Maintenance and Repair
A tool left off many lists that every household should have is a 6-foot stepladder. That height is useful for most interior jobs and working on the lower portion of the exterior of the home such as the roof line.
Don't skimp on quality. A good ladder should last a long time. Metal, wood, or fiberglass are all great choices but a quality ladder will have the following features:
+ Wider spread between the legs
+ Rustproof hardware
+ Heavy side rails
+ Sturdy rungs and steps
+ Firm stance when open
Somehow we missed the news that yesterday was World Toilet Day. We want to stop and reflect on the most underrated of home necessities. Sinks and refrigerators continue to get all the glory but without the toilet, well let's not even go there.
Honor your toilet by keeping it operating efficiently and clean.
photo: Preters
Over time a door placed in a wood frame will begin to sag causing air leaks around the door and space between the weatherstripping and door frame. Checking the hinge attachments is the first thing you should look at but if everything looks tight give these two tips a try to locate the draft.
1. During the day stand inside with the door closed and the interior lights off. Look for light passing through the spaces around the door. If you see light check the weather stripping in that area and apply more if needed.
2. Again close the door and stand on the inside facing the door. Hold a lit candle about 2-3 inches from the edges of the door and move it along the edge of the door from the bottom, across the top, and down the other side. If you see the flame flicker (not from your movement but a draft), then examine the weather stripping around that part of the door.
Pulling carpet yourself can save a few bucks and here are 7 tips to make the process go smoothly.
1. Pulling up carpet is a labor-intensive activity, so while you can do it by yourself, it's a lot easier, and a lot less heavy, if you bring in at least one other person to help out.
2. Watch for exposed nails, wear thick-soled shoes and tread carefully. Underneath the carpet, there could be old flooring, or there could just be a collection of junk, dust mites, bugs and other creepy crawly dirt covered items, so you may also want to wear a mask to prevent inhalation of dust. For the same reason, people who have asthma or breathing problems should leave the area to prevent complications.
3. Start in a corner. Using pliers, begin to lift the carpet in a corner; this will start the removal in two directions.
A reader wrote in this question:
What is best to use to melt snow on different kinds of surfaces? We did some damage on our slate steps last year by using rock salt.
We polled some experts including Deren S. Monday and the consensus is that slate is definitely not the ideal choice to use in areas that need to be clear of snow. When designing for snowy climates the exterior selections should be salt-resistant to meet performance criteria.
If you've already got the slate installed here are the options as we see it.
1. Remove the slate and install a salt-resistant paver such as high-quality concrete that is also textured to be more slip-resistant.
2. Remove the slate and install thermal heat elements underneath and re-install the slate or install weather resistant material. Salt shouldn't be needed if you go with this option.
Not all dead bolt locks are equal, therefore not all dead bolts will protect you and your property to the same degree.
Here are some tips to make sure your dead bolt lock is securely fastened.
1. Stick to Grade 2 or 1 Strength - Dead bolt locks are graded by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association based on the following characteristics:
Operation i.e.: key torque; cycles
Security i.e.: pull strength, impact resistance
Finish
You can purchase dead bolts in order of strength from weakest (grade 3) to mid-level (grade 2) to high security (grade 1). Grade 3 dead bolts are too weak. Stick to grade 2 or 1 only. Also make sure the bolt extends at least 1" into the doorjamb.
2. Install locks correctly - For maximum security most locksmiths recommend installing locks an in an inch and a half above the knob, at roughly the door's center point. At higher heights the door loses leverage and can be compromised.
3. Swing bar locks - Avoid the door chains and opt for swing bar locks for extra security which can't be forced open.
4. Strike plate strength - The strike plate which is the metal piece that attaches to the door frame should be five inches long and installed with screws at least 3 inches long. There should be no gaps between the strike plate and the door frame.
Ants, a common nuisance for homeowners, love kitchens for obvious reasons. Even if you keep your counters and cupboards clear of food, ants will find a way into your home and only need a few drops of spilled soda or bread crumbs to make them decide to stick around for more.
The problem with getting rid of ants the conventional way using bait traps and sprays is that you are exposing yourself and your food to toxic chemicals. These poisons are particularly dangerous when used in the kitchen when potentially every surface comes into contact with food.
Pesticides used in the kitchen also don't remove ants from their base source, which will continue to grow if left unchecked. The number one way to remove ants is to remove their source of food.
Follow these steps to get rid of these buggers for good:
Our interview with Kelly Giard of Clean Air Lawn Care was eye-opening and he left us with 3 invaluable lawn care tips that we wanted to highlight again.
His primary mantra sounds like common sense but is more difficult to achieve than you realize and that is to, fight weeds with a healthy lawn, not by spraying herbicides. It's so much easier to just dump chemicals on a lawn rather than take a little time and patience to help nurture your lawn the natural way.
1. Cut your lawn half an inch higher than you usually do (one or two notches on your mower wheels) and notice how much greener it gets, how fewer weeds there are, and how much less water it needs.
If you were seeking information for a home improvement project pre-internet (which wasn't that long ago), your options were:
A. Ask a friend, family member or your local hardware store for advice.
B. Refer to your back issues of your Family Handyman or This Old House.
C. Crack open your home improvement books.
We think option C remains underrated even if sometimes outdated. There are plenty of instruction manuals available that offer guidance for most modern day home improvement challenges. All of the major publishers have book series that function like home improvement encyclopedias and cover all systems of the house. You can also find books that try to cover it all in one heavy hardcover. Many of these books also have great illustrations and photos.
Where to find these books? It does seem that the while the design and decorating section in bookstores continues to expand, the less flashy diy category is shrinking. The master bedroom makeover just sells better than a clogged sink troubleshooter.
Fear not as these great books have found their way to libraries and used bookstores. We enjoy stopping by Bookmans in Tucson whenever we are in town if only to peruse there enormous selection of home improvement books (it may sound weird but we're home nerds).
We want to share one of our favorite new houseblogs, San Fran Vic. The homeowners have chronicled the ongoing restoration of their 1890's Victorian home in San Francisco.
They've done amazing work so far and we are particularly stricken by their staircase renovation which they've laid out in 7 blog posts. Not so much a renovation but more of a recreation as the banister was completely gone and in it's place was a dividing wall which needed to be demo'd before any work could begin. The finished product shown above looks great and we'll continue to check on on their work and so should you.
San Fran Vic
