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October 31, 2006
Trees to Plant for Fall Colors
There are many trees that change with the seasons but these beauties really flourish in autumn and their fall coloring can be a spectacular addition to your landscaping.
Red Maple
Japanese Maple
Shagbark Hickory
White Ash
Quaking Aspen
Paper Birch
White Oak
Gingko Biloba (Maidenhair Trees)
Flowering Dogwood
October 30, 2006
Troubleshooting Power Tools
For those who really like to tinker with your power tools, here's another article courtesy of ereplacementparts.com.
So your power tool is running intermittently. One moment it's working fine, just like it always did, and the next it's completely dead. Click the trigger a few times and it's running again. What in the world is going on?
While there are many problems which can cause intermittent power tool operation, the two most common failures are the switch and the brushes. You're probably already familiar with these parts. The switch usually sits behind the main trigger, controlling power flow from the wall to the tool. The carbon brushes actually transfer power to the tool's motor. It can be difficult to determine which failure you're experiencing because both the brushes and the switch deal with electrical connections within the tool.
But you're not out of luck. There are clues which can help you find the problem.
When a switch is worn out it works more and more infrequently. At first it works pretty much all the time and occasionally it has to be clicked twice to start the tool. Over time, you might find yourself clicking the switch several times every time you start the tool. Of course, once the tool is running it works perfectly as long as you hold down the trigger. Problems of this sort are textbook switch malfunctions. Don't throw that power tool away! You probably just need a new switch.
Brushes problems are a little different. When brushes are becoming marginal sometimes a power tool will begin to "cut out" while it's running. Sometimes you might tap or slap the tool to get it running again. The trigger starts the tool just fine, but it doesn't run well. This sort of symptom usually points to a brush problem. You will want to inspect your brushes before replacing them. A worn out brush will often have a small amount of carbon remaining, or it will be pitted or chipped. If your brushes are bad, it sometimes means that your power tool has bigger problems (like a worn out motor), but often a fresh pair of brushes can get everything working again.
Of course there are lots of things that can go wrong with a power tool, and any repair should be approached with caution and ample troubleshooting. If you feel unable to repair the tool, there are lots of power tool repair shops which can do the job for you.
Posted by at 2:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 27, 2006
Last-Minute Halloween Decorations
Halloween is officially a few days away but that won't stop most people from celebrating this weekend. If your home is still barren of pumpkins it isn't too late to get into the spirit. And if you're a Halloween grinch here are some tips to keep the kids from turning your yard into a scene from animal house.
How to Decorate Outdoors for Halloween [eHow]
Haunted House Ghosts [Better Homes & Gardens]
Helpful Halloween Ideas [DoItYourself.com]
Halloween Decorating Ideas [iVillage]
Protect Your Home from Halloween Pranks and Vandalism [WikiHow]
October 26, 2006
Hidden Bookshelf Compartment
We've all wanted to have a secret compartment behind the bookshelves that opens with the pull of a book, and now you can build it yourself. This home upgrade is not only for the sleuths, superheros, and secret agents anymore. [via Lifehacker]
Posted by at 12:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 25, 2006
Humidifier Reviews
It will be hard to find a humidifer as stylish as this one but the Humidifier by Plus Minus Zero V.3 may suit your tastes even better. If UFO's are not quite for you then check out these reviews for a nice looking humidifier that performs well.
Consumer Search
Allergy Buyers Club
Epinions
Amazon
Venta Sonic VS100 [HouseinProgress]
October 24, 2006
Furnace Tune-Up and Maintenance
Inspect and service your furnace before it gets too cold. You'll lean heavily on your furnace all winter long and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your furnace is in top shape is worth every penny spent now.
Posted by at 2:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usBamboo Fencing
Brookstone is now offering Bamboo fencing which you can use as an alternative to a chain link fence or costly custom fence. This bamboo fence can also be used to hide unsightly materials in your yard and create a natural barrier between yourself and your neighbors or the public.
Posted by at 2:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usBuild a Dartboard Surround
From the new site Toolmonger, comes a DIY for building your own dartboard surround that will protect your walls as well as provide you with that perfect "neighborhood bar" feel that only green felt can offer.
Posted by at 2:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 23, 2006
DIY Granite Countertop
Finkbuilt has created the DIY answer to building and installing granite countertops at a fraction of the cost. His secret is to use 3/8″ thick, 12″ square granite flooring tiles, which you install just like you would install any other tile, except on your countertop. Here's a detailed step-by-step.
Posted by at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 22, 2006
Woodworking 101
If you are new to woodworking or looking for new ideas and techniques then you should bookmark woodworking.com. They compile a lot of good advice from their forums into informative articles like laying out your shop and selecting the best router.
Posted by at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usCarlos Motta | Furniture Designer
We appreciate designers and manufacturers who create furniture and home accessories made from reclaimed materials. One of the best of this breed is Carlos Motta, a brazilian furniture designer who has been handcrafting furniture of reclaimed wood for the past 30 years. Based in Sao Paulo, Motta's designs are well-known throughout Brazil and his acclaim is growing as the trend of green products continue to build.
Posted by at 11:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 20, 2006
Replacement Drawer Slides
If the drawers in your kitchen or bathroom continue to run off track or jam then you should probably check the slides. Sometimes they just need tightening but when new slides are needed there are many sources on the web that can fit any size drawer and provide you with any type of slide.
Posted by at 12:12 AM | Permalink | post to del.icio.usOctober 19, 2006
Tailgating at Home
Football season is in full swing and parking lots around the country are filled every weekend with revelers cooking, eating, and drinking before games. Tailgating is essentially a glorified picnic and even if you don't have tickets to the game you can setup your own tailgating party at home and watch the game from a better seat (your recliner) and with a better view (your 60" HDTV and DVR).
Posted by at 2:37 AM | Permalink | post to del.icio.usOctober 18, 2006
Home Inspections and Walkthroughs
Over at Lifehacker a comment thread has started that's open to readers suggestions regarding what to look for during a home inspection and walkthrough. A lot of differing opinions but all good points to consider. Most problems should be identified during the inspection and hopefully remedied by the time you do a walkthrough.
Posted by at 1:34 PM | Permalink | post to del.icio.usChimney Sweep
This isn't 18th century London so it's up to us to clean and maintain our chimneys. It's important to regulary inspect your chimney throughout the year, as well as take steps to prep it for use during the winter months. Without proper maintenance your chimney can become a fire hazard as well as health hazard due to carbon monoxide and other hazard gases. If you've never done an inspection or are unsure about the condition of your chimney then search for a modern day chimney sweep from the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
Posted by at 2:08 AM | Permalink | post to del.icio.usOctober 17, 2006
Slo-Mo Home Depot
You may find this very stupid or rather brilliant, we feel it falls in the latter. Enjoy!
Posted by at 12:32 AM | Permalink | post to del.icio.usRefinish a Wood Door
Over at Fixer-Upper they have refinished their exterior doors and show the steps they went through to achieve some great looking results.
Posted by at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.usOctober 16, 2006
Romantic Recliners
The modern movement is waning and a move towards a warmer and more romantic style has emerged. The sleek couches and minimalist chairs have been replaced with more ornate furniture with classic curves and darker tones. The popularity of Brocade Home is leading the resurgence along with home magazines and blogs such as OhJoy! and Apartment Therapy.
Return to Tender [Washington Post]
Posted by at 12:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usSandblast, Prime, and Paint Your Radiator
You can cover your radiator but we like homeowners who choose to sandblast, prime, and paint their classic heaters, even if it does require a hoist to get the beast back up to the second floor.
Posted by at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usDyson Handheld
You already know how much we love our Oreck XL Deluxe as well as our Oreck handheld, but we still covet the Dyson line of vacuums for their style and techie goodness. The just released Dyson Root 6 claims to have twice the suction as a normal handheld so we wonder if it might be a great replacement for your shop vac?
via uncrate
Posted by at 12:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 13, 2006
Halloween Decorations
Over at ReadyMade we've posted about some haunted lamppost covers and Megan gives a run down on how you should really carve a pumpkin. If you are interested in making your own halloween decorations with the family try this huge spider.
Posted by at 12:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 12, 2006
Wallpaper* City Guides
Although this site is focused on the home we do enjoy getting out of the house and traveling as much as we can. One of our favorite design magazines, Wallpaper*, has just published City Guides for 20 metropolitan cities around the world. Our favorite feature is that they are small and discrete so you won't look like a tourist. So if your home decor has got you down, pick up one of these guides and let it show you the way through the most stylish parts of your favorite cities.
Posted by at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usWin a Carved Wood Sign
Over at Houseblogs they are running a contest to win a custom-made red cedar sign with a message of your choosing (address, family name). These signs are from the Lincoln Sign company out of Lincoln, NH. Here are some examples of their work. There is no better way to lend a bit of nostalgia to your home than with one of these signs so head over to Houseblogs and check it out.
Posted by at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.usCut through Clutter with a Pegboard
Apartment Therapy has turned us back onto one of the greatest clutter cutter inventions ever, the pegboard. These boards are easy to install and unlike other room organizers, pegboards are completely customizable and can be changed at any time to fit any tool, brush, or craft supply.
Posted by at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 11, 2006
Sun Tunnel Skylights
Bring natural light into the dark corners of your house using a sun tunnel skylight from Velux. These skytubes are easily installed into roofs of all types and pitch. You'll save energy and never worry about turning that closet or laundry room light off.
Posted by at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 10, 2006
Bootscraper Rug
Save your floors from the mud and grime that winter brings and invest in a bootscraper rug.
Posted by at 11:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 9, 2006
Vacuum Cleaner for Hardwood Floors
One of the more active discussions on the Houseblogs community website is which vacuum is best for hardwood floors. We've waxed poetic before about our Oreck XL Deluxe as we think it works well on our hardwood and transitions nicely to our rugs and carpeted areas. Regardless of surface, what's your favorite vacuum?
Posted by at 1:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | post to del.icio.usFix Your Doorbell
In some homes the doorbell is one of the most used electronic devices in your home. With all of the work they do they are bound to break down. Here is a how-to for repairing your doorbell.
Posted by at 1:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usDust Mites
If there is anymore motivation to keep your home clean it's knowing that tiny bugs live in the dirt and dander of skin particles and can cause asthma and allergies. The first thing you should do is wash your pillow case and pillow, ASAP. If you can replace carpet with hardwood or tile floors then do it because when dust mites enter your carpet its very difficult to remove them. Otherwise be diligent about dusting and vacuuming.
Posted by at 1:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 8, 2006
Indoor Air Pollution
The EPA has recognized that indoor air quality should be a understood by all homeowners. Chemical smells, headaches, frequent colds, can sometimes be attributed to your indoor air. Here are some solutions to help improve the air around you.
Posted by at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usOctober 3, 2006
Top Kitchen Countertops
About.com lists their top picks for kitchen countertop materials. Granite seems de rigeur for every new kitchen we see but that's for good reason. Why not try an alternative material like stainless steel or concrete? But if you've got granite or any other pourous stone top you know they are susceptible to stains. Here's how to clean and protect them.
Posted by at 1:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.usReplacing Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding can crack and break but with the proper tools its quite easy to make this repair to your exterior. Hopefully you saved a few panels just for situations like this otherwise you may have a problem matching a color. Even if you have the right color of siding the sun can fade the original. so make sure you match it up properly.
Replacing a Section of Vinyl Siding [Hammerzone]
Posted by at 12:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | post to del.icio.us
