For most the holiday season is a joyous event, so be sure to prevent and accidents or mishaps.

Check your tools. Having an organized and stocked tool box makes decorating your home easier, safer and less time-consuming. Check over your tools to make sure that each is in operating order; replace or repair any that are worn or prone to malfunction. This is particularly true for electrical handheld tools. If you’ll be decorating outdoors and along your roofline, make sure that you have a ladder tall enough to allow you to safely reach all necessary points.

Check your lights. Strands of holiday lights can become worn or frayed over the years, presenting electrocution and fire risks. When unpacking new or used lights, check over each strand carefully, looking for bared wires, cracked or broken sockets, and loose connections. Should any of these problems be discovered, throw the strand of lights away. Also check that all lights have been safety-tested—typically marked by “UL” or “ETL/ITSNA.” Finally, make sure that any lights used outside are rated for outdoor use, and can withstand possible inclement weather.

Child- and pet-proof your decorations. Check all decorations for possible breakage or damage, particularly if you share your home with small children or pets who could be injured by or swallow small pieces. Remove glass items and glass ornaments to higher locations in the home where they’ll be sufficiently out-of-reach from paws and small hands. Likewise, make sure that cords for any indoor decorative lights are out-of-reach or sufficiently out-of-sight to avoid having them tugged or chewed upon. Low-hanging decorative elements and fabrics should also be avoided, particularly if attached to (or laying underneath) heavy items. Any heavy items placed above eye level should be firmly secured.

Check your walkways. Both indoors and outdoors, ensure that your decorations leave ample room for guests and household members to navigate pathways, hallways and stairwells. Be aware of potential tripping hazards, and keep all lawn ornaments and decorations set off of the sidewalk to permit safe passage in front of your home.

Check your tree. Finally, if your holiday decoration plans include a Christmas tree, be sure to follow common sense safety rules. Artificial trees should be labelled “fire resistant” to mitigate potential fire danger. Live trees should be purchased as freshly as possible, and should be watered regularly to keep the tree from drying out. Remember that the tree should be set back from walkways in the home, and should never block doorways. For homes with young children and pets, keep lights off of the bottom third of the tree, and only use soft ornaments on this section. Alternatively, block access to the tree using an expandable gate. All trees should be weight-anchored to prevent them falling or being pulled over.

As a homeowner you will want to regularly perform maintenance checks and address any issues as soon as they occur.

Keeping these few steps in mind will help keep your home, whether a new home or a pre-existing home, up to par.

This past winter and spring brought unusually turbulent weather and moisture is not a homeowner’s friend. Check for any problems by carefully inspecting your home’s foundation, both inside and out. Repair any cracks you may find using caulk or cement. If you come across any areas where the ground has eroded away from the wall, fill them in with fresh dirt. Just make sure to slope the dirt away from the foundation, to prevent water from pooling up next to the foundation during the next storm.

Next, clean out the gutters and downspouts, and if you spot any places where winter snow has soaked through boards, replace them to prevent future rotting. Replace damaged siding that can’t be fixed and any broken roof shingles. If you have a deck or porch, check the integrity of the planks, replacing any that have warped or are damaged. Inspect your patio and use a quick drying cement to repair any cracks.

Once that is done, give your house a refreshing power wash to remove accumulated dirt and debris. A power wash can also eliminate mildew and help prevent mold from gaining a foothold. If you are feeling ambitious, and have owned your home for a number of years, you may want to add a fresh coat of paint to the exterior.

By taking a couple of weekends to perform regular maintenance and refresh your house now, you’ll save time and money down the road—and have a picture perfect house inside and out.

Take these steps on the Spring Checklist provided by LGI Homes to keep your new home in tiptop shape and to freshen it up each Spring:

SPRING CHECKLIST

• Change Furnace Filter (Monthly)
• Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Clean Aerators on Faucets and Shower Heads
• Inspect Air-Conditioning Unit for Proper Operation
• Inspect Backsplash Caulking and Re-Caulk as Needed
• Inspect Shower and Tub Caulking and Re-Caulk as Needed
• Test GFCI receptacles
• Inspect Exterior Paint, Stain or Siding, Putty & Caulking
• Clean Fins on Outside AC Condensing Unit
• Check Drainage Swales for Proper Rain Water Flow
• Check for Evidence of Termites
• Inspect the Roof and Roof Vents
• Re-Seal Wood Fences

The area lights around your new LGI home are for safety and aesthetics.  They may be controlled by photo cells mounted on the side of your house or on the light unit itself.  Your lighting may also be controlled by wall switches located in your home.

It is important to always use the correct bulbs.  Do not exceed the bulb wattage recommended for the fixture.  Use exterior light bulbs for exterior fixtures and wet location light bulbs appropriately.

Recommended Maintenance

Monthly

• Look for and replace burned out bulbs.

Quarterly

• Clean the encasement so light can shine at full illumination.
• Ensure that mounting screws and plates are tight and wall plate is fully against the exterior wall or soffit.  Inspect sealant at joints between light fixtures and walls.  Repair or replace the sealant as needed.

Effects of deferred maintenance such as water and lack of cleaning will diminish the attractiveness and function of exterior light fixtures.

Homecare tips and information provided by Compendia.

The landscape around your new LGI home plays an important-role in the overall beauty of your property, as well as helps to prevent erosion.  Well-maintained landscaping will help increase the value of your property.  Part four of our four part landscaping series discusses Walls and Fencing. 

There are several different types of walls and fencing found on residential properties.  Each type requires different maintenance tasks and frequencies.  However, no matter what kind of walls and fencing you have there are some common guidelines.

It is important to keep landscaping trimmed away from walls and fencing and always remember do not change the grade.  The grade of the ground next to a wall or fence has been designed by an engineer.  Changes may cause tilting and cracking, or cause wood fencing that comes in contact with soil to rot.  It is also important to prevent water from ponding near walls and fencing.  Water, especially reclaimed water, can cause premature deterioration of the wall and fencing materials. 
 

Wood Fencing 

• Clean with light pressure wash annually or as needed.
• Treat the fencing with fungicide annually or as needed.  Follow the instruction on the product
• Restain or repaint wood fencing every 3 to 5 years.

Lawn care tips and information provided by Compendia.

The landscape around your new LGI home plays an important-role in the overall beauty of your property, as well as helps to prevent erosion.  Well-maintained landscaping will help increase the value of your property.  Part three of our four part landscaping series discusses Plants.

The ground cover, turf, trees, and shrubs that were installed by LGI Homes when you purchased your new home were selected for their compatibility with each other, architectural, site and soil conditions.  They grow at varying rates depending on climate conditions, maintenance, and a host of other factors.  The important thing to keep in mind is that the landscaping is a dynamic, living system and proper care is critical for it to mature successfully.  When installing additional plants, it is important that the plants you choose are compatible with existing plants. 

Shrubs and Vines

• Apply fertilizer to shrubs and vines that do not share a bad with groundcover.  Fertilizing is typically best done in March, May, July and September
• Prune shrubs and plants to prevent them from becoming “rangy” and to contain their size.  Prune with care not to “poodle” shrubs.  Neatly prune vines and espaliered plants.  Ensure they are securely attached to trellises or latticework.

Trees

• Inspect water at the base to ensure proper drainage monthly.  Remove standing water.
• Check trees quarterly to determine whether staking should be added, removed, or adjusted to promote growth in the appropriate direction and protest from wind.
• At least twice a year apply fertilizers within the drip line to promote healthy growth. Fertilizing is typically best done in March and September, or as appropriate for the tree species.
• Examine tree truck diameters annually.  Replace trees planted in areas less than five feet wide when the trunk diameter exceeds six inches.
• Prune to remove dead, diseased, or weakened limbs and promote the healthy and symmetric growth of the tree.  Remove limbs that may impact buildings under windy conditions.  Do not allow three branches to overhang roofs.  Prune once a year while tree is dormant.
• Prune roots annually to prevent the potential cracking of sidewalks or driveways.  Do not begin pruning roots until three years after the initial planting. 

Turf and Groundcover

• Mow grass (turf) areas weekly.  Gather and dispose of leaves and trash from plating areas.  Remove turf as needed by hand or spray, from within 12 inches of tree trucks to eliminate potential damage from mowers and string trimmers.
• Edge grass (turf) areas at least twice a month.
• Cut back excess groundcover quarterly to prevent “choking” of adjacent trees and shrubs.
• Apply fertilizers to replenish soil nutrients required for healthy turf and plant growth.  Fertilization is usually best done in March, May, July, and September.
• Remove weeds quarterly or as needed.  Periodically apply appropriate herbicides to control unwanted weeds and grasses.
• Aerate and vertically mow turf areas annually to relieve soil compaction and thatch buildup, allowing air and water to reach the root system.

Lawn care tips and information provided by Compendia.

The hardscape around your home may include walkways, patios, and other concrete surfaces.  If you add a patio or walkway as an improvement there are several very important things to remember:

Drainage. Provide a drainpipe or other means of drainage when patios or walks cross flow lines.  Do not allow water to collect against your house or behind walks or planters.

Underground Utilities. Confirm the location of underground utilities prior to the planning and excavation of any hardscape features.

Expansion Joints. Concrete surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and patios should generally have expansion joints every 100 square feet or 10 feet in each direction.  There should also be an expansion joint between the edge of these surfaces and the face of the foundation of the house.  These joints are sometimes filled with 1” x 4” treated lumber that is set between the adjacent concrete.  The joints can also be formed with a variety of sealants and or expansion joint filler.

Slope. Always slope concrete away from house (2% slope: ¼ inch drop for every 12 inches of length to drain or swale.

Get Necessary Approvals. Obtain necessary approvals and permits from appropriate governmental agencies and your HOA’s Architectural Control Committee.  

Hire Professionals. Contract a professional, licensed contract and soils engineer who are knowledgeable about the soil conditions for your area and can advise you regarding the structural reinforcement necessary for your improvements.

Recommended Maintenance

  Quarterly

• Hose off walks.  Schedule to coincide with mowing or other maintenance.

   Annually

• Inspect concrete for chipping, lifting, separating and cracking, which can create safety hazard that may result in homeowner liability.  Determine if the cause of this condition maybe related to roots that should be controlled or removed, or a drainage-related concern.  Resolve the contributing factors to prevent future problems.
• Check walkways adjacent to exterior walls for settling that may change the slope away from the house.
• Examine expansion joints in patios and walkways and replace the joint filler as needed.  Ensure that the joint filler adheres to both faces of the concrete, and is not sagging, crumbling, or cracking.

              

Lawn care tips and information provided by Compendia.

The landscape around your new LGI home plays an important-role in the overall beauty of your property, as well as helps to prevent erosion.  Well-maintained landscaping will help increase the value of your property.  Landscape maintenance is divided into four main categories: Drainage and Grading, Hardscape, Plants and Walls and Fencing.  Part one of our four part landscaping series discusses Drainage and Grading. 

Maintain proper drainage and grading to best protect your landscaping, home, and property from water damage.  Water is the #1 potential hazard to your home!  Be sure to keep the adjacent grad sloped away from your home to allow water to drain properly.

Your lot has been graded to facilitate drainage of water to the street or other approved drainage structures.  It is essential that you maintain proper grading and drainage to prevent pooling that could affect your foundation and slab.  

Preserve Drainage Design.  Landscaping or hardscaping additions that change slopes or grades can effect drainage.  Keep water moving away from your house.  Many communities are built so that water drains from yard to yard.  If you install landscaping or hardscaping (patios, walkways, or walls) that interfere with flow, you many create a significant problem and will be liable for damage. 

Recommended Maintenance

Monthly
• Inspect drains, inlets, and catch basins for blockages.
• Examine surface swales to ensure that they are draining freely to catch basins and/or inlets with no blockage or ponding.  Maintain a grade of 2%.  Repair conditions that limit surface drainage immediately.

Quarterly

• Trim ground cover and remove debris around drain inlets and swales.

Twice per Year

• Flush inlets, catch basins, and drainage lines to keep them free of debris.

Annually

• Inspect to ensure that the grad slopes away from your home’s foundation to prevent water accumulation.  Reslope the grade as needed.

Lawn care tips and information provided by Compendia.