There are more than 3,000 component parts in an average new home design. A team of builders has carefully assembled these parts into a beautiful new home that you’ll spend years enjoying, but there can be some problems in the first year of home ownership. We’re happy to provide this easy guide to some common maintenance problems that arise in a new house.
What to Do When a Screw Pops
“Screw pops” occur when a screw that’s been fastened into the wall pops out of the plaster or drywall, causing an unsightly mark in your carefully-painted wall. While these are unpleasant, it’s not unusual for these to appear in the first year after a house is built. This occurs due to the moisture new walls drying out, which will often push the screws out.
These aren’t hard to fix. All you’ll need to do is fix the screw, then apply additional drywall compound over the screw. Let the drywall dry out, sand it as usual, and repaint over it. If you are building or living in a brand new house, it’s best to keep drywall compound and the same paint you used on the walls on hand in order to fix these, as they may appear frequently. Don’t worry: after the first year or so of your home’s life, you should stop seeing them altogether.
Caulk Cracks Are an Easy Fix
Caulk often cracks during the first year of a house’s life, due to the house drying out and settling. Unsightly cracks in the caulk aren’t just ugly, they can lead to leakage too. Just remove the caulk and apply new caulk. Once the house has settled, caulk cracks should appear much less often and with much less severity.
Squeaking Floors Can Be Silenced
Wooden floors frequently squeak in a house when there’s a great deal of humidity. The moisture in the air swells the cellulose in the wood, causing the boards to rub together and make a squeaking sound. This doesn’t seriously damage the structural integrity of your house, but can be annoying and can possibly lead to wear over time.
Fixing the squeak in your floor can be easy. You may wish to install a carpet screw in the joist of the floor, which will control the squeaks by holding the board firmly in place. You can also install a shim in the basement at the joists if the floor is above the basement. The Squeeeeek No More Floor Squeak Repair Kit is a great tool for this, containing everything you need to stop a squeaking floor.
No More Wood Scratches
Wood scratches can ruin the look of a nicely polished hardwood floor or piece of heirloom furniture. Fortunately, they’re easy to prevent and fix. To prevent furniture from creating scratches in hardwood floors when being moved, it’s easy to install nail-on furniture tacks. These have felt on them, so pushing them across the floor won’t leave any marks or scratches.
To fix scratches, use Minwax stain markers. These wood stain markers come in a variety of colors to suit every kind of wood. Apply carefully, and soon your floor or furniture will look good as new!
*** These issues do not point towards a lack of quality or craftsmanship of your home; they are minor maintenance issues that are part of the natural settling of a house, and can be easily resolved. Our team is happy to provide tips to fix these minor problems so you can enjoy a lifetime in your home. ***