Maryland and D.C. Home Improvement and Home Inspection discussion and Repair Advice

The information below is provided by EFynch.com - Based in Baltimore, we are the regions friendly community for non-biased home improvement news, advice, and handyman information.  (Baltimore, MD) : In 1986 Tom Hanks and Shelley Long starred in a movie called The Money Pit . The premise is that a young couple buys the perfect home but shortly after moving in (. . . as they walk into the foyer), things quickly descend into home ownership hell. The movie is meant to be a comedy but for new homebuyers, the stress this young couple faces are things of nightmares. The couple haphazardly rushed into purchasing the problematic home and, if EFynch was around then, here is the advise we would give the homebuyers to consider BEFORE placing an offer. Exterior: - Condition/ age of the roof:   A new roof can last 30 to 50 years depending on the quality. It can also be the largest expense if ignored. If the roof appears to have problems or is older, make sure to include thi...

Brought to you by EFynch.com : A non-biased homeowner community in Baltimore and Washington. Follow us on Facebook or visit our homepage and register as a homeowner/ homebuyer for regular tips- *we promise- no spam or sales. Baltimore, MD: As we approach winter there is one task that you may have overlooked and it will cost you!  I have personally seen the keenest of home buyers overlook this item only to be bitten a few years later (*often a missed negotiation point when making a home purchase!) The item? YOUR DRIVEWAY! Repaving most driveways can cost at least $5k but they go up from there. It is important to keep up with maintenance and make repairs on an annual basis. What about seal coating? There is so much horrible information floating around that most well intentioned homeowners follow the wrong advice and never get the full benefit of the effort and money put in. So, what hurts your driveway to begin with: The winter! Unless you regularly perform burnou...

Early March (Pre Spring) Guide for Outdoor Planting and Landscaping. By: EFynch.com Baltimore, Maryland- In the spring, we all tend to turn our focus from the local Handyman and repairs over to Landscaping around your house. Here in Baltimore and Washington D.C. we have certainly started to see glimmers of Spring. Behold- as I look at the weather forecast there is not one,,, but TWO potential winter storm events in the forecast. One for Friday (3/8/17) and one early next week. We don't know if these will be significant but it does prove the need for us to hold off on planting in our gardens just yet. For now- here are EFynch recommendations for outdoor related project: - Mulch Flowerbeds: If no new planting is being considered, go ahead and mulch now. Landscapers are mostly still on "winter rates" and you can save a bundle. In fact- utilize the EFynch Mulch/ landscape Deal which provides Mulch Delivery in Baltimore County for a limited time and as low as $50. ...

CLEARING YOUR HOME’S SIDEWALK: Does Salt really hurt? By EFynch, homeowner advice Baltimore, MD- Does salt really hurt the concrete around your home? The short answer, yes. The old fashioned rock salt is cheap and plentiful but in most cases can damage your concrete driveway, patio and sidewalk. Concrete is porous and when salt is applied it can be absorbed, freezes, etc.- causing flaking and cracking. If the concrete was done properly, the chances of this happening are reduced however in our estimation (based on gut feelings and not facts), 90% of the concrete that we see may be subject to salt degradation! There are also cases where too much salt can be applied to correctly cured concrete so therefore no sidewalk is immune- we recommend avoiding rock salt in any case where concrete (or pets) are present. As an alternative, you want to find a product which contains Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium Chloride or (the more expensive) Glycols as the main ingredient. There are...