MORE EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

The kitchen appliance today is more efficient and can save you money. And with some of the new nifty technologies, you will able to connect some your appliances to home control systems that can be monitored by your wireless device.

tip: what's new in kitchen appliances

We replaced the gutters on our home less than two years ago when we had the roof replaced. Good thing too: the gutters were in bad shape, leaking in several places and starting to pull away from the home. By replacing several backboards (fascia) holding the gutters in place as well, we've nipped our home drainage problems in the bud.

Recently, a branch from a nearby tree fell, hitting the front gutter with a glancing blow. Initially, the damage wasn't apparent, but as time passed by we can now see that the gutter is bent and pulling ever so slightly away from the house. With the last storm we noticed that rainwater isn't draining properly, meaning it is time for me to get back up on a ladder to make a repair.

While elevated, I'll be looking for the following to make sure that everything is in order:

Clean out gutters -- I schedule two full gutter clean outs each year -- once in the Spring and once in the Fall. But, because I live in an area that has lots of trees, I'll put up the ladder at various times of the year to do a quick inspection, making sure that my gutters and downspouts are clear especially before tackling a repair project.

Examine fascia -- If any part of gutter is separating from the fascia, then I'll replace bent or broken gutter hangars as necessary. Usually, all that means is one hook needs to be replaced which should take care of the problem at once.

Check seams and joiners -- Because modern gutter systems contain ten foot long sections, I'll have fewer seams and gutter joiners to deal with. Still, I will make sure that the seams are sealed and that the joiners are doing their job.

Verifying gutter pitch -- If water doesn't drain out of the gutters properly after I make my repairs, then I'll attribute that problem to the gutter's pitch. In that case, I'll bring in a professional to verify my findings and make the adjustment for me. Sometimes it pays to have a trained professional handle the problem, especially if you don't have all of the equipment needed to make repairs or if you hate to climb a ladder.

Gutter shields -- Leaf strainers are popular, but I don't use them. My experience with them is that they still have to be removed seasonally and the gutters cleaned out thanks to pine needles and pollen which always seem to find their way in. Still, they can be a good idea to have in place if you find yourself needing to check the gutters monthly.

Once my gutters are back to snuff, then I know that they'll do the job they're supposed to do. Until then, I won't rest until I'm confident that the repair is done, not giving much thought to my gutters and downspouts until after the autumn leaves have finished falling.

2009/04/21 home improvement

Garden beds all across the country are coming alive as the spring season advances. But that also means that weeds are sprouting alongside of flowers and watering will soon be necessary to keep gardens in shape.

The Advantages of Mulching

One way that homeowners are tackling their gardens is by mulching. Mulch does several things: keeps weeds at bay, helps to retain and distribute water evenly and beautifies the garden.

Before you run out and purchase mulch, do you have something in your yard that will serve the purpose? Some gardeners prefer to go as natural (and inexpensive) as possible when mulching, using grass clippings to protect beds. Where I live, pine trees are prevalent and pine straw makes a wonderful and attractive mulch. Best of all, it is free.

Natural or Man Made Mulch

When choosing a mulch, do you want to go with something that is natural and will break down over time or will you use something man made that will endure for many years to come?  With the latter category rocks, rubber and plastic are common choices, mulch that will last for many years.

Steps To Successful Mulching

When preparing a garden to be mulched, I like to take the following steps:

Remove debris -- Pull up weeds, remove rocks and give your garden a good picking over. Of course, you don't want to remove plants and flowers that are part of your garden, but prepping the soil to receive the mulch will mean you'll have less to deal with later. This is a good time to get rid of old mulch too.

Paper or plastic -- I'm not one to lay down a layer of newspaper or plastic on my beds as I find that this method tends to retain more water than what I want. Not everyone is in agreement with me on this point, so all I can say is consider what you're putting down and whether it'll break up over time and whether that will leave you having to pull it all out at the end of the growing season.

Buy your mulch -- This time of year home garden centers (nursery) are selling mulch by the bag and at some of the best prices. If  you need a lot of mulch, consider ordering it by the cubic foot. You'll want to have enough mulch to provide two to four inches of cover, so multiply your garden's width and length by the depth of the mulch to know how much mulch to order. Also check with your community's recycling center which will often grind up leaves and other garden refuse and turn that into mulch. Free too!

Spread the mulch -- Use a rake to spread the mulch, creating an even layer throughout the garden. I like to leave less mulch around existing plants in order to give them some room to breath. In addition, if you still have some bulbs to plant, leave areas of your garden unmulched until you are done with that.

Finally, when using natural mulch you'll want to make sure that it is free of seeds and diseased dead plants, both of which can harm your garden. You can make your own screen to remove debris while keeping your eye out for tiny seeds which can slip through.

2009/04/17 home improvement

When we moved into our current home five years ago, tucked into one corner of the backyard was an aged aluminum shed. Five years later, that shed is still standing, but barely.

Years ago I decided that I would never buy a metal shed for the simple reasons that they don't last all that long and they also don't have the interior walk around space needed to make them all that useful beyond storing a lawn mower, garden supplies and other smaller items.

What Type of Foundation to Use

My next shed will be a lot like my neighbor Jerry's shed, built out of wood and sitting on a semi-permanent foundation. Where I live if you pour concrete in order to provide a permanent foundation, then you need a permit and approval from your neighbors. But, if you set it on top of solid-concrete blocks, then the town is okay with that and your neighbor's complaints won't stick.

One of the reasons that people go with aluminum sheds is that they are so darn cheap. In fact, I've seen them retailing for just under $300 at my local big box retailer, a tempting low price for the person who needs outdoor storage but doesn't want to pay a whole lot for it.

If you build a wooden shed, then all you'll have to pay for is the components: wood, roofing materials, hinges, flooring, etc. But, most people choose to buy a completed structure, one with a window (and requisite flower box), door, shingled roof and permanent flooring.

Size Does Matter

Assuming that you're happy with a wooden structure, one that is certain to withstand many years of usage and all sorts of weather conditions, you'll want one big enough to serve your needs. Size does matter, but there is something to think about when choosing the right shed for your yard: if you organize it properly can you make better use of a smaller unit? I believe that you can.

Jerry's shed is bigger (24x20) than what I need (16x12), fairly well organized, but it could be better arranged especially when it comes to maximizing storage capacity. The one thing he did that I really like is that he hung fluorescent shop lights from the ceiling which provides adequate lighting and doesn't get in the way of the tallest worker. With an 8' pitched ceiling, two adjoining shop lights hang just inches from the top, with his only fear that someone might hit the bulbs with a rake or a broom.

Organizing Wall By Wall

On one wall, Jerry has taken peg board and cut it so that it covers the entire wall from top to bottom. That wall has several dozen wire peg hooks hanging from it, where he hangs rope, cords, spackle, paint brushes and anything else that won't pull away from the board. Bought in bulk, hooks of the same size should cost you about 30 cents each.

On a second wall, Jerry makes good use of putting up shelving, placed just above his work bench. Home Depot, Lowe's and similar stores can cut the wood to size, so pick up some L brackets and you can nail them into the studs. Use left over wood to fill in blank spaces underneath for additional shelving, which can hold small paint cans, varnish, oils, cleaning solutions, etc.

Along the third wall is where Jerry lines up his lawn mower, seeder and stores waste cans. If your workbench is tall enough, some of these things could be stored underneath, but I like Jerry's arrangement because he can quickly get what he needs and leave. Besides, underneath his work area he  has plastic bins filled with all kinds of stuff including screws, nails, gardening material, you name it. Those plastic bins, by the way, were once filled with kitty leader making for a reusable and useful way to store stuff.

The fourth wall is one which has both the door and the lone window to his shed on it. Thus, the only storage area he has on that wall is immediately below the window. I got Jerry to hang up several smaller hooks which hold various bags containing gloves, towels, paper goods and the like.

With mostly everything hanging from a wall or pushed up against a wall, there is plenty of room to walk around the interior without tripping over this or that, making it easier to enter, exit and move around the shed thanks to wise use of space.

2009/03/30 home improvement

When I was a teenager, my town had a volunteer organization – Youth Employment Services (YES) – which helped local youth find temporary work with homeowners and small businesses. I was a frequent user as their volunteers helped me find work doing what I liked to do best: cutting people's lawns.

One customer was an elderly lady whose yard was a town show piece. Her lawn was immaculate with nary a weed, but that wasn't what stood out: her many gardens scattered around her property showcasing Japanese maples, rose bushes, azaleas, assorted  flowers, you name it announced her gardening artistry.

In her basement she grew African violets while in her living area she had assorted potted plants including a dwarf jade bonsai, zebra plants, green fern, a lemon cypress tree and other greenery I never knew the names for. A true green thumb with decades of experience to show for it.

Thankfully, I wasn't hired to cut her lawn as she was always worrying that whoever did that job would cut a little too close to her prized greenery. I had already made the mistake of stepping on a four inch high bush, finding out later that it was an exotic plant sapling that cost $15, which was a lot of money more than three decades ago. Fortunately, I didn't have to pay for the damage, but I learned an important lesson: watch your feet when walking through a garden.

Your Garden Path

For everything that my customer had going for her yard, there is one thing that I wished she had made good use of: garden paths. Sure, a natural walking area is nice, but not if someone has difficulty finding where the path ends and the garden begins.

The purpose of a garden path is to bring a person from one end of the garden to the other without tamping down a plant or getting lost in a jungle. Some homeowners prefer a wide, straight path that takes them directly from point to point, while others prefer a meandering garden path that has people walking by all kinds of sensory delights, adding in a bench or two if the journey is long or to invite visitors to linger and savor all within their view.

Some things to consider when building your garden path:

What sort of ground conditions exist? Likely, the area where you plan on placing your path has been previously tilled, since this is a garden we're talking about. Still, the soil could be tamped down and numerous rocks could be sitting just below the surface, requiring that you carefully excavate the area and even out the ground.

What kind of materials do you want to use? Poured concrete will stay in place forever (or until you have it jackhammered) while concrete or brick pavers can be moved if needed. Consider using cut stones and placing them close together to form a natural looking path – however, you'll want to make sure that that whatever materials used are not slippery when wet.

How wide of a path do you want? You may have little option for the path's width, especially if the garden is already in place. Consider having a wider entry and exit way and perhaps use different widths for separate branches of your garden path.

I've seen paths which use mulch or other natural materials exclusively, but keep in mind that if drainage isn't adequate, than you could have a muddy nightmare on your hands.

Buying Your Materials or Deferring to a Landscaper

Is laying down a garden path something that you can do? For most people that would answer would be yes. Had I had access to the same materials long ago, I might have been able to do the work for my customer, but knowing the way that she thought I believe she would have hired a landscaper.

If I were to add a garden path to my yard, I would go for natural materials such as stone, but ensure that my paths were wide enough for the average adult to walk through and well drained. Leveling sand can take care of areas that are weak while I would keep the sides of the walkway free of large plants which tend to spread and overshadow a path in no time, perhaps even housing dangerous deer ticks.

Should you decide to tackle the project yourself, you may want to drop in to your local home improvement store to see if they are offering “How to Build A Garden Path” class to customers. You're not under any obligation to purchase your materials from them, but you'll be able to listen to someone whose experience is invaluable and worth tapping.

2009/03/30 home improvement

When it comes to outdoor enhancements to your property, I can't think of anything better to have with a home than a deck. With a deck, you are able to extend the inside of your home to the outside, creating a seasonal living room/kitchen that is just great for entertaining.

But decks can be costly and all the more so if they aren't maintained properly. Besides making sure that your deck is structurally sound, you'll want to clean and seal it from time to time to extend its life.

Deck Wear & Tear

Decks are prone to splitting, cracking, fading and warping thanks to penetrating sunlight, a variety of weather conditions including rain, ice and snow, age, and wear and tear. By periodically cleaning and treating your deck you can ensure that you'll get many years out of it, adding to the look and value of your home.

Taking care of your deck isn't a difficult process, but it involves four steps: clearing it of all items, hosing it down, applying a cleanser, and when it dries applying a sealant. Don't count on doing everything in one day -- you'll be cleaning it off one day and applying a sealant the next. Just make sure that you have two consecutive days of no rain in the weather forecast before getting started.

Tips For Deck Cleaning

So how do you clean your deck? Do you use a hose or a pressure washer? That second question is open for debate as some people insist a pressure washer can damage the deck, removing an important protective coat if operated by an inexperienced person.

When I've cleaned a deck, I use a hose and I find a cleansing agent that is environmentally friendly. Harsh chemicals are no fun to play around with and I have to wonder what the long term residual effects are on people, plants and animals. Oxygen bleach is a product pushed by some people who insist on using a truly environmentally friendly product.

Choosing The Right Sealant

When it comes time to using a sealant, you'll first want to identify what sort of results that you want. Most definitely, you'll want a sealer to penetrate the wood and a product that is easy to clean up. This means you'll be looking for a sealant that is oil-based and mixed with latex.

In addition, you'll want a sealant that provides protection from UV rays and water damage. Whether you want to change the color of your deck or allow it to fade to a natural, weathered look is up to you. Just make certain that it offers the protection needed to withstand the elements. You can choose a color that will match or nicely contrast the color of your home, even choosing two different colors for a nice combination.

Tools You Will Need

To clean your deck, you can pick up a pump action sprayer to apply the cleanser and pick up a stiff brush for scrubbing. You'll also need paint rollers and brushes to apply the sealant and you may want to tape off any adjoining section of your home to prevent painting it. Use plastic tarps to protect nearby bushes, walking areas, etc. from spray.

Count on setting aside a weekend to get this project done or any other two-day period. If you start early enough in the morning, you may be able to apply the sealant to a dried deck later in the day, but check the cleaning and application instructions carefully to make sure that you can apply a protective coat so soon.

If you're looking for additional guidance, visit your local hardware or home store to talk with someone who can share with you their expert advice. You can handle the job yourself or farm out the responsibilities to a qualified professional.

2009/03/27 home improvement