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

How EFynch Weekly Deals Help the Homeowner: By: EFynch.com (Baltimore, MD) Each week EFynch works hard to bring relevant, money saving deals for our Maryland Homeowner Members. These deals typically include normal services like: - Power Washing - Handyman 3 hour packages - Gutter Cleaning - Snow Removal - Mulch Delivery - etc. We also try to provide some unique services which may go overlooked like: - Mailbox Post Replacement - Flower and Garden Box Install- coming soon :) - Smoke Alarm Battery Replacement - Dryer Vent Cleaning These are all common things us homeowners need and are things we should consider. So how do we get these deals? The truth is we sometimes just “wing it”. For the most part we pay attention to our own homes and speak with our professionals. They recommend services that are starting to trend because of seasonality. These take priority but we also look for unique ideas. What can make your home more enjoyable or something we see on TV that is awesome, but not ...

*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...

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. ...

Valentine’s Day ideas for the Home: Home is where the heart is. Below are some home improvement projects to upgrade your castle and set the mood Baltimore, Maryland- For many of us at EFynch , Valentine’s day is more than just trying to impress someone. The Holiday is about the mutual enjoyment of spending time with that person. We spend most of our time together in our homes so why now take the opportunity to work together and improve it? Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to splurge and add a few accessories around your home that will add to the year-round ambience. Talk to your partner about this- instead of buying each other a small gift- maybe a “gift for the house” could be a great addition? Maybe the Valentine’s night can last a little longer with the right upgrades! Below are some ideas which we think are relatively easy and add to home comfort. Sound: For many, sound is one of the ultimate ways to stir up emotions. Whether you want to reminisce about a pas...

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...

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...