Gallery Homes By Varriale

By observing some simple maintenance hints, caring for your hardwood floors can be made easy. Keep a mat at any outside entrance, this will prevent dirt and grit from scaring the finish of the floor. Use a fabric or carpet backed glide on the bottoms of chairs and tables. Be sure to clean them regularly. Do not use dust spray or liquid to dry mop. This tends to dull the finish. Wipe up all spills immediately with a damp cloth. You may notice cracks between the flooring strips, this is the result of change in humidity in the home.

Your new gas fireplace is nearly maintenance free. It will be necessary to periodically remove and clean the glass panel to prevent resin build up and discoloration due to use of the fireplace. Simply remove the glass according to instructions in the manual provided by the manufacture, and wipe the glass clean. We suggest regular maintenance in accordance to the manufactures recommendations.

As your new home goes through a full change of seasons, you may notice some changes to your interior and exterior doors. Interior doors may shrink or warp slightly as they season. Exterior doors may experience more movement because of the exposure to weather and extreme temperature differentials. If a door will not latch due to minor settling, you can raise or lower the plate accordingly. See your warranty for allowable tolerances. A squeaky door hinge can be remedied by removing the hinge pin and rubbing a lead pencil or graphite lubricant on it.

The air-conditioning & heating systems installed in your new home will provide you with many years of comfort if given proper care & maintenance. In order to keep both of the systems operating at maximum efficiency, you should have them checked and serviced by a professional serviceman at least twice a year. Thermostats are calibrated to within plus or minus 5 degrees. The best performance will be realized when the thermostat is left at one setting around the clock and the ‘fan' switch is in the ‘ON' position.

The ‘main water' shut-off value will typically be located in the coat closet of your new home. If there is a water issue with-in the home and the water needs to be shut-off please go to this area and shut the water off. Provided the home is heated at a normal level, pipes should not freeze at temperatures about 25 degrees fahrenheit. Heat should be set at 65 degrees if you are away during winter months and it is advisable to open cabinets, let water drip, and cover exterior faucets. Garage doors should be kept closed as much as possible to protect plumbing lines, which may run through this area.

Interior walls are not ‘scrub proof' and, while they may be wiped with a soft cloth and mild soap, will not stand up to harsh cleaners. You were supplied with a small amount of touch-up paint for your use in repair of damaged or scuffed areas. Additional paint may be purchased. See the selection sheet provided to you in your homeowner's packet for color and brand. Please note that paint color changes as it seasons. A perfect match may not be possible. If it should be necessary for Gallery Homes to make any interior repairs under terms of the warranty, it will not be responsible for replacement of all coverings or matching of paint color.

As your home ages, a certain amount of settling or shrinkage can be expected. Minor cracks may occur as the dissimilar materials adjust to one another while the home goes through its first cycle of seasons. This is normal and repair of such cracks is considered maintenance of a cosmetic nature and, therefore, is the responsibility of the homeowner. Just a putty knife and commercial drywall compound, both available at any hardware store, will do the job. Touch up with touch-up paint provided for your use.

The ceramic tile installed on walls or counter tops in your home may be washed with any non-abrasive soap or detergent; abrasive cleaners will dull the finish. This includes mild abrasive liquid cleaners.

Given proper care, the carpet in your new home will provide many years of service. Here are some helpful hints for frequently asked questions. You should vacuum at least once a week. Furnace filters should be changed or cleaned to minimize dust in the air, which can cause discoloration along the wall edges or around heating/cooling registers. Your new carpet, while stain resistant, is not stain proof. Should you need a stain remover, always test the product to be used, in an out of the way area, to insure against damage to the carpet, or call a professional carpet cleaning service.