Archive for October, 2010
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
You may not think you need to, but you should get your deck ready for winter so it will be ready for you next spring. This article provides a good summary of the steps you should take to help your deck make it through the winter.
- Check for mold and mildew and give your deck a good cleaning. Make sure you get leaves and other debris off the deck.
- Clean and move your planters to prevent new mold and mildew growing under them.
- Restain or reseal your deck if you haven’t do so in a year or so to prevent rot and other damage.
- Cover your deck, if necessary, with a plastic tarp or insulation, but make sure it’s done properly.
If you want more tips or need help with your deck’s winterization, contact us. We’ll review the winterization checklist for your whole home and give you a hand taking care of it.
Tags: deck, deck cleaning, deck covering, deck covers, deck installation, deck repair, decking, decking installation, decks, T.W.Ellis, TW Ellis, winter, winter preparation, winterization, winterize
Posted in Uncategorized | 43 Comments »
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
Homeowners looking to squeeze a few more weeks of enjoyment out on their decks or patios before winter sets in often turn to outdoor patio heaters. These upright heaters throw out a lot of heat and are great options for outdoor comfort. However, like any heater, there are some safety precautions owners should take so the heater doesn’t become a problem. Here are a few courtesy of this article.
- Keep flammable items away from the heat source. Don’t forget that hanging plants and branches are flammable.
- Keep the heater away from drafts that can blow out the flame or tip over the heater.
- Position the heater so that its exhaust vent is not blocked.
- Obviously, don’t use an outdoor heater indoors.
Were happy to provide this advice for customers and homeowners seeking to enjoy their homes and yards. For more ideas or to make your dream home a reality, contact us.
Tags: deck, deck installation, decking, decking installation, decks, heater, heater safety, heaters, outdoor heaters, patio, patio heaters, patio installation, patios, T.W.Ellis, upright heaters
Posted in Uncategorized | 59 Comments »
Friday, October 15th, 2010
The Home Builders Association of Maryland held a Hollywood-themed Celebrity Chef Night this week, and it proved to be an award-winning evening for T.W. Ellis. We were there as the chefs for “The Breakfast Club” table serving French toast and breakfast casseroles. We came home with two items of recognition from the association’s affiliate, the Maryland Community Builders Foundation.
The foundation named us the 2010 Volunteer of the Year and gave us a Certificate of Extreme Appreciation for our work on the Boys Hope, Girls Hope home, which was featured on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” We were honored to be a part of that project and even more honored to receive these awards. For our acceptance speech, we’d like to thank the T.W. Ellis team, our friends and family, and most importantly, our valued customers. We’ve included photos of our award and table.
Tags: Boys Hope Girls Hope Baltimore, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Home Builders Association of Maryland, Maryland Community Builders Foundation, T.W.Ellis
Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments »
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
There are many aspects of getting your home ready for winter. Among the most important is sealing up any drafts that will let cold air in. This article nicely summarizes some of the steps you should take to keep you warm and lower your heating costs.
- Use weather stripping or caulk around drafty windows or doors. Windows that have bad drafts should be replaced.
- Weather stripping and caulk should also be used to create a tight seal around pipes coming through the walls in your home.
- Insert pre-cut foam gaskets behind switch plates and wall outlets to block air entering that way.
- Inspect your heating ducts and repair any leaks.
- Keep your flu or damper in your fireplace closed when it’s not in use.
If you need help with these tasks or any other winterization chores, contact us. We’ll run through the winterization checklist with you and get your house ready for the cold rain and snow.
Tags: caulk, drafty doors, drafty windows, home check up, home check ups, home drafts, home leaks, home winterization, remodelers, remodeling, sealing drafts, T.W.Ellis, weather stripping
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
