LETUS Maintenance LLC

10/12/2026

LETUS Lesson 00065

Not All Screws
Are Made for All Wood

When repairing a deck, fence, porch, or other outdoor wooden structure, choosing the right fastener is just as important as choosing the right lumber.

Pressure-treated wood is commonly used outdoors because preservatives help protect it against decay and insect damage. However, some of the chemicals used in pressure treatment can accelerate corrosion in certain metals.

That means an ordinary screw that works perfectly well indoors may not be suitable for pressure-treated lumber.

Here’s what property owners should know:

• Standard drywall screws are generally not suitable for exterior structural wood applications. They lack the corrosion protection and performance characteristics needed for many of these uses.
• Hot-dip galvanized fasteners are commonly used with pressure-treated lumber, provided their coating meets the requirements for the specific application.
• Stainless steel fasteners can provide excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in coastal areas or other highly corrosive environments.
• Some exterior-rated coated screws are specifically approved for use with pressure-treated lumber, but not every screw labeled “exterior” is compatible with every treatment.
• Fasteners and metal connectors should also be compatible with one another to help avoid galvanic corrosion.

Using incompatible fasteners can eventually lead to rust, staining, weakened connections, and premature failure.

And remember, corrosion resistance doesn’t automatically mean a screw is structurally appropriate. Deck framing, joist hangers, railings, and other load-bearing connections may require specific fasteners approved for those applications.

Pro Tip:

Before purchasing screws for pressure-treated lumber, check the packaging for compatibility with the wood treatment and intended application. When using structural connectors, follow the connector manufacturer’s fastener specifications rather than substituting ordinary screws.

A small decision at the hardware store can make a significant difference in how well an outdoor repair holds up over time.

You can choose to do everything yourself
or
You can ‘Leave Everything To US’

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations
(704) 269-8295
letusmaintenance.com
[email protected]

10/05/2026

LETUS Lesson 00064

That Drywall Anchor Says “50 lbs”—But Can It Really Hold 50 lbs?

When hanging shelves, mirrors, artwork, TVs, or other items, it’s common to see drywall anchors advertised with weight ratings such as 25, 50, or even 100 pounds.

But that number doesn’t necessarily mean you should automatically hang an object of that weight from any wall using that anchor.

An anchor’s actual holding ability can depend on several factors, including:

• The type and thickness of the drywall.
• The type of anchor being used and whether it is oriented properly.
• Whether the drywall is damaged or deteriorated.
• How the load pulls against the anchor.
• How many properly spaced anchors are being used.
• Whether the object will remain stationary or experience movement.

There is also an important difference between weight pulling mostly downward along the wall and weight pulling outward away from it.

A shallow picture frame and a deep shelf may weigh the same amount, but the shelf can create significantly more leverage against its fasteners—especially once objects are placed on it.

Whenever possible, heavier items are often better secured directly into wall studs or properly installed structural backing rather than relying entirely on drywall anchors.

Pro Tip:
Don’t choose a drywall anchor based only on the largest number printed on the package. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the required wall material, installation method, and type of load the rating applies to.

[And] When you’re hanging something heavy, valuable, or capable of injuring someone if it falls, securing it properly matters much more than simply finding an anchor with a higher number on the package.

It’s best to anchor into a stud or other structural backing. If you must use an anchor, remember that the right fastener is determined by more than just the weight of what you’re hanging.

You can choose to do everything yourself
or
You can ‘Leave Everything To US’

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations
(704) 269-8295
letusmaintenance.com
[email protected]

09/28/2026

LETUS Lesson 00063

Before You Paint, Do You Know What Type of Paint Is Already There?

Before repainting walls, doors, trim, cabinets, or other previously painted surfaces, it’s helpful to know what type of coating you’re painting over.

Why?

Because not every paint bonds equally well to every existing finish. Applying a water-based paint directly over certain older oil-based coatings without proper preparation can result in poor adhesion, peeling, or a finish that can be scratched off much easier than it should.

Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to investigate what you have.

• The Alcohol Test

Choose a small, inconspicuous area, clean it, and rub the surface firmly with a cotton ball or clean cloth dampened with rubbing or denatured alcohol.

If paint begins transferring onto the cloth or the surface noticeably softens, it’s generally an indication of a water-based latex or acrylic coating.

If the finish remains largely unaffected, it may be an oil-based or alkyd coating and deserves further testing before repainting.

•The Mineral Spirits Test

Mineral spirits can also provide useful information. Water-based latex and acrylic paints generally aren’t dissolved by mineral spirits once cured, while some oil-based coatings may soften or transfer when rubbed with mineral spirits.

Because results can vary with the coating’s age and formulation, this test is better used as another clue rather than the only method of identification.

Check the Finish and Location

Older glossy trim, doors, cabinets, and woodwork are more likely to have been coated with oil-based paint than many modern walls. Oil-based coatings also tend to become harder and may develop a yellow or amber tint as they age, particularly on lighter colors.

You can also lightly sand a hidden area. Many water-based coatings tend to produce softer or somewhat gummy residue when abraded, while fully cured oil or alkyd coatings commonly sand into a finer, powder-like residue. This isn’t a definitive test by itself, but it can provide another clue.

Why does any of this matter?

Correctly identifying the existing coating helps determine whether the surface needs cleaning, sanding or deglossing, a bonding primer, or another preparation method before the new paint is applied.

Pro Tip:
Don’t rely on only one clue when you’re unsure. Perform the alcohol test in an inconspicuous location and consider the age, location, sheen, and behavior of the existing coating. When in doubt, proper surface preparation and a compatible bonding primer can help prevent an expensive repaint from becoming a peeling one.

Good painting isn’t just about the paint you put on—it’s also about understanding what’s already underneath it.

You can choose to do everything yourself
or
You can ‘Leave Everything To US’

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations
(704) 269-8295
letusmaintenance.com
[email protected]

09/25/2026

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service, Rachel & Brent!

Happy Selling!

09/21/2026

LETUS Lesson 00062
Why Do Floors Squeak?

That familiar squeak when you walk across a certain spot in the floor usually isn’t coming from the flooring itself.

Many floor squeaks are created when parts of the floor system move slightly against one another as someone walks across them.

Depending on how the floor was constructed, that movement can occur between the:

• Subfloor and floor joists.
• Subfloor and nails or other fasteners.
• Finished flooring and the material underneath it.
• Individual flooring boards or planks.

Over time, wood can shrink, fasteners can loosen, and small gaps can develop. When weight is applied to the floor, those materials can move just enough to rub against each other and create the squeak you hear.

That’s also why simply finding the noisy spot isn’t always enough to fix it. The actual movement causing the sound may be slightly away from where the noise seems to originate.

When the subfloor is accessible, one common repair method is securing the loose area more firmly to the framing. Screws are often useful for this because their threads can pull materials together and resist working loose.

However, the correct repair depends on the flooring, framing, accessibility, and actual source of the movement.

Pro Tip:

If you have access underneath a squeaky floor, have someone slowly walk across the area while you observe from below. In some cases, you can actually see or feel the small amount of movement responsible for the noise.

A squeaky floor may sound like a mystery, but often it’s simply two parts of the floor telling you they’re moving when they shouldn’t be.

You can choose to do everything yourself
or
You can ‘Leave Everything To US’

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations
(704) 269-8295
letusmaintenance.com
[email protected]

09/15/2026

Tune In!

A friendly reminder that we will be going live this Saturday September 19th for Pro and Pro Am mains. Also, an interview with Pro points leader Chase Williams at 421TT Championship Series.
Brought to you by LETUS Maintenance LLC. Stay tuned, going to be an exciting weekend.
Share,Share,Share!!!

09/14/2026

LETUS Lesson 00061
Those Screws in Your Door Threshold
May Serve More Than One Purpose

Have you ever noticed the row of screws along the threshold underneath an exterior door?

You might assume they’re all simply there to hold the threshold in place. Sometimes they are—but on certain adjustable exterior door thresholds, some screws serve another purpose: they allow the adjustable portion of the threshold to be raised or lowered.

That small adjustment can help maintain proper contact between the threshold and the seal along the bottom of the door.

A properly adjusted threshold can help:

• Reduce drafts and outside air entering around the door.
• Keep insects, dirt, and debris from getting underneath it.
• Improve the door’s overall weather seal.
• Reduce opportunities for wind-driven rain to enter.
• Help reduce unnecessary heating and cooling loss.

Not every exterior door has an adjustable threshold, and not every screw you see is an adjustment screw, so it’s important to know which type you have before turning anything.

If yours is adjustable, higher isn’t necessarily better. Raising it too far can make the door difficult to operate or put excessive pressure on the door’s bottom seal.

Pro Tip:
If you can see daylight or feel a draft underneath an exterior door, don’t automatically assume the door or threshold needs replacing. Inspect the weatherstripping and threshold first. Sometimes a worn seal needs replacement—but on an adjustable threshold, a small adjustment may be all that’s needed.

Sometimes the hardware around your property does more than you might think.

You can choose to do everything yourself
or
You can ‘Leave Everything To US’

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations
(704) 269-8295
letusmaintenance.com
[email protected]

09/12/2026

Thank You, Next Level Racing LLC

Once again, we would like to give thanks to the following in support of tt racing.
Gregg Home Solutions
Scott Gregg
Heel Stone Home improvement and Repairs
Calvin Gainey
Kelly Cales
Zeb Cales
Norman Contracting
Zack Norman
LETUS Maintenance LLC
Geoffrey Purdue

09/07/2026

LETUS Lesson 00060
Your Wallpaper May Be Telling You Something

Wallpaper can add color, texture, and character to a room, but when it begins bubbling, peeling, separating, or developing unexplained discoloration, the wallpaper itself may not always be the real problem.

Some wallpaper issues are simply caused by age, poor installation, inadequate surface preparation, or failing adhesive. Others can be signs of excessive humidity or moisture affecting the wall or materials underneath.

Things to watch for include:

• Seams that repeatedly separate after being repaired.
• Bubbling or blistering beneath the wallpaper.
• Areas that suddenly begin peeling away from the wall.
• Brown, yellow, or otherwise unexplained discoloration.
• Dark spotting or mildew-like growth.
• Wallpaper that feels damp or unusually soft.
• Changes occurring near windows, plumbing fixtures, exterior walls, or ceilings.

Before simply gluing loose wallpaper back down or covering the area with something new, consider why the problem developed in the first place.

If moisture is getting behind the wallpaper, covering the visible problem without correcting the source can allow damage to continue unnoticed. Depending on the situation, moisture can affect drywall, plaster, trim, paint, adhesives, and other surrounding materials.

Pro Tip:
Pay particular attention when wallpaper that has remained intact for years suddenly begins changing. New bubbling, staining, or separation deserves a closer look—especially if it continues to spread or returns after being repaired.

Sometimes what you see on the surface is only the first clue to what’s happening underneath.

You can choose to do everything yourself
or
You can ‘Leave Everything To US’

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations
(704) 269-8295
letusmaintenance.com
[email protected]

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day
from LETUS!!

We would like to wish everyone throughout our local communities a happy and safe Labor Day!

LETUS Maintenance will be closed Monday in observance of the holiday, allowing our team to enjoy the day before we pick back up on Tuesday with our regularly scheduled projects and services.

We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend, and we appreciate all of the hardworking individuals who help keep our homes, businesses, and communities moving forward.

Happy Labor Day!

____

LETUS | Leave Everything To US
Maintenance LLC
Residential & Commercial
Repairs | Upkeep | Installations