Is It Cosmetic? Fixing Small Problems

​If you’ve read this blog before you know that at Boyd Construction, we offer a range of services in home improvement.
 
But how does that relate to the most common piece of our services to our customers, the property owners who call us to help maintain their homes and investment properties?
 
Well, first of all, there's the question of how people perform interventions in terms of property maintenance. In other words, it’s worth looking at how they figure out that something is wrong, and how they go about fixing it.
 
One big question is whether a problem is cosmetic in nature, or whether it interferes with the functionality of the property.
 
Roof Work
 
In the roof world, this equation is a little bit more strictly delineated.
 
A roof may come with a warranty, or a real estate transaction will show how much of a lifetime the roof has left. Then, on a certain timeline, the roof has to be replaced.
 
In the interim, it can be repaired, for example, with replacement shingles or some other type of repair.
 
Brick And Other Surfaces
 
When you're talking about maintaining other parts of your property, the question can be a little more ambiguous…
 
Most brick work is cosmetic in nature – the brick hasn't decayed to the point that it makes the building weaker. Instead, it just looks bad. There are certain interventions with brick and foundations that are functional, but a lot of times, the brick will just need to be pointed and re-mortared or even painted.
 
We have the ability to do these jobs, as well as power washing equipment and service to get surfaces clean before painting or other aesthetic fixes.
 
Dealing with Gutters
 
In the gutter world, early intervention is a must. Most of these projects are not cosmetic – they're functional. Property owners usually only figure it out after water has been diverted!
 
So that's a different type of work where we recommend preemptive inspection and service. Gutter work should be done early, to prevent bigger problems down the road.
 
Being able to distinguish between different types of fixes, and apply a good triage philosophy, will save you thousands of dollars as a property owner! We want to help with that. When our customers have good partnerships and guidance, they don’t feel “nickel and dimed” into oblivion. They feel confident about their homes!
 
Take a look at the website for more about Boyd Construction and what we do in the Washington, D.C. area.