Prevent Moisture from Forming Around Your Window Frame

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Prevent Moisture from Forming Around Your Window Frame

Thanks for tuning in! I’m Shaun Sterba, Warranty Manager at Charleston Homes and today I wanted to talk to you about condensation. Recently, I’ve been getting calls about condensation forming around window frames. Page 14 of our warranty book covers this topic, but I wanted to touch on it as well. Condensation is warm, moist air collecting on a cold surface (which your window in this case) and depending how cold it is, may freeze.

Everyday activities like cooking, cleaning and bathing contributes to putting excess warm moisture in the air. The moisture tries to find a place to escape by attaching itself to that cold surface. Brand new or newly remodeled homes will have a lot of that excess moisture, which is why we don’t recommend running a humidifier for the first year. However if you have to, run it a lower level.

To reduce condensation, make sure your dryer vent is attached properly, run your exhaust fan after bathing for an extra 30 minutes and periodically check your exhaust vents for proper ventilation. Also try opening your windows from time to time to allow fresh air in and the moist air to leave the home. You can also run a dehumidifier if necessary.

Thanks and have a great day!

Have You Noticed Anything Strange With Your Driveway?

Have You Noticed Anything Strange With Your Driveway?

Welcome back to our blog. With the recent blast of cold weather, I wanted to share with you what effects the weather can have on your home’s concrete. When we have a 50 degree day, you may notice some things with your driveway that you didn’t see in the fall or summer.

The place where you will notice this is at the point where your driveway meets the garage. When temperatures get very cold, the ground freezes anything with moisture and can expand up to 9%. When this happens, it is not uncommon for your driveway to be higher than your garage floor. For driveways facing the south or southwest, you won’t see this due to the driveway having more exposure to the sun. When the driveway was poured, we used re-bar (reinforcement bar) to allow the expansion so in the springtime, the driveway will lower again.

Don’t be alarmed! If you notice cracks in your driveway on a nice day (50 degrees or warmer), seal the crack with Vulkem to prevent any run off from your car sneaking in. Also, if you notice there is a lot of water pooling up in your garage, try and sweep it out as best as possible. If the water sits, it will creep down underneath and cause for more expansion.

Another thing to watch out for is the road salts that are spread on the roads during a snow or ice storm. The salts usually cover the bottom part of your driveway and can deteriorate the concrete if they aren’t swept off. Not only can the salt eat away at your driveway, snow packed on top of the salt can also cause damage as it will keep thawing and refreezing. If you come across a nice day, don’t hesitate to wash off your driveway!

Thanks for stopping by our blog. If you have any questions, visit our website or one of our model homes. Have a great day!