Ideal Homes takes a proactive approach to deter potential home ownership mishaps. Even addressing issues before they happen leaves room for error. Our warranties help eliminate financial burdens that may arise in the event something does go awry.

Our Customer Care Team visits our home owners at 60 days and eleven months after residing in the home. This is to address anything which can be covered under our one-year builder warranty & to ensure all expectations are met.

One thing which helps home owners avoid unnecessary mishaps is education. Frozen pipes can plague even the most savvy home owner.

Tolle states the following in regards to avoiding this cold and costly issue:

Unhook hoses or any applications to exterior faucets during below freezing temperatures.  These can hold water in the faucets causing it to break inside the wall. (See the faucet image.) The next time the exterior faucet is used, water may leak into the wall due to the break. Exterior faucets affected by freeze breaks are not covered under warranty and may become a costly repair expense.

When temperatures drop to freezing level ensure avoidance of frozen interior pipes by leaving a steady drip in water through faucets most affected by the decreased temperature. It is also helpful to open cabinets and circulate the warmer air to keep the pipes warmer. If the air is still too cold, caulk and seal any openings near the pipes.

Check out our last blog post about year round lawn health.  If you have tidbits of advice you would like to share, email kboone@ideal-homes.com.

Visit Ideal Homes to learn more about our company, products and communities.

Our Director of Customer Care, Chad Tolle, is our new homeowner’s best resource for home health advice. Our  E-Newsletter, Tolle’s Toolbox, will circulate bi-monthly and tie back to different tips he and the Customer Care Team share through our blog.

The first tidbits regarding yard maintenance are crucial given this mild temperature we have had so far this winter season. One surefire way to watch a potentially beautiful lawn deteriorate is by not quenching its thirst throughout the seasons.

Tolle states the following in regards to wetting your lawn’s whistle:

Continue to water new sod, shrubs and trees as weather permits.  Grass turns brown and trees lose leaves due to changes in seasons. Make sure to still care for lawn and landscaping.

Winter can bring precipitation, and yet Oklahoma weather is anything but predictable.  If climate dictates no moisture for a week and the temperatures are mild enough to do so, it’s time to water. Watering the grass during winter months can continue to help secure root establishment. This will assist in making  greener, healthier lawns when the season changes.

Another thing to consider – avoid herbicides if your lawn is less than a year old. Herbicide will kill your dormant Bermuda. This will leave your lawn in disarray upon the arrival of spring.

We will post more advice soon. If you have tidbits of advice you would like to share regarding home health, email kboone@ideal-homes.com.

Visit Ideal Homes to learn more about our company, products and communities.

Building an energy efficient new home is not about one isolated component- it’s treating the home as a system.  Many people (and builders unfortunately) equate an efficient and healthy home solely with the heating and cooling unit and the type of interior material used in the home – like low VOC paint, etc.  While those elements are important, the biggest impact on your home’s efficiency and your family’s health starts before the sheet rock is on the home.  Two often overlooked contributors are:

1.  Tightly sealed ducts in the new home

2.  A fresh-air strategy

Here is how we tackle the first of these issues in every new Ideal home:

Which method do you want in your attic?

Ideal Homes’ Foil Flex Duct System has the greatest impact on energy efficiency.  Based on an independent market evaluation of new homes in Oklahoma City, the average air leakage is 25 to 30 percent in overhead spaces as the ducts move air from the unit to other areas of the home.  This is in new homes – just imagine the leakage in older homes.  What does this mean to homeowners?  They spend one quarter of their monthly bill to heat and cool their attic. Verified by a third party expert the Ideal Homes system guarantees five percent or less air leakage.  We utilize a Mylar backed insulation to wrap the ducts  This acts as a thermos to reduce temperature exchange.  We also use a mastic sealant around the joints secured with vinyl tie straps for the best non-conductive, hardened fit.

Once the home is sealed tight, it is vital to have a fresh-air strategy for your home.  Everyday living produces a lot of moisture in your home.  Consider this; the average single-family home uses 80 gallons of water per person each day.  That’s a lot of moisture in a home.  We also know vehicles leak fumes into homes from garages.  When we build an Ideal home, we want to make sure families are breathing the freshest air possible at all times.  We are happy to share our processes openly with those who inquire.

In a later post, we will discuss the fresh-air ventilation strategy used by Ideal Homes in every new home in Oklahoma City.

That was quite a hail storm on Sunday!  Unless you’re one of the fortunate few, you’re probably hearing from some roofers this week. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Unless you are a pro, roofing is not a DIY project. Which means that the guys are out in force, knocking on your door, leaving brochures, telling you everything you want to hear. That is: “We’ll fix it, and you won’t owe anything.”

For some of us it’s not exactly going to work out that way, which is another story, but there are things you can and should ask before you hire anyone.

If you haven’t done so, be sure to file a claim with your insurance company. Not only does this get the process started, but they may have specific vendors they want you to use.

If you’re on your own to select a roofer, be sure to ask for the following:

• Full name and address of the company – Someone based near your home may give you quicker service.
• Proof of license, bonding capability, liability and Workers’ Compensation insurance. Don’t forget to get the same information for sub-contractors
• Company history – How long have they been in business, are they members of national roofing associations, and are there any pending legal actions against the company?
• Customer references – Ask them to include someone who had a complaint, so you can get an idea of how the company handled it
• Get a written contract – The contract must include total price, deposit (how much and when due – 20% is reasonable), payment instructions, the company’s guarantee and manufacturer’s warranties, and latest start date. Ensure that the estimate includes replacement vent flanges and flashing, not reused materials. The contract also should include a written description of how unexpected costs, such as rotting roof decking, will be handled. Always get a written estimate for add-on expenses before authorizing the work.
• Make sure the company obtains the REQUIRED permits.
• Ask about the repair process – Be sure the crew will not remove more roof than they can replace in a single day and that they have enough tarps to cover the roof in case of bad weather.
• Be sure the estimate includes clean-up, hauling away old roofing materials and project trash, and that the contract amount covers costs for the dumpster, hauling and dumping. Don’t forget to have them go over your yard with magnets to find stray nails.

You should get:

• Written proposal
• Signed written contract
  

About payment:

• Never pay in cash.
• Don’t pay in full until the work has been completed and passed the final permit inspection.
• Don’t pay in full until you have received both material and worker’s liens.