On the Wire - Toys and Toxins Don't Mix
For many Americans, garages are the most well worn entryway to their homes. Besides the daily family traffic, the garage is also a place where we mix things together that would never be found in the same place anywhere else in our home. Toys and toxins are a dangerous combination. But if you check your garage, you are likely to see just that: toys, bikes, and balls stored within inches of insecticides, turpentine and gasoline. It should be no surprise then that these same spaces can be the source of many injuries. Here are the main sources of garage dangers and what you need to know to make yours safe:
UNSAFE STORAGE – Playthings and poisons are a bad combination. To keep your family safe, be sure to store dangerous chemicals out of the reach of children, or better yet, in a locked cabinet. Also, be sure to keep chemicals in their original container with the labels in good condition. Never purchase chemicals in quantities more than you will use in a reasonable period of time. While it might make sense to buy a case of canned vegetables at the local supermarket warehouse, having to store leftovers from a 6-pack of ant poison isn’t worth the risk.
Storing combustibles like gasoline, propane and kerosene is also something that needs careful planning. These fuels must be stored in containers designed especially for them. Gasoline cans, for example, have special vents to avoid the dangerous build up of combustible fumes. Storing gas in anything else is an explosion waiting to happen.
Finally, common, everyday products like ladders and lawn tools can be unsafe if not stored correctly. Ladders, for example should always be stored in a horizontal position so that children can not climb on them and tumble over. Rakes, hedge trimmers and shovels left on the garage floor or leaning against a wall can easily fall under foot and cause injuries. To be safe, use wall space and get as many of your tools off the floor as possible.
SAFE STRUCTURES – Building codes require that garages be constructed to protect the rest of the home from fire damage should they become engaged in flame. For the most part this is accomplished by what is known as the “fire wall,” a wall-assembly constructed to keep fire at bay by the use of fire resistant drywall and other similar tactics. Unfortunately, older homes may not have a firewall and even modern homes may have had their firewalls rendered ineffective. For example, in an effort to make use of every available space, many families install an attic stairs in the ceiling of the garage. Doing so creates a “hole” in the fire wall and a short cut for fire to take out your entire home. To be safe, make sure all walls and ceilings between your garage and your house are constructed with at least 5/8ths inch thick drywall and that any attic stairs are covered with sheet metal for fire resistance. Finally, make sure your garage has a fire extinguisher rated “A-B-C.” This means the extinguisher can handle all types of fires, including fires from wood and paper, electrical and gasoline or grease.
GREASY RAGS MUST GO - Old towels or t-shirts might make convenient rags to have in a garage, but when they become soiled with grease, oil, gasoline or any other flammable materials, they must be tossed. These rags are nothing more than kindling that, with the right ignition source, can become the fireball that destroys your house. Never try to wash rags like these. The petroleum will leach into your washing machine and leave your next load of laundry smelling like a lawn mower. Also, placing any rag that has contained a flammable substance into a hot dryer is extremely dangerous. Rags are cheap. Always toss them and find new ones for your next project.
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Ask Tom & Leslie - Deck Prep
This week’s question comes to us from Candace in Fargo, North Dakota. Candace asks, “Could you recommend a good inexpensive deck stripper to refinish my deck?”
Candace, the product you choose really depends on what is currently on your deck. If you have a solid or semi-transparent stain we would recommend Stainstrip Exterior Stain Stripper, is it from Flood and available at The Home Depot. The Stainstrip will remove dirt, any existing wood stain finish and graying. If there is paint or you are unsure of what is exactly on there you should try the CWF-UltraLast Premium Finish Stripper. Also from Flood and available at the Home Depot: the CWF-UltraLast will remove any finish including Latex.
Which ever you choose, be sure to work earlier in the day so the sun will not evaporate the product off. Apply with a roller or spray applicator, and the product do its job, that is what it is made for. Then rinse off the stripper with a pressure washer, keep your pressure not too heavy and keep a good 18" off the surface to avoid damaging the wood. You can use a stiff bristle brush to get any stubborn spots. Allow the deck to completely dry before applying your new finish. The autumn is actually the best time to refinish wood due to the low humidity.
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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 - Lush Lawn
If you’re wondering what happened to the lush lawn you started with in spring, you’re not alone. Grass tends to get dull, weak, and turn yellow or brown this time of year. Coming up this week on the radio show, we’re going to hear from the lawn care expert at Scotts, to find out what NOT to do and the right way to bring your lawn back to life.
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Dot Common Sense - Tree Trimming
Pruning trees is important for proper growth AND safety – like keeping limbs away from power lines and your roof, where low lying limbs could damage roof or cause gutters to clog. For great resources and tips on trimming trees, visit the website of the Tree Care Industry Association at www.natlarb.com. It’s a good idea to speak to a professional arborist before pruning trees. An arborist will know how and when to prune your species of tree. Keeping trees trimmed back will help avoid an accident during a winter storm, and help them grow back well in the spring.
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Fun Fact - Avoid Painting Problems
If your new paint job doesn’t look quite the way you’d like, you may be wondering what you did wrong. Here are some of the most common painting problems and how to fix them:
-Paint won’t stick: There are two main reasons for this. Either the walls were dirty and not prepped right, or you are trying to paint on a glossy surface. An example might be latex over oil paint. You will have to use oil paint over oil paint. For glossy latex paints, you can use a good primer, but you may need more than one coat.
-Mud-cracking: This is when the paint forms deep irregular lines or cracks resembling dried mud. It happens when the surface is not prepared properly or if the paint is applied to thick. There’s no quick fix to this one. To remedy, you have to scrape and sand the paint, remove all loose debris with a soft brush or rag, prime if necessary and repaint.
-How much paint: To decide how much paint you’ll need for any project, the best thing to do is go online and find a paint calculator like the one at www.behr.com. Don’t forget to get a little extra for touchups over the years.
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Short Cuts - Keep Warm This Winter
Want to conserve heat at night but avoid waking up to a cold house in the morning? Get the best of both worlds by installing a “clock thermostat”. Clock thermostats have a set-back feature that can automatically lower your heat at night while you’re asleep, and then raise it in the morning. These “smart thermostats” conserve heat, save you money, and still give you warmth and comfort when you need it. Here are some more inexpensive ways to conserve heat, energy and money:
Proper insulation in walls, ceilings and floors also significantly reduces the loss of heat to the outdoors. Insulation will pay for itself in fuel cost savings and home comfort.
A home is basically like Swiss cheese. And all those little openings can add up to big heat loss. Caulking and weather stripping cracks around windows and doors will save fuel and money. Keeping the fireplace damper closed tightly when not in use will also result in heating cost savings.
Use the natural heat of the sun to warm your home. Open shades, curtains and blinds on windows that get the most sunlight during the day to keep your hoe warm and reduces the need to use heat. Closing up when it’s colder will help insulate your house.
Dry air makes you feel colder than moist air at the same temperature. Maintaining home humidity will produce personal comfort at a lower thermostat setting and save money. A room humidifier will help raise humidity levels. For a whole house version, visit www.Aprilaire.com.
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Copyright 2006 Squeaky Door Productions, Inc.
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