Make Your Home a Safe House
Through Remodeling and Maintenance
Make your home a safe house through remodeling with expert design
and maintenance tips from members of the Milwaukee/NARI Home
Improvement Council, Inc.
There are several remodeling improvements that homeowners can make to improve safety and lower their
insurance premium. For example, unexpected roof problems can be expensive and damage both the interior
Dan Riedel
Milwaukee/NARI President
www.milwaukeenari.org
and exterior of your home. An inspection by a roofing professional can detect a minor problem before it becomes
a major headache. If you do have to replace your roof, be sure to contact your insurance agent, because some
insurance companies offer a discount for new roofs.
At the same time you are making physical changes to your home to improve safety, don’t forget basic
maintenance issues that if ignored could be life threatening. Fire safety is important throughout the year,
so be sure you have a working smoke alarm on each level of your home. Chimneys and woodstoves need
annual inspections and cleaning, and don't forget to clean the exhaust duct of the dryer each year because
it's a common cause of home fires. You can also save money on your home insurance by installing a centrally
monitored fire and/or burglar-alarm system.
According to a study by the US Center for Disease Control, in one year, 234,000 people ages 15 and older visited
emergency rooms due to injuries suffered in bathrooms, with most of these injuries caused by falls. Am ong adults
aged 65 and above who were injured in bathrooms, 30 percent were diagnosed with fractures. Steps homeowners
can take to make their bathroom more secure include adding grab bars in the shower to help steady yourself
going in and out and installing non-skid floors for better traction as you leave the tub.
Safety upgrades can be made in other areas inside the home beyond the bathroom. When doing a kitchen remodel
that involves a new countertop, be sure to round off any sharp edges that people can bump into. You also should
have a qualified designer or inspector ensure there is proper ventilation for new stoves. Gas ranges needed to be
vented to the outside. It’s also important that the users height is considered when installing new appliances to
make sure they are easily reachable.
...don’t forget to
clean the exhaust
duct of the dryer
each year because
it’s a common cause
of home fires.
On the outside, have your deck inspected by a certified contactor or home inspector to find out weight capacity if
you plan large parties or the addition of something heavy such as a hot tub. For heavier loads, you should consider
installing additional support beams or concrete for the base. You also need to check if railings are wobbly.
Everything should be secured minimally with screws, and all posts need to be secured with bolts, because you
know people will lean on them.
Don’t stop your visual inspection of the outside of your property at your deck. Consider adding a layer of security
around your pool, especially if you are a family with younger children. “Putting a gate at the end of your deck can
prevent small kids from accessing pools unattended and above ground pools with decks also need railings around
them. As you walk around your yard, keep an eye out for tripping hazards with concrete steps or brick walk ways.
They may need small maintenance or a complete overhaul by an experienced professional to make them secure
and even.
A final layer of security and safety for the outside of your home would be the addition of lighting around your pool,
deck, or entranceways. Milwaukee/NARI members recommend a combination of motion sensors to discourage
intruders and LED lights on your deck to avoid missteps at night.
For more information, visit www.milwaukeenari.org.
Search for your new home online:www.builders-showcase.com
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