Thank you for joining us.  With Spring finally arriving, we want to share with you some tips on home maintenance, a new code effective this month that will effect the majority of you, we believe you need to be aware of, and happenings at ABD! We hope you find this information beneficial!

“Spring Home Maintenance Tips”

The Spring rain and warm breezes are just around the corner. These tips will help you restore your home and get it into tip top shape for the upcoming weather season.  

Inside the house:

• Clean your bath fans & tile, check for mold, mildew
• Clean your range hood filters
• Check your chimney, clean fire box (yes some of us still have wood burning fireplaces), check flashing 
• Schedule a service call for your A/C unit
• Flush water heater/tankless units if applicable
• Check your attic for signs of roof leaks, pests
• Check your basement for leaks, cracks, mold, mildew, rot
• Check your crawl space for pests/wildlife, check insulation and vapor barrier
• Test sump pump
• Reset duct dampers from heat to cool
• Clean and start dehumidifier
• Turn off humidifier switch to summer mode

Outside: 

• Inspect, clean, repair outdoor furniture
• Inspect roof for winter damage
• Clean out gutters (didn't get it done last fall, or those last leaves that fell!)
• Check glass and screen doors, replace
• Check paint and caulking
• Clean and seal decks/patios as needed
• Plan and start spring pruning and landscaping
• Service and start sprinkler system
• Aeration of yard

We didn't want to make the "honey-do" list too long!  Please, if we can help you with any type of project, home maintenance, handyman, any project is NOT too small for ABD.  We appreciate a call or email and we'll be happy to be of service.

"Lead Base Paint Ruling to Affect All”  by Bob Peterson

Most of us grew up around it, many of us still live around it, and yes, it is a health risk! What am I talking about? Lead Based Paint!  April 22, 2010 the EPA’s Renovate Right Program is going into effect. A long time coming, 1993 exactly, the EPA has committed to enacting the program in an effort to help prevent lead based paint poisoning and it is using the construction industry for its tool.

“EPA’s Facts about Lead

·         Lead can affect Children’s brains and developing nervous systems, causing reduced IQ and behavioral problems. Lead is also harmful to adults.

·         Lead in dust is the most common way people are exposed to lead. People can also get lead in their bodies from lead in soil or paint chips. Lead dust is often invisible.

·         Lead based paint was used in more than 38 million homes until it was banned for residential use in 1978.

·         Projects that disturb lead-based paint can create dust and endanger you and your family. Don’t let this happen to you. Follow the practices described in this pamphlet to protect you and your family.”

                             The above taken directly from the EPA’s Renovate Right Pamphlet!  

I share all of this with you not to scare anyone nor because I agree with the ruling. However, I do believe lead is a danger. We at ABD have always performed work in a careful manner to protect our clients, especially in the older homes that have hazards like lead. What this ruling does in fact, is subject contractors to large fines if caught not performing to the new EPA Standards. They are very strict and are frankly very expensive. We’ve been told the fines start at $37,500.00 per day for violation. 

The ruling will require, as it is currently written, all homes, child care facilities and schools built prior to 1978 to be subject to the ruling. I won’t go into the details of the requirements, but I can assure you it will add substantial cost to a project and the requirements are almost impossible to comply and still be practical in the process. Also, as in many rulings like this, there are still many unknowns.  Unfortunately, there will be many who just ignore the ruling and my fear is that the ones who do, are the ones who already ignore the danger of hazardous materials during remodeling projects. Many remodelers will just “not do work in pre 1978 homes”. The liability to not comply seems pretty heavy.

So, what is ABD doing about it? First, we are registering as a “certified renovator company” under the program and our already caring field staff have taken the training, passed the exam, and are now "Certified Renovators".  

For more information, please contact me or visit the EPA’s website www.epa.gov/lead and you’ll get a boat load of information. Personally, I feel this is an intrusion into making homes even less affordable and I would love to hear any feedback, positive or negative from any of you. You are welcome to email me directly at rpeterson@abd-ltd.com, or comment on our new Blog at www.abd-ltd.com.

"Learning and Sharing"

Bob & Rita Peterson recently attended their Remodelers 20 Club meeting in Washington, D.C.  The 20 Clubs are a unique networking and educational opportunity designed to help members maximize the benefit of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) membership.  The 20 Club is comprised of similar-type remodelers from non-competing markets who meet twice a year to share their wisdom and learn from each other ways to improve their operations. Members share and compare financial information, look for trouble spots, day to day operations, and offer each other advice.  Although we only appreciated the beautiful cherry blossoms around the Jefferson Memorial in the taxi to and from the airport, what a beautiful time to be in our nation's capital!