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

By: EFynch.com: Home Improvement; Managed Like a Pro! It's Fall, nice outside, and we have a DIY Home Project that is: (1) incredibly easy- 1 to 2 hours (2) cheap to perform - under $20 (3) can save you a few hundred dollars (4) you cannot cause any damage if you mess it up? The task? Caulk your windows! Now, before you scratch your head and hit the "back" button, hear us out. You walls are hollow. You might have insulation, but there are still plenty of open cavities that are a superhighway for cold air, dust, bugs, pollen, etc.  Don't believe us, touch one of your exterior walls on an extremely hot/ cold day and you will realize what we mean, especially around your windows (*technical reasoning below). Heating your home can account for 40% of your winter energy bill usage. Therefore any amount of cold air that is prevented from coming in, can quickly add up to savings- so this can be a quick and easy task that really pays off. And Seriously. ....

Baltimore, MD: At EFynch , we are doing out best to give all homeowners and homebuyers the tools to properly locate, and research the contractors they want to hire*. Too many other sources online only give you the "advertised choice", and asking for a recommendation on neighborhood websites does not guarantee you are getting non-biased results (a growing problem). However, even with the toughest verification procedures, you can find online, there is still the chance that a hired Pro or Handyman may not meet your expectations. Problems happen, humans are humans, and sometimes things just don't "click". So, here is our advice when something goes wrong: Step 1: Document and mention the issue to the contractor/ handyman as soon as possible. In addition to carpentry skills, a home improvement project is equal parts logistics and identifying any issue that must be remedied as early as possible will help. ----- SIDE NOTE ----- *If handled properly, clearl...

*do not be this guy and approach a downed power line. What to do during power outages: Home Tips from EFynch Baltimore, Maryland: It is the dead of winter and your power goes out. What are you supposed to do? Depending on the length that the power is off and the time of day- you should prepare for the worst. Once night falls, weather always tends to worsen plus repair work will move slower. You can expect being without power for the long haul. In modern times it is hard to think about shelter and surviving but cut the power to your home with a blizzard outside, I promise the primitive concerns we take for granted become front and center. (PLEASE TAKE THIS AS A SERIOUS MESSAGE). In the event the power is off and you do not foresee an immediate return. We recommend you do the following: 1. Monitor the temperature inside your home. If it goes below 50 degrees, you should immediately perform a “quick winterize”- information on this will be posted soon. 2. If you have n...

Hey Fynches ! Here in Baltimore/ Washington we are expecting an old fashion Nor’Easter on Tuesday with accumulations upwards of 12”.  We are not one to panic BUT, a snow this late in winter typically is WET and HEAVY. Forecasters are also expecting strong winds and potential for structural damage, downed trees, and power outages will be present. Below are some tips that we recommend every homeowner take before Tuesday. Before the storm, we recommend you do the following:         - Inspect the underside of your roof (check attic): Any damage or signs of leaking should be treated as an emergency and repaired immediately. Do a visual inspection outside: Gutters, deck, etc.         - Organize shovels and winter clothing: If you power goes out- sleeping bags, and blankets by the fireplace are key.         - Cooking: Lighters, bbq grill or camp stove (with full tank of fuel) are useful if power g...

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...

“*If water can move mountains, imagine what it can do to your house!” Synopsis: - Gutters are more important than you may know. - Neglected gutters can cause mold and other expensive repairs. - Gutter damage can go unnoticed and should be inspected twice         a year (minimum). - Gutters required your attention and most probably neglect. O ver the summer one of EFynch’s first projects was helping a member install gutter guards  ( we made a video about it here! ). As a former solar installer I have a familiarity with gutters but never really knew the full function they provide, and why it is so incredibly important to maintain them. Because gutters are typically ignored until they leak, we often forget to maintain and have them inspected regularly. This is VERY important and can literally save the structural integrity of your home while protecting your health. First, you should know what your gutters do. Gutters do more than cat...