Maintain and upgrade your home with this helpful guide (‘prevention’ always better than ‘cure’). Maintenance is always less expensive than letting things deteriorate to point of having to replace. Maintenance is ongoing and happens from the day you take occupation of your home.
Maintain and upgrade our home your Home with these regular checks
Built in Cupboards (BIC’s)
- Regularly check that the screws for the hinges and handles are tight (do not force when fastening screws).
- Do not overload rails or shelves.
- Do not use shelves as a step.
- Ensure that the silicon around the cupboards is in good condition, replace if necessary.
Curtain Rails
- Easy to replace broken brackets – unscrew broken bracket and screw in new bracket.
- Ensure brackets are fastened properly.
- Do not use excessively heavy curtains.
External Doors
- Regularly check that the screws for the handles are tight (do not force when fastening screws).
- Do not force doors open and closed.
- Replace cylinder lock if lock becomes sticky.
- Door & frame can be treated annually. Lightly sand door & frame with sand paper, then apply wood treatment with a paint brush until entire door and frame has been sealed. Allow to dry sufficiently (a few hours) before closing door.
Internal Doors
- Regularly check that the screws for the handles are tight (do not force when fastening screws).
- Do not force doors open and closed.
- If lock becomes “sticky”, lubricate or replace.
Stove & Oven
- Clean with appropriate materials after use (any oven and stove cleaner, with sponge) – Do not clean with steel wool.
- Read manual before use.
- Ensure burner rings and covers are properly fitted before use.
Security Gates & Burglar Bars
- Replace cylinder lock if lock becomes sticky
- Oil hinges regularly.
- Do not swing on gates.
- Do not hang or pull on burglar bars.
Bathrooms
- Regularly check that the screws for the towel rails are tight (do not force when fastening screws).
- Do not put excessive weight on basins – i.e. no pulling down on basins.
- Replace silicon around bathtubs, basins and shower when necessary.
- Clean shower panes and walls regularly.
Painting and Walls
- Clean walls as necessary, and annually behind hanging paintings.
- Attend to settling cracks from time to time (always will occur on new builds for about 5 years).
- Repaint your home internally as necessary to maintain a clean and fresh look.
Maintain and Upgrade the internal finishes in your home – as and when your budget allows (some suggestions)
- Change your internal light fittings to suit your personal style
- Change your internal door handles to a slicker look
- Replace your internal doors with moulded door for a stylish look
- Replace your external doors with a solid meranti timber door (however keep with the Rules as permitted by the Body Corporate as to finish and colour)
- Consider replacing security gate cylinder locks and external door locks for comfort that no contractor or person before you has keys to your home
- Refit your kitchen BIC’s, particularly cupboards to ceilings to give more cupboard space
- Close in under stairwell cove with custom built cupboard
- Replace curtain rails with curtain rods
- Replace your shower rose to suit your personal taste
- Retiling with larger floor tiles or replacing tiles with new age finishes such as laminate wooden finishes or similar
- Bring some colour, and natural screening, into your exclusive use area by creating gardens with shrubs and plants
Most materials which are needed for maintenance and/or upgrading finishes can be found at your local hardware store.
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Remember the exterior of your home and the common property must comply with the Body Corporate Rules and will be maintained by the Body Corporate. Ask your appointed Trustees should you be in any doubt.
