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Regular maintenance will keep your siding looking new and lasting longer. Why is it so important to regularly maintain your siding? Like the skin on your body, there are two main purposes that siding fulfills: appearance and protection. It protects your home against natural elements and pests, adds stability to the frame of your home, helps insulate and it also adds character to the outside of the home. Although there are several different types of siding you can choose from for manufactured homes, the three most popular include metal siding, like aluminum or steel, vinyl siding or a natural wood siding. And each kind of material needs to be maintained differently. Washing Give your home a good washing for a fresh new look. Note: Don't wash wood siding. Heavy exposure to water might result in decay, chipping, bowed or expanded panels, disintegration or shrinkage. Read below to learn about proper maintenance for wood siding.
Vinyl Siding
Keep grills from vinyl. Exposing the vinyl to intense heat will melt the siding. You might think that a paint job would be an inexpensive and easy solution to make faded vinyl siding look like new again. But paint does not hold well to vinyl's surface because it continuously changes with the weather. Vinyl soaks up heat causing expansion and contraction as temperatures rise and fall. Instead of a short-term painting job, consider replacing your siding altogether. Check with a several retailers to see the variety of colors and textures to choose from. Ask them about lifetime warranties or guarantees that they offer. Wood Siding Cedar, Cypress and Redwood sidings are popular siding choices that offer natural beauty to the outside of a home. But wood siding requires more upkeep than most siding because of its natural surface. With regular maintenance and care, you can prevent damage and keep your wood siding looking beautiful for several years.
Aluminum Siding Keep aluminum siding looking like new with a regular cleaning every six months to prevent oxidation and/or corrosion over time. For metal siding, oxidation and corrosion are common problems that wear and tear at the outside of your home. Taking care of these problems as soon as they occur could save you from having to replace your siding altogether. Corrosion Corroded areas leave dark spots on the siding. These are caused by moisture being exposed to the metal surface for extended periods. Check for rust-colored stains in places that tend to stay wet longer, such as under eaves or recessed entryways. If you find corroded areas, be sure to get rid of the spots before they spread further. For both aluminum and steel siding, sand out the corrosion blisters down to the bare metal, then spot prime with an anti-rust primer. Oxidation Oxidation leaves a white chalky film on the siding that can dull the exterior of your home. Keep your siding clean to prevent oxidation from forming. If your siding looks faded from oxidation, contact a professional manufactured home washer. A professional can clean your house in less than an hour with high-pressure hoses. Scratches Keep a minor scratch on your metal siding from becoming a major problem.
Painting Metal Siding Apply a fresh coat of paint to the siding of your home to keep it looking like new. If you need to paint just one panel, consider taking that panel to an auto body shop to be painted. They should be able to match the color. If you plan to paint the whole exterior of the home and want to tackle the project yourself, wait for a calm and overcast day to paint. Paint needs to dry slowly and the sunlight and wind will only speed up the drying process. Prepare to paint:
Use an acrylic-based, latex exterior house paint over the primer. A high volume of acrylic resin in the paint will make the paint job last longer. Invest in premium paint, brushes and roller covers. Bargain paint is no bargain if you're looking for better coverage, longer wear and a more washable surface. How much paint do I purchase? To compute the amount of paint needed, multiply the height of the house times the entire perimeter. Do not subtract for windows because this area will roughly equal the trim, eaves and soffits. Divide the total square footage by the number of square feet per gallon cited on the label of the paint. Source: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/keep-your-siding-looking-new.asp
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Attachments can add a great deal to your home. Awnings, canopies and sunroofs let you enjoy the outdoors and carports add shelter for your car and other outdoor items. Yet, it's important to install these attachments correctly. In a windstorm, loose sheets of fiberglass or metal can cause damage to your home. It's fairly easy to install an awning, carport, canopy or sunroof. You should receive detailed installation instructions with your attachment. Most attachments connect to your home on a type of track. Usually, a ledger board or ribbon board attaches to the wall of the home. A mounting strip on the board hooks into the side of the attachment. Attachment checklist
CAUTION! Before you install your awning, sunroof or carport, remember to:
Support post attachment Firmly attach the posts, poles or columns that hold up your sunroof, carport, patio cover, awning or canopy, to the ground. If loosely secured, a strong wind can lift up the entire structure. Here are two methods to secure your posts to the ground. If you have a concrete slab or steps, use the first method, otherwise, use the second. Follow these instructions if you are installing new posts or reattaching your current posts. Attach posts to concrete If you do not have a concrete slab, you will need to attach your posts solidly into the ground.If you have heavy soil – not sand – an auger-type anchor might be suitable. These anchors, with a mounting plate, are often available from a carport or sunroof manufacturer. Check with a manufactured home supplier if you can't find any. Step 1: Remove post If you are replacing an existing post, use a pry bar to lift that post from the concrete. Do not reuse screws. Step 2: Drill holes Use the foot or shoes of your post as a guide to position bolts. Use a masonry bit on your power drill to drill holes in concrete. Start with a small masonry bit, then switch to larger masonry bits until the holds are 3 inches deep and about 3 times the diameter of the bolt. This means you will need to drill a 3/4-inch hole for a 1/4-inch bolt. Step 3: Apply adhesive Check to make sure the holes still line up with the holes on the foot or base of the pole. Then, brush some construction adhesive inside the holes. Step 4: Install shields Insert the lag shields into the holes. Step 5: Install post & lag bolts Put the foot or base of the post over the holes. Insert the lag bolts through the postholes and into the lag shields. You do not need to wait for the construction adhesive to dry. Tighten bolts with a wrench. The lag shield will expand as you turn the bolt. Attaching in ground A better method of attaching your posts is to dig a hole and fill with cement. Step 1: Dig holes Be sure to check with the local building inspector regarding the best method of installing posts for your soil conditions. Find out if there are requirements for the size and depth of footings. Caution! Locate any buried gas, water, electrical or cable hookups. Dig a hole for each post. It should be approximately 16 to 32 inches deep by 12 inches wide, depending on the size of the post supplied by the manufacturer. If you have many postholes to dig, or if your soil is particularly firm, you may want to rent an auger or clamshell-type posthole digger, or even a power-driven auger. Step 2: Pour cement If your posts are long enough, set them upright in the hole before you pour cement. Tamp the cement well, and slope away from posts. Allow cement to solidify before installing sunroof, carport, awning or patio cover. If you move the posts, you will enlarge the holes. Step 3: Position bolts If your posts are not long enough, pour the concrete. Before it solidifies, level the surface. Lightly press the foot or base of the post on the wet cement to make an impression mark to position the bolts. Put a washer on the bolt, and position it next to the head of the bolt. Push the bolts, upside-down, into the cement. The bolts should be embedded in the cement at least 2 inches. Let the cement harden before installing the base or foot of the post. Use lock washers and nuts to attach to bolts. Source: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/mobile-home-awning.asp If your mobile home already has a fireplace or wood stove, it's a good idea to go look over these safety guidelines to confirm that it was installed correctly. If you plan to install a fireplace or wood stove, follow these safety guidelines carefully. First, don't try to tackle this project yourself. While installation manuals usually provide all the instructions necessary for a manufactured home owner to install a wood-burning fireplace or wood stove, the consequences of a mistake are so disastrous, it's a task best left to experts. It's a good idea to first check with your insurance company for their guidelines before installing these items. Your insurance policy may not cover damages if a fireplace or wood stove was not professionally installed. Plus, the manufacturer's warranty on the fireplace or wood stove may not apply unless the unit is installed by a professional. Make sure you and the installer follow these safety requirements to prevent problems:
Source: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/installing-a-fireplace-or-wood-stove.asp If your mobile home is shaking, it might be because it's not leveled properly. Your mobile home is prone to coming out of level, simply because of how it’s built. Here are a few things that may indicate your home is not properly leveled:
Here are a few things that can cause your home to come out of level:
What can you do if your mobile home is not leveled properly? If your home is still under warranty, you might be able to have the manufacturer and installer re-level it for free. If your warranty has expired, it might be best to hire a professional. Other things that can cause your mobile home to shake:
When it comes to the weather and other things going on outside, all homes may experience shaking from time to time. The only difference is, you can perceive that shaking a lot more in your mobile home because of how it’s built. While you may not be able to permanently eliminate the shaking, these things might help minimize it:
Keep in mind this article is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a comprehensive guide. These are a few reasons your mobile home could be shaking, and a few possible solutions. Form number: 9025745 Sources: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/why-my-mobile-home-shaking.asp https://architecttwocents.com/why-mobile-home-shake/ https://freedomresidence.com/why-your-mobile-home-is-shaking-and-what-to-do-about-it/ Though some folks may high-tail it inside when winter hits, snowmobilers hit the high trails instead! But is your vehicle prepared for the weather? As excited as you might be for snow, you don't want to be left out in the cold. Here are some handy tips for winterizing snowmobiles to help ensure it's safe and ready to ride! 1. Inspection: The first step is an overall inspection of the snowmobile's parts. This would include looking for cracks, excessive wear and tear, and anything that might have come loose. Anything used to block air intake or exhaust pipes should be unplugged. And it's a good idea to make sure the vehicle hasn't collected any unexpected stowaways while in storage, such as mice! 2. Checking levels: Fluids such as gas, brake fluid and coolant should all be checked and topped off if low. If there is remaining gas in the tank from the previous season, it's suggested that the tank be drained and filled up with fresh gas. 3. Evaluating the engine: Checking that carburetors are clean is important as dirty ones are a main cause of engine failure. Also, snowmobilers should make sure that the throttle, oil cables, fan and water pump belt are in good condition and without cracks. 4. Examining the skis: Since skis are one of the most important pieces of the snowmobile, they should be checked not only for any holes, cuts or gouges, but to ensure that the runners are aligned straight! 5. Cleaning it up: Dirt, salt, leaves and other debris are all commonly found on snowmobiles coming out of storage. Most of it can probably be cleaned off with water and mild cleansers. However, where a deeper cleaning may be needed or desired, it can be done at a local shop or car wash. All these steps are equally important when preparing the snowmobile for storage at the end of the season. But in the meantime, get out and enjoy the snow while you can! Source: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/how-to-prepare-your-snowmobile-for-winter.asp If you have an ATV, UTV, or any other off-road vehicle (ORV), regular maintenance is a must. Poor ATV maintenance habits can cause your ride quality to diminish quickly. You may experience breakdowns and a host of other issues that can be avoided. If you don't know exactly what to check, our ATV and UTV maintenance checklist can help.
If you're looking for ATV insurance, UTV insurance, or insurance for another off-road vehicle (ORV), you can get a quote with Foremost® today! Source: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/atv-maintenance-checklist.asp ATVs and other off-road vehicles are adaptable to many situations. With that being said, you can't always predict what will happen on off road adventures. If you need to perform emergency maintenance, it will help to be equipped with the proper tools. To prepare yourself in advance, Foremost® Insurance recommends keeping the following items in your ATV emergency kit.
If you're looking for ATV insurance, UTV insurance, or insurance for another off-road vehicle (ORV), you can get a quote with Foremost today! Source: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/atv-trail-riding-survival-kit.asp Riding a personal watercraft (PWC) can be absolutely exhilarating. Jetting across a body of water with mist and wind in your face can almost make you feel like an action movie hero! However, even though PWCs can be fun, they can also be dangerous. It's very important to implement safety practices for you and anyone else while on the water. Whether you're jet skiing for the first time or a veteran, brush up on these safety tips so you're prepared during your next adventure. Wear a life jacket. This is first on our list for a reason. Even if you are a strong swimmer, your body can be overcome by water. Life jackets will prevent you from sinking and help you conserve energy while you wait for help to arrive. Use your safety lanyard. Some PWCs come equipped with safety lanyards that attach to your wrist or life jacket. If you fall off your vessel, the safety lanyard will detach. This will automatically disable the engine, allowing to you safely reboard. Wear a whistle around your neck. Depending on the situation, it can take a while for someone to realize you need help, especially if you're far into the water. Wearing a whistle around your neck will allow you to call for help and be heard at least a half mile away. Utilize your emergency compartment. Many personal watercrafts have waterproof compartments that allow you to safely store emergency items such as cell phones, first aid kits, fire extinguishers and even blowhorns. If this type of storage space is available to you, we recommended using it. Read the owner's manual. While this may not be the most fun activity, it is important to understand your PWC and how it operates. This can help lessen your chances of making a mistake while operating the vehicle and teach you about several emergency functions you may not know you have. Avoid boarding while the engine is running. If you attempt to board a PWC while its engine is running, the thrust system can ingest loose items such as hair and clothing. This can cause serious injury and should be avoided at all costs. Other useful tips:
If you're looking for Personal Watercraft Insurance, you can get a quote online. Sources: https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/personal-watercraft-pirate-prepare-unexpected.asp https://www.discoverboating.com/resources/personal-watercraft-safety-and-you https://www.thecampfirecollective.com/blog/operating-a-personal-watercraft/#:~:text=Never%20attempt%20to%20re%2Dboard%20when%20the%20engine%20is%20running,they%20have%20safely%20re%2Dboarded The votes have been counted and the results are in! Harris, Reed & Seiferth Insurance Group is a 2023 Best of Florida® Regional winner in Guide to Florida’s annual readers’ poll. Guide to Florida readers and editors have weighed in on the best of everything in Florida, honoring thousands of businesses and organizations in more than 25 broad business and community sectors. The process starts with a nomination on the Guide to Florida website. Voting remains open throughout the year, with tens of thousands of votes ultimately received. The process culminates with the publishing of the Best of Florida Keepsake Annual along with a statewide publicity campaign. Best of Florida winners and nominees are chosen by a combination of readers’ votes and editors’ input, and are vetted through several ranking sites, Better Business Bureau complaint reports, and voting pattern analysis reports. Winners are named in hundreds of individual categories, providing Guide to Florida readers with a go-to-guide for the best of everything in Florida. Guide to Florida recognizes three levels of winners: The Best of Florida, Best of Florida Regional Winners and Honorable Mentions. Within each category, there are multiple honorees named in each tier, depending on the size of the market sector. You can view the full list of Best of Florida winners at GUIDEtoFLORIDA.com/best-of/ There are few better things to do in the summer than being on open water and fishing with friends. Before you head out to your favorite spot to reel 'em in this season, make sure you have a well-supplied tackle box. Here's our list of seven tackle box essentials.
These seven basics won't guarantee you fish for days, but they should help make your next fishing excursion less stressful! Source : https://www.foremost.com/learning-center/7-things-you-need-in-a-tackle-box.asp |
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