Blog Post

BLOG POSTS

Preventative Maintenance Checklist

Scott Sidler • May 20, 2013

Maintaining an old house can seem like a full time job at times. Old homes were built with materials and in a manner that requires regular maintenance. While this maintenance requires time, it is ultimately a more affordable option than [...] Read More The post Preventative Maintenance Checklist appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.

Maintaining an old house can seem like a full time job at times. Old homes were built with materials and in a manner that requires regular maintenance. While this maintenance requires time, it is ultimately a more affordable option than today’s home design of replacement rather than repair.

Regular Inspections

Regularly inspecting your old house is a must. You’ll find little issues to fix before they become big issues that require big time and money. Follow these inspection schedules and you’ll steer clear of most catastrophes that sneak up on other homeowners.

If you have an old house, the best way to keep your repair costs down is by practicing preventative maintenance measures throughout the year. And how do you know when you need to do that maintenance? That’s what we’ll talk about here.

 

6-Month Inspections

  • Clean gutters and downspouts of leaves and debris
  • Inspect roofing materials (shingles, flashing, gutters, fascia) for any damage
  • Add 1/2 cup white vinegar to HVAC condensate line to prevent mildew buildup
  • Clean refrigerator coils
  • Change air filters every 3-6 months

 

1-Year Inspections

  • Touch up any chipped/missing exterior paint
  • Check for any areas of standing water on or around house
  • Inspect historic windows for any loose or missing glazing putty and any signs of rot
  • Check chimney cap for any damage or cracks
  • Keep all branches away from house and roof to prevent rot or wind damage
  • Inspect for any gaps in siding

 

This list is pretty simple and straight forward, but it has the power to save you buckets of money and hassle. Set aside one Sunday every six months and take inventory of your biggest investment. If you find any of these issues, resolve them quickly and you’ll prevent them from becoming subject to the mushroom effect.

You can also see the presentation I did for Tampa Preservation regarding Preventative Maintenance right here.

 

Chace is a one-stop shop for home improvement projects

By Chace Building Supply Co • 02 Jan, 2022
MICHELLE WARREN - CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

Business News

By Chace Building Supply Co • 04 May, 2021
Featured in the Business News section of the local paper, Chace Building Supply

Door Hinging & Rough Opening Information

By Chace Building Supply • 29 May, 2018
When ordering or selling doors, it is important that you help your customer purchase the proper hinging. The hinging on interior and exterior doors is determined as you pull the door toward you, whatever side the knob is on. For example, when the door opens to you and the knob is on the left, it is a LEFT HAND DOOR. When the knob is on the right, it is a RIGHT HAND DOOR.

Our newly rebuilt website

By CAM Marketing Group • 28 May, 2018
We've taken the steps to revise and optimize our new site to meet the needs of today. Offering multi-screen friendly design and quality you'd expect from Chace Building Supply. Thank you both to our former and new website development partners in putting this together, CAM Marketing Group out of Bristol, CT.

Bring Back the Front Porch

By Scott Sidler • 09 May, 2016
I think it’s time we brought back the front porch. For too long, our garages have been growing, while our porches have been shrinking. We insulate ourselves and our homes to keep the outside world out and the inside world [...] Read More The post Bring Back the Front Porch appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.

No Joanna, That’s Not Shiplap

By Scott Sidler • 25 Apr, 2016
My wife and I, like most all old home owners, are fans of a lot of the restoration themed DIY shows these days. Rehab Addict, Barnyard Builders, American Pickers and, of course, Fixer Upper. Their designs and passion to keep [...] Read More The post No Joanna, That’s Not Shiplap appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.

How To: Make a Small House Feel Large

By Scott Sidler • 20 Jan, 2014
Old houses are often much smaller than their counterparts today. The size of the average American home has grown enormously over the 20th century. From an average size of around 1,100 sq. ft. at the beginning of the century to [...] Read More The post How To: Make a Small House Feel Large appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.

Getting Square with the 3:4:5 Triangle

By Scott Sidler • 06 May, 2013
This post may be a bit on the math nerd side, but sometimes in construction, a math nerd is the one who makes the difference between a building falling down, and one that lasts a hundred years. Old houses are [...] Read More The post Getting Square with the 3:4:5 Triangle appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.

How To: Care For Hardwood Floors

By Scott Sidler • 04 Mar, 2013
We do a lot of hardwood floor refinishing at Austin Historical and I often get asked by clients how they should care for their newly refinished wood floors. There is a specific timeline of how to treat and care for [...] Read More The post How To: Care For Hardwood Floors appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.

How To: Open Stuck Windows in 4 Easy Steps

By Scott Sidler • 21 Aug, 2012
If your house is old enough to have needed a new paint job in its life, then you might have a couple windows that have been painted shut. If your house is as old as mine (1929), you’d be lucky [...] Read More The post How To: Open Stuck Windows in 4 Easy Steps appeared first on The Craftsman Blog.
Show More
Share by: