Home Owner FAQs
1. Has anyone had problems with the front outdoor water faucet piping?
We have repaired it numerous times and it still freezes and cracks every winter.
It is really important to ensure your faucet pipe is correctly installed and is drained appropriately before the Winter. (see video: Protecting Your Outside Water Faucets in the Winter ). The reason for the cracking is expansion of any water when it freezes in the pipe exposed to the elements during Winter. Another effective solution is to gain access to the exposed pipe and replace the entire section of copper pipe (including the section that previously cracked) with a braided stainless steel faucet supply line .
2. Sometimes we have guests or friends visiting, is there some way to identify their vehicles so they can park in the Cluster during their visit?
Yes, the Solaridge Board has issued parking passes for guests of Solaridge Cluster residents only. The parking pass must be placed on the dashboard of the guest’s vehicle where it can be clearly seen from outside for the duration of their stay. Provided the arrival and anticipated departure date of your guest is clearly highlighted on the pass, the duration of the guest’s visit is unrestricted. Passes can be obtained in the Document Library tab of this website. For any unauthorized vehicles that are towed, owners can retrieve their vehicles by calling Tel: 703-691-2131.
3. My attic exhaust fan is not functioning. My neighbor replaced his several years ago, and can recall only that a replacement was difficult to find because the size is uncommon. Please provide information on the make, model, and source?
The original gable mount power attic ventilators were manufactured by DAYTON and installed in an 18″x18″ square cutout. Replacement ventilators (Grainger #10W193 1220 CFM) can be procured from the following supplier:-
GRAINGER
101 International Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
4. How do I replace or repair rusted metal capping on the chimney chases?
When chimney chase covers corrode, they can be replaced with new ones. A procedure for how to perform this is provided in the following link:-
http://www.instructables.com/id/Installing-a-Stainless-Steel-Chimney-Chase-Cover/?ALLSTEPS
The required materials can be procured from Rockford Chimney Supply (see link below):-
http://www.rockfordchimneysupply.com/chase-covers.php?holes=1O#chaseform
The contacts for a contractor who can perform this work is listed in this website (see Useful Vendors).
5. We have problems with flying squirrels entering our roof/attic space, how can we deal with this problem?
Flying squirrels can be removed from your solar attic using traps. A good pest control service can assist you with this. These animals can get through very small openings and work their way inside the roof space. After the traps have caught the animals, it is recommended to install a mesh or screen barrier under the roof line along the entire south facing side of the house to close any gaps or openings for them to squeeze through.
6. How do I find the right paint to repaint my house or sections of it in case I need to perform a repair?
The Reston Association has prepared cluster standards, which are contained in a cluster binder for members to review. Refer to the Home Maintenance page in this website for an example of the Solaridge Color palette. Residents can also find specific information for their own home’s color palette in the Reston Association Disclosure Kit provided to them at the time they purchased their residence. Alternatively it may be helpful to get in contact with Reston Association yourself directly.
If you have new siding consider using an oil primer first (even with a latex final coat). Oil seals the wood better than latex and the final job will last much longer. Be sure to put a heavy coat on the inside of the eaves of your home’s facia boards. This will give you extra protection against carpenter bees.
7. What is the correct specification of the material to be used to replace damaged sidings?
Replacement siding material to be used for repair or replacement is 1″x 6″ plain bevel style wood cedar or cypress. If using cedar, it is recommended to use A grade, which although more costly is of superior quality, has fewer defects, knots & worm holes and will last much longer on your home without replacement if correctly installed.
8. Where can I procure cedar/cypress siding material from?
Siding material can be procured from the following two local sources:-
TW Perry 41 Catoctin Circle SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
Tel: (703) 777-3030
or
Tart Lumber 22183 Shaw Rd, Sterling, VA 20166
Tel: (703) 450-5880
9. What are the type of shingles I need to replace my roof with?
“C” asphalt, “slate grey” shingles should be used to replace roof shingles on your home.
Architectural shingles are also acceptable. Contact Mark at Reston Association for more detail.
10. Where can I buy the black rubber weatherstrip for my garage door bottom?
MD Building Products fabricate a 2 in. x 16 ft. rubber replacement for garage door bottoms, which is designed to seal out water, as well as preventing cold air, dust and leaves from blowing under your garage door. This material can be purchased from either Lowes or Home Depot and is easy to install.
11. When do the Solaridge Cluster dues need to be paid?
Solaridge Cluster quarterly dues are $450, and are due on the following dates;
February 1st, May 1st, August 1st & November 1st.
Dues received after these dates are considered late. Payments received more than 30 days late require a 10% ($45) late fee.
12. It would be useful to have maps showing grid with zones, downspouts/sewers, topographic contours and plats for Solaridge Cluster, showing the outline of homes, fences, property lines & measurements.
Numerous maps and plats are provided in the Documents Library tab of this website.
13. We do a fair amount of siding replacement and painting and we are considering replacing the siding with Hardie Board. I have requested quotes from a few Hardie Board installers and painters. As we begin this process, do you have any advice or contractors to recommend?
The Board doesn’t have any Hardie Board contractor references. However, the following recommendation is given to residents contemplating installing Hardie Board on their homes.
1. Make sure the color you choose is approved by Reston Association. There are specific Hardie Board colors that Reston has approved. Be careful because Hardie Board has changed the colors over time and kept the color names the same. It is recommended to get color samples from your Hardie Board vendor and request Mark Voytko at Reston Association to specifically acknowledge and approve your preferred color(s).
2. Write into the contract that the final payment is subject to Reston DRB approval. That way if they ship a color that is not exactly what was represented, they will be responsible for repainting the house.
If you choose to paint your home instead of installing Hardie Board, also check with Mark about the color stain to use. He has the color names for several paint companies. If you are using new cedar consider using an oil primer first (even with a latex final coat). Oil seals the cedar better than latex and the final job will last much longer. Be sure to put a heavy coat on the inside of the eaves of the facia board. This will give you extra protection against carpenter bees.
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