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HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS |
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Interior Finishes
CABINETS
Characteristics of Wood:
- Wood is a natural product.
- Wood textures, graining and colors may vary.
- All wood finishes exhibit change over time.
- Wood is affected by seasonal change.
- A constant temperature protects the wood best.
The wood cabinets in your home can and will exhibit all of these characteristics. Changes in the environment will cause the wood to contract and expand. Caulking and regular adjustments will lessen the impact on these fixtures.
Cabinets are made of wood or wood composite. For this reason, it is important that the cabinets require the same attention that you would give your fine furniture.
Never use harsh abrasives to clean cabinetry. Stained cabinets should be cleaned with Old English Lemon Oil. White cabinets can be cleaned using a soft damp cloth. A mild soap solution should be used on stubborn stains. Never use 409 or similar products because they can dull the finish over time.
COUNTERTOPS
There are several different types of countertops that could be installed in your new home. Although each type of countertop has special care instructions, there are some basic care guidelines that will apply to all types.
- Never use abrasive or acidic cleaning products.
- Never use steel wool on your countertops.
- Always use a cutting board.
- Do not sit burning or extremely hot items directly onto surface. Always use trivets or pads.
LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS
Use a soft cloth and a mild dishwashing liquid with warm water.
Re-caulk countertop seams when necessary.
CULTURED MARBLE VANITY TOPS
To clean, use a non-abrasive cleaner and a soft sponge.
You can revitalize the cultured marble by using an automotive wax and by following the manufacturer’s directions for applying the wax.
SOLID SURFACE COUNTERTOPS
These countertops require minimal care to maintain their beauty. Use a soft cloth, mild dishwashing liquid, and warm water.
DRYWALL
Drywall covers all interior ceilings and walls and should form a continuous, relatively smooth surface. However, some drywall imperfections are considered normal and are unavoidable. As the home settles you will experience some nail pops, shrinkage cracks and corner bead separations and these are fairly easy to repair and should be expected.
FIREPLACE
A gas fireplace requires far less maintenance but provides the comfort and style of a wood burning unit. The gas fireplace is vented to the outside of the home. Make sure the vent is kept open at all times even when not in use. The same precautions should be taken with the gas fireplace as any other gas appliance. Do not smoke while cleaning or lighting the fireplace. If you suspect a gas leak, please evacuate the home and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper maintenance, safety, and use of your gas fireplace.
MARBLE, SLATE, AND GRANITE
Marble, slate, and granite are some of the most ancient and beautiful natural resources. The veining and fissures in these stones were created by the forces of nature. Like all natural materials, their imperfections are what defines their natural beauty.
Stone is very hard and durable, but it can be chipped, broken, or stained. Some of the products that will damage stone are:
Juices & Soda
Coffee & Tea
Nail Polish Remover
Common household cleaners
And many others
Grout is not as hard and durable as stone and can be cracked and stained rather easily. Some cracking and loosening of the grout is normal due to expansion and contraction as the temperature and humidity changes with the seasons.
Sealing stone will help protect its surface and maintain its original appearance for years to come. Stone and grout should be sealed annually with a product such as Stoneguard. Before sealing, make sure these surfaces are completely clean and dry. Apply the sealer with a clean terry cloth, let it soak in for a few minutes, and then wipe off any excess sealer. Keep the surface from getting wet for at least 24 hours after its sealed.
Marble is made of calcium just like your teeth. Products such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices, and alcohol will harm its finish. Marble can be cleaned with a product such as SCI-M Marble Powder. This can remove glass rings, minor scratches, and dull spots. Follow the instructions on the package.
Slate and granite should also be polished regularly. International Stone Polish is a good polish to use. Follow the proper instructions on the package.
Separation will occur in places where the stone and grout meet other materials such as the floor or mantel. This type of separation is normal and should be re-caulked periodically. Silicone caulk should work best.
Grout is easily stained especially when exposed to dirt and moisture. When cleaning grout, be sure the cleaner is compatible with the stone material. Stone may react chemically to cleaners that are not intended for use with them.
MIRRORS AND GLASS
The mirrors in your home should be scratch free and should not have any desilvering.
Clean your mirrors with a window cleaning product and be careful not to spray behind the mirror or use ammonia based cleansers as this can cause the mirror to desilver.
Do not use abrasive cleaners to clean mirrors as they can scratch the mirror surface.
PAINT
All of our homes are painted with high quality Duron paints. Both the interior and exterior may fade over time. The degree of fading depends on weather and sunlight exposure. For this reason, it becomes more difficult over time to match colors.
Before choosing to paint your home with custom colors, we recommend that you wait at least one year so that Patrick Malloy Communities has an opportunity to repair any drywall damage (nailpops etc…) that may take place. Once a homeowner has painted using custom colors, Patrick Malloy Communities cannot and will not re-paint custom colored walls or ceilings.
Caulking is a very important seal against moisture. If not properly maintained, moisture may penetrate and affect the performance of the paint. Caulking needs to be inspected every season, or at least twice a year.
Periodic touch-ups are recommended to both the interior and exterior walls to maintain the appearance and durability of the paint coating.
Clean painted interior walls with a clean, damp sponge. If something stronger is required, use a mild, non-abrasive detergent solution.
It is important to cover all exposed wood edges on your home’s exterior with either paint or caulk, this will keep water form penetrating. Routine painting and caulking is recommended every 3-5 years. Joints should be inspected seasonally to insure that any cracked caulking is repaired.
To clean mildew on exterior surfaces, use a mixture of water and bleach. Dry thoroughly after cleaning then touch up with paint as needed. Do not paint over mildew as the mildew will just grow through the fresh paint.
The exterior paint surfaces on your home will perform differently depending on the exposure to the sun and weather. Paint on walls in full sunlight will perform differently than paint in shaded areas. Mildew is common on walls that face north. Wet seasons may promote mildew growth affecting the performance of the paint.
TRIM AND MOLDING
Trim and moldings such as baseboard, shoe mold, and crown molding may separate from the floor or ceiling due to shrinkage and expansion caused by changes in temperature and humidity. It is recommended that the moldings be allowed to go through at least one regular heating season before being re-painted or re-caulked. Separations at the corners of molding seams and corners can be painted or stained to match the existing molding.
Painted woodwork can be cleaned with a damp cloth. If you have woodwork that is stained, it can be cleaned and treated with lemon oil, Ole English, or a similar type of polish to prevent it from drying out.