Window-fix-it and door repair
The window-fix-it projects also include doors as well. A common mistake some homeowners will make is to keep the old windows and doors to install in the new addition. They end up having a new looking home with old windows and doors. Windows and doors are a focal point, so they need to look modern and new. Doors require very little maintenance and windows even less, but some things are necessary. About every five years, you will want to spray the door hinges with silicone spray. Open and close the door several times after spraying. Also, you will want to spray the door knob locking assembly so it moves freely. I prefer to use silicone spray instead of WD-40 because silicone is cleaner and doesn't attract dust. WD-40 works better in really dusty areas. If you have wooden doors, you will need to maintain them with varnish about every five years as well. Exterior doors will weather quicker than interior doors so they will need maintenance more often. Metal doors will need to be painted and so will the trim. Windows won't need maintenance unless they are made of wood. One thing to check about every five years around windows and exterior doors is the gap and J-channel around siding. Remember, if water gets in, the plywood sheathing can start to rot. Vinyl siding expands and contracts with temperature fluctuations and it can often leave gaps that water can get in. If gaps do start to form, run a small bead of silicone sealant over the gaps. Caulking is a poor product these days compared to silicone. I never use it anymore. It costs about a third as much as silicone, but it starts cracking within a year. Caulking is paintable though and silicone doesn't paint so well.
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