A Spring Cleaning List to Tackle Your Home

Even though today isn’t much of an indication, it seems like the warmer weather should finally be arriving, which means that it’s time to dedicate a weekend on your calendar to a spring house cleaning.

Spring cleaning is a dreaded task for many people, but I think it’s a great opportunity to go through your home and look for any small problems or maintenance issues that can cause you headaches in the future. I also use it as a time to sort through closets and storage to donate clothes, sports equipment, and tools that I haven’t used in awhile. But when it comes to cleaning, there are a few places around the house that might get missed in your more regularly scheduled tidying up. Here’s a list to help you tackle this tough project:

Windows: You might give the insides a friendly wipe down all through the year, but cleaning the outside of your windows is a smart job to tackle now, especially if you live near the road or a high traffic area. Getting to second-floor windows might take some work on a ladder, so use caution and take your time.

Cabinets: From afar they probably look clean, but they are most likely splattered with cooking oil, tomato sauce, and all those yummy soups and stews you’ve been whipping up all winter. Use a cabinet cream to remove all the built-up gunk while conditioning the wood at the same time. I like the Parker & Bailey version.

Appliances: Just like the cabinets, your appliances can get streaked and spotted with cooking remnants, so give them a good wipe down to keep them looking like new. If you have stainless steel, make sure you look for a proper polish like this one from Weiman, or if you want to DIY it with a non-toxic solution, you can use a mixture of vinegar and oil.

Countertops: Have you notice stains on your granite? This is a surefire sign that they aren’t sealed properly. When you have them installed, make sure they are treated with a sealant a few times, and then make it a once a year project. If water or liquid forms a bead on the surface of the counter, you’re good to go.

Dishwasher: You might think this appliance is the cleanest place in your kitchen but smelly food particles can get stuck to its interior, which can then end up back on your dishes. Remove any large pieces of debris from the bottom of the dishwasher and then run it on the specialty cycle using a special dishwasher cleaning liquid.

Wood Floors: If you’re vacuuming and mopping your floors every week, this cleaning routine might be doing them more harm than good. Wood needs to be conditioned in order to help it retain its normal levels of moisture. Nix the wet washing and try applying a wax sealant every few months to keep them looking shiny and new. There are different types of waxes depending on the type of wood you’re dealing with, so pop into a home improvement store and ask a professional for some advice before tackling the job.

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.

A Case of the Late-Winter Blues

This month’s crazy weather has many people practically begging for spring to come, and nearly every day I get calls from customers telling me they are sick of freezing in their own homes. Believe it or not, the people who have suffered through the cold this winter nearly all have one thing in common: they live in 60+-year-old Cape Cod homes.

Back in the 50’s and 60’s the residential boom in Bristol meant that Capes were built en masse. At that time, building codes were much more relaxed and energy efficiency was unheard of, so homes were built with very little insulation or ventilation. As time has gone on and the winters get colder, people who live in Capes (and many other styles of homes built during that time) can literally feel the outside weather is coming in. Because there isn’t enough insulation to protect these homes against the intrusion of freezing air, it’s getting trapped in the attic with nowhere to go but down into the second floor of the home. What’s worse is that the moisture in the air is also getting stuck, exposing residents to a potentially dangerous and very messy mold problem.

So what should you do if you’ve been frozen out this winter? First, take advantage of a free insulation inspection from a local area contractor to see if your attic is up to scratch. If you haven’t had the house insulated since it was built, I can guarantee that whatever you have is not enough. If you’ve recently bought a 1950’s or 1960’s home, now is the time to pay close attention.

Today, we measure insulation by its “R-Value” and the higher the R-Value, the better the insulating properties. In the 1960’s, R-Value wasn’t a popular unit of measurement and instead, most insulation was measured by its thickness in inches. To give you an example, if a typical 1960’s home was insulated at all, it was probably fitted with an R-10 value, which equates to a little over three inches of thickness. The recommended R-Value for Connecticut’s climate according to EnergyStar today is between R-49 and R-60 for an uninsulated attic and between R-38 and R-49 for a home with a few inches of pre-existing insulation. So as you can see, times they are a changin’. 

If your house is the victim of extreme temperature changes, the easiest and best way to regulate it is to build that barrier of protection. A professional can tell you how much insulation you need and can also perform an assessment to see if any mold has formed in the attic and walls. It’s key to remember that adding insulation will change the way your home breathes, so make sure it is fitted with proper ventilation to allow for appropriate airflow. If you just experienced a cold winter at home with energy bills to beat the band, this springtime project is one you can't afford to ignore. 

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.

The Pros and Cons of Creating an Outdoor Space

With all this snow, giving your outdoor space a spruce-up is probably the last thing on your mind. But believe it or not, the warmer weather is on its way, and taking advantage of it should be high on your priority list.

If you’re thinking about making your backyard a summer oasis, there are some things to consider. Is it better to install a patio or lay a deck? Which will look best, last the longest, and be the most cost effective? Let’s go through the pros and cons of a deck versus a patio to give you some ideas.

Decks are generally laid above the ground, so if your property slopes or if you have a lot of tree roots or stone jutting out of the yard, a deck will probably be the easiest choice. Most decks are made from wood, but there are also vinyl and composite materials available which mimic the look of wood but offer the benefit of less maintenance and a longer life span. Decks look great and offer a significant resale value, but there are a few cons too. Wood decks require regular cleaning and staining to keep them looking new, and they will fade and can rot without upkeep. Some people say that a deck will only last 10 years, but with regular upkeep, they will easily double that lifespan. In terms of cost, a deck made of pine will cost somewhere between $15 to $25 per square foot while a sturdier wood such as cedar will come with a price tag of $25 to $30 per square foot. If you’re looking for a composite or vinyl option, this will be the most expensive at roughly $30 to $45 per square foot. As a rough guide, an average 16x20 foot deck could cost you anywhere between $4,800 to $14,400 depending on the type of material you use.

This brings us to patios. If you have a flat yard, a patio might be a great choice because they are easy to install, require minimal maintenance, and are generally the less expensive option. There are also tons of aesthetic choices, from plain and stamped concrete to brick, pavers, stone, and more. With so many options, you can definitely make a patio stand out, but just like wood, the material that you use will directly affect the price. There are a few cons to think about too. Cheaper options such as plain concrete will be prone to cracking and any material that is joined together will likely require regular weeding or the application of weed repellent. While patios tend to require less maintenance than a deck, a bi-annual application of sealant will help to maintain its durability. Looking at patios from a cost perspective, regular concrete might run you around $5 per square foot, while stamped concrete might cost between $8 and $12 per square foot. Brick is an affordable option at around $7 to $8 per square foot while pavers jump up to roughly $10 to $20 per square foot. The most expensive option will be natural stone, which can be anywhere from $15 to north of $30 per square foot. For a 16x20 foot patio, you’d be looking at anywhere from $1,600 to $9,000 depending on what material you choose to lay.

Remember, these prices are just an estimate and costs will always depend on your choice of product, the size of the space, and the uniqueness of your yard.

Have you recently built a deck or laid a patio? Are you thinking about giving your backyard a new look for summer? I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message on Facebook at facebook.com/odonnellbros

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.