Archive By Section - Your Home
Coyotes in the 'hood
Personally, I don't enjoy being startled out of a deep, 2 a.m. sleep by the sound of coyotes shredding a cat. The cat sets up quite a fuss, until it finally gives up the ghost, at which point the coyotes all set up a brag. This scenario has played out several times on the hillside behind my home over the years, most recently just a few weeks ago. It kind of makes it hard to go back to sleep.
At home in ‘Chateau Hann’
Shelley and G. Marshall Hann have lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for 19 years, most of their time was spent in Stevenson Ranch. However, last year Shelley Hann found her dream home on a quiet cul-de-sac in Westridge.
Floribundas bloom freely in SCV
The more I look at rose books and roses in the landscape, the more I see floribundas as the best all-around class of roses in so many styles and disciplines. Floribundas, which means "bloom freely," come in all sizes, shapes, bloom types and colors.
Robert Lamoureux: Proper way to clean sidewalks, driveways
Hello Robert, I'm a long time reader with a first time question. What would you recommend for concrete and brick driveway and sidewalk cleaning? I'd be interested in how to clean some rust stains and prevent from staining again. Is acid safe to use? Sincerely, Jeff B. Hi Jeff, Acid is only as safe as the precautions you take when using it. Some people think just because muriatic acid is used for swimming pools ...
Exploring 'Man Caves'
"... Down the stairs or across the hall, there's a modern day Neanderthal. Yeah down in the cellar where it's cold and dark, in a Barcalounger with a big wet bar, and a 57-inch flat screen TV. Never turns down the surround sound, as he pounds down a few cold rounds and kicks back with his "Rambo" DVD. Don't have to shave don't have to bathe, he can stay down there for days, chillin' ...
Handy is as handy does
It's been one of those days. You got home late, after dark, and your garage door was jammed. So you went around to the front door and the porch light was out. Then you practically broke your door key off turning the sticky front door lock. Then, as you walked by the downstairs bathroom, you slipped in a puddle of water coming from the overfilled toilet tank. Now, as you lie on your back on ...
Robert Lamoureux: Get to the root of the issue for proper fix
Hi Robert, We have underground parking and there is water dripping from the ceiling. I measured out exactly where this leak was and found that there was a root that has lifted the concrete up above. Do you think we can just seal this root with asphalt, or should the root be removed? Paul W. Hi Paul, I would recommend that you first perform a water test to make sure that this is the source ...
Fire-resistant, California-friendly plants
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has posted a list of plants on the Web site www.bewaterwise.com that are fire resistant and well-suited to Southern California conditions.
Avoid the firestorm
I was up on the hill behind my home on that October day in 2007. The wind almost blew me off the peak and the sky was like something out of "Backdraft" as the smoke from the wildfire screamed overhead. Eerie.
Inspect for termites before creating play structure
Hi Robert, We have a huge trellis in the back yard made from 6x6 supports and 2x8 span beams... but it's probably more than 15 years old and we were told that it's got termites in it when we moved into this house 7 years ago... we were told to expect to replace the whole thing in about 5 years. It's still strong it seems and I'd like to attach a few climbing accessories ...
Fertilizer fast facts for a beautiful lawn
Get the facts on fertilizers and make the right choice for your lawn. The set of numbers on each bag shows the amount of three key nutrients for grass health - nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. So a bag with the numbers 20-10-10 contains 20 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphorus and 10 percent potassium. The remaining 60 percent is inert and filler material that helps transmit the nutrients to the plant. Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured through ...
Robert Lamoureux: HOA is off base on rotten roof
Mr. Lamoureux, I have got a big problem with my condominium complex. We had a leak in our upstairs bedroom ceiling. They sent some people out to take a look at it and then I get a bill for $4,800 for damages we caused to our roof. We have an air conditioner/heater unit up on the roof with a leaking condensation line that had rotted the roof instead of channeling down into the gutter. Are ...
Swimming pretty in the SCV
Maybe you went out of town for the Memorial Day weekend. If so, maybe you're still stalling on your pre-summer pool preparation. Maybe you're afraid to even look under the pool cover - and haven't since last fall. Well, before something crawls up out of the green, swampy depths, or the mosquito abatement folks come a-knockin, get 'er done.
A variable speed pool pump can reduce costs
In addition to the typical pool repairs and installations, Pools by Ben now features the installation of variable speed pool pumps. These provide a number of benefits over single speed pumps. Most importantly, they save energy. Though the variable speed pumps run continuously, they move the water slower than single speed pumps, which run intermittently. Because of the physics involved, moving the water slower, all the time, is much more energy efficient than moving it ...
Every little drop saved counts
With little rainfall and hot and dry summer months, the valley must carefully manage finite water supplies. So throughout the year, Castaic Lake Water Agency is asking all customers to rethink water consumption and to reduce water usage by 10 percent. Here are some easy ways you can conserve:
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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