2021 [Pi Day] Update, Originally Published August 2020… Marble thresholds (sometimes called marble saddles) are very common in many homes, often found at bathroom entries. They look really nice, they’re cool and smooth to the touch – and they’re not terribly expensive. Having recently installed a marble threshold as part of a more comprehensive home […]
Repairs
Drywall Repair for My Dining Room Ceiling
2021 Update – Originally Published April, 2014 My dining room is about to undergo a massive renovation, but before I get started with my grand plans – I have to make a drywall repair to the ceiling. Damaged sheet rock is going to have to be patched, primed and repainted. The sole source of damage […]
Replacing a Bathroom Toilet: Mostly Easy. Not Too Gross.
When you own a home, toilet replacement (and toilet maintenance and toilet repair) – all come with the territory. You can always hire a plumber to help, of course, but even if you do – it’s still best to know what it takes to get something done yourself. What follows is a little chronicle of […]
My Battle with Surface Water Runoff
2020 Update – Originally Published March, 2016 Surface water runoff from rain, downspouts, roofs and gutters can make your life miserable if your landscape grading hasn’t been properly designed. The equation isn’t terribly complicated: water needs to flow away from things it can damage. But this can sometimes be overlooked or frankly creep up on […]
Repairing a Backyard Trampoline
2020 Update — Originally Published 2016 Some of the best money I’ve ever spent has been on our backyard trampoline – the kids love it, they get exercise, fresh air and sunshine, and we’ve all had a lot of laughs with it. I won’t even pretend I don’t jump on it myself, though I do try […]
Replacing a Central Air Conditioner Return Vent Cover
Both central air conditioning return vent covers were smashed. Oddly smashed. I could almost picture a toddler on a Fisher Price trike having a blast slamming into them repeatedly… because nothing else really seemed to fit the damage I was seeing. But no matter what really happened, we were preparing the home for rental in […]
How to Clean Your Outdoor A/C Unit for Better Cooling
I don’t know about the weather in your locale, but here in the middle of the country, we’re getting temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s with 85 percent humidity. Yesterday, even though the air conditioner was cranked, the house wasn’t cooling down like it should have been, and we were all sweaty and cranky. There […]
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