On the Wire - Think Like a Thief
If you want to avoid making your house a mark for would-be burglars, think like a thief. Case your home like a bandit would. Take a walk around the outside of your home at night. Are there good places to hide? Accessible windows? Easy access to tools and ladders that could lend a thief a helping hand? Curtain-less windows with a great view of all your stuff? These are all things thieves look for. Eliminate them and you will decrease the chances of your home being targeted. More tips include:
- Don’t answer phone surveys about “your spending habits”… you could be giving a thief a shopping list of your valuables!
- In your telephone number is listed, get rid of the address with the listing. Better yet, get unlisted number.
- Leave a light on in two rooms and use timers on alternating schedules. You can even put a TV on a timer. Cops say a good room to light is a bathroom with an outside window. Burglars will think you’ve gotten up in the middle of the night.
- Don’t give your house keys to just anyone. Instead of having someone take in the mail & paper, stop delivery. Have a neighbor bring in your packages and remember to close your shades and drapes.
- Lock your door! Sounds like a no-brainer but MOST burglars get in through unlocked doors and windows. Also, lock your car, especially with a garage-door opener inside.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Wall Worries
“I want to tear off the paneling in a couple of rooms. Having removed a piece of paneling I find several coats of paint peeling off of the walls. Not all the paint is loose; some is still on and hard to scrape off. I want a smooth finish on the walls. Should I drywall over the painted surfaces with 1/4 drywall or do you have any suggestions”
We get many questions on our radio show about the many mysteries of removing paneling. The answers depend on the condition of the wall as well as how the paneling was installed. If the paneling was nailed on, you may be able to remove it with little wall damage. But if it was glued in place on drywall, the paper face of the drywall will most likely be ripped off in the process of removing the paneling and the wall will need to be skinned. Skinning the wall with ¼ inch drywall is always the final option. If you do this, remember that you’ll need to extend door and window jambs, as well as switch and outlet boxes to adjust for the new thickness. In your case, you could also try and strip the stuck on paint with a chemical remover, or one of the somewhat less-effective but more people friendly low-toxic strippers.
Another option would be to get as much paint off as possible and then skim coat the existing surface with a plaster-like finish. There are several fairly thick plaster finishes available on the market today that are designed for do it yourselfers. For example, BEHR makes a Venetian plaster finish that is beautiful and the faux technique used for applying it can hide a multitude of wall blemishes. If you do end up painting the walls, remember this: Never use anything but FLAT paint! If the wall has any imperfections, even a slightly glossy finish will highlight those while the softer flat finish will keep them hidden.
Finally, no matter what finish you use, be sure to prime the wall first. Primers are like the glue that makes paint stick. They’ll neutralize whatever came before and provide a perfect base for the new surface coat.
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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.
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On the Air - Big Ideas for Small Houses
Coming up this weekend on The Money Pit, your home doesn’t have to be a sprawling McMansion to be stylish or comfortable. Build smaller but smarter, and save time, money and energy. Learn how on The Money Pit this weekend. To find out where we broadcast our radio show in your area, or to download our hugely poplar Podcast, visit www.moneypit.com.
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Dot Common Sense - Recalls.gov
Six different federal agencies have gotten together to better protect you, the consumer. Now you can find recall information on everything from cosmetics to boats on one website: www.recalls.gov. The site was launched by the U.S. Product Safety Commission . The homepage links visitors to the websites of government regulatory agencies responsible for product recalls. In addition to finding details about recalled products, you can get other safety information and sign up for e-mail alerts on recalled products. The site includes consumer safety and recall information in seven major categories and is easy to navigate in both Spanish and English.
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Fun Fact - Deck Dilemmas
You usually see pressure-treated wood when you’re looking for lumber for a new deck – or even to repair or rebuild one you already have. But did you know the chemicals used in the pressure-treatment process can sometimes cause corrosion to the deck’s fasteners? The special chemicals used to pressure-treat are corrosive and can begin to eat away at a deck’s galvanized metal connectors, fasteners and joist hangers -- within weeks! Once the breakdown starts, the deck’s structural integrity can be compromised – turning a beautiful outdoor leisure area into an unsightly hazard. You can use a weather-resistant membrane to help protect your deck’s galvanized metal components from corrosion. Grace Vycor Deck Protector® is great for this. You just wrap it around the ends of deck joists. Its self adhering and it will create a buffer between the galvanized metal and the pressure-treated wood. This will dramatically decrease the risk of corrosion. For more information on all of Grace’s weather barriers visit www.GraceAtHome.com.
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Copyright 2007 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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