2020 Update — Originally Published October 6, 2012 When we enclosed my yard with a cedar fence 11 years ago, it seemed like a good idea to create a removable section using a single (but ultra-sturdy) fence post sleeve so we could get a truck inside. You never know when you might need to get […]
Repairs
How to Repair a Leaky Basement Wall
My basement wall started leaking water right into my office – and right by my guitars too. Fortunately, I spotted it quickly and it was a very slow leak. One that I could easily patch myself with hydraulic cement. But no matter how small the leak, it’s ‘a leak’ and it has to be dealt […]
Spider Mite Arborvitae Decimation
August 2019 Update — Originally Published June, 2011 Last spring and summer were brutal for landscaping in New Jersey… almost zero rain and non-stop heat in the nineties. I had a line of emerald green arborvitaes that had been growing beautifully for about 8-9 years. These got hit really hard, and I frankly never saw […]
Troubleshooting and Repairing a Broken Doorbell
During the ten years I’ve lived at this house, my doorbell has died on me twice already – and now it’s dead again. Replacing a doorbell isn’t terribly complicated, but given the repeated failures I’ve had it seemed a good idea to really check on everything more carefully than I’d done in the past. This […]
Carpet Tiles for a Quick Home Rehab
I never really considered the use of carpet tiles before. If I need to carpet a room, it’s usually something I contract-out because it’s clearly a talent – with wisdom acquired from experience. Best to have a professional carpet installer handle this. On the other hand, area rugs can be absolutely beautiful as well, adding […]
How to Refresh a Stone Landscape Bed
All mulch and stone landscape beds require periodic maintenance, well beyond weekly weeding. Maintaining a stone landscape bed, in my experience, warrants less overall effort than a mulch landscape bed. (And that’s a really good thing because overhauling [or refreshing] a stone landscape bed is a much heavier job!) For me, I’d say I address […]
Scratch Repair for Wood Chairs & Rails: 10-Minute Fix
My house has been called “lived-in.” And what that phrase seems to really mean is that we’re always breaking stuff. The kids, the dog, the ferret — but probably the biggest breaker-of-things? That would be me. (And my wife will surely attest to this!) Certain pieces of furniture tend to take a beating far more […]
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