Maintenance and Repair: September 2006 Monthly archive
Your car or truck might be spotless but if it leaks oil your driveway will be the worse for wear and a stained driveway can ruin an otherwise sharp looking home exterior and even lower the value of your home. Here are some tips for cleaning oil stains but most importantly fix that leak for the health of your driveway and your vehicle.
September 20, 2006 | Comments ()
When insulating a new home or a room conversion such as an attic or garage, you have a choice between batt or blow-in insulation. There are advantages to both but if you are going to go with the batt fiberglass you need to make sure your installation is precise. Here's a breakdown of the materials needed and cost of blow-in insulation. Easy2DIY has an animated How-To for blown-in insulation and Fixer-Upper shares some real-life lessons in doing your own blow-in insulation install.
September 20, 2006 | Comments ()
Growing up with a garbage disposal that will chop up scraps of food and keep your pipes clear of junk is a luxury we no longer have and definitely an adjustment when even a bit of rice will stop up the drain. Here's a How-To for installing a garbage disposal in your own kitchen.
September 19, 2006 | Comments ()
A slate roof is one of the most durable of roofing materials that can last hundreds of years. There are slate roofs in buildings across Europe that have survived centuries with little or no maintenance. We don't recommend neglecting your slate roof and Traditional-Building has a great article for repairing and maintaining your slate roof.
September 19, 2006 | Comments ()
You love your trusty drill but the chuck's worn out and the motor could use some maintenance. Why throw it out when you can just replace the chuck yourself as well as gain access to the motor for cleaning. Here's a helpful guide for removing the chuck and gaining access to the gearbox or torque selector collar.
September 11, 2006 | Comments (4)
With the Fall season just around the corner there are some easy steps you can take right now to preserve the heat within your home and give you a bit more time before firing up the heater.
Add Insulation - Not to your walls but to areas that are largely unseen such as your water heater, ducts, exposed pipes.
Install a Door Shoe and Weatherstrip Your Door - The door shoe will prevent drafts as well a protect the wood along the bottom of your door from the elements and weather stripping your front door will make sure the heat stays in and the cold out.
September 8, 2006 | Comments (1)
Here's a tip from Bob Vila for handling broken windows.
Always wear thick gardening gloves when handling broken glass, and use goggles if you have to break any glass. Carefully crisscross pieces of masking tape over a broken windowpane. Cover the glass with a heavy cloth, then tap with a hammer to break away the pieces from the window without splintering. Dispose if broken glass in newspaper.
September 6, 2006 | Comments ()
