Keep a Close Eye On Those Ceiling Cracks

I’ve been in the remodeling business for nearly 50 years and I’ve had my fair share of hair-raising discoveries inside of people’s homes. I’ll never forget one warm autumn afternoon when I got a call from a woman in Bristol who told me her roof was leaking. You wouldn’t think this seemed odd considering that I am a roof remodeler, but it hadn’t rained in a month. I mentioned this to the caller and she said, “Well I can’t be sure where the water is coming from, but my dining room ceiling just caved in.” 

I hung up the phone and immediately made my way over to her house. Sure enough, when I arrived, a pile of sheetrock and plaster had already been hauled onto the front lawn. Upon entering the house, I found that the ceiling had completely crumbled, leaving a soggy mess of remnants all over her dining room set. 

I first asked to see the bathroom on the second floor and I was told there wasn’t one. So I climbed into the attic and gasped when intense heat hit me in the face. I also noted two air conditioning units in the dining room - one in each window. I asked the homeowner about the air conditioners and how often they were used. It turned out that she had them on full power all summer long to try and regulate the temperature since the top floor of the house was so hot. 

It was easy for me to see why the homeowner’s ceiling fell in. A lack of insulation and ventilation in the attic was causing the house to heat up to an uncomfortable level during the summer months. The homeowner tried to combat this problem by cranking up her A/C. By doing so, she was creating major condensation in the walls and ceiling of the home. 

When hot and cold air collides it causes moisture which gets into plaster, sheetrock, and even wood. That moisture then generates mold spores that literally eat away at the ceiling and walls. Her 1950s Cape Cod home was like most in our area, constructed with such poor insulation and ventilation that they are susceptible to rot. A surefire sign of trouble for this homeowner was cracking in the ceiling. Instead of calling me when the problem first reared its head, her husband tried to mask the problem using those 12x12 ceiling panels that you often see in doctor’s offices. He meant well but the attempt at a cosmetic repair only added another layer of material for the moisture to seep into. 

The moral of the story is this. If your home has temperature issues, do not ignore the problem. By not addressing the humidity and moisture in your home, you could end up with major structural damage or worse. If that’s not enough to convince you, mold and mildew are leading causes of asthma and breathing problems, especially in young children and the elderly. Is saving money really worth putting your family’s health at risk?

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

On Trend at Home with the Color of the Year

If you’re like one of the millions of people forgoing a vacation this year, you might instead be looking for ways to make your home more comfortable, fresh, and even appealing to potential buyers. You’re not alone: according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau report, home centers, hardware stores, garden centers, and building materials suppliers have seen close to a 25 percent increase in sales from last year alone. Recent research from Consumer Specialists and the Home Projects Council found that 57 percent of homeowners put an emphasis on home improvement during the first three months of COVID-19. As the pandemic continues and the colder weather sets in, more and more of us will have time to focus on making those improvements that we keep putting off. 

One of the most popular upgrades that people usually enjoy doing themselves is painting which just also happens to be a fantastic project for fall. The weather is cool enough for the paint to dry quickly, but not so cold that leaving windows open for a day becomes unbearable. Indoor painting can be tedious but it’s also a job that will give your home a major facelift with a little time and effort. 

With that in mind, the question then becomes, “what color should I paint my room?” This is, of course, a very personal choice, but with the real estate market booming and many people looking at potentially listing their home in the near future, choosing something that’s trendy and modern is an option worth considering. 

Around this time of year, the major paint brands unveil their “Color of the Year”, a hue that's often chosen for its likeability, longevity, and how it captures and enhances interior design forecasting for the future. The first paint company out of the gate is Sherwin-Williams, which announced that Urbane Bronze is their Color of the Year for 2021. Equal parts trendy and timeless, the deep organic shade was chosen for both its connection to nature and the warmth it provides when incorporated into a home sanctuary.

According to Sherwin-Williams, “Now more than ever, our homes have become the backdrop to our lives, reminding us that the moments worth cherishing have always been right in front of us. As we're looking to create the ultimate retreat for reflection and renewal, we're turning to a hue whose natural simplicity and nature-inspired energy cultivate a sense of calm from the ground up.” Say that three times fast. 

If dark paint colors aren’t your style, Urbane Bronze can be used as an accent with warmer neutrals such as a popular Modern Gray or the company’s Messenger Bag, which offers a slightly more khaki feel. 

Wondering what your other options might be? Stay tuned: Benjamin Moore will be making their Color of the Year announcement on October 14th. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Chilly Nights Mean Chimney Prep

With colder nights starting to set in on our part of Connecticut, it won’t be long until home heating is top of mind. With so many homeowners kicking off autumn with a warming fire in the house, now is the perfect time to get your chimney and hearth prepped to roar. Here are my top tips.

First, don’t leave ash and residue hanging around for another season. Fireplaces and chimneys are involved in over 40 percent of all home-heating fires so a preventative annual clean-out should definitely be on your list. If you have a regular wood-burning fireplace, remove all the old ashes with a shovel and bucket and get rid of any residual materials with an industrial vacuum or heavy-duty hand broom and dustpan. 

It’s important to note that during winter you never want ashes to accumulate more than two inches in depth.  Also, remember that ashes are just disintegrated wood, so feel free to discard them into your compost pile.  Once the ashes are cleared, you can remove any soot and fire stains with a spray bottle of soapy water and a tough, wire scrub brush. If stains are really hard to remove a muriatic acid solution will do the job. It’s available at most hardware stores. 

Once your fireplace is squeaky clean, it’s time to inspect the flue. Look up the fireplace and search for any cracks or damage. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for creosote build-up, which can be highly flammable and result in chimney fires if not removed properly. If you see any blockage, cracks or deposits during a visual inspection, you’ll want to get the flue looked at by a professional. 

Now comes the hardest part – the chimney. Firstly, make sure that you are comfortable on a roof and using a ladder. If you aren’t, leave this part of the job to an expert. Look around your chimney and remove any leaves or debris that may have piled up over the winter. If your chimney is open and you don’t use it often, it can be a great nesting place for birds and small animals.  Don’t let this happen; invest in a wire screen cover to ensure nothing from the outside can get in. Also, take a look at the mortar between the bricks to make sure it is in good condition and nothing is cracking or crumbling. If mortar needs to be replaced, remove the damaged segments and re-pack them with weather-resistant ready-mixed mortar from the hardware store. 

Finally, you’ll want to inspect your flashing, which is where the chimney meets the roof. This should create a watertight seal, so make sure nothing looks loose or like it is coming undone, otherwise you could be at risk for a leak. If the seal is at all damaged or worn away, you’ll want to get it repaired immediately. 

I can’t reinforce enough that chimney maintenance is a must and something that shouldn’t be brushed off. If you don’t know what to look for or aren’t comfortable taking on the job, get a certified chimney sweep to give you a thorough inspection or call me for a recommendation. The peace of mind in knowing that your home is safe from a preventable fire is worth the price of a simple assessment. 

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.