Preventative Maintenance: Sunscreen For Your Home

Proactive Preventative Maintenance

If you are like most people, you take measures every day to maintain your health and likely your personal appearance as well.  You wake up and brush your teeth.  You eat healthy foods and exercise (ok, well you at least try!).  You wear sunscreen and schedule regular check-ups at your doctor and dentist.  You use moisturizer on your skin and avoid too much sugar in your diet.  Whatever your method(s) of self-perseverance, you make active decisions to implement these practices into your daily schedule because they are important.  

Much like you, your home requires constant maintenance and care to maintain its longevity and appearance - especially the more it ages.  Much like sunscreen can reduce physical damage and outward signs of aging to your skin, preventative maintenance to your home keeps it healthier and younger for longer.  This becomes even more critical as time goes by and regular maintenance and upkeep are necessary to avoid major and costly repairs.  At this point you might be wondering what exactly preventative maintenance entails.  The following are examples of measures you can take now to safeguard your home from future damage:

• Roofing, Gutter, and Downspout inspections and repairs
• Inspect roofs for open penetrations and make sure that crickets and waterways are clear of debris
• Clean gutters and downspouts to prevent build up of leaves and other debris.  Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot problems, pest infestations, and rusting.  
• Make sure that all support brackets are securely in place.
• Windows & Doors
• Inspect and repair any loose or damaged windows, doors, and trims
• Check weather stripping and caulking around the windows and replace as necessary to help deter water intrusion.
• Heating & Cooling Systems
• Clean or replace the filter in your furnace monthly.
• Consider having a HVAC professional check your system to ensure optimal performance and discover minor problems before they turn into costly major repairs.
• Clean your ducts in accordance with your systems requirements to better your cooling/heating systems efficiency.
• Deck Maintenance & Waterproofing
• Decks should be inspected on an annual basis and maintained every 3-5 years.
• A mild solution of TPS and water should be used every month by homeowners to clean decks with deck coatings.
• Wood Replacement
• Identification, treatment, and/or replacement of damaged wood materials caused by infestation of fungi is key to avoiding costly and potentially dangerous structural damage to your property.  

Water Damage Restoration at OCBS

Unchecked water damage to your unit can lead to exorbitant costs and hazardous conditions down the road.  It is important to take the appropriate steps to prevent future water intrusion, restore the damaged area to its original condition, and remediate any mold growth that may have occurred.  


Here are the steps we recommend that you take to restore your unit:

• Promptly identify and eliminate the source of the leak. If there is not a single, evident origin of the water intrusion, always consider and inspect multiple possible sources.
  
• The next important step is the removal and disposal of all wet materials.
  
• Begin thorough drying and dehumidification of all affected areas, including areas behind the walls and ceilings.
  
• Employ all appropriate cleaning and repair techniques as outlined in the IICRC Standards For Water S500.

Some common water-loss equipment used to respond to a water loss will include :

• Moisture Meters
• Thermohygrometers
• Extractors
• Air Movers
• Thermal-Imaging Cameras 
• Dehumidifiers 

Keys to minimizing the initial water damage:

Swift recognition, preferably within 24 hours, that a water leak has occurred is key to minimizing the damage to a property. In most cases it will be the tenant or homeowner who notices the leak.


Homeowners and tenants should be educated on the urgency of an immediate notice to the building owner, property manager, or insurance carrier when a leak occurs. As a property manager, consider requiring a detailed incident report for all water losses. 

Home Restoration Services

There really is no place like home!  Unfortunately, sometimes disaster strikes when we least expect it.  At OCBS we specialize in home and commercial restoration services.  That means that you can rest assured knowing that our skilled technicians are doing everything in there power to return your home to it's original condition (or better!).  Whether fire, flood, storm, or quake - we'll be there to help you pick up the pieces. 

*Ruby slippers not included  

 Call us today at 800|834|2323 or visit us online at www.ocbsonline.com

Here comes the rain again

The fortune tellers, sorry, weather forecasters predict a heavy week of rain in southern California.  Now is a good time to think about making needed replacements, repairs, and maintenance to your existing roof.  At OCBS, we have been providing excellent general contracting service for 30 years.  Call us today for a free estimate and inspection of your roof.  Our skilled technicians are on-call 24/7 in case of a roofing emergency.  800/834-2323

Ready for rainy weather?

Our journeyman level employees have been providing solid deck framing and waterproofing repairs since 1982. It's no coincidence that Orange Coast has a proven track record of repairing thousands of decks throughout Southern California.  Emergency?  No problem!  OCBS is available 24/7 for your construction emergencies.  Call us any time at 800/834-2323

Westcoat Specialty Coating Systems

  
Orange Coast Building Services proudly announces it is now a qualified contractor applicator for Westcoat speciality coating systems. OCBS is particularly excited about the potential to apply Westcoat products to both new and existing decks. The Westcoat system offers a great alternative to products that are no longer available or meet our high standards for quality deck coating and waterproofing systems.