Community Advocate • Spring Home Improvement • Friday, April 4, 2014 • 5
Think spring! Don’t wait to start planning home improvements By Valerie Franchi Contributing Writer
Region – Even though there is still snow on the ground, it is not too early to start thinking about spring and cleaning up your home and yard. Spring is also a perfect season to think about adding a deck for summer barbecues or making any necessary repairs before next winter. Mike Jackson of Five Star Painting said customers start thinking about improvements up to a year before they actually start calling contractors and getting estimates. “Everybody wants it done as soon as possible when the weather improves,” he said. Jackson recommends scheduling early – before the snow melts – to make sure the contractor will be available when you want them. Exterior painting needs to wait until there are constant 45-degree temperatures and the ground has hardened for ladders. But Five Star Painting can do other jobs earlier, such as pressure washing and exterior wood replacement. They also do interior painting and have recently added epoxy garage and cellar floors to their list of specialties. “Everything soup to nuts,” Jackson said. The same goes for more extensive renovations such as siding, roof repair, window replacement or gutter installation. Advantage Siding Inc., will provide a free estimate and custom-tailor a plan to fit each individual homeowner’s needs. With over 30 years of experience, Advantage uses the highest quality materials backed by the best warranties in the industry. Of course, if you are a doit-yourselfer, Taylor Rental in Westborough has the equipment you need – both large and small. For the home exterior, they rent pressure washers and paint sprayers. For yards, they carry lawn movers, hedge and weed trimmers, leaf blowers, gas chain saws, thatchers and aerators to get your lawn in top quality shape for the summer. “Some snow melts and all of a sudden they see their lawn and realize it’s time to
clean up the winter debris and get their yard ready for summer,” explained owner Gene Boudreau. For those without a lot of storage space, renting equipment is a great option. It also means not having to maintain expensive equipment every year. Other touch-ups to your home’s exterior may include repairing or patching concrete sidewalks, steps and other fixtures around the home. Small Load Concrete can deliver concrete for repairs or to build new features to get your home ready for the good weather. A concrete patio can create a place for outdoor gettogethers, for example, or a handicapped ramp can provide better access to the home. “Large companies cannot afford to deliver concrete to homeowners or small contractors, so we do,” owner Peter Amorello said. His business
delivers all over Worcester County, three seasons out of four, he noted. “Now is a great time to call to set up a delivery,” he said. Although it seems like a long way off, homeowners will be needing air conditioning sooner than they know. According to Paul Robbins of Al’s Oil, “you should absolutely should have your AC overhauled and condenser cleaned after snow is gone to flush out any dirt and debris.” Al’s Oil has been supplying Central Massachusetts with low cost heating oil for over 11 years, providing everything from installations to cleanings. “Cleanliness equals efficiency and saving money,” Robbins said. According to the U.S. Energy Star website, improper installation of high-efficiency equipment can reduce its efficiency by up to 30 percent.
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COAN Heating & Air Conditioning “adheres strictly to the manufacturers’ installation and service requirements so that customers reap the full return on their conservation investments.” For COAN, delivering fuel is just one of the services that homes and businesses need. “Heating and cooling systems require regular preventive maintenance to operate reli-
ably and efficiently and extend equipment life,” their website said. “Heating and cooling equipment also should be upgraded periodically to take advantage of advancements in energy-saving technology.” Spring will be here before we know it. Don’t wait to schedule home repairs, improvements and maintenance so you can have time to enjoy a relaxing summer.
Contact information for the vendors listed in this story: Five Star Painting, 508-479-8040 Taylor Rental Westborough taylorrentalwestboro.com, 508-366-1336 Small Load Concrete smallloadconcrete.com, 508-770-1200 Advantage Siding advantagesidinginc.com, 774-248-4810 Al’s Oil, alsoil.com, 508-753-7221 Coan Heating and Air Conditioning coanoil.com, 800-262-6462
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