I recently read an article in the Columbus Dispatch from Rick Barret of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel titled “Americans losing their fix-it skills, poll shows”. Americans are “tinkering” less and are not taking pride in building something.
In many historic homes, especially ones that date from the Victorian era, one of the most eye-catching design features is a stained glass window. These classic elements recapture the elegance and luxury of days gone by, but the beauty of stained glass is no longer restricted to older homes. Many manufacturers nationwide offer an extensive range of modern stained glass products to suit the needs of any homeowner.
The term “stained glass” actually refers to glass that has been painted and then fired; traditional works are constructed from pieces of cut glass that are set into lead channeling to form a pattern. Most of what we see today is really art glass, although some artisans still practice traditional methods.
If you have walked through your local home improvement store's showroom lately, you have probably noticed how many countertop options are available. Whether you are interested in durability and low maintenance or are in search of design flexibility, there is a material for you. Prior to making a purchase, you should be aware of each material's unique attributes to ensure that it will meet your needs.
Remnants of dirt, debris, and soap that are not rinsed down the drain can harden on the surface of a bathtub or shower, forming a residue. Limiting the amount of residue is important because mildew often grows in areas where residue is not properly removed. Also, areas that are prone to water infiltration should be regularly inspected and repaired as necessary.
Moisture in a bathroom can lead to peeling finishes, warped doors, and even mold. The purpose of a bathroom exhaust fan is to control moisture and remove airborne odors and pollutants. While maintenance of bathroom exhaust fans is quite often overlooked, a proper maintenance schedule will ensure quiet and efficient operation, increase the fan's lifespan, improve indoor air quality, and keep the unit attractive in appearance.
Problems can occur with any type of renovation project. Prior to installing our new three piece acrylic bathtub and surround, we determined that the existing locations of both the shower arm and tub spout were too low. While we had hoped to keep the existing plumbing intact, we realized that we would need to redo the rough plumbing to relocate the shower arm and tub spout.
Since our house already had copper plumbing pipes, we decided to replace the existing tub and shower pipes with copper, rather than PEX or CPVC. Even though I have done some plumbing in the past, I had reservations about soldering the copper piping and fittings.
Whether you are a do-it-yourself pro or beginner, wouldn’t it be nice to have a little help when estimating the quantity of material that is required for your project? Preventing over- and under-ordering material and eliminating additional trips to the home improvement store will save you both time and money. Below are a few helpful online calculators and estimators that we have found.
The more lights the better, right? Although lights are visually appealing and, personally, my favorite, the “Christmas Vacation” mentality can lead to a lot of problems if proper precautions are not taken. Christmas lights use a lot of electricity. Improperly installed, they can cause overloaded circuits and wires to overheat. Enough heat could be generated to eventually burn and ignite other items in the area.
We have all performed the recommended winter car maintenance to ensure proper operation and have put our summer clothes away for the year. But have we readied our home for the winter as well? Preparing your home for cold winter weather not only contributes to your general comfort, but it can also contribute to keeping money in your pocket.
As mentioned in the “Wallpaper Removal” article, my wife and I are currently in the process of updating our 1980’s home. Concentrating on the kids' bathroom, we first removed all original wallpaper and selected updated paint colors and flooring. Realizing that our dull, worn out, almond fiberglass tub was not going to fit in with our vision, we decided to look into the different refinishing and replacement options. We also decided that if the tub was going to go, so to was the almond toilet and vanity. Before I realized it, I was replacing everything but the rough framing. While maintaining a positive attitude and considering our long term objectives, I began to tackle the project in my spare time while allowing the kids to use our bathroom.
One action that most inhabitants of developed countries take for granted every day is the ability to plug an electrical cord into an outlet and power up any kind of device, from a lamp to a washing machine to a laptop. While we could go on for days debating the status and future of the world’s energy sources and demand, this post is simply about what you plug that cord into.
A few years ago, our family moved into a home built in the 1980’s. The home has a nice exterior, other than the overgrown landscaping, and the interior plan is functional; however, the decor is original and is in need of updating. While my wife is a big fan of 80’s music, she can do without the decor from that era, and was determined on updating everything during our first month in the home.
