Archive By Section - Your Home
Caring for metal patio furniture
Covering metal outdoor furniture when not in use or storing indoors will help to protect it from the elements and the sun's harmful rays. A regular cleaning and waxing of the painted surfaces can extend the life of your aluminum or cast iron patio furniture.
Robert Lamoureux: Staining concrete is serious business
Mr. Lamoureux, Several years ago we had a concrete hardscape installed, stamped and colored (reddish) in a random stone pattern. Contrary to my wishes, the contractor did not mix the color in the truck but put it on top of the wet concrete. After allowing the concrete to cure he then came back and sealed it. About a year and a half later we had him come back and recolor and reseal the hardscape. The ...
It’s patio furniture season
Yeah, I've got patio furniture - somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 years old. I've got a glass-topped table, dirty but still usable.
Robert Lamoureux: The proper way to drain your water heater
Hello Robert, Some time ago I drained my hot water heater, as suggested by a plumber. After following his instructions to do this annually for about 8-10 minutes each time, I now have a loud gurgling hot water heater almost every time someone turns on water in the house. To me it sounds like air in the system. Would you please let me know how to eliminate the gurgling sound (air in the tank?) and ...
Get creative with natives
If you thought fescue grass was a native Southern California plant species, you could be forgiven. I mean, it's everywhere you turn.
Robert Lamoureux: Replacing toilets? Don't forget to turn off the water
Robert, My husband is planning to replace the toilets in our house, which was built here in Valencia about 1969. Is there anything we need to do in preparation or anything we need to anticipate in replacing the toilets? Maureen W. Hi Maureen, First of all, valve down the house - turn off all of the water. Replace angle stops with the quarter-turn style that are sweated onto the line - not threaded on with ...
Taking ‘SCV Off the Grid’
Homeowners associations, or HOAs, act as the rule-setters for neighborhoods across the Santa Clarita Valley. If SCV Off The Grid has its way, HOAs will also become the trendsetters in the environmental movement by using their considerable clout and finances to help homeowners go green.
Robert Lamoureux: Oil base or latex? Know before painting
Mr. Lamoureux, Hi. This is the first time I've written in. I have a front door that has become very dull. It has lost its sheen. I bought some latex paint, but then started thinking that maybe there was oil base paint on the door originally. They said I can't put latex paint on top of oil base. Is that true? And, how would I tell if there is oil base paint on there now? ...
Get the most from your kitchen or bathroom
Over the course of my design career, I have seen many varieties of remodel and new construction projects. However, one thing has remained constant throughout them all - they are resource intensive endeavors.
Stylish kitchen upgrade in Saugus
The dream goes something like this: I step into my dark kitchen in the early morning, snap on the light and - voila - the house-beautiful elves have visited me during the night and totally redone the room. To the sound of angels singing, I observe that the nicked-up linoleum has been replaced by beautiful tile, the crummy counters are now glistening granite, there is a stainless steel sink and matching appliances and the wood of the cabinets - well, it pulses with the very glow of life.
Food questions with golfer Denis Watson
Pro golfer Denis Watson, who is playing at the AT&T Champions Classic at Valencia Country Club through Sunday, recently offered up his take on food to The Signal.
Improving your yard with hardscaping with fine design
Landscaping not only makes your home more beautiful it can also make it more valuable. In fact, a Michigan State University study found that, depend­ing on where the house is located, high-quality landscaping adds between 5 percent and 11 percent to its price.
Robert Lamoureux: countertops and new piping
Hello Robert, I have a Formica countertop in the kitchen and where the seam was placed, I put something hot on it and it buckled in one spot. Can this be repaired? Can a strip be glued over the whole seam? Thank you so much for your help, Hi Harriet, Now is a good time to start thinking about a new countertop. You could glue Formica over the top of the damaged area, but ...
Second-floor room has that sinking feeling
Hi Robert, My home is more than 2,500 sq. feet with 4 bedrooms upstairs. The back corner bedroom has had a floor which has noticeably slanted downwards for several years. (I used a level to determine where the dip started and ended and it appears to be just in the middle of the room.) Below it is the family room which when I used a level, the floor appears to be O.K. Do you ...
Radon testing basics 101
Short-term testing The quickest way to test is with short-term tests. Short-term tests remain in your home for two days to 90 days, depending on the device. "Charcoal canisters," "alpha track," "electret ion chamber," "continuous monitors," and "charcoal liquid scintillation" detectors are most commonly used for short-term testing. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a short-term test is less likely than a long-term test to tell you ...
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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