Dear Maintenance Men:
Dear
Maintenance Men:
I
have an older duplex built in the 1920s that I am trying to modernize while
keeping the classic look of the property. How
do I update these units without destroying the appeal of these retro units?
Andy
Dear
Andy:
We
find that opposites attract. The
marriage of old Craftsman or Victorian age buildings and ultra modern interiors
is very appealing. If you are doing
a major rehab project, it may mean you are gutting the kitchen, bathroom,
plumbing and electricity. Having a clean slate will make the job easier and
faster to accomplish. Removing the
central light fixture found in many older buildings is a good first step.
Replace this light with several recessed ceiling fixtures.
The light produced by this change is a very subtle warming of the room as
opposed to the harsh utilitarian central fixture.
When it comes to the kitchens and bathrooms, try to avoid the usual
cabinetry found at most home centers. Go to an Ikea type store that
carries ultra modern or European kitchen and bathroom cabinets and fixtures. Using stainless steel appliances, sinks etc. will also add to
the dramatic differences between the new and the old. Chances are the units will be easier to rent and at a higher
rental rate! Good luck.
Dear
Maintenance Men:
I own a 12-unit apartment building and
lately after calling out the plumber or other professional, I find I am
disappointed by the level of service provided.
As an example: if I send out the plumber to repair a leaky kitchen sink
trap, they stop at the first leak and call it a day. They don’t look at the
faucet or angle stop valves or even look at any other sink for possible
problems. The result is that I need
to send them out again for the new or over looked issues. When
I call a professional, I expect them to find the problem or problems and either
fix them or advise me. What has
happened to service?
Fred
Dear
Fred:
Widening
the scope of the work may help you get what you want.
When you call the plumber or contractor, tell him in addition to the task
at hand, to also do a bit of preventive maintenance.
Make yourself available to the vendor by phone should he require
authorization for additional work. This will eliminate a second service call.
Dear
maintenance Men:
The
wood spacers between the concrete sections of my property’s walkways are
deteriorating badly. There are big
gaps between the slabs and I’m afraid it is causing a trip and fall hazard.
What can I do about this and how do I do it.
Maria
Dear
Maria:
We
have one of two solutions. But,
before we get there, you need to remove all of the rotted wood from between the
concrete slabs. A crow bar, hammer
and large screwdriver will be helpful in this job.
After you have cleaned out all the wood, dig down about four inches below
the bottom between the slabs. Fill up to within two inches of the top of the
slab with sand or gravel. From your
home center, buy 2”x2” redwood and cut to the length needed.
If the space is tight between the slabs, use a rubber mallet to gently
tap the redwood level with the concrete. The second solution comes after the
sand or gravel is in place. Pour concrete between the slabs where the wood used to be.
Finish with a brush to give it a non-slip finish.
Bio:
Jerry
L'Ecuyer is the owner of JLE Property
Management & Buffalo Maintenance
and is a licensed contractor & real estate broker.
He is currently on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Education
Committee for the Apartment Association of Orange County. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional
since 1988 and can be reached at (714) 778-0480 or jerry@JLE1.com. Frank Alvarez is the Operations Director for Buffalo
Maintenance. He has been involved with apartment maintenance for over 14 years.
Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 or visit the office at, 202 E. Broadway
in Anaheim, CA 92805. Please view our web site at: www.JLE1.COM &
www.BuffaloMaintenance.com