How to Apply Grout on a Backsplash

 

I’ve gotten a couple of requests lately for how to deal with the backsplash grout caulking separating from the countertop. That’s why today I’ll teach you how to apply grout on a backsplash.

You will need a grout sponge, a putty knife or scraper, a caulk gun, and the grout caulking. Begin by using the scraper to remove the old, dry caulking. Wipe the old stuff off the counter or use a vacuum. Sometimes it comes off in a neat string, and sometimes it comes off in bits and pieces.

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Fixing the grout is fairly simple.

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You want to keep your grout sponge as dry as possible. Get it damp and wring it out very well. If you put too much water on, the caulking will come out light-colored and watery-looking. Taking the caulk gun, cut the tip off an eighth of an inch. Apply a small bead between the backsplash and the counter and draw it across. 

Finally, take the sponge and wipe it across a couple of times. This keeps the line smooth so there’s not too much product on there.

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

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Tips for Maintaining Your Charleston Home During This Heavy Winter

After heavy snowfall this winter, you might be wondering about how you should be taking care of your Charleston Home. Here are some tips from our Warranty Manager to keep everything in check.

Today we’re delighted to be joined by assistant warranty manager Todd Hansen. Since it's been a heck of a winter this year with all the snow we’ve gotten, I wanted to talk to him about some of the questions he’s been getting.

As far as snow on the roof is concerned, this is something that’s more of a concern with older homes. In our homes, we use roof trusses that are actually designed for a heavy snow load. Our homeowners don’t have to be concerned about any kind of snow on the roof, unless we have six or eight feet up there. Most have under a foot, which isn’t anything to worry about.

Another thing we’ve noticed a lot is overflowing gutters and downspouts full of ice. Although some of the ice will melt as a result of the dark color of the roof, he recommends using some heat tape in the gutter to keep water from freezing and help it drain to the ground. It’s important to keep the ends of your gutters clear, however, to make sure water flows away from the foundation of the house. If things are backed up and water flows towards the house, that could make things dicey.

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We don’t recommend using any traditional ice melt.

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For ice and snow-packed areas, we still don’t recommend any ice melt. The freezing and thawing will cause driveways and walkways to peel off, which is called spalling. It wears away at the finish a lot faster than it should. Instead, we recommend putting down sand, gravel, or kitty litter to add traction and protect your concrete.

Finally, make sure to keep your garage swept out. You don’t want to spray it out in the winter, so use a broom or shop vac instead. In the spring, we do recommend that you hose out your garage to get any of that salt residue that’s left behind out. We also recommend caulking and sealing your driveway once things warm up.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Tips for Maintaining Your Charleston Home This Winter

If you have a new home, it will start to lose moisture after a few years.
In the cold, you need that moisture to keep your home structurally sound.

When you buy one of our new homes, there is typically a lot of moisture in the home at first and it takes a while for it to dry out. However, by the second or third winter you have in the home, things will start to dry out. It’s important that you are aware of this and that you take steps to control the humidity in your home during the winter. We’ve got some things for you to look out for today that will assist you in the process.

The first thing to look out for is the settling, or drying out, of your drywall, your trim, and your wood floors. When it gets colder, the wood will start to shrink and you might see a little gap in some of the floorboards. If you have a wood floor, you don’t want your moisture reading to be any lower than 45%. If it is, you may have to invest in a humidifier.

Another thing to keep in mind in the winter is to make sure you turn on those exhaust fans when you shower. Their purpose is to help eliminate moisture content in the house. The excess humidity that comes from hot water isn’t good for the materials in your home. Too much humidity can cause damage if it sticks around too long. Let that exhaust fan run for an extra 15 minutes after you turn the shower off.

“

Wood tends to dry out

and shrink in the winter.

”

As the weather turns colder, you’ll also start to see some shrinkage cracks on your tile and backsplash on the counters. The backsplash has a caulked joint that can separate a bit as things dry out. You might also see some hairline cracks at the top of your ceiling. Doors may stick or rub a bit. The key to combatting this is controlling that humidity level in your home.

Finally, let’s talk about your HVAC system. The warmest areas in your home will be the areas nearest to the furnace, or the upstairs if you have a two-story home. The rooms that are furthest away from the furnace will be cooler in the winter months. As a homeowner, you will need to fine-tune and tweak the system to your liking and needs. You can close vents in some of the warmer areas to allow air to move to other parts of the home.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eleven new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Quick and Simple Driveway Maintenance Tips

Winter may seem far off, but now is the perfect time to protect your driveway against the damage that comes with those cold, upcoming months.

Winter may seem like it’s a long way away, but now is the time to start preparing your home for the harsh months ahead. Today we’ll be specifically discussing the importance of maintaining your driveway, which can see a lot of damage during cold conditions. Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to browse specific points at your leisure: 0:15 - Why driveway maintenance matters. 0:30 - Which tools you will need. 1:55 - Which steps to take first. 2:44 - A demonstration and explanation of how to use a reciprocating saw and caulking gun. 4:45 - How to use dry play sand over caulked joints. 5:20 - How, why, and where to apply concrete sealer. 8:40 - Driveway maintenance tips to follow once winter arrives. If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

How to Prepare Your Home for Fall and Winter

Colder weather is setting in with fall and winter just around the corner. At this time of year, there are a few key ways you need to be maintaining your home in preparation. 

With fall arriving soon and winter on the horizon, it’s time to talk about the ways you can prepare your home for the later seasons of the year. Taking care of your home during fall and winter months is an important part of year-round maintenance.

First of all, caulking and sealing your driveway is very important—especially before winter. When this is done, a penetrating sealer is applied to the garage floor and driveway in order to prevent road salts or brine from seeping into your concrete. Winter weather means that salt and brine will collect on your tires from the road—a driveway that isn’t sealed properly will absorb these materials and eventually sustain both cosmetic and practical damage.

Caulking the control joints, especially on homes facing north or east, is going to allow you to keep moisture from collecting beneath the slab of your driveway. If too much water collects and freezes beneath your driveway, it can result in a process called frost heave.

Frost heave occurs when an increasing amount of ice grows to the point where the above layers of ground, in this case concrete, are lifted. This can cause the driveway to crack and even become unlevel next to the garage floor.

There are also things you can do to maintain your yard in the fall and winter months. September is a great time to apply a fall fertilizer as well as an overseeding of the yard. Rye, a fescue/bluegrass mix, or just straight bluegrass are all great options for most yards.

Right up against buildings, such as along the foundation of the garage, you may notice dirt settlement. To fix this, you could either pull back the sod, apply dirt, and relay, or you could simply cover it up by reseeding over the top of the problem areas.

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 Taking care of your home during fall and winter months is an important part of year-round maintenance.

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Insects will also become an issue during the cooler months. Be sure to spray for any insects trying to find their way inside your home. You could either seek professional help or purchase an over-the-counter spray yourself. Spiders are the pest that people primarily look out for. One of the best places to spray is between the foundation and siding, since that is where spiders and other pests will often find their way in.

If you have access to a pressure washer, clean the siding of any spiderwebs. You can also achieve this with a regular garden hose. Remember to be especially careful when doing this on vinyl siding, since the layers could peel and disconnect. After your house is clean and dry will be the best time to do a perimeter spray for insects. You can treat your lawn to repel bugs, as well.

Additionally, make sure that all the proper areas on and around your home are tightly sealed. This will prevent larger pests like rodents from entering your home. Make sure patio doors, garage doors, and other similar features are properly sealed.

If your house is equipped with wooden fences or decks, consider sealing these as well. Gently power washing your deck before you apply any stain can help to restore the natural vibrancy of the wood. If you don’t own a power washer, you can also use a deck wash from any local hardware store in conjunction with your garden hose.

Fireplace vents are another place to check before fall and winter months arrive. Check for bird nests here and in exhaust and fresh-air intake pipes. It is important to remove any nests from areas like these. You could use a leaf blower or garden hose to help remove the smaller pieces from the vent.

Finally, clean the coils of your air conditioning unit. Rinsing out any possible debris will help them to stay in better condition.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Is Your Sump Pump Working Correctly?

Sump pumps are essential to keeping your basement dry, but you need to check them regularly to make sure they’re functioning properly. Here’s how to do that.

Today we want to educate you a little bit about the sump pumps we install for our clients and the water alarms we typically offer for these sump pumps. Follow along with us in the video above for a step-by-step tutorial of each product’s function.

The water alarm is a small mechanism that alerts you when there’s something wrong with your sump pump. These alarms are powered by 9-volt batteries, which you’ll want to change once a year. A good rule of thumb is to change them whenever you change your smoke alarms.

These units come in different styles, some of which are smartphone-compatible. These alarms also have a separate connection switch on the bottom that activates the alarm whenever water makes contact with two sensors.

When it comes to the water pump itself, you should check it every spring to make sure it’s working. Ideally you want to check it year-round, but in the springtime, inspection is especially important. To check the pump, remove the lid and listen and look for any amount of water in the pit below.

At any given time there could be water down there, so that’s not a bad thing. If there’s a foul smell emanating from it, you can pour some bleach down there periodically to take care of it. The bottom of the pit is sealed, so any water the pump doesn’t pump out will evaporate instead of dissipate.

The pump styles we have feature two electrical cords. The first of which is for the stand-alone float inside the pit that activates whenever the water level rises. The second cord is for the pump itself. By connecting the two and plugging them into the nearest electrical outlet, you’re turning on the pump and the float. To check if the pump is working, simply plug its cord into the outlet separately.

It’s important to remember to unplug the pump after you’re done. If you leave it plugged in, you’ll damage the pump. On the outside of the property, you’ll want to check that the extension pipe is at least three to four feet away from the house and still connected.

The purpose of the sump pump is to keep the basement as dry as possible and remove any rainwater or groundwater from the over-dig area within two or three feet of the foundation. We use a tar-based waterproofing spray and a four-inch perforated pipe drain tile that runs along the exterior of the home with gravel piled on top. As the water trickles down the foundation wall, it’s collected into the drain tiles, filtered into the pit, and then pumped outside beyond the excavated area of the foundation.

Always keep a close eye on your pump in case it malfunctions. You never know when something might get unplugged or the ground fault circuit interrupter might get tripped.

Feel free to browse our website and check out our model homes. In the meantime, if you have any other questions about sump pumps, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Some Quick, Helpful Tips for Maintaining Your New Home This Winter

If you have a new home, it will start to lose moisture after a few years.
In the cold, you need that moisture to keep your home structurally sound.

When you buy one of our new homes, there is typically a lot of moisture in the home at first and it takes a while for it to dry out. However, by the second or third winter you have in the home, things will start to dry out. It’s important that you are aware of this and that you take steps to control the humidity in your home during the winter. We’ve got some things for you to look out for today that will assist you in the process.

The first thing to look out for is the settling, or drying out, of your drywall, your trim, and your wood floors. When it gets colder, the wood will start to shrink and you might see a little gap in some of the floorboards. If you have a wood floor, you don’t want your moisture reading to be any lower than 45%. If it is, you may have to invest in a humidifier.

Another thing to keep in mind in the winter is to make sure you turn on those exhaust fans when you shower. Their purpose is to help eliminate moisture content in the house. The excess humidity that comes from hot water isn’t good for the materials in your home. Too much humidity can cause damage if it sticks around too long. Let that exhaust fan run for an extra 15 minutes after you turn the shower off.

“

Wood tends to dry out

and shrink in the winter.

”

As the weather turns colder, you’ll also start to see some shrinkage cracks on your tile and backsplash on the counters. The backsplash has a caulked joint that can separate a bit as things dry out. You might also see some hairline cracks at the top of your ceiling. Doors may stick or rub a bit. The key to combatting this is controlling that humidity level in your home.

Finally, let’s talk about your HVAC system. The warmest areas in your home will be the areas nearest to the furnace, or the upstairs if you have a two-story home. The rooms that are furthest away from the furnace will be cooler in the winter months. As a homeowner, you will need to fine-tune and tweak the system to your liking and needs. You can close vents in some of the warmer areas to allow air to move to other parts of the home.

If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Is Your Home Ready for Winter Weather?

Winter is almost here, so it’s time to go outside and make sure that the exterior of your home is ready for the cold weather. Today, we’ll go over our top winterizing tips for you.

Today, we’ll go over a few things you should take care of on the exterior of your home before winter weather hits. For example, as temperatures get cooler, you need to drain your sprinklers. You can do that yourself, but we recommend having someone professionally winterize them. They will come out with a compressor and blow out all of the water in the pipes so that none of it freezes. When water freezes in pipes, the pipes expand and burst, which can cause major water damage. You should also make sure to disconnect your hoses. Failing to do so could lead to water damage. While you’re outside taking care of that, you can even put down some winter fertilizer. Most people aerate and fertilize their lawns during the fall, but putting down a winter fertilizer will get your lawn totally ready for spring. Check your caulking and the condition of your concrete. Caulking prevents excess water from going beneath the concrete slabs in your walkways or driveway. In the winter, that water can freeze and lift up the concrete slabs. Fresh caulking will help you prevent that problem.

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Use sand or pea gravel instead

of de-icing agents on your walkways.

”

You should also seal your driveway to protect it from the de-icing agents applied by the city road crews. Your car’s tires will collect road salt and deposit it in the driveway, which can create pitting in your driveway. Sealant will also protect your driveway from oil spills and extra moisture from winter snows and spring rains.

When it does snow, it is incredibly important that you remove snow from your driveway quickly, or you will risk damaging the concrete. Don’t use salt or de-icing agents on your walkways. Instead, use some sand, pea gravel, or kitty litter to prevent people from slipping on your sidewalk.

As you tour the exterior of your home, check your exhaust and fresh air intakes to make sure they are free and clear of any obstructions, like bird nests. If you have a fireplace, make sure that the fireplace vent is clean as well.

Finally, pay attention to the exterior caulking on your home. Caulking can shrink and separate over the years. Seal them up to keep your home warm and lower your energy bills during the winter months.

If you have any other questions about preparing your home for winter, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our eight new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

How to Maintain Your Home's Exterior This Spring

Spring is upon is here in Omaha, so today we’re going to talk about the upcoming weather conditions and how it relates to the exterior of your home. We are going to take a look at one of our model homes today and show you some things you can do to make sure your home is fresh and ready for the year ahead. 

One of the most important things to pay attention to is the caulking and sealing of your driveway. We use self-leveling caulk, which most hardware stores carry. To reseal your driveway, follow these steps:

1. Cut the caulking bag open.

2. Load it into a caulking gun.

3. Clean out all of your control joints

4. Slowly apply the caulk in 2-foot sections.

5. After applying, spread evenly by using your finger (make sure to have a rag handy).

Another important part of your home that may get overlooked are your downspout extensions. These extensions carry the rain and melted snow from your roof down away from the foundation. If they break off at the connection, they will drain right into your foundation and just recycle the water back into your sump pit. It’s important that your downspout flows away from your home.

There are a few things to keep an eye out for on the sides of your home’s exterior. On one side, you will have your A/C as well as a furnace exhaust pipe and a furnace intake pipe. For the exhaust, make sure the area where the tubes meet with the house is sealed and caulked tightly. For your air conditioner, give it a light spray from the hose to make sure there aren’t any cotton or dust particles in there. 

Settling is another thing that gets overlooked often. To remedy any uneven or low surfaces on the ground outside of your home, pull the sod up, add some dirt in underneath, and pull the sod back over. Any low-lying areas next to your home could be holding water that could ruin your foundation and cause your basement to flood. 

The home in the video above has vinyl siding, but a lot of our homes have either LP or Hardboard siding. Regardless of the type, there is going to be some caulking you will need to maintain periodically. 

It’s important to check all of these things periodically throughout the year to avoid costly repairs and maintain your home’s value. Watch the video to learn even more tips! If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 

If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our 8 new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

What Are You Responsible for as a Homeowner?

Know anyone who's interested in building a home? 
If you have any friends, family, or co-workers who are looking to own their first or second home - would you forward this message to them? We'll be happy to show them our 6 new construction home plans along with the benefits of owning a Charleston Home so they can make a decision that's right for them.

Today, I want to briefly cover the differences between homeowner warranty and homeowner maintenance. From time to time, we get some questionable calls from homeowners, so we thought we would explain this topic in some detail today.

Let's start off in the kitchen. The area where the counter meets the back-splash is a grout caulking. If any of the grout chips out, it is covered under warranty. However, if the grout caulking starts to wear, all you have to do is caulk it using a caulking gun, which is relatively inexpensive and easy to do yourself. 

Another maintenance item you should keep an eye on and maintain is where the under mount sink meets with the counter-top. About once a year you'll want to make sure it's neatly caulked. Additionally, transitions from the window frame to the actual window also need to be caulked with acrylic caulking.

Moving to the front entryway of the house, you'll want to check your closure on your storm doors. Periodically you may need to push the adjustment screw in or out to adjust how fast or slow the door closes. The further in the screw is, the slower the door closes, the further out the screw is, the faster the door will move. You also want to check your front door entryway thresholds. Make sure the door isn't rubbing in order to keep from tearing the weather-stripping.

As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining your own yard. This includes regular fertilization, watering, and mowing. As long as you don't change or alter anything, warranties cover just about all electrical. As a homeowner, you're responsible for replacing light-bulbs, even if they're very high up.

At the new home orientation, your builder will walk you through the home, room by room, and go over not only the ins and outs of the house, but also all imperfections that might exist. All imperfections will be addressed by your builder before close. After closing, if you happen to scuff up a wall or two while moving in, you can find the flat paint downstairs so that you can touch it up after closing.

In the bathrooms, you want to make sure the inside corners of your tiled shower stay caulked, as well as your tub if it has tiled area around it. Any wet areas should be checked routinely to ensure no separation has occurred.

Next, make sure you change out the 9V battery in your smoke detectors. Although the fire alarms are hardwired together, the battery serves as a backup; if a wire is severed, all fire alarms will still send an audible signal in the event of a fire. Once you've replaced the battery, press and hold the reset button to reset all of smoke detectors. This will let out an audible alarm as a test throughout the house, and should be done once a year.

I haven't covered all the differences between maintenance and warranty items, but this is a very good start. If you have any questions about new home construction, or if you would like our assistance, don't hesitate to call us or visit our models.