FAQ - Maintenance
The old saying different strokes for different folks" was never more appropriate than when it comes to picking out floor coverings for you home. You should let your lifestyle and the make up of your family determine the types of floor coverings that will be used in different locations in the home. For instance, active families, with small children and pets, should look to the most durable floor coverings, especially in high traffic areas.
During the first year after construction it is totally normal that your house will have a higher than normal amount of humidity due to the fact that the materials are releasing
moisture. New homes are also much "tighter" than older homes (in terms of energy efficiency) and for this reason condensation is much harder to be released to the outside. The best ways to prevent higher levels of humidity is to make sure vents are on when taking baths or showers and that at least for the first year of moving in, a dehumidifier is running 24/7 in the basement. For more details please refer to the brochure given to you by the builder - UNDERSTANDING YOUR NEW HOME.
The floors in all our homes are nailed, screwed and glued to minimize the occurrence of squeaks, however it is not abnormal to hear them. This is caused by the shrinkage of materials or by low humidity levels. Maintaining the humidity levels in your home will prevent excessive shrinkage..
Use a PH neutral cleaner. It is a product that is diluted in water and can used for every day cleaning. Do NOT use vinegar as it is an acid and if left on the surface too long or use too concentrated it may etch and damage the surface of your floor.
This item falls under maintenance. As per Tarion, cabinet doors need to be adjusted from time to time due to normal use. You can try adjusting the doors by turning the screws on the hinges, or add it to one of your Tarion lists and we will be happy to show you how to do it.
The bedroom switches are on arc fault control indicators, which work like G.F.I plugs and trip easily for safety. Normally, this only occurs when using high-powered appliances. (i.e.: irons, hair dryers, vacuums.)
The exterior outlets are G.F.I. protected by the plug at your front porch. This outlet will need to be reset on the outlet from time to time, by pushing in the test, then re-set button. If the outlet doesn’t re-set contact our service department.
The bathroom outlets are G.F.I. protected by the plug in your powder room. If any of the washroom outlets don’t work, you need to re-set the G.F.I. by pushing in the test, then the re-set button on the outlet in your powder room.
There has been a plumbing code change that we must install a mixing valve at any hot water tank to be able to set the temperature of the water to no more than 120 F for safety reasons. Please refer to the letter in our Coughlan Homes homeowner manual for more information.
These are a result of normal settlement of the house and can be expected. Although these are not covered by the Tarion Warranty, we will repair them once (at the end of the first year) with a coat of plaster. The homeowner will be responsible for finishing beyond this stage.
These are very common and in most cases don't need to be repaired unless they get past 6 mm as per Tarion's guidelines.
Yes, door openings are one of the most common items to shift during settlement of your house. Usually a slight adjustment will give your door a tighter seal.
1 window per room will be operational as standard with any others being fixed. Bathrooms are always operational.
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