On the Wire - Quick Fixes
Weekend warriors, you have a whole EXTRA day coming to tackle those projects you’ve been putting off. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, in other words – fix stuff before it gets worse! Take a look at the quick fixes we came up with for common household failures. With a little help, you could probably finish all three in time for a great cookout!
Uncovering a Treasure:
Sometimes, the best part about renovating a room is finding a surprise. For example, you decide to pull up the old carpeting in your foyer and find a beautiful ceramic tile mosaic underneath. A great hidden treasure, but how do you restore that tile to its original glory? Start by getting rid of the glue that held the carpeting on. Avoid using chemical solvents or strippers. You can use dry ice to freeze the glue. It should pop it right off with a putty knife. Make sure to wear gloves! A heat gun, available at your local crafts or hardware store, will soften the glue without melting it. If you find painted tile, strip the paint from it with a homemade paste. Mix 1 part TSP (trisodium phosphate) with 2 parts calcium carbonate (sometimes called whiting), and add water until the mixture reaches the consistency of a thick paste. Using a putty knife, apply the paste to the tile, about 3/8 inches thick. Let the paste sit on the tile for a half hour for best results. Then scrape off the residue with a plastic putty knife. Rinse the tile immediately and thoroughly with warm water. Don’t forget to wear gloves, use eye protection, and make sure to open the doors and windows!
Repairing Split Drywall Tape:
This is a very common, albeit annoying, problem in many homes. To fix unsightly drywall tape, use a sharp knife and make a clean break at the edges, then carefully pull away the loose tape. Brush away any dust or loose material. Apply joint compound and position new fiberglass mesh tape, then press the tape into the compound. Apply more compound over the tape using a taping knife. Use gentle strokes to smooth the surface with the compound. If you are using ready-mix or "easy sand" compound, mound the compound up a bit. If you use regular dry-mix compound, level it with the knife. Let it dry, then apply one and perhaps two more coats, feathering the edges. The finished patch should look and feel even with the surrounding wall. Sand, prime, and paint.
Hardwood flooring is a great look that many homeowners are opting for these days. Older homes sometimes have hidden hardwoods under wall-to-wall carpeting, but they may need to be repaired. To fix a hardwood floor, you must first remove the damaged section. Using a spade bit, bore holes across the ends and middle of the old boards. Use a wood chisel to split the boards lengthwise between the holes. Slip a pry bar into a split and carefully remove the damaged board. Using a claw hammer, pull out old nails in the subfloor. Carefully cut the new boards for a tight fit. Slip the groove of each new piece into the tongue of the adjacent board. Secure the new boards and nail through the tongues on all but the last piece. Use glue on the subfloor, tongue and half groove of the last piece, then tap it into place. Use a block to protect the wood surface.
back to the top
Ask Tom & Leslie - Cool Consideration
“I would like to install air conditioning on the 1st floor of my 2 story home. I have casement style windows that swing out so I can't install a window unit. I could install central air, but I don't use the 2nd floor of the house. The windows are 10 yr old Anderson. Should I replace 1 window with a double hung window so I can fit in an air conditioner or go for central air?”
Another option might be to install a through-the-wall air conditioning unit. Many of the larger units are available with wall mounted sleeves. To install, you’d need to cut a hole in the exterior wall and frame it out the same way you’d frame an opening for a window or door. It is very important to do this correctly, as you will be impacting the structural integrity of the house. Also, this type of system will very likely cause a heat loss in the winter as it is very difficult to seal it to prevent cold air leaking in.
A better option, which cost-wise will be in between the cost of a central system and a through-the-wall mounted portable, might be a ductless-split system. With this system, you have a wall blower that hangs on the inside wall of your home. This is connected via a refrigerant line to a small compressor which sits outside, just like a central system. The compressor supplies chilled refrigerant to the blower inside, which circulates the cooled air.
Regardless of what you ultimately decide, you should be certain to choose the most energy efficient unit possible. Energy Star has an excellent new program called Cool Your World with Energy Star @ Home that can help you understand cooling efficiency and options.
back to the top
Got A Question About Your Money Pit?
You can do-it-yourself but you don't have to do-it-alone. Getting in touch with us is as easy as 1 - 2 or 3!
- The toll-free studio hot line is 1-888-MONEY PIT. Find out when we broadcast in your area by checking out our website at www.moneypit.com. Each week we take dozens of calls, give great advice and offer callers a chance to win a terrific prize awarded to one random caller to every show.
- Call when it's convenient for you, 24 hours a day, same number: 1-888-MONEY PIT. A live person takes your call 24/7! So -- WHENEVER you have a home improvement question -- phone it in. Simply tell our phone screener your first name, and where you're calling from...and ask your question. We’ll get back to you with the answer – or even call you back during the show!
- Click here to email your question to us. We may read your email on the air and we also respond personally to many of the email questions we get.
back to the top
On the Air - Raise the Roof
If you’re in the market for a new roof – you might want to consider a METAL roof. They are a far cry from the corrugated tin you might be imagining – and they are extremely energy efficient. On the radio show this week, we’ll tell you why a metal roof may be a great choice for you. To find out where to listen, or download our FREE Podcast, click here.
back to the top
Dot Common Sense - Weak Windows?
A window is a potential weak point in your home that can allow moisture in. Find out how to keep water out and prevent leaks, mold, warping and eventually costly structural damage to your home. How well you install your windows in your home will greatly affect how well they perform. Most importantly, during installation you need to ensure a waterproof seal is created to guide moisture around the window opening to keep the interior wall dry. While many people have traditionally chosen caulk to create this seal, using a premium waterproof flashing offers a more reliable solution with greater benefits.
Most of the time, contractor’s grade caulk is used to weatherproof around the window sill, header and jambs. But when your window expands and contracts with changes in the weather, the caulk can deteriorate and eventually separate form the wall. The best practice for installing windows includes the use of a peel-and-stick window flashing, something like Vycor Plus self-adhered flashing from Grace. The great thing about it is that it will form a watertight seal around the window, including over nails and staples – a big advantage over caulk.
For more information on peel-and-stick window flashing, visit www.GraceAtHome.com.
back to the top
Fun Fact - Curb Appeal
If you’re looking to add value to your home without spending a lot of money, consider enhancing its curb appeal with a new front door. According to research commissioned by Therma-Tru Doors, a spruced-up entryway can add as much as $24,000 to a home’s perceived value, approximately five times the cost of the entry system.
When selecting a door, don’t forget to think about maintenance, energy-efficiency and durability. For example, fiberglass doors can be painted or stained, won’t rot, warp or split like wood doors or dent, ding or rust like steel doors and require minimal maintenance. Fiberglass doors such as those from Therma-Tru offer five times the insulation of wood doors and are ENERGY STAR compliant.
To get the most value for your investment, look for a door to complement the architectural style of your home and consider adding decorative glass transoms, sidelites and doorlites to allowwww.ThermaTru.com natural light in. For more ideas, visit .
back to the top
Short Cuts - Great Grilling
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer and a great time for sizzling steaks, burgers or even veggies on the grill. But just because your grill worked great last Labor Day, doesn’t mean it’s still safe to use this summer. In fact, quite the opposite is true. When not in use, grill parts can wear out, loosen up, or even get infested with bugs that can cause explosions on start-up. To make sure your summer doesn’t start off with a “bang,” follow these steps before firing up your gas grill:
REMOVE GRIDS - Soak the grids in hot, soapy water and clean them with a nylon-scrubbing pad. If they’re really encrusted, use oven cleaner in a well-ventilated area and rinse clean.
REMOVE LAVA ROCK - If your grill uses lava rock, remove the old rocks and throw them away. Lava rock which is more than one season old will disintegrate and can clog your grill’s burners. They also can hold grease which can cause fires. Replacing the rock each year is wise. If your grill uses ceramic or pumice tiles, remove the pieces and clean them with a wire brush.
INSPECT BURNER - A clean and properly functioning burner is essential to the safe operation of the grill. Remove the burner, brush it clean and check carefully for cracks, split seams or holes. If any are found, the burner should be immediately replaced.
VACATE VENTURIS - Next, use a small wire bottle brush to brush out the “venturi” section of the burner. These are the small tubed sections which carry the gas to the burners. A special brush is also available to clear these tubes, or the entire burner can be flushed with a garden hose. Clearing the venturis is a crucial step in assuring the grill will be safe. Spiders commonly make nests inside the venturi tubes which can cause a gas backup and explosion on startup.
CHECK HOSES - Rubber hoses, which connect the gas to the tank often, become cracked and can be unsafe to use. Replace any hose which shows the slightest sign of wear.
TEST TANKS - If your propane tank is more than 20 years old, it’s time to replace it. Old tanks are dangerous, as are tanks that are rusted or dented. In general, new tanks are much safer. Today’s tanks include an “over-fill protection device” or OPD valve, which prevents excessively high pressures from forming inside an overfilled tank. Tanks also come with a built-in check valve to prevent leaks.
TEST FOR LEAKS - After performing all of the steps listed above, put the grill back together and check all gas connections for leaks. To do this safely, mix a 50/50 solution of liquid dishwashing soap and water. Brush the solution on all gas connections and watch for bubbles. If any are seen, the connection is leaking and should be fixed before firing the grill.
back to the top
Share This Information With A Friend!
Simply forward this Email. And invite friends to register to receive this E-newsletter each week.If you would like to unsubscribe from our weekly newsletter, please refer to the unsubscribe directions at the bottom of this newsletter.
back to the top
Copyright 2007 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
|
