Archive By Section - Your Home
Home for the holidays
Light poles decorated like candy canes, flying reindeer, cotton batting as snow, lights and lights and lights ... there is nothing more glorious in the Santa Clarita Valley than the holidays. I've been fortunate to be a part of The Signal's Holiday Light Tour since 1999 and I've enjoyed every moment. It is wonderful to see how much time and effort people put into decorating their homes for the holidays and how much joy it brings to the rest of the SCV.
From bedroom to tasting room
The Schwartz family is pretty typical in size - two parents, three children, two dogs. But recently one of the five bedrooms in the family's Stevenson Ranch home has been given over to an additional family member - well, actually, about 2,200 of them.
Wood floors, retaining walls and strange goings-on
Hello Robert, I am installing wooden floors in my home. I have never attempted anything like this before and wanted to check was there any advice you could offer before getting started. Jason G. Hi Jason, Have you ever seen a wooden floor that has shrank and pulled away from the wall? It happens all of the time, even to some of the pros. To prevent it, pull all of the wood flooring out of ...
How to hire a landscape professional
With rising gas prices, many people are sticking close to home this summer. That means they will have more time to spruce up the yard. However, some yard projects may be too much for the average homeowner to tackle.
Driveway stains can be removed
Hello Mr. Lamoureux, I had my driveway redone with asphalt about three months ago, and I already have a rusty stain from the radiator. I've tried every cleaner out there and nothing is working. What can I do? Bryan B. Hi Bryan, Those kinds of stains always seem to happen on a new surface. Instead of cleaning, you can get a bucket of Black Night and go over that one spot. Mix it up really ...
Get it together
I still find things I engraved with my Dremel tool back in the day. I think it was around 1982, and it was the last time I tried to inventory and document my possessions. And I also remember scraping my Social Security number off some of those possessions as they went to the Goodwill years later.
Everything's coming up roses
Autumn begins in 16 days. And never mind that temperatures are still reaching into the 100s most afternoons here in Santa Clarita, it's time for you to start your fall flower care. With just a little effort you can have colorful blooms popping out from now until next summer. Two of the flower-care concerns for September are bulbs and roses. We'll get some advice on these from local experts.
How do you get a fire hydrant near your house?
Hey Robert, I live in a rural area. One of my neighbors had a small kitchen fire this weekend. We put it out very quickly and there was not a lot of damage done. I started looking and realized there are no fire hydrants located anywhere on our street. Would this be something that we would be charged for, or how much would it cost if we hired someone to install one? Brian C. Hello ...
Time to give green lighting a go
So, you still aren't ready to buy those spiral fluorescent light bulbs everyone is pushing? Saving natural resources, doing your part to fight global warming and even saving money aren't enough motivation? Fine. Here's one more reason to change your mind and go with "green" light.
Home briefs
Presentation planned for rose soil secrets The Santa Clarita Valley Rose Society will meet 2:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the SCV Senior Center, 22900 Market St., Newhall. Topic: Gisele Schoniger on "Soil Secrets for Growing Fabulous Roses." Gisele represents the Dr. Earth company and will discuss the many products they have available for roses, such as potting soils, fertilizers, and soil amendments. She will discuss trends in the industry, how to build the microbial life ...
Planning a pigskin party?
So you've had a great summer, full of trips and water sports and backyard parties. The kids are back in school now, but you're not quite ready to let it all go. You find yourself lovingly brushing the grill of your barbecue and wishing the good times would roll just a little longer.
Remove clogs to raise water volume
Hey Robert, I have plenty of water pressure in my home, but I have to flush the toilet several times until the water is really clean again. It's just not flushing right. The toilet itself is not that old and is not leaking. There is also what I think would be plenty of water in the back. Do you think I need a new toilet? I'm really not in the position to hire a plumber ...
Home briefs
Aug. 31 The Santa Clarita Koi & Water Garden Club meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. The club is comprised of people who own or are building ponds that share ideas and experiences.
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.
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.
New gardeners have questions
People new to gardening ask the darndest questions: about how seeds work, about growing the perfect tomato, about waging war with insects (many of them beneficial).
How to fit new tile
Q: I need to replace some cracked and chipped tile in the bathroom. Some of it was shaped to fit around the base of the toilet. Is it difficult to shape replacement tiles in the same way? - Sarah S., Fort Worth, Texas
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