Shawn Carpenter Homes, Inc CR 2324 Como, Tx Web: shawncarpenterhomes.

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1 Shawn Carpenter Homes, Inc CR 2324 Como, Tx Web: shawncarpenterhomes.com Homeowner s Manual First, let me thank you for allowing us to build your home. A home is the largest investment most of us will ever make and we appreciate the trust you have placed in us to allow us to build it for you. I hope that we have honored that trust along the way. I assure you that we have built you a quality custom home. We take as much pride in our work as you do in your new home. We have used quality materials and strive to provide the best of workmanship. Our business is built on reputation and on referrals from satisfied customers. Very little of our customers come from advertising. In fact we do very little advertising because our customers do most of it for us. So please tell your friends about us. DISCLAIMER: We provide this homeowners manual for your convenience and to help you in maintaining your home and protecting your investment. This manual is in no way all-encompassing. It is merely some information that I felt may be useful to you in getting to know your new home. You must still read the individual owner s manuals that came with the individual items in the house. If there is any contradiction between the suggestions made here and the information given in the respective owner s manuals, the manuals furnished by the manufacturers should be given priority and should override any suggestions made in this manual. If any of the owner s manuals have been misplaced, you may contact the manufacturer for another one. We assume no liability for the accuracy of the information given here. They are simply suggestions that we have found helpful from years of experience. I have enjoyed doing business with you and hope it has been a pleasant experience for you. If there are ever any questions or warranty needs, please call me. Again, enjoy your new home and thank you for your business and your friendship. Sincerely, Shawn Carpenter, Pres. Shawn Carpenter Homes, Inc. Owner Name: 1

2 Heated Area: Porch- Patio- Garage- Total- ** See your specifications sheet for construction details Colors and Selections These are the names of your colors and selections: 1. Brick- 2. Stone- 3. Shingles- 4. Interior Paint- Walls- Sherwin Williams- Trim- Sherwin Williams- Pure White 5. Exterior Paint- 6. Cabinet style- 7. Cabinet finish- 8. Kitchen Countertops- 9. Marble- 10. Door hardware 11. Light fixtures 12. Floor coveringvinyl tilewoodcarpet- (Granite) Countertops 1-Natural stone is very easy to maintain. Simple wipe with warm water and mild PDF soap. It is very important Editor avoid any and all products that are acidic chemicals that may affect high polish of your stones. A list of products be avoided are bleach, 409, Mr. Clean, BAM, Kaboom, Windex, etc. 2

3 (Laminate) (Marble) 2-Countertops were sealed at installation but must be resealed at least twice a year depending on usage. Sealer can be obtained at any home repair store or Walmart. 1. Refer to manufacturer s information 1. Refer to manufacturer s information Dryer Vent It is necessary to remove the dryer vent hose from the dryer every couple of months to clean out the lint that has fallen to the bottom of the vent inside the wall. This will prolong the life of the dryer. If too much lint is allowed to build up in the vent, the dryer has to struggle to vent and will reach the point where it cannot vent and may incur damage. Electrical If ever you have a plug that doesn t work: 1. Check the GCFI. All plugs that could be exposed to water (in bathrooms, kitchen cabinets, garages, or outside plugs, are on a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt (GCFI) for your protection from electrical shock. Occasionally something abnormal in the power supply or in an appliance, etc. could cause one of these to trip. If so, they are easy to reset. Simply find the GCFI. They will usually be found in the garage, each bathroom and the kitchen. The GCFI will be the plug that has a test and reset button on it. Simply push the reset button and the plugs should all begin working. If not then find the other GCFI s and do the same to them. If this still doesn t solve the problem go to the electrical panel (breaker box) and reset the breakers that correspond to that area of the house as noted on the panel. To reset the breaker, simply turn it off then back on again. Do not just look at the breaker to see if it has been tripped. Sometimes they have been tripped even though they may not look like it. Turn it off, then on again to be sure. 2. If the plug still doesn t work, try another appliance in the same plug. It may be that the appliance you are plugging in is bad or has a bad cord. It may also have a short in the cord which would cause it to work sometimes. 3. If you still have no success, call us and we ll make arrangements to have it PDF checked. Editor 4. When buying light bulbs, look for those that are marked 130v, they will last 3

4 longer than cheaper bulbs marked 120v. Exterior Paint 1. At S.C. Homes, we use a high quality exterior paint from Sherwin Williams. 2. You will need to wash the painted surfaces on the exterior of your home occasionally as mold, cobwebs, dirt-dobbers nests, bird nests, etc. begin to build up. These can permanently stain the paint when left too long. A solution of soapy water or water and bleach may be used. You may choose to spray the solution on with a garden sprayer or brush it on and then pressure wash it off. If you use a pressure washer, do not use hot water as some pressure washers heat water up to 300 degrees and can melt the paint and cause it to peel off. Food Disposers 1. If your house came with a food disposer, be aware that potato peelings, banana peelings and like wastes can stop it up. 2. Do not run the disposer without water running down into it. 3. If you turn the disposer switch on and it only hums or does not come on, turn it off immediately. There may have been a utensil slip down the drain into the disposer. Do not try to remove it with the disposer on! 4. See the manual with your disposer for further instructions. Foundation The foundation designed for your house was determined by the type and size of house, the soil type and any local authority regulations that may have been applicable. However, the surrounding soil will need some maintenance as a preventative measure. Here are some suggestions based on professional engineers recommendations and our experience at S.C. Homes to keep foundation problems away. 1. Soaker hoses or an automatic sprinkler system may be necessary during dry seasons. These should be placed around the entire foundation,the idea is not to let the soil around the foundation become too dry. The soil in East Texas expands and contracts as its moisture level changes. We are very selective as to the type of fill that we use under your foundation and in designing your foundation but if it becomes too wet or too dry the soil can begin to move and if neglected long enough can cause even the best of foundations to move. Active clays are the most common cause of foundation movement PDF in East Texas. If you notice Editor cracks in the yard near the foundation if the soil is pulling away from the foundation, is too dry and a watering program should be implemented immediately. Do not wait until a door doesn t close properly until cracks appear in the 4

5 brick or sheetrock. These are not signs of a nearing foundation problem- they are the consequences. 2. Water should not be allowed to trap against the house. Dogs should not be allowed to dig holes around the foundation that might allow water to trap. 3. Watering should be consistent around the entire foundation. Do not water one part and neglect another. Automatic sprinkler systems are the best way to keep the foundation moist because they are consistent, if designed properly, in the amount of water they apply. They also take the human error out of the picture. Since they are programmed to run automatically, you don t have to worry about leaving the water on, forgetting to water, or making arrangements to water while you are away for an extended period to time. 4. If gutters are not included in your bid and specifications, they may need to be installed in order to help accomplish items 2 and 3 of this section. Downspouts should be installed with proper extensions so as to drain water away from the foundation. ***See attachments at the end of this manual Garage Door 1. If the garage door will not open by remote, the battery in your remote may be down; or, the opener pad on the garage wall may be set to lock. Look for a flashing light on the keypad. If flashing, the opener is in lock mode and can only be opened from inside the garage until unlocked. 2. If the garage door starts down but then comes back up while the light flashes, there is probably something in the way of the laser sensors located at the bottom on each side of the garage door opening. These sensors are to keep the door from coming down on someone or something causing damage or harm. If anything interrupts the beam between the two sensors, the door will automatically come back up and the opener lights will flash. Sometimes on a very windy day the beam can be interrupted and the door may come back up causing you to have to push the button a second time. 3. If you still have no luck, call us. It may need reprogramming or there may be a faulty part. 4. If your garage door is chain driven or screw drive, it may occasionally need greasing. Use white lithium grease. Thicker greases will prevent the door from opening properly during freezing weather. Gas Burning Logs 1. Gas burning logs need to be cleaned out each year to minimize soot inside the house. It is recommended that you have this done by a professional so as to be sure the 5

6 reinstallation of logs is done properly in order to prevent gas leaks. 2. For a less thorough cleaning you may use computer keyboard air without disconnecting the logs fro the gas supply. Just make sure the logs are off and blast the air into the gas outlet holes. 3. See owner s manual or contact a professional for further care instructions. Heating and Air Conditioning The heating and air conditioning unit chosen for your home will give you years of comfort if maintained and properly cared for. It is easy to neglect the maintenance on your system because we seldom realize it needs attention until it quits working. Refer to your owner s manual and the manufacturer s warranty. Here are some tips that will help: 1. Be sure to read your owners manual carefully. Any information you find in the owners manual for your particular unit should supercede any recommendation made in this manual. 2. Change the filter in the inside unit regularly so the unit does not have to struggle to breathe. This will also reduce the amount of dust circulated through the ducts that can cause allergies. 3. Unless your unit is in the attic, pour a small amount of bleach down the condensation drain for the inside unit once a month. This will keep down the algae buildup that can stop up the drain over time. You will have no way of knowing that the drain is stopping up until you find the floor wet around the unit closet. 4. Wash the outside unit down with a water hose occasionally to keep dust, dirt-dobbers nest, grass clippings, etc. from collecting in the unit s vents. Be careful not to bend the vents around the outside unit. 5. Once each year, it is a good idea to have the air conditioning contractor come out and service the unit to make sure it is operating at optimum efficiency. Insulation At S. C. Homes we use spray foam insulation on all of our homes. It is a much more efficient form of insulation. The use of spray in foam changes some of our construction practices. For example: It eliminates the need for certain radiant barrier materials. It also eliminates the need for attic ventilation. Certain interior walls are also batted with fiberglass insulation to provide a sound barrier. Outside faucets 6

7 The exterior faucets on your house are frost proof. They are designed to resist freezing. However, never leave a water hose connected to any faucet during freezing weather. It can cause it to freeze and break. It is not necessary to leave a frost free faucet dripping during cold weather. However some sort of insulated cover is recommended during winter months. Stainless Steel Sinks If you have trouble with your stainless steel sink spotting you may get a cleaning kit for it at Apex Plumbing Supply in Sulphur Springs ( ), local plumbing supply or Walmart that will remove the spots and polish it up. Tank Water Heaters 1. The water heater will accumulate sediment that will settle around the heating element and will effect the heater s efficiency and capacity. The heater should occasionally be drained by the drain provided to get rid of the sediment buildup. Simply hook a water hose to the drain and discharge the water outside or to a safe place. water. 2. Your water heater also comes with settings to adjust the temperature of the 3. Be careful with gas water heaters not to let lint from a nearby dryer build up around the heater. Do not stack paper or clothing around a gas heater. DO NOT STORE ANY FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS SUCH AS FUELS NEAR OR IN AN ENCLOSED ROOM WITH A GAS WATER HEATER! 4. Refer to your owners manual for additional instructions. Tankless Water Heaters Even tankless water heaters need maintenance. They have to be de-scaled occasionally. See the owners manual for recommended maintenance schedule and supplies. 1. Tile is not porous; therefore you should be able to clean it with warm water. However, if a stronger cleaner is needed you may use a solution made of one gallon of warm water, 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 tablespoon of borax. This is a good neutral cleaner. 2. Never use vinegar. It is an acid and may damage the grout. 3. If the grout becomes stained you can make a paste of 2 parts baking soda, 1 part borax, and 1 part hot water. Apply this paste the grout and scrub with a brush. Tile 7

8 Then rinse well. You may then consider having the tile sealed. You can contact a floor covering store or home repair store for sealer. Trim We use high material in each home we build. However, because we live in a high humidity environment, many of the materials within a new home contain moisture. This is true of the sheetrock, trim, lumber, paint, caulk, etc. As your air conditioning unit starts to draw the moisture out of these materials it may cause some minor shrinking of the materials and you may see some hairline cracks in the caulked joints. This will usually occur in a corner where two pieces of trim come together. It is normal and can easily be touched up. Water-saver commodes If you are coming from an older home or apartment that was built before the federal government passed the law on water-saving commodes, you may have a little adjustment period to go through in getting accustomed to the new commodes. The older commodes used approximately 3 gallons per flush. The water-savers use roughly half that with 1.6 gallons per flush. You may find that with any water-saving commode that you need to hold the handle down a little longer when flushing than you did the older ones. Buy a plunger. You ll need it until you get use to it. Warranty Your home is warranted for 12 months from the date of closing from defects in material and/or workmanship. This does not include damage done by you while moving in or by failing to properly maintain it. If you have warranty needs, please call us and we will make arrangements to make the corrections. Warranty is not transferable. Whirlpool Tub 1. Read your owner s manual for the whirlpool before you operate it. 2. Remember never turn the whirlpool on until the water level is above all jets. 3. Every month or two run a little bleach water through the jets to clean the soap scum, algae, etc. that may have accumulated in the jets and lines. Yard It would be wise to plant grass right away upon moving in to your new home. This will help prevent erosion in the yard and will save you some work later. While waiting for your grass to take root, you may spread hay in the yard to slow down erosion while the grass takes root. If you are moving in during winter time, a winter grass (rye or 8

9 other) should be planted to prevent erosion until the native grass can take hold in the summer. 9

NEW HOME GUIDE national yan Design Inter PARADISEDEVELOPMENTS.COM Designed by G. R

NEW HOME GUIDE national yan Design Inter PARADISEDEVELOPMENTS.COM Designed by G. R NEW HOME GUIDE CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW HOME Everyone at Paradise Developments is pleased to congratulate you to your new home, and welcome you to our growing Paradise Developments Community. Paradise