Your Home & Winter

Your home and winter. Like our northern friends, we Floridians should also prepare for the changes of the season. Here are some suggested items that you may want to look at.

·         Heating system: clean and check.

·         Air-conditioning: the condensate drain builds up with dust and mold so now is a great time to simply add a little bleach.

·         Pests are looking for a place to go. Use a good pesticide and spray it around the exterior of your house, plants and ground cover.

·         Check the weather-stripping on the doors and windows. The bottom gets a lot of wear and might need to be replaced.  

·         Our yards take a beating here in the south. We have frost some mornings and it can be hot a day later. Treat problem areas with weed and feed and by spring, your yard will be looking good.

·         Fireplaces are a must check. Gas and wood burning both must be checked for proper venting. For gas, check for any leaks & make sure that there is a proper flame when burning.

Horror Stories

Horror stories abound from those who have attempted major remodels or have built a new home with most problems occurring from poor communication between the home owner and builder. The contract amount and what is included in the home is often misunderstood. R. L. Gordon & Company provides a complete breakdown of every cost and allowance item that is selected by the buyer before the contract is signed. The allowance items include cabinets, appliances, flooring, tile, lighting fixtures and many other things. By selecting what is wanted in the home upfront, it allows us to get exact pricing which allows the buyer to add or delete based on the cost of each item.  

Anyone who is spending the kind of money it takes to build a new home, should enjoy the process and when done properly, should be an enjoyable and satisfying experience for all.

Home Maintenance: Painting and Caulking

PAINTING & CAULKING: as caulk shrinks, small cracks begin and moisture begins to enter the walls. Same with cracks in your stucco. Cracking is a normal process but again, moisture begins to enter the walls. Over time, if the cracks aren’t repaired, everything from rot to mold issues begin. The painting industry has made great strides over the last few years in developing products to last longer. Here in Florida with the baking heat, our quick afternoon showers cause temperature and humidity changes which promote cracking. SOLUTION: walk around your home every 6 months and inspect the caulking around the windows, door openings, siding and trim or stucco and look for any gaps or cracks. Purchase clear paintable caulk and seal any areas that need it and you shouldn’t have to repaint the whole house.

Purpose of the blog

R.L. Gordon and Company, an experienced home builder in Central Florida, offers this blog to share announcements, advice and tips for their customers and web site visitors. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact us.