Spring Maintenance

Sticky Spring Maintenance  

It looks like the cold may be moving on. And Spring is moving in. What is that old saying? "April showers bring May flowers." Those showers can also cause doors and windows to stick. The cold winter has most likely caused damage to the wood. Spring rains come along and the wood swells, causing doors and windows to stick because they are no longer the right size. While this is of course irritating, the bigger issue is it can cause further damage. One of the ways you can keep your insurance rates lower is to take good care of your home. A home is disrepair is more hazardous to insure, so it will be more expensive to insure. 

What can you do for a sticky door or window?

Often this is an easy fix. Start by marking where the door or window is sticking. Start with some sand paper and sand down the area a little bit at a time until it no longer sticks. Now, don't go crazy with the sander. It is much harder to add to the dimensions of the door/window, so go slow. Often, this is all you will need to do.  But if this doesn't help, you will need to take the door or window off. Now here is where you decide if you are a Do It Yourself kind of person. If not, call an expert! If you decide to take the project on, you will start by propping the door securely on a flat surface. Use a hand plane (which can be bought at any hardware store) and remove any excess material. Start small- remember you don't want to remove too much. The door will shrink during the summer dry times and then the gap will be too wide. That won't help you much- and it will be much harder to fix! Some of you DIY lifers may want to go for that Power Plane- I would rethink that option. Usually a hand plane will be all the power you will need. (So stow your pride on this one!)

* You can often avoid the sticking in the first place by making sure you doors and windows are sealed with a good coat of paint- don't forget the top and the bottom. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it doesn't need protection!

   Keeping your home in good condition is a great way to keep your insurance costs down. Damage can lead to claims, which can lead to higher premiums, both with your current carrier and with other carriers when you decide to shop and possibly switch carriers. It makes no sense to pay higher premiums if you can avoid it!

There are three ways to request a quote for your insurance needs: 

* Visit our website

* Email us

* Call Brockman Premier Insurance at 877-987-8683