Building / 17.01.2018


So you want to buy an old house? Here are ten things to know before you take the plunge. It looks so pretty: the detailed gingerbread porch trim, or the massive stone fireplace, or charming bay windows and nooks and crannies. But should you actually BUY the old house, or just admire it on the house tour? Here are some questions potential 'this old house' homeowners need to ask before signing on the dotted line. 1.) How old is it? Don't believe the real estate tax records, which are often nothing more...

Construction, DIY / 15.01.2018


Bringing electricity out to your yard allows you to provide safety on walkways and steps, provide added security and lets you enjoy your yard more often. Low-voltage lighting is the easiest and safest way to achieve this. Low-Voltage Lighting Installation - (You will need an outside outlet protected by a GFCI receptacle. If you do not have a GFCI protected outlet, help with installation is included.) One of the benefits of running low-voltage lighting is that you can make it a DIY project regardless of your experience level. Low-voltage...

Construction, Featured / 27.12.2017


Water is the one thing that people cannot live long without. One of the marvels of human ingenuity is plumbing. While indoor plumbing made life as we know it convenient, plumbing itself made life as we know it possible. The Simplicity of How Water comes into your home from one of two sources: from the public water main or from your own well. If you have a well, you will also have a pump to bring the water to the surface and to your house under pressure. If you get...

DIY, Electrical Work / 13.12.2017


There are several systems that operate together to make your homework. The major household systems are heating (with or without central air conditioning), plumbing and the electrical service. Each system has its own possible problems and dangers when you use it or work on it, so be aware of the safety. But, I believe that the electrical system has the potential of being the most dangerous, especially in older homes with services that have not been upgraded in recent years. Finding the Limits of Your Electrical Services The first thing...

DIY, Heating / 18.11.2017


Winter time brings about cold weather. Some parts of the United States are colder than others, but the key to lowering heating bills is to winterize your home. This can be done in many different ways. A properly winterized home will produce a significantly lower heating bill. The main items that need the attention when winterizing a home are: Heating unit Windows Doors Attic insulation Cleaning the Heating Unit and Changing the Air Filter To begin the home winterizing process, start by Replacing the air filter to the heating unit and...

DIY / 01.10.2017


One of the most relaxing things found in an older home is quite often a fireplace. Nothing beats sitting beside a cozy fire, drinking hot chocolate and listing to the fire pop and crackle while the cold winter winds howl outside. And if you have a wood burning stove in your home, its comforting to know that your winter heating bill will be much less when you burn wood. But, with this comfort and savings comes danger. Creosote, an oily liquid which is formed by burning wood, can...

Kitchens / 14.08.2017


Kitchen remodeling is one of the hottest areas of home improvement. Whether trying to increase the resale value of your home, or if you just want a kitchen that wows the neighbors, there are plenty of environmentally-friendly renovation ideas that not only look great, but can save energy and money at the same time. Here are some ways to bring your environmental consciousness into your renovation plans: 1. Find green contractors. If you are hiring out some or part of the job, see if you have local contractors who use green...

Construction / 20.11.2015


I remember when my wife and I first looked at the house we now own. As my wife walked through with the realtor, I poked around the basement, under the sinks, and around the outside. When I went back into the house, I noticed that the cold air returns were in the floor of the dining room. Since the floors in the living room and dining room were wall-to-wall carpeting, I lifted out the register to see if I could determine what was underneath the carpeting. Hiding under...