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The second the sun goes away, out comes the umbrellas and the raincoats and the Wellies. And with them a lot of messy wetness that can warp hardwood floors and stain your best rugs. Short of forcing your family to disrobe on the front stoop, your best bet is to create a stopping area just inside the door where everyone can leave the weather behind.
Manufactured houses often get a bad rep. There’s nothing like getting stuck behind a truck hauling half a house to get the jokes rolling. And “trailer-trash” is part of the modern vocabulary. However, just as Starbucks redefined coffee and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” redefined game shows, “prefab” modules are redefining assembly-line houses. Those who favor them tout benefits like smaller price tags, better construction, increased environmental benefits and quicker move-in times. Prefabs are growing in size, too. They’re no longer two-room cottages without indoor plumbing; modular houses can grow to thousands of square feet with multiple stories and basements.
Stair treads can take a beating in any home. You can refinish your hardwood stair treads or use stair tread rugs to cover the steps. Add character to your home by using a combination of rug stair treads and wood stair treads.
DEAR TIM: The stair treads in my home are in sad shape. One stair tread is cracked and others are scratched from years of abuse. I know I can hide the problem with carpet stair treads, but that’s not really my style. What’s it take to refinish oak stair treads? If that’s too hard, would you recommend stair carpet treads as an acceptable solution? As you can tell, I’m floundering not knowing really what to do. Please point out any pitfalls if possible. Mary Beth M., Cincinnati, OH
General FAQ’s
Why does wood need to be protected with preservatives?
How long will treated wood last?
How much weight does treatment add to the weight of wood?
Why is treated wood green?
Why can’t I burn my wood scraps?
What should I use to apply to the cut ends of my boards?
Can I use treated wood inside?
Where can I learn more about the safety and environmental aspects of CCA treated wood?
Installation & Maintenance FAQ’s
What type nails or screws do you recommend?
How long do I need to wait before I paint, stain, etc. my deck?
What do you recommend I use to paint, stain, etc. my deck?
Someone told me not to use concrete to set my posts – that it would void the warranty.
How do I remove the grade stamp from my deck?
What do you recommend I use to clean my deck?
Wood Preservative FAQ’s
What preservatives are used to treat pressure-treated wood?
What is CCA?
What is ACQ?
What treatment and retention level should I use for above-ground applications?
What treatment and retention level should I use for ground-contact applications?
What treatment and retention level should I use for freshwater contact?
Pressure-treated wood is used for building and gardening. It is often seen in play sets and decks and is used to build raised garden beds. It contains chromium, copper and arsenic (CCA). Pressure-treated wood can release these toxic chemicals so care should be taken to ensure the wood is disposed of safely.
WE LIKE NATURE on certain terms — as in, the less of it inside the house, the better. So perhaps you can understand what compelled C.W. Roseburr to smoke a family of raccoons out of his house in Kansas City, Mo., last May. Seems Roseburr had a long-running feud with the animals, which had taken residence in his eaves.
Potshots from his BB gun did no good, so Roseburr decided to frighten the adult raccoon by using a long stick tied at the end with a rag. Soaked in kerosene. Lit with a match. “I set the raccoon on fire,” Roseburr told reporters. “He’s the one that set the house on fire.” Firefighters called to the scene quickly extinguished the blaze, but not before it caused $25,000 in damage.
How would you like to be able to control one or more light fixtures from three or more switch locations? It is done with a 4-way switch. This video will show you how to install a four way switch in your home.
Home humidifiers are used more in the winter as humidity decreases. The home’s exterior is on a seasonal maintenance checklist. Heaters and humidifiers should be too.
A bit of background on how a humidifier works will be helpful. Anyone with a swamp cooler probably already understands the concept. The purpose of this appliance is to add a controlled amount of moisture, or humidity, to the home’s living space. Read more…
The object of reducing is to ultimately eliminate excess consumption in your household. In order to do this you’ll want to first measure how much consumption is in your home by determining how much garbage your family produces each week. Take note of what takes up the most space in your trash and try to reduce it.
Here are some suggestions of easy ways we can reduce the amount we are using and throwing away in our daily lives:
- Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs which consume much less energy.
- Look at the cleaning products in your home and replacing them with biodegradable cleaning products.
- Buy food in bulk, such as grains or cereals. Be sure not to buy large quantities of food that will spoil quickly.
Most people have their first experience with radon when buying or selling a home. Indeed, radon is a home seller’s nightmare! Visualize it… thousands of homeowners lay sweating in their beds, wondering if the sale of their home may be jeopardized by the whims of a little charcoal canister the realtor placed in their basements… the radon detector!! If the readings are too high, a fear-filled buyer may take his money and run… or demand expensive repairs to the home. Let’s investigate radon and find out where the middle road is… and who is on it!
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