Caring For Your New Home

The products that go into the construction of your new Heller Home have all passed our stringent quality value tests. Before selecting certain items, however, we would like you to be aware of their unique qualities so you will know what to expect of your selections.

We have been building homes for many years and we get a lot of very good questions from our homebuyers, both before and after construction. As a benefit to you, we have compiled some of these questions and answers so that you can make more informed decisions. It is our sincere hope that this information will be helpful to you during the selection process.

This is meant to answer only some questions before your selection process; we welcome any additional questions that you may have. After you have moved into your new Heller Home, please be sure to refer to the care and maintenance information provided with your home products and systems for more information.

"I heard you can drop a bowling ball on laminate flooring and it won't scratch or dent. Is that true?"

Laminate wood floors are wonderful, but not indestructible. While they can withstand normal wear and tear, they will scratch and dent when abused. Like a hardwood floor, you should take great care to keep your laminate floor dry and clean up spills as quickly as possible. Be sure to follow the recommended cleaning suggestions and review your care and maintenance pamphlets.

Laminate floors are also affected by humidity. Too much or too little humidity can cause slight shifting of wood underlayment. This is normal and will not damage your floor, but it can be minimized by proper humidity control.

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"Is Berber carpet the best choice for an active family?"

Berber or Olefin carpet is very strong and durable at a great value. It is important to know that Berber carpet comes in widths of 12' and 15'. This means that you will have seams and cross seams throughout your home. Because of the low pile, these seams are often visible. If you do not like the appearance of visible seams, you may wish to select a more plush pile, especially for larger rooms.

Even the most relaxed pets can snag Berber with their claws while moving about your home. Keep snags trimmed for longer lasting carpet.
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"I want my wood floors to last 20 years. Is that possible?"

Pre-Finished hardwood floors are beautiful and last for a very long time. With the proper care and maintenance they can last a lifetime. Keep in mind that they will scratch, dent and age over time. The nice part is they can be sanded and refinished over time. Excessive moisture will start to separate seams, and as the seasons change, wood floors will expand and contract. You may see a line appear on some wood seams in the winter, which is caused by contracting wood. The proper setting on your humidifier will help, but Indiana weather is very dry and wood may contract a bit, regardless. These seams should disappear in spring and summer.
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"I really like the look of wood on my cabinets, trim and doors, but I want to make sure the wood is uniform in color and finish. Is this possible?"

One of the most unique qualities of wood is the natural variation in striation patterns and tones. Your wood cabinets, trim and/or doors will most likely not be uniform in appearance. The tone and shape of natural wood grains can and will vary within the same lumber lot, and even within the same tree. If a uniform appearance is very important to you, then a laminate finish might be a better choice.

Additionally, our Merillat wood cabinets go through a glazing finish process that creates a durable and remarkable beautiful finish. There are variations inherent in glaze that make it very difficult to match cabinet finishes that were finished at different times, therefore your finish might be slightly different than you are seeing in the New Home Showroom or in the Model Home.

Also remember to read the Merillat booklet in your home for care and expectation information. Ask your New Home Coordinator and/or your Sales Representative for more information.
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"How do I keep my exterior brass lighting fixtures from tarnishing?"

Brass lighting fixtures placed on exteriors of homes will tarnish over time. If you are not a fan of this patina, you may want to go with a nickel finish. If you are set on brass, please note that you can spray it with a water sealant for a longer shine, and it can be repainted with exterior brass spray paint from your local hardware store.
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"Will all of my door hardware be an identical match?"

Hinges, latches, levers and knobs may all be different types of metal or alloy within a particular color set. There may be a very slight difference in the way these metals react to the same finish. For example, the bright brass on a knob is often shinier than the door latch because these are different types of metal.
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"I've heard that stainless steel sinks don't scratch or rust. Is that true?"

Stainless steel sinks are extremely durable. However, the stainless finish is actually developed to accept scratches. Over time, these scratches will take on a natural crosshatched appearance that is typical of stainless steel sinks.

Steel wool pads should not be used in stainless steel sinks, as they will leave a rust deposit on your sink. Additionally, Dawn detergent can cause a slight rust colored deposit on your sink. These deposits can be cleaned using a gentle household cleanser like Comet
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"Can I use my favorite citrus cleaner on most of the surfaces in my home?"

Be careful of citrus. Citrus based cleaners and detergents can leave a rust colored deposit on some materials. It is better to check you manual or the manufacturer website and use the recommended cleaning products.
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"Is it hard to keep a white cast iron sink looking clean?"

White cast iron sinks stain easily and attract metal pot marks. Be sure to keep coffee grounds or pots and pans from sitting too long in your sink. Both of these things can be cleaned easily using a low abrasion cleanser. There is a new product on the market called Kohler Cast Iron Cleaner that works wonders. This can be purchased online at Kohler's website
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"My fireplace is emitting a strange odor. What do we do?"

You will need to burn you fireplace a full 8-10 hours straight to eliminate the "smell" that arises. This will burn off the finishing agents left from the manufacturer. Because the odor will be strong while this burns, the manufacturer recommends keeping the windows open.

A film will probably coat the inside of the fireplace glass the first few times that it is burned. This is the burn off of the manufacturer elements, as well as material clinging to condensation. This can and should be cleaned a few times after startup with a non-ammonia based household cleanser.
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