Berkeley Interior Painting

Top 10 Home Interior Maintenance Tips for Summer

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It’s summertime, and this list, which we originally wrote in 2021, is still a great resource, so we are sharing it with you again! In addition, our friends at Porch.com offered us their summertime maintenance tips article, and we thought it was worth sharing bonus tips from that blog with our community as well! Their list includes outdoor maintenance tips, which we’ve addressed in a different blog post, here. We’ve updated this article with Porch’s additional suggestions, at bottom.

  1. Clean your home’s lesser-considered interior spots. The corners and crevices need some love! Wipe down baseboards, clean out closets and empty cabinets. Base- boards are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning. So are kitchen cabinets and your linen closet. It can be tough to muster up the energy to get on your hands and knees and clean below, but it is something you want to do at least once a year to keep dust and dirt from building up.
  2. Declutter. Take this opportunity to get rid of extra stuff you don’t need. Find your local Buy Nothing Page on Facebook and give away your old treasures! (Some say that the angels love to visit a freshly cleaned home).
  3. Do a test of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries or units if needed.
  4. Get your cooling system ready. For our clients who live on the sunny side of the Caldecott tunnel: Consider getting your air conditioner serviced. This one is especially important for summer home maintenance since you don’t want to be stuck without air conditioning when the temperature starts climbing! For the rest of us, we can consider installing window AC units. If you are pulling out the ones you used last year, make sure to clean off the filters before starting them up again. And check the instructions. Some manufacturers recommend cleaning the filters every two weeks during heavy use.
  5. Clean and adjust your ceiling fans. Dust ceiling fan blades and check that fans are working properly and reverse the direction if needed. During the summer months, your ceiling fan blades should be set to spin counterclockwise. When your ceiling fan spins quickly in this direction, it pushes air down and creates a cool breeze. This helps keep a room’s temperature consistent throughout the day and reduces the need for an air conditioner to run constantly.
  6. Get your chimney cleaned. Yes, you might not use your fireplace again until fall or winter, but that’s exactly why this is the perfect time to call a chimney cleaning service. They won’t be as busy!
  7. Deodorize the garbage disposal. When’s the last time you tackled your garbage disposal? Exactly. Flushing with dish soap and hot water can do the trick. For persistent odors: with the unit turned off, pour in 1⁄2 cup baking soda and then 1⁄2 cup vinegar; when the fizzing stops, flush with hot water. And/or for a fun citrus-y refresh anytime, pulverize a lemon, one half at a time in the disposal with the water running.
  8. Keep the outdoors outside. If folks are going to be running in and out of the house with dirty or sandy feet this summer, consider having a basin of water by the door for everyone to wash off their feet before coming inside. A super-absorbent floor mat inside the door, or a towel for drying on a hook nearby, might also be a good idea.
  9. Wipe down windows and screens. An indoor/outdoor tip: homeowners generally clean our interior windows throughout the year, and summer is a good time to do that as well as to wash the exterior windows. You may also want to remove and wipe down or replace dirty screens, for the most sparkling effects.
  10. BONUS indoor/outdoor energy-saving tip: Consider an outdoor clothesline. Take advantage of the warm weather and put up an outdoor clothesline, so you’re not using your dryer as much.

Sources: insurancehub.com; budgetdumpster.com

Baseboards image from Arana’s portfolio. T

Summer 2023 ~ MORE MAINTENANCE TIPS:
Preparing Your Home: The Ultimate Summer Maintenance Checklist — from Porch.com

By Maria Jose Meneses

Click here to read the full article

The warm and dry days of summer provide an excellent opportunity to do necessary maintenance around the home and property. With so much to be done in just a few months, the “to-do” list can get pretty long. But don’t worry! In this article, you’ll learn how to make the most of the summer months to maintain your home and property, including some preventative measures you can take to stop unnecessary costs and accidents before they start.

Summer maintenance for the exterior

design by LMB Interiors; build by McCutcheon Construction; landscaping by Arca Design Group; wood stain by Arana

When it comes to summer maintenance, the outside of the home is an excellent place to start. Being out in the open has a way of making maintenance projects seem more manageable and less stressful. Perhaps it’s the Vitamin D you get from being out in the sun or the fresh air — either way, spending time outside is its own reward.

  • Inspect and clean the gutters and downspouts
  • Check and repair the roof for damage
  • Clean and maintain the outdoor HVAC unit
  • Inspect and repair damage in the driveway and walkways
  • Indoor summer maintenance

After you’ve taken care of the outdoor maintenance for your home, it’s time to give a thought or two to indoor maintenance. You may think that this refers to what is often called “spring cleaning,” but that is not necessarily so. While there is an element of cleaning involved, the indoor maintenance of your home is mostly about prevention:

  • Service and clean the A/C
  • Inspect and maintain window and door seals
  • Clean and inspect ceiling fans and light fixtures
  • Summer maintenance for landscaping and outdoor spaces

Working in the yard and garden is a source of peace and joy for many people. Fortunately for those people, much of what is involved in maintaining the landscaping and outdoor spaces revolves around looking after the greenery:

  • Trim trees and shrubs away from the house
  • Fertilize and water the lawn
  • Inspect and repair damage to the deck or patio — and if you have patio decking or fencing that needs refinishing, painting, staining, or waterproofing, contact Arana!
  • Clean and maintain outdoor furniture and accessories
  • Inspect your property for pest issues and treat/address invasion points or nests

Safety checks

  • Test and replace smoke detector batteries
  • Check and test outdoor lighting
  • Ensure adequate outdoor lighting
  • Inspect and replace worn or damaged electrical cords
  • Review and update security systems
  • Ensure proper ventilation in the attic and basement
Wood staining Oakland

Top 10 Home Exterior Maintenance Tips for Summer

by with No Comment Blog

#missionprotecthome

As the weather gets warmer more consistently and we prepare for something that might look like summer (depending on which microclimate you are in), now is a good time to review your annual maintenance tasks. We at Arana have compiled this list of suggestions for you of things you might do now to get your home ready for the season and all that it brings.

Give your deck a once-over. This is a pre-summer home maintenance must. Check your deck to see if there are any rotting planks and have them replaced. Hammer any loose nails and check to see if your deck material needs to be resealed by pouring a little water on it. If the water beads into little puddles, you’re good. If it sinks into the wood, you should get your deck resealed. We recommend that you avoid the use of semi-solid and/or solid water-based stains.

Protect against unwanted pests. Caulk gaps around your window and door frames and seal areas where bugs can enter. Also, check for and close up larger gaps or holes to keep mice and rats out.

Clean out gutters and downspouts. Typically done at least once a year, you may have to do it twice if you have a lot of trees around your home. Check also to see if any rust, holes, or cracks are developing. Repaint or repair to prevent the escape of rainwater in areas that could lead to water intrusion.

Have your driveway and walkway pressure-washed. This will beautify an often neglected area and also reveal trouble spots that need repair. Hire someone (like us) who will be sure to wash evenly, or keep an eye on this if you are doing the work. An uneven wash can leave unattractive lines.

Reseal concrete and consider a concrete stain. Periodically resealing your concrete helps to protect and maintain an even appearance. You may also want to consider adding in a concrete stain color to enhance curb appeal. If you have painted the concrete in the past and it constantly peels, you may want to consider replacing the concrete and never painting again!

Get your roof inspected. It’s important to make sure your roof is in good shape. Summer is the slow season for roofers and so it is a good time for you to get maintenance done without a wait. Water leaks can wreak havoc, leading to water damage on the interior walls that will require repair and repainting. (As you can imagine, we see this a lot.)

Clean your home’s exterior. From stains to moss to bacteria, dingy roofs, siding, and decks not only look unattractive but can also contribute to an array of other household problems and even shorten the lifespan of your home. Pressure washing may be necessary if there are serious stains, stubborn mold, and mildew, etc. Using a lower pressure setting could provide a good rinse while also saving water; a skilled professional will know how to choose the best level for your needs.

Cut trees, vines, and shrubbery away from your home. It’s tempting to cover your house in a beautiful bougainvillea vine, but climbing vines can damage your paint and give rodents a ladder to find higher entry points. Some vines will also have thorns, and the larger they get, the more difficult they are to remove.

Seal brick. Over time brick can start to deteriorate. A good clear sealant can maintain the integrity of the material, plus filling any holes that might become home to pests.

Consider painting or touching up your home. Is it time for a whole-house restoration? Summer is the high season for exterior painting jobs, so contact us ASAP to get on our schedule. Or, if things are generally looking good, you may still want to do exterior paint touch-ups — this is a quick outdoor home maintenance tip that will give a visual boost and can extend the life of your paint job. If you don’t have the cans around or cannot recall or were never told the exact color of your home, take a chip to your local store, and a paint professional there can help do a computer-generated match — or just call us!

Sources: insurancehub.com + budgetdumpster.com

window box kale

The Artful Edible Garden

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By Suzanne Arca, ASLA, ALPD, CLCA

Founder and Principal, Arca Design Group

Many of us caught the edible garden craze a few years back, but some of us may have found that a farm-to-table garden isn’t always the most aesthetically appealing scene. This doesn’t have to be the case.

Using edibles in landscape design can increase the health and economic benefits we derive from our gardens, and can be done in such a way as to increase a garden’s visual appeal as well. Working within the bigger picture of the overall garden style, thoughtfully incorporating decorative containers, various plant forms, hardscape structures, and blending edibles with ornamentals, are all ways to enhance the ornamental garden while reaping the many benefits of growing your own food.

Although the traditional kitchen garden, potager, or parterre, has its own kind of traditional beauty, that may or may not jive with the aesthetic of your home or existing garden. Is your home and landscape modern, with clean lines and minimal plant materials? Consider swapping out the traditional wood planter boxes for Corten or stainless steel, in a variety of shapes and shades. Food-safe options for these are available.

Arranging your plantings in carefully chosen blocks of contrasting color and texture can also achieve a beautifully clean, minimalist look. Do you have a Mediterranean villa theme happening? Consider planting your favorite herbs, vegetables, or fruits in beautiful, deep ceramic pots, arranged in groups throughout the garden.

Some edible plants provide their own structural support, and some require additional support. This gives us an opportunity to play with the valuable element of verticality in our outdoor spaces. Vines such as beans and peas, grapes, or kiwi can form a delicious, living green wall. They can be trained onto an existing wall with a few wires, drape gracefully over arbors, allowing the fruit to hang for easy harvest, intertwine with artfully shaped bamboo or twig structures, or climb the living wood of another plant.

Fruiting trees provide another opportunity for creating sculptural vertical elements in the garden with some regular aesthetic pruning, the traditional art of espalier. An added benefit of espaliering fruit trees is that they can fit into narrow spaces, such as along a wall. Not enough space for a traditional orchard in your yard, you say? With espalier techniques, you still get to have some fruit trees!

Another strategy many aesthetically minded gardeners employ is the blending of the edible elements with the ornamental landscape. In some cases, this benefits our tender and high-maintenance annual food crops, by providing a more ecologically diverse climate for them. Companion planting can increase resistance to pests and improve soil nutrition.

Some of our vegetables also have aesthetically appealing qualities of their own such as flowers, fruit, interesting leaf texture or color, or plant structure, which can provide visually interesting components that change with the seasons. Think of the bold statement made by the flowers of chives or artichokes, the deep violet drama of a red cabbage or tree collard leaf, the verticality of a stalk of corn, or the way a pomegranate tree transitions from golden-leafed to red-globed glory in the fall.

While annual edible plants may sometimes require more maintenance than your average perennial ornamental gardens, the benefits they offer are multi-faceted. Being in touch with the rhythm of the seasons brings not just food to the table or a reason to work up a sweat outside, but psychological benefits as well. For gardeners with less time on their hands, there are plenty of nurseries that sell small vegetable starts—no waiting for seeds to germinate. Also, not to be overlooked, is the fact that the Bay Area offers the unique gift of a year-round growing season.

All it takes to get started is tucking a few herbs into the edge of that bed by the back door, and you’ll be on your way. Along with enjoying the visual beauty of your garden, why not enjoy the taste?

Suzanne Arca, ASLA, ALPD, CLCA is the Founder and Principal of Arca Design Group, a full-service design-build landscape architecture firm based in the East Bay. Arca Design Group is a Certified-Green and -Bay-Friendly landscaping company. Suzanne is also an instructor in the Landscape Architecture and Landscape Horticulture departments at U.C. Berkeley and Merritt College. Contact her to design your dream garden! arcadesigngroup.com

All photos courtesy of Suzanne Arca

Central-Ave-Queen-Anne-Victorian-Blog

How Long Does Exterior House Paint Last?

by with No Comment Blog

Surface preparation, power washing, and getting the right contractor on the job are all things that should be taken into consideration when you are planning to paint your home. Your exterior paint is an investment. We are not speaking solely on a financial level here either. New paint helps with the aesthetics of your home, but most importantly it protects your home. It protects the building from moisture, bug invasion, and prolongs the life of the siding. These are all very important jobs which is why finding the right paint and contractor is important.

While we might have gotten off topic a bit, we thought it was important for you to realize the importance of your paint choices. How long does exterior house paint last? Well, that depends on a few factors such as the environment the paint is enduring. Also, the products used are important as well as the age of the home. A general rule of thumb though is that your paint job should last at least 5 years before you are looking at painting again. Some paints last longer.

While you are thinking about getting your house painted you should keep in mind that there are many types of paints out there. You should educate yourself and ask a contractor what they recommend for your dwelling. Not all paint is made for the very surface that your siding is made of. In fact, there was a time when we couldn’t paint vinyl siding for example. However, the painting industry has come a long way and now it is very possible and less costly than putting on all new siding.

Be sure that you choose a very good quality or premium paint. Now, this will be more costly but this paint is made to last and endure the elements.

What type of siding you have will determine the type of paint you will need. Some of these paints are more expensive than others. Paint for a wood sided house would be around $65 per gallon.

Invest in a good painting company.

Not all painting companies are the same. Take your time to look around for reviews and recommendations online. Ask around on social media about who people might recommend. It is important that you find a licensed and insured painting contractor that will show up and complete the job as requested. Be careful out there, there are a lot of companies that don’t care about their reputation. They will paint your home and have it looking great but in 2 years you find it starting to peel and prematurely aged. This is because they didn’t put forth the effort to surface prep as they should have.

The exterior of your home should be pressure washed, re-caulked, sanded, and sealed before new paint goes on. This are important steps that aren’t always done by painting contractors. They should take the time to scrape and sand on the surfaces that need it. If board replacement is necessary, they should address that as well. Surface prep is the most important step in the painting process and needs the most attention to detail. Without it your painting job won’t last long and you’ll have to do it all over again.