Archive By Section - Your Home
Can you place outlets any old place?
Hey Robert, We were looking at a house where the owner apparently did a lot of work on it himself. For example, I noticed that the outlet covers were different heights in the living room, which he said he had added to the original house. I asked about the covers being different heights and he said it really didn't matter where the outlets were located, you put them wherever you want them, so long as ...
Terrifically Tuscan
When John and Michelle Dow decided to remodel the kitchen of their Newhall home they thought back fondly on their travels through Europe.
Don’t leave cutters in water pipes
Hello Robert, I was having trouble with my toilet and my bathtub overflowing. I rented a snake and the counter man told me to take off the toilet and snake down through the opening. I was pushing the line in and then it stopped maybe 20 feet down the pipe. I had to pull it very hard to get it back out and when it came out, the cutters on the end of the snake ...
Your very own drive-in
Oh, boy, this is just what you need - another reason for folks to come over and judge your landscaping.
Go ‘green’ with your home’s lawn
Green is the buzzword across the country right now. Whether it's recycling plastics, changing to energy-efficient light bulbs, or using nontoxic cleaning products, everyone seems to be looking for ways to lessen their impact on the environment. One area in which it's easy to see immediate results is our yards. By gardening more ecologically, we can reduce pollution, create wildlife-friendly plantings, and conserve water.
Twilight at Descano offers garden therapy at day’s end
Twilight at Descanso Gardens is a time when shadows deepen, animals become more active, familiar objects begin to change form and color gradually gives way to black and white.
Using Xylene to remove tint from windows
Hello Robert, This is strange. Every time I flush my toilet, there is black mold that fills the bowl and sticks to the sides inside the toilet. As far as I know, the water that fills the toilet is the same water goes to all of the other faucets in our house. I don't think this water is safe to drink, to say the least. Would this be a city water problem? Who should I ...
Sanctuary in the suburbs
So, where do you go for a little peace in this rush-around world, for a little down time with your family? Do you haul a trailer full of motorcycles to the desert, or a boat to the river? Do you fly the family to the islands? Maybe you do. But with gas and air travel at a premium these days, maybe you do - a little less often. Besides, as great as these trips might ...
Get rid of your hazardous waste
If you could get by the clutter, a walk past the shelves in your garage could be a trip down memory lane.
How to stop a leak in a galvanized pipe
Hello Robert, I've got a galvanized pipe in the garden with a faucet on the top. At the base of this pipe, almost below ground level, there is a pin hole leak. I've tried to tape it and have used some plumber's putty, but it keeps leaking. Is there maybe a clamp or something I could put on to stop the leak? Art G. Hi Art, With something like this, just dig it up and ...
Fiberglass decks and acoustic ceilings
Dear Robert, I am the VP of an HOA community, and I have a question for you. We need some deck work done, and we're planning on rebuilding them from scratch. So far, we have received bids on three different types of decking - eurathane, fiberglass and a muir coat. Are there any other types that we should look into? I'd like to know which one is the best. Dorothy Hello Dorothy, I'm familiar ...
Brent’s magic carpet ride
You wouldn't necessarily make the connection, but rising oil prices have increased the cost of carpet.
Creating a water garden in a tub
Water gardening has become very popular in the last 20 years. Many homeowners have installed small ponds or water features to grow a wide variety of plants, and to enjoy the ambiance that water provides. But you don't need a large yard or tons of time and energy to build a water garden. If you don't have the time, money, or ambition to create a large water feature, you can build a water garden in a tub.
Descanso Gardens holds summer events
Learn all about bees and other pollinators at a three-session seminar at Descanso Gardens today from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants may register for one, two or all three sessions conducted by Gordon Frankie, professor of insect biology at UC Berkeley and Robbin Thorp, professor of entomology, natural history of insects and insect classification at UC Davis.
Night walk in the garden
Docent Jim Jackson will lead another popular night walk at Descanso Gardens on Friday, July 25 starting at 7:15 p.m.
Articles by Section - Your Home
Entice buyers with sweet scents
When a home smells good, it makes a favorable impression on visitors. This is exactly what home sellers want when they put their house on the market.
Tips for buyers/sellers
Key indicators point to conditions for a seller's real estate market this spring.
Smart spending tips
Spring home improvement season is on the way, and if you're like most homeowners you have a list of jobs you want to accomplish.
Popular spring remodeling trends
It's time to think spring, which means fresh home updates. Spring home improvement projects will help you update your home, add comfort and save more of your hard-earned paycheck.
Celebrate winter white all year
It's cold out there. In much of the country, now's the time when home serves as a cozy refuge from the ice and snow. We light our fireplaces and wish for springtime.
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