suggestions for exterior doors above. If a glass sliding door exists, several inexpensive and some homemade remedies are available. Place a rod in the bottom track to prevent the door from sliding and a gadget (hardware or home store) at the top to keep the door from being lifted off the track.
Garage: 9% of break-ins happen here. An electronic door opener is not a security device and is easily decoded. A simple and inexpensive side lock on the inside track will do the job here. Yes, it can be inconvenient for you. Don’t forget that side entrance door if you have one.
Basement: 4% of break-ins happen here. Any doors or windows should be treated as above. Place motion-activated detectors on lights to announce a presence.
Second Floor: 2% of break-ins happen here. Check any windows or doors and make them secure.
Around the House: Keep all shrubbery trimmed and small enough to prevent someone from hiding there. And remember, to increase value and help prevent a break-in, any precaution made will not work if you don’t use it.
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Increase Or Decrease In Value! What’s Up?
By homejack | June 22, 2008
In the housing market, some home improvements actually pay off by increasing your home’s value. You may be surprised to learn that other projects will do little to improve the value, and some may actually decrease the value. If not that, at least make it more difficult to sale.
In general, updating your kitchen and bathrooms are always smart investments and offer the best home improvement value. Adding a pool is on the other end. You rarely, if ever, recoup the expense for a pool and in most cases a pool will hinder the sale.
The kitchen is where much of the family interaction occurs. For this reason, the average return-on-investment for kitchen improvements range from 80 to 93 percent with an average cost of $15,000 and up. Suggested projects are adding new tile flooring, re-facing existing cabinets, and updating appliances with new energy efficient models.
Bathroom renovations yield a return of between 85 percent to 90 percent especially if you only have one bathroom. Adding a new bathroom can give very positive results and enhance a sale. Just be careful not to overdo the project. Some good improvements to consider include installing double sinks, tile floors, new bath fixtures and faucets.
Larger improvements that increase value include adding a fireplace, building a deck or patio, or adding a new heating or cooling system.
Simple cosmetic improvements can also go a long way to alter the minds of prospective buyers. Change the cabinet hardware, the door hardware, the electrical plugs and switches or the kitchen sink. Take down the curtains and put up blinds to let more light in. Install a ceiling fan.
Some improvements rarely pay off but are fine if you and your family will enjoy them, such as adding a swimming pool. Just keep in mind that they rarely increase the value of your home and may even make your home more difficult to sell.
Avoid making expensive improvements that go beyond what is typically found in your neighborhood. You don’t want own the most expensive home on your block when it’s time to sell your home.
The last piece of advice is to avoid getting too fancy. Everyone’s tastes are different, so choose colors and materials that appeal to the majority. This will make a quicker and easier sell.
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Soap To The Rescue
By homejack | June 13, 2008
Well, since it’s not quite time for the Saturday bath, here are a few other ways to use that bar of soap. Use it for maintenance on windows, and cabinets as well as help with screws and nails.
If you are putting nails or screws in wood, particularly hardwood such as furniture, cabinets, or molding, try this. A coating of soap will make the screw or nail penetrate the wood with ease.
Lie the nail or screw flat on the soap and twist to place a coating on it. This is helpful even if the hole is pre-drilled.
Another use is on the metal insulation guide of wooden windows. Rubbing a piece of soap on the guide will make the window sash much easier to raise and lower.
Another job is the wooden guides of cabinets, dressers and chests. If the guides are metal with rollers, don’t use the soap.
One thing. Don’t get carried away with these tasks. Just be sure to save a little of the soap bar for Saturday night. If you are short on soap, use a wax candle.