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Dear Mark:
DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN
BY JERRY L'ECUYER & FRANK ALVAREZ
DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN:
I have an old wood fence that separates my property from the neighbors. We will be splitting the cost of replacement. My question however is how do I avoid post rot? The old fence posts rotted prematurely and caused the fence to lean.
DEAR MAINTENANCE MEN:
We have a vacancy and are currently upgrading the units as they became vacant. We are looking for a “Special Touch” to set our rental units apart from our competition. We are doing the usual such as new paint, upgraded flooring, modern faucets etc. Any ideas will be a big help!
- Hans
Dear Hans:
A great way to update older and modern units is to upgrade the cabinet knobs, interior doorknobs and hinges. Typically, apartment or builder grade knobs and hinges are rather utilitarian in nature. They get the job done and that is about it, nothing fancy. That missing certain “je ne sais quoi” in a remodeled unit can be found in the choice of knobs and hinges you install. A wise choice is a lever style knob. They come in many different finishes and colors, and they not only look attractive and modern, but they are also user friendly for any disabled or older residents. The use of solid brass knobs adds a bit of weight to a door making it appear rich and sophisticated.
Your problem is most likely poor drainage. The posts rot away because of excessive moisture. For a long- term installation, use either redwood or pressure treated lumber. Dig your posthole at least 6 inches deeper than normal. Fill the bottom six inches of the hole with 1⁄2” sized gravel. Then set your post in place, level it and pour in another 2 or 3 inches of gravel. Fill the balance of the hole with Ready-Mix or Post-Mix concrete. Taper the top of the wet concrete at a slight angle to the post; that will help drain water away from the post. For added protection, you may want to consider waterproofing your post with Thompson’s Water Seal or roofing tar. That should help keep your post healthy for much longer.
- Mark
Frank Alvarez is licensed contractor and the Operations Director and co-owner of Buffalo Maintenance, Inc. He has been involved with apartment maintenance & construction for over 20 years. He is also a lecturer & educational instructor and Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the Apartment Association of Orange County as well as being Chairman of the Product Service Counsel. Frank can be reached at (714) 956-8371 Frankie@ BuffaloMaintenance.com For more info please go to: www.BuffaloMaintenance.com
Jerry L’Ecuyer is a licensed contractor & real estate broker. He is currently on the Board of Directors and Past President and past Chairman of the Education Committee of the Apartment Association of Orange County. Jerry has been involved with apartments as a professional since 1988.
APARTMENT MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE - APRIL 2022 CS-37