Filed in archive
D.I.Y.
on August 29, 2010
©
rioncm
Seasons for Home Repair
Home repairs often come unexpectedly and without much warning. The best solution to offset an overwhelming number of problems with home repair issues is to be proactive and take care of things before they become a problem. Fixing leaky sinks, replacing roofing structures, and even changing air conditioner filters are a few things that, if done on a schedule, can save the homeowner lots of time, money, and being suddenly inconvenienced and faced with repairs.
Home repairs can be expensive, depending on what type of repairs are needed. If the repairs require the services of a contractor, the homeowner would likely do best to ask for referrals from friends. If the project is a do-it-yourself dream, it would be wise to get as much information as possible about the project and go to a major home improvement store to get input on your ideas.
These types of stores also offer discounts and savings on the things that a homeowner would need to complete their projects. Home improvement stores faithful customers with a flair for creativity frequently use Home Depot coupon codes to make purchases for their projects. They often plan their projects around the materials the store has on sale.
Improving Your Home's Presence with Gardening
Being proactive in home repair is one thing, and home gardening is another option that homeowners use to further complete their attention to their homes. Gardening and decorating with shrubbery and flowers is one of the most frequently used ways for homeowners to instantly spruce up and give their homes an instant makeover.
Home improvement stores also offer gardening tips and classes showing how to care for your plants and explaining the best type of plant food to use. You can also find "how-to" seminars on getting the lawn presentation that you're looking for. The store have knowledgeable staff members who are very helpful.
Filed in archive
Tips
on August 27, 2010
©
rioncm
You got a great deal on a fixer-upper house, and now it's time to roll up your sleeves and make this house your home. You knew you'd need new carpet, tile, and paint, but you didn't realize on the walk-through that the dishwasher had cleaned its last dish. Spending your paycheck on essentials is one thing, but you've taken on a huge endeavor to get the house ready for your family.
If you call in your friends and offer cold beverages and pizza, the paint will go on the walls in a jiffy. Peel and stick tile is a good way to go on a small budget and you can install the new kitchen and bathroom floors yourself this way.
Tackling carpet won't be too difficult if you shop around and get quotes from several sources. Adding throw rugs in crucial areas like walkways will give your carpet longevity. If you stepped outside and shook your head over the yard full of weeds, stop by your friendly do-it-yourself home and garden center for some weed killer and other tools. In a few days, your grass will be green again. On the inside of the house, be prepared for the extra expense of replacing leaky faucets, toilets that don't flush, and fans that won't turn. These annoying problems will start to add up fast and your available cash will dwindle quickly.
Luckily, you planned for the unexpected and carry a prepaid credit card with you at all times. You never know when you'll have to dash to the home center for a bigger wrench to turn off the water that started spraying in the kitchen while you were installing the new dishwasher. This place is your home now and every bit of green paint, beige carpet, and designer stick-on tile is all your work.
Filed in archive
D.I.Y.
on July 26, 2010
©
faungg
Some people don't like that they need a screwdriver to open the metal casing to replace the blade (or flip it to the unused side). However, I find this is a small inconvenience because the blades do last very long.
If you think you would find this blade change cumbersome, opt for a plastic knife that has 'break-off' blades. I really don't know if there is a technical term for these blades, I have never heard them called anything other than 'break-off' or disposable. The blade is scored in half inch segments and as each segments becomes blunt, you just snap it off.
What ever type of knife you get, buy yourself two or three. Each person working should have their own. And don't skimp on the cost of the replacement blades. The better quality blades can be a bit more expensive but they do last longer and are more stable to use.
I hope you are finding these posts useful. If there is a tool you are not sure about, drop us a line. More to come.
Filed in archive
D.I.Y.
on July 25, 2010
©
cthe
Having bought all the key hand tools you need, there is something that isn't a hand tool but that you just couldn't do without, in fact, you couldn't even start your project.
Pencils. Lots of them. No matter what project you are undertaking you will constantly need to make a note of something: mark the spot that a length of wood should be cut, place an 'X' on the wall where a light fitting would hang, and, at the end of the day make a note of the supplies you need for the next day.
You will most likely think that you can get by with any old pencil, even take one from your kid's school supplies. Unfortunately they are just not sturdy enough to go through the rigors of D.I.Y projects and live to face a second day. If you drop it you will find that the lead breaks into many pieces, but you don't know until you try to sharpen it - the lead just falls out at the break line.
If you are shopping at your local small hardware store you will often get a carpenter's pencil free. Failing that, though they do cost about 50cents each, they also last a long time. Pick up a handful, and get the colored ones not the ones in unpainted wood. When you are looking for one, it is so much easier to find a bright red or yellow pencil than it is to find one that is the same color as the wood we are working with.
Filed in archive
D.I.Y.
on July 22, 2010
©
DaGoaty
One of the tools that most people do not have, or even consider buying, is a 3 foot level. People often will have a 6" level, but a longer one. Once you get one for yourself you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
A level, or a Spirit Level, has so much application it should be a major tool in your arsenal. It is also one of the tools that I would never consider buying used. In order to function a level must be accurate: it is possible to buy an inaccurate level, and that is why I wouldn't recommend buying one used.
To make sure it is accurate, get a reading in the store, perhaps hold it up against a rack. A long level will have at least three levels. Take a vertical reading, make note of where the bubble sits, then flip the level and take another reading with the level at the opposite end. Both levels should give you the same reading. If they don't, try another.
A long level is useful for drawing long straight lines when you want to install cabinets. They are useful for measuring the level of two cabinets that sit a distance apart, such as where the gap is for a stove in your kitchen. They are necessary to take any measurement on either a long horizontal or a vertical surface. Don't be without one when you start your home renovation project.
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