The exterior siding, trim and soffit on your home was pre-primed by the manufacturer and then painted with an exterior acrylic latex. The trim and windows were caulked with a high-grade exterior caulking. The proper procedure to clean the exterior paint surfaces of your home is to wash with a garden hose to remove the dirt film. On those areas that have mildew, wash with a solution of two ounces of liquid detergent and eight ounces of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

While all of the materials used on the outside of the home are classified as high-quality products, the time until your home needs to be repainted is dependent on several factors. Some sides of your home (typically the South and West sides) will receive greater exposure to the summer sun and will weather faster. The amount of rain, severity of summer heat and other forms of severe weather will decrease the life of the finish coat. Monitor these variables to determine when to repaint your home. Repainting should include removing and replacing any brittle or cracked caulking in the wood areas and around the windows.

The brick on your home is designed to need little or no maintenance. You should periodically inspect the weep holes (Small openings between the bricks on the first row that contact the foundation) to ensure that these are not obstructed.

Mildew may occur on areas which receive limited amounts of sunlight. This can be removed using a solution of two ounces liquid detergent and eight ounces chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Efflorescence is a white salt deposit that can form on any masonry (brick) surface. The dusty deposit is a water-soluble salt that migrates to the exterior surface of brick. When the water evaporates, the white residue may remain. This condition usually will disappear with normal weathering. It is not advisable to wash efflorescence off since moisture will bring more salt to the surface. The efflorescent salt may be removed with a dry stiff brush. Efflorescence is not considered a defect in the material.

Each foundation is specifically designed for the soil conditions present in the area. Due to the nature of most of the soils in the Austin, Dallas, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio areas, a radical change in the moisture content of the soil can result in significant expansion or contraction of the soil around the foundation. It is important that you are aware of this and take steps to ensure that the relative moisture content around the foundation remains constant. This can be accomplished by:

1. Ensuring that the drainage is maintained away from the foundation.
2. Ensuring that during protracted dry periods, the necessary moisture is placed into the soil adjacent to the foundation. Also by ensuring all sides of the home not having plant beds should be watered as much as those sides that have landscaped beds.

Minor surface cracking in the concrete is normal. If you have a concern in this area, submit a warranty letter explaining the circumstances and a member of the Professional Construction Staff will inspect that area of the foundation.

Shingles

The shingles on your home have a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Please refer to the specific warranty for details. The metal flashings on the home should be repainted periodically with a paint designed specifically for metal applications. Old paint that is blistered should be removed and any rusted areas should be lightly sanded to remove the rust prior to applying the paint. In heavily treed areas, the roof should be periodically washed with water and swept with a stiff broom to remove leaves and other discharge from overhanging trees.

Caulking around metal flashing, where it attaches to the siding or brick, should be inspected annually to ensure that it is in good condition. Separated or damaged caulk should be removed and a fresh bead applied with caulk specifically designed for this application. This type of caulk is available in most local hardware stores.

Guttering should be inspected periodically to ensure that it is secured and that the downspouts are not damaged or restricted. In heavily treed areas, gutters should be inspected and cleaned of leaves and other debris a minimum of once annually. It may be necessary to repeat this process more than the recommended frequency depending on individual circumstances.

Your community feature sheet will designate the type of front door in your home unless you choose to upgrade your front door.

Your new home may include a beautiful, hand-finished, solid wood front door. To enhance and protect the natural beauty of the door, it is stained, sealed and varnished. This results in a deep, rich color with a high-gloss finish.

To protect the overall appearance of your door, it will be necessary for you to properly maintain the finish. Spar varnish was applied to the front door. However, the effects of nature, in particular the ultraviolet rays and the heat from the sun, will deteriorate the varnish relatively quickly and leave the wood exposed to the harmful effects of moisture, as well as the sun. The results of this exposure are not covered under the warranty program and can include warping, shrinking and discoloration.

Proper maintenance can prevent deterioration of your front door. It is recommended that you do three things to maintain the like-new appearance:

1. Inspect your door on a regular monthly basis.
2. Keep your door dry and clean.
3. Apply a fresh coat of spar varnish on a regular basis.

If you should scratch your door, it is very important that you protect the exposed raw wood with an exterior sealant or spar varnish in a timely manner. Raw wood will absorb moisture, weaken glue joints and cause expansions in wood sections.

Avoid having water from your sprinklers come into contact with your door as tap water contains minerals and chlorides which will contribute to the deterioration of the spar varnish finish. Should your door get wet, it should be wiped clean with a soft cloth. To clean your door, use a dry or damp cloth. Use a small amount of lemon oil to remove finger prints or grime. Avoid the use of harsh detergents or abrasive applications.

Natural variations in color or texture of the wood are not considered defects.

Warp shall not be considered a defect unless it exceeds 1/4” in the plane of the door itself. Warp is any distortion in the door itself and does not refer to the frame or jamb in which it is hung. The term “warp” shall include bow, cup and twist.

The following will invalidate your warranty on the front door:

1. Damage resulting from exposure to standing or active water.
2. Modification or alteration of the door. The utility or structural strength must not be impaired in the fitting (hanging), application of hardware or any other special treatment.
3. Failure to perform normal maintenance or to follow the guidelines set forth above.

Fiberglass Door
If your new home has a fiberglass front door, the following suggestions will help you maintain its appearance and ensure good performance.

To protect the overall appearance of your door, it will be necessary for you to properly maintain it. Your door should be inspected and checked at least once a year for fading of the paint. Proper maintenance can prevent fading, cracking and splitting of the paint. Preventative maintenance can be achieved by a simple application of a new coat of paint. Reapply the paint approximately every two years or when it fades. Fading will vary.

Ensure that the firebox is kept clear of ashes and debris when not in use and the damper is closed. Prior to lighting the fireplace, ensure that the damper is open and the gas valve is in the off position. If there is any question concerning whether the gas valve is completely shut off, open a window in the fireplace room and wait 15 minutes to ensure that any residual gas has been evacuated. Use only long-stem fireplace matches or butane fireplace lighters to light the gas log lighter. Open the gas log lighter valve and immediately light the gas log lighter. Once the log lighter is fully lit, adjust the flame as necessary using the log lighter valve. If you have difficulty lighting the log lighter, make sure that you shut off the log lighter and allow gas to dissipate before attempting to restart. After the fire is properly lit, ensure that the log lighter valve is shut off and fully set in the “off” position.

Occasionally put a handful of table salt in the fire. This will help remove soot in the chimney flue.

Fireplace Maintenance
At the end of heating season or when the fireplace will not be in use for an extended time, the ashes should be removed and the hearth area should be swept clean. The slow absorption of moisture into the ashes over a long period of time could cause a condition which would be corrosive to the metal fireplace parts.

At the beginning of each heating season, always operate the flue damper and make sure it has not become stuck from soot, creosote, etc., during the period of inactivity.

The windows in your new home are designed to provide you with many years of trouble-free operation. There are several specific maintenance steps which will prevent damage or malfunction.

1. Keep your windows clean of debris and dirt. Pay particular attention to the small weep holes located in some windows, which allow drainage.
2. Keep the tracks and slides lubricated.
3. Do not use the locking mechanism or latch, as a means to force the window to a closed position. Excessive pressure on the latch can break the adjacent panes and broken glass is not covered under warranty. Use both hands to close the window while pushing on the metal frame or bar of the slider.
4. It may be necessary to re-caulk the exterior frame of your window to the brick or siding. The frequency of this maintenance will depend on the amount of sun exposure the window receives.

Make an annual inspection of all your windows inside and out and make appropriate repairs as the need arises.

The yard around your home has been graded to establish proper drainage and allow for quality lawn installation. The final grade alone will not guarantee proper grass installation. Any areas which are left un-landscaped by Perry Homes should be reviewed with the following recommendations in mind:

1. The area that is to be sodded must be hand-raked to ensure that the area is smooth and all low areas have been filled in. Be careful not to fill any drainage swales.
2. As each square of sod is laid, it should be hand-tucked. This will eliminate gaps between each piece of sod which could become a water trap and will result in irregular appearance in the lawn.
3. The ground area adjacent to flatwork should be hand-raked in such a manner that the ground immediately adjacent to the flatwork is a minimum of 1-1/2 inches below the top of the flatwork; then when the sod is installed it will be at approximately the same level as the flatwork, thus allowing proper drainage.
4. After grass has been installed, it should be watered enough to completely dampen the base of the grass. Then the area should be rolled level with a metal grass roller to help smooth the surface.
5. No landscaping should be allowed to exceed three inches below the first course of brick. If landscaping is built up around the brick, it can cause permanent damage and stop the weep holes from functioning as they are designed.

Landscaping (including grass) is specifically excluded from the Texas Limited Warranty. The policy in regards to plant replacement and tree removal is as follows:

1. Dead plants and evergreen trees (such as pine trees) installed by Perry Homes will be replaced during the first thirty days after closing, provided that you have exercised reasonable care and proper watering. Grass is not covered under warranty.
2. Dead hardwood trees planted by Perry Homes in the dormant season will be removed only if brought to the attention of the Warranty Department in writing and at the beginning of the next growing season. Trees that leaf out, but subsequently die will not be removed.
3. You are hereby notified that existing trees on the homesite may die as a result of construction. Perry Homes has exercised care and consideration on the location of homes in proximity to the existing trees, but does not accept responsibility for the life of the trees. If you have requested that Perry Homes not remove certain trees in close proximity to the home, then you acknowledge that the existence of mature trees within close proximity to the foundation could potentially cause future foundation problems.
4. Existing trees (other than those due to placement of the foundation) will be removed unless requested by signing an enhancement change order within 10 days after the date of the original earnest money contract. In this event, Perry Homes will remove the tree(s) at your expense. Under no circumstances will Perry Homes replace existing trees.
5. Plants, grass or trees that die as a result of insect infestation or acts of nature, including, but not limited to freezing, hurricane, tornado or other severe weather conditions are not the responsibility of Perry Homes.

Perry Homes will maintain the landscaping up to the day of closing. If there is any delay in you occupying the home after closing, you should take steps to ensure that the proper maintenance and watering takes place. This is particularly important during the hot summer months.

The drainage for your property is in place on the date of closing. Careful consideration of the effect on drain­age should be given when installing sprinkler systems, swimming pools, decks, playground equipment or additional landscaping. Any damage to the home caused by an alteration of the original drainage pattern will not be the responsibility of Perry Homes. Proper positive drainage away from the foundation is important for maintaining and ensuring that the foundation performs as designed.