Things to Know

Here are just a few useful things we learned and want to share. So, if you are perplexed by something, send a question to abbeyroadsherborn@googlegroups.com. Someone in the community will respond.

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Alarms:  There are several different ones.

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• There are fire sprinklers in your condo. They are heat-sensitive and if the wax melts, a flood of water will come rushing down. PLUS, there is a red light next to your front door, toward the top of the porch. That is the sprinkler alarm light. It will flash and generate a loud noise if the sprinkler goes off or if being tested. These alarms are serviced annually. If you notice one flashing, call 911 immediately. (This information does not apply to units 16,17 & 18.)
   

• The obligatory carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.  Batteries need to be changed when you hear a cheeping sound.  If in an inconvenient place, you can ask for our management company’s assistance which may include a fee, or you can send a group email asking who has a tall ladder and if needed, a climber.
   

• The special case of unit 13-15: Because of the unique construction of the basements, they have a fire alarm panel in water room E next to their garages. If this alarm is triggered, it generates an automatic call to the fire department. (New owners are given a key that allows access to all five water rooms.) The alarm is maintained and monitored by RB Allen Company. They perform a test annually and will arrange a time when they can access all three units in one visit. (The fan switch does not need to be on.)

 

Bathroom Fan: Because each of our homes were built to LEED standards and airtightness is among the factors that can greatly increase energy efficiency, there is very little loss of heat or coolness in our condos. However, there are certain requirements for air circulation, so the guest bathroom fan is set to run continuously at a very low level. Please do not have it disconnected, as was done by one resident before learning why it was running. Now we all know.

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Blueberries: Notice those bushes around the courtyard? They are blueberry bushes. Take a few for breakfast, or let your grandchild enjoy picking some.

 

Cheeping sounds: Where are those other beeping sounds coming from? It might be one of your refrigerator doors that is not shut tightly. 

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Hard Water: We have private wells with hard water. Some of us first noticed that anything made of clear glass came out of the dishwasher with white film on it. We shared ideas for different detergents until we found ones we liked. Ask around for suggestions if this is new to you. Also, you may notice deposits in your toilet bowls and on the tile in your shower. For simple homemade remedies google “vinegar, baking soda, Dawn dishwashing liquid””. Film on the inside of your dishwasher? Place a cup of white vinegar at the bottom and run the cycle without dishes.

 

Hardwood Floors: They are pre-finished but still much like the hardwood you may have had in your former home. They’re not laminate. Here’s the explanation on how to clean them from the architect who designed AR: Don’t use regular wood-floor cleaner or plain water. Skip oil soaps, which break down the finish and leave a residue that attracts dirt. Mop with a microfiber cloth using a cleaner specified by the manufacturer. 
https://www.floorfactors.com/resource-center/prefinished-hardwood-care/

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Jenn-Air Stovetop: The back-left burner allows you to simmer; the right-front burner gets very hot! Even turning it all the way down, things may still boil or burn. One solution is to buy a “flame tamer.” 

 

Porch Lights (Leviton):  One of the neighborly things we do is keep our porch lights on in the evening to provide safety for walkers and a lovely, friendly glow to the courtyard. They can go on and off automatically if set properly. However, the printed operations can be difficult to read. Here is a link to that vital information. You will find it easy to follow at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU2LFs3Gadg.

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Thursday afternoon Get-togethers!  Bring your own beverage. Weather permitting in the courtyard at 4:30. Someone may occasionally send out an invitation to gather in their home.

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Paint Colors: These are the "original" paint colors. Some of us bought small cans of these to have on hand if something needed a touch-up. If you need a small amount of a particular color, send an email around. Someone may have it.

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Original colors:

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• Loft/kitchen/foyer: Repose gray (Sherwin Williams) Eggshell

• 1st Floor Master Bedroom/Closet: Soji White (Sherwin Williams) Eggshell

• Master Bath: Rhinestone (Sherwin Williams) Eggshell

• Second Floor Bath/Closets/Powder Room: Pure White (Sherwin Williams) Eggshell

• Second Bedroom: HC-116/Guilford-green (Benjamin Moore) Satin 

• Trim: White Dove (Benjamin Moore) Satin

• Ceiling: White Dove (Benjamin Moore) Flat

• Exterior Paint: Essex Green (Benjamin Moore)

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