Appliance repair technicians do not know the exact details of every appliance they work on. They know the fundamentals and refer to the manufacturers manuals. While appliance repairs can be expensive, some can be done by those who understand the basics of working with plumbing and electricity. If you have rewired a lamp or replaced a […]
BS4D: 10 simple rules to remember
Whether you are tradesmen, builder, architect, designer, or… there are a few simple rules that if you remember & apply will help keep you out of trouble not only now, but well into the future… Hot moves to cold Wet moves to dry Everything expands & contracts Water is like Murphy’s law & it wants […]
Stairs & the Dreaded Stair Stringer: Codes & Tips
In all my years in the building industry, the two biggest items that I see most people stumble with is math and stairs –generally you either you get it or you don’t. In a way it is funny listening to some custom home contractors compare staircases to black holes as they do nothing but suck […]
How to install a door in 5 minutes
I have tried so many different methods & techniques for installing doors, it really isn’t funny. A couple of years ago, I saw a product called EZ-Hang come on the market, and my first thought was, yeah that’s nice. This is probably just another item for homeowners to buy believing they can do it like […]
Let’s Blog Off – Thumbtacks & Hanging Items on Walls
Ahhh, the lowly thumbtack and how I loathe thee… Antique plaster, solid wood, faux finished, paneled & perfectly finished drywall just pock marked with hundreds of little holes where posters, notes, pictures & calendars use to hang – enough to leave one thinking that it should be criminalized. While a few of today’s Let’s Blog […]
Jettisoning them bad driving habits
As a reminder, in last week’s on Money Saving Tips & Tricks – Your Vehicle article we covered items directly related to the vehicle (tracking your mileage, your tires, nitrogen, fuel , additives, etc…) & slew of the most common urban myths. I do have one item to add under the Gas portion, and that is […]
Money Saving Tips & Tricks – Your Vehicle, Part 1
Even before all of the issues started in the Middle East, we knew gas prices were going to be heading up to $4 to $5 range this summer. With the onset of the issues in Egypt & Libya, we have already seen gas prices spike earlier than anticipated & now we have no idea of […]
Basic Water Heater Maintenance – Draining the tank
It’s ok, you can admit it and in fact, I will start – I have not drained my water heater in a few years. Fortunately, for me the water is not that “hard” where I am. “Hard” water is simply sand, minerals, and other solids found in water. Now, if I still happened to live […]
25 Conservation Tips & Tricks
In our last article, “Energy Efficiency vs. Conservation – what is the real issue?” we covered plenty of the issues that involve your actual house while it is being worked on. While we have also had several articles on making your house more energy efficient, money saving tips & tricks, air sealing, green cleaning, and […]
Designing your Dream Kitchen – One common mistake you can easily avoid
Wow, what in the world is that? Well, before we get to that, I would like to first thank Bill Conley from Northwest Kitchen & Bath in Tacoma Washington for allowing us to repost these pictures. These are pictures he took at a homeowner’s house that wanted a new kitchen. She had apparently spent a […]