Safety
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
Old homes are not the only ones likely to be contaminated with lead paint. Any home built before 1980 should have it's interior and exterior paint tested for lead. The older the home the more likely a significant amount of lead was used in the paint.
In the mid-19th-century lead was used extensively by the more wealthy homeowners. So if your old home is of better construction and condition it could be more likely toxic. Children are much more susceptible to lead absorption and the consequence is irreversible brain damage.
Lead can be absorbed via fumes but also from paint chipping off and going into the soil or floors. This lead can be picked up in dirt and toys and ingested by children unknowingly.
Lead is most dangerous when sanding and scraping are going on. This ambient lead hazard is caused by lead particles hanging in the air and can be inhaled or settle on skin and clothes.
With so many online outlets to share our "status" we are often tempted to overshare especially when it comes to travel or vacation. Your "trusted" network on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are not as secure as you may think. Web savvy crooks don't have to work very hard to match up locations with those who announce their intentions of leaving their home for the holidays.
We've outlined these additional tips to our Holiday Home Security article that are great to keep in mind before leaving on vacation.
1. Do not announce on your answering machine or voicemail that you will be on vacation. Tell important family members and friends that you'll be gone and then you won't need to announce to anyone that calls that the house is empty.
2. Do not setup any email auto-reply with an out-of-office notification. Again this announces to the world that you are gone and the convenience of leaving a return date makes it even easier for crooks to figure things out.
3. Re-think your status updates. If you must make a status update to your social media profile (i.e. Facebook, Twitter) about your holiday plans, leave the dates and locations out.
Childproofing your home may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be the most important step you take to keep your child safe during the important early formative years.
The basic concept of childproofing is to make sure that your child can't leave the home and can't get into any rooms that haven't been childproofed. To effectively childproof, here are some common tips:
The kitchen is a notoriously dangerous place for tots to hang around in. Sharp instruments, hot surfaces and slippery floors abound. To keep tiny fingers out of places they shouldn't go, childproof cabinets and drawers using safety locks. Safety locks can also be purchased for ovens, which you may find especially convenient if you have a lower oven, just the right height for a toddler.
In the bathroom, childproofing the door handle to make sure that a child can't enter without supervision is one option, but you may also want to childproof the toilet with a Safety Toilet Lid Lock. Keep cabinets with dangerous toxins locked and you can also invest in a special showerhead, known as an anti-scalding device to make sure water temperatures don't get too hot for delicate skin.
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.
Our sense of hearing takes a lot of abuse and over time will deteriorate. It's not only the obvious times to protect your hearing such as at a rock concert, listening to your iPod or playing the drums, but also at home while mowing the lawn or using power tools.
Our Giveaway this week, the Ryobi TEK4 Audio Plus Noise Suppression Headphones claim to protect your hearing using active noise suppression/canceling technology, but they also allow you to communicate in regular conversations as they have a built-in mic that pics up nearby low-level sounds that are amplified into the headphones.
There's also an audio input so you can use these headphones with your iPod or other audio device and these headphones are water and impact resistant and should work well in outdoor working environments.
HOW TO ENTER
You've got 2 ways to enter to win these noise suppression headphones from Ryobi:
1. Leave a comment on this post. Just below enter your name and email and comment.
2. Tweet this post. See the green "retweet" button above. Just use it and tweet away!
Each method of entry counts so you'll double your chance of winning if you comment and tweet. Please use a real email address so we can contact you if you win and let us know in the comments if you enter by multiple methods.
GIVEAWAY DEADLINE
The random winner will be chosen at 12 midnight EST on Nov. 13, 2009 and will be notified immediately.
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Unfortunately there are millions of people who do not have the physical freedom to function in a standard home and kitchen. Special considerations need to be made when planning a kitchen design. Once again Susan Serra, CKD, from thekitchendesigner.org steps in to show us the way.
For those with special needs, a preliminary analysis of the household member(s) needs is critical. For situations in which modifications need to be made to the interior of a home, a joint meeting with all parties, including the contractor and an occupational therapist to the household member with special needs is advisable. A design professional with a CAPS designation (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) awarded by NAHB National Association of Home Builders is verification of completed course work in this area.
It is to everyone's benefit, and often a strong desire of a household member with special needs, to preserve the homeowner's independence for as long a period of time as possible. In a situation that includes wheelchair accessibility within a home, adequate space must be provided for wheelchairs to turn, particularly in a bathroom and kitchen, in areas of the home where a hallway and doorways intersect, and to plan for adequate, and smooth flooring materials and transitions inside and outside the home via ramps.
In Parts I and II of this series, we learned how to safely approach water damage and identify and stop the source. Now we will discuss preventing the spread of water damage and setting up effective drying systems for light water damage.
Step 4: Prevent Further Damage
Furnishings: Immediately relocate furnishings immersed in water or sitting on damp flooring. This is especially important for wood furnishings, or those that have a stain finish prone to bleeding. Nothing ruins carpet quicker than bleeding, wet furniture. Also, furnishings made from wood composite, like MDF, will swell quickly when exposed to water, and are impossible to dry to their original look and strength.
Wall Coverings: Once the furnishings is out of the way, inspect the walls. If water has wicked up the drywall or plaster, immediately remove baseboard and/or wainscoting or wall-coverings. Water gets trapped behind these items and creates a barrier to drying, not to mention a great spot for mold growth. (Speaking of mold, it begins to grow on porous surfaces after 48-72 hours of dampness. If you encounter mold, cease your demolition and hire an expert. This is especially critical if you have children, seniors or those with medical conditions in your home. Do not disturb the mold, as this releases spores into the air. More on this in a future post.) If no mold is encountered, I recommend leaving the drywall in place. It may be salvageable.
Flooring: Once furnishings are removed and wall-finishes are stripped to drywall, it is time to address the flooring. As a general rule, carpet and cushion (pad) damaged with Category I (see Part II of this series) water can be cleaned and salvaged. Carpet cushion damaged by Category II water needs to be disposed, but the carpet can be sanitized and salvaged. Flooring damaged by Category III water needs to be disposed of immediately and the slab or sub floor treated with an anti-microbial chemicals. Leave this to the experts. It takes proper training to safely remove flooring damaged to this extent.
