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

The Silly Little Custom of Raising Windshield Wipers Before Snow: . . . and why you should be doing it!  (home tips from EFynch.com ) So, it's an old trend but recently seems to be picking up steam (or frost!). You pull into a parking lot or drive by your neighbor's house and the friendly wave of a windshield wiper can appear puzzling at first. Looking like the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, the crooked slither of rubber and metal are gently raised- A sign of bad weather to come. But what purpose does it serve, and does it work? When it snows- ESPECIALLY here in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic temperatures are often hovering around the freezing mark. At 32 degrees, precipitation comes in many forms but more than likely will harden after sitting on your windshield for a few moments. This creates a solid ice sheet. Something that can do 2 bad things to your car. 1. First, the ice can wreak havoc on your wipers. Your wiper blades are made from rubber and the freezi...

Now it's cold!- What is your home thinking?  Quick, no cost ways to winterize your home.  By: EFynch.com Well hello! Just like a thrown cup of cold water in the shower, the cold wind jolted me awake this morning while walking my dog at 5:30am. Winter has descended on Maryland with a fury and it seems like just last week you could stroll around Baltimore with a light jacket. If you haven't done so yet- you really need to make sure your home is winterized ASAP. We surveyed Pros and Seasoned Homeowners for this one. Below are the most common tips to do immediately which all are NO COST: Homeowner To Do List: 1. Winterize outdoor Faucets. ( 30 second video here ) 2. Inspect roof and gutters (look for water pooling, leaks, damage) from both the outside and from inside your attic. *even if you had them cleaned, try to give it a quick look. 3. Winterize outdoor equipment: (power equipment and HVAC)* 4. Test and/ or get repairs to snowblowers now (not in January).*...

Halftime Home Improvement Challenge: By: EFynch When I was younger I remember how Sundays revolved around football. Before any plan, project, trip, or visit was agreed too, the inevitable "what time is the game?" was always considered. But during Football Sunday, there was always another fun time. . . Halftime. Each Sunday, as halftime began, even before the players left the field, my Father and I were down in the garage. He already had a game plan in hand and there was always a task or challenge on our list to be that week's "Halftime Project". These times are something that I remember to this day because we literally took a break from watching a team play on TV, to being a part of our own team. We had a challenge and more often then not, they were so much fun that our 15 minute project would stray to 20 minutes or longer. It was that worth it! So without further ado, here is your guide to the Halftime Home Improvement Challenge. 1. Quick Paintin...

Posting the right Home Improvement bid request on EFynch . Communicating with a contractor and requesting a bid estimate can be simple. In order to get an accurate and best response, you just need the right mindset.  Below is an illustration we put together describing what is needed for your bid requests. Remember; Imagine you are going to do the work yourself. Include pictures and a description that walk a home pro through the project. Make sure to explaine the history and what is needed to identify the problem. Give measurements and be sure to describe the location of the repairs (including access to the work area).  If you have any of the materials or equipment already- take pictures of those as well! We are here to serve Maryland.   

HOW TO: Posting a new project on EFynch.com and get the best bids for your home. Thank you for choosing to post your new project on our community site for Maryland Homeowners. It really means a lot that you are working with us because we take Home Improvement very seriously. Your home is more than you investment, it is your castle and we want to help you treat it that way! Here are a few things to remember in order to get the best, and most accurate listing. 1. Pictures-  The more pictures you post the better. Take them from different angles and in bright light. Try to get pictures up close and far away- the Pro will also want to see the work area and access to give an accurate bid. 2. Descriptions- Don’t be shy if you don’t know accurate terminology- use the pictures and your words to best describe what you see.. Be sure to write anything and everything you can see, feel, touch, smell, and history of the problem. Also include details about your house overall (single ...

“*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...

The Basement: The Most Overlooked and Underutilized Room in Your House : A good October Narrative about Baltimore basements! (by: EFynch ) “Did you hear that? It sounded like something fell.” “Maybe,” I replied. “I stacked some boxes in the basement earlier . Something probably fell over.” Our attention immediately went back to the TV. We discounted the sounds as part of the normal weirdness that has become an acceptable occurrence in our basement. But isn't that the weird thing we actually do? For years, basements have been viewed as the damnation for HVAC units, sump pumps, exercise equipment, and even the occasional goblin. At the very best, we put up sheetrock and install commercial carpeting to call it “finished”: a place where kids can run free and avoid “messing up the house.” It is unfortunate, because truthfully the basement can be a great way to expand our homes beyond their normal living spaces. The work we could accomplish are things that would add unique...