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Don’t Overspend on Maintenance
There are countless examples where you can put off maintenance to save some
money in the short-term, but it is crucial to know when to step in and
perform the maintenance and repairs. Your objective should always be to get
the longest life out of each building component. Following are some things
that you can do to avoid wasting money.
Perform roofing maintenance: Don’t replace a roof before you absolutely have
to! Get the longest possible life out of your roof by maintaining it
correctly; every year, replace worn out asphalt, shingles, or broken tiles,
caulk all roof penetrations, and clean all gutters and downspouts.
Roof shingles: Don’t be fooled with extra-long roofing shingle or tile
warranties either, as roofing companies often go out of business often and
you could be left holding a worthless warranty. The key is to use a reputable
manufacturer who stands behind their warranty.
Overspending on paint: Spending $40 per gallon instead of $20 is not
necessary; go with a medium priced paint. Beware of common mistakes such as
scraping off loose paint then failing to coat exposed wood with oil-based
primer before repainting. Never paint when the temperature is below 50 degrees
F. Ensure that your primer and finish paint are compatible. Read the
directions on the paint can and follow them meticulously.
Painting everything at one time: One of the most common money wasters is
painting entire buildings. Wood, metal and stucco all age differently. So why
repaint the entire building? Paint only what needs repainting.
Deck replacement: Why replace worn deck boards at a cost of $10 to $15 per
square foot when you can simply pull out the fasteners and turn over the
boards. Or even better, you can power wash the wood several times, and when
they get fully worn turn the boards over and get another 5-10 years of life.
Replace nails with deck screws!
Bathroom fixtures: Repairing fixtures is much less expensive than replacing
them. Leaky faucets are the most common bathroom and kitchen problem. A new
faucet can cost up to $100 but why not just replace the leaky cartridge at a
cost of $.59 or go ahead and splurge for a whole new valve for $10 to $15.
Use high-quality, name-brand windows: When replacing windows, it pays to use
a high-quality window with a good warranty and a window company that has a
long history.
Over-cleaning causes premature aging: Over-scrubbing sinks, tubs, and floors
with abrasive cleaners will wear off the finish. Instead use a
bathroom-fixture coating. This provides a protective coating for both
fiberglass and ceramics that lasts six to eight weeks. Don’t over-clean
carpets, either. Steam cleaning more than twice a year damages the carpet.
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David Rauch is the President
of ProTec Building Services, full-service contractors with licenses in General
Contracting, Electrical, Painting, Plumbing and Roofing, providing Construction
and Maintenance Programs to over 250 communities in San Diego, Orange and Riverside
Counties. (858) 569-1080 ProTecBSI.com |
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