Katy Edition | July 2022

GUIDE

Local businesses oer home improvement tips

2022 REAL ESTATE EDITION

HOME IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE

ASK A PAINTER

Whether the paint is going inside or outside of the house, Dan Johnson, owner of CertaPro Painters, advises homeowners to use quality paint.

COMPILED BY ILANA WILLIAMS

sheen, [known as] the shininess to the nish. Sheen makes it easier for the wall to be cleaned. HOW DO YOU HELP CUSTOMERS FIND QUALITY PAINT? We use whatever paint the homeowners would like. We will ... ask them questions like, ‘Do you plan on staying in the house long-term?’, ‘What’s your budget?’ and, ‘Do you have small children that might make a mess on the walls?’ to help determine what quality of paint is best. WHEN IS IT BETTER FOR A PAINTING COMPANY TO PAINT A HOUSE RATHER THAN THE HOMEOWNER? It depends on the skill sets of the homeowners and the tools that they have. Some homeowners are extremely handy and enjoy that type of thing. Plus, they need to have the tools to be able to do it.

WHAT DO HOMEOWNERS NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE THEY GET THEIR HOMES PAINTED? Exterior painting is more important than interior because it provides [ultraviolet] and water protection for the house. Interior painting tends to be more for aesthetics. When painting the interior, a higher quality of paint will have better color and be easier to clean. WHAT SORT OF PREPARATIONS ARE NEEDED BEFORE STARTING A PAINTING PROJECT? Color choice is a big consideration. If you’re going to do an exterior color change, you have to get approval [from the homeowners association], which can take [from] 24 to 48 hours to several weeks. Quality of paint is another factor [to consider] before getting started. Something that’s often overlooked is

ASK AN HVAC TECHNICIAN

In the Texas heat, keeping a cool house is important. Kim Svetlik, co-owner of True Fix A/C & Heating, provides ways to keep heating, ventilation and air conditioning—or HVAC—units in good condition for the hot summer days.

WHAT ARE COMMON REASONS FOR POOR INDOOR AIR FLOW? Shutting vents is not a good idea because you are supposed to have air ow through the home. The way a technician puts in the units and ductwork needs to have an even ow throughout the house. HOW LONG SHOULD A HOMEOWNER WAIT TO REPLACE THEIR UNITS? People try to replace parts one at a time, but when you put old parts with new ones, it doesn’t extend the unit’s life. Quality units can work for up to eight years.

WHY IS MAINTENANCE IMPORTANT? If [homeowners] don’t keep up with the necessary things that need to be cleaned and changed, it will shorten the life of the equipment or cause a malfunction. We do not recommend cleaning air ducts often, but we replace ductwork that’s very old or suered damage. Instead [of the ductwork], the lters are what’s important to get changed often. Some people change their lters every month, which is more often than you have to. If you change your lters at least quarterly, then your house breathes better.

Dan Johnson Owner CertaPro Painters 5608 Fifth St., Katy 346-257-2982 www.certapro.com/katy-tx

Kim Svetlik Co-owner True Fix A/C & Heating 25218 Lakeview Road, Katy 281-392-9334 www.truexairconditioning.com

GEORGE BUSH DR.

5TH ST.

WEATHER READY AT HOME In addition to preparing for disasters by stockpiling food and water, homeowners can prepare themselves and their homes for severe weather events through home maintenance and repairs.

Measures that can be taken:

Renovations: while updating appliances, ooring, walls and windows

Construction: during the design phase of a new home or addition

Now: immediately and are renter-friendly

Windows & doors

R C Plants Trees can protect

Walls & oors

Roofs

Insulating pipes with foam sleeves can protect them from extreme temperatures. N R C

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N R C

Weather stripping can protect doors and windows from rain and external moisture.

Overhanging roofs can shade windows from the sun while still allowing indirect light in.

sunny sides of buildings. Native trees are best adapted to the home’s climate.

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N R C

Using mold-resistant insulation can improve air quality, especially in homes that are humid or prone to ooding.

Solar panel installation can be paired with a smart inverter for optimal energy use.

Thermal curtains can protect against both extreme heat and cold while conserving energy.

SOURCES: HOUSTON ADVANCED RESEARCH CENTER, TEXAS STATE ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICECOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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KATY EDITION • JULY 2022