Top 10 October Home Tips

1. Show off your sparkling clean home

Holiday entertaining season is just around the corner. Make sure your windows and other surfaces are spotless. Using water-fed poles that reach up to 40 feet high, our professionals can clean exterior windows up to three stories. They’ll remove layers of dust, dirt, and grime from exterior windows, screens, sills, frames, atriums, skylights, awnings, gutters, and outdoor light fixtures. Inside your home they’ll clean chandeliers, ceiling fans, skylights — even mirrors — they will open windows and wipe sills. Uniformed cleaning technicians are OSHA certified, have undergone background checks, and are bonded and insured. They have been extensively trained to provide superior service, maintaining the highest level of care when cleaning interior surfaces, including use of clean shoe covers and drop cloths under windows to protect your floors. Your 100% satisfaction is guaranteed. Year-round service is available. Request an estimate

2. Protect your basement

The Farmer’s Almanac predicts that this autumn will be “frosty and wet” around the Great Lakes, including the Chicago area. Below-ground basement windows and window wells put homes at risk for catastrophic basement flooding caused by water:

• spilling over a gutter
• pouring out of a downspout
• overflowing from your yard
• seeping through an unsealed window well

Avoid catastrophe with window well cover installation and/or installation of new window wells. We can fit any window well, and installation includes a thorough window well cleaning and installation of drain guards, if needed. Covers are UV stable, able to withstand 850 pounds of weight, and allow 98% of natural light to enter. Request an estimate

3. Seal and protect your home’s exterior

Last chance to get exterior repairs done. Make sure your home’s exterior is painted and caulked against the weather before it gets too cold. Critters are coming in for the winter — seal up all the little areas where mice, squirrels and insects can enter your home. Contact us for help

4. Guard your investment

A good foundation is your best defense against basement flooding and mold. Fall is a great time to walk completely around your house to check the foundation for issues:

• Are window wells free of debris?
• Are there atrium-shaped grates on all the window well drains?
• Is the top of the drain pipe in your window well level with or above the ground?
• Are there any cracks in corners of the basement windows?
• Is the drain at the bottom of the stairs leading to your basement (if you have one) clear of debris? The best flood prevention solution in this area is often to install an awning or build and extend a roof above the top of the basement stairs.
• If you’ve put on an addition, does that area where the older and newer foundation join look sealed or are there gaps or spaces where water can get in?
• If your home has a finished basement:
• Examine the interior foundation walls (concrete, wood and drywall) for cracks, holes, evidence of water, water staining; check around where electrical and water pipes or cabling enters the house.
• Open closets, hatches, access panels to get a better look at the foundation and check for evidence of water issues.
• Is there any mildew smell? Do you see water stains, mold or organic growth?

For a professional opinion, take photos and send them to us — we can suggest next steps for how to solve any challenges.

5. Do I need raised drain grates?

Most basement windows come with wells, which hold a limited amount of water before leaking through windows. Uncovered window wells should have atrium or raised drain grates vs. flat grates, which are more susceptible to an errant plastic bag being blown into the well and covering them or being covered by leaves. If you’re not sure if you have the right solution, take a photo of the inside of your window wells and stop by your local family-owned hardware store or share the photo with us and we’ll make sure you get the best solution for your home.

6. Never clean gutters again

Gutters clogged with leaves and debris prevent water from flowing where it’s supposed to, which can cause damage to your home. Properly functioning gutters are an essential defense against water damage.

Gutter guards eliminate the need for regular gutter cleaning. Bonus: installing gutter guards increases your home’s value. Your local family-owned hardware store can help you select gutter guards for your home. To install them, the gutters should be cleaned, sealed and pitched to function correctly, which can be dangerous work—best left to the professionals.

Our gutter guard installation services include pre-installation gutter cleaning, and we use tough, attractive, time-tested gutter guards designed for Chicago’s weather extremes. Request a gutter guard installation estimate

7. Screen clean

If you can remove and store your screens, you’ll have an unobstructed view of winter’s beauty. Now’s the time to take down those screens and clean them with a hose. If they need repair, DIY screen repair products are available at your local family-owned hardware store, or bring your screens in for them to repair for you. If you’d like any stationary windows rescreened or want to turn your screened-in porch into a three-season porch with custom Lexan^TM panels, reach out to us for an estimate.

8. Outdoor lighting

Assess the light level in your front yard at night. Can you see where you’re going? Prepare for holiday deliveries and guests by adding more light to the front of the house and walkways. Stop into your local family-owned hardware store to choose your lighting options. We can also advise on options and handle installation. Schedule electrical services

9. Address your address

Help delivery persons and houseguests find your home easily with clearly visible house numbers. Choose bronze or brass for a traditional home, brushed nickel or chrome for a more contemporary look. Pick up house numbers that fit your home’s style at your local family-owned hardware store. For help installing new house numbers, schedule a professional handyman.

10. Wall-to-wall paper

Transform your space with wall coverings and wallpaper. We specialize in all kinds of wallpaper, especially untrimmed designer wall coverings that require hand-trimming by a professional installer. Our estimators will discuss your project, let you know your options and what you can expect. We also handle repairs if needed and/or removal of old wallpaper. Schedule a free wallpaper assessment and estimate today