Archive By Section - Your Home
Better than bareroot
Sure it's gonna get cold again, but this recent warm spell probably has you thinking about tuning up your landscaping. It's not such a bad idea, either. Planting now gives things like trees and shrubs plenty of time to get established before the crazy-hot days of summer arrive. And if this line of thinking has taken hold of you, you're probably eyeing those plants-in-a-bag that are popping up at your local nursery. "Bare roots" they ...
Paper management tips
Piles of paper are often the toughest type of clutter. Paper accumulates so quickly and there is a never-ending stream arriving on our doorsteps from every area in our lives. Here are some handy tips from Bob Farkas, the Clutter Wizard, about how to keep your paperwork from getting out of control. The tips shown are for maintaining records and papers manually, not electronically by computer.
Robert Lamoureux: Pass on this 'injection' for waterproofing
Hello Mr. Lamoureux, We have planters that are leaking into units and the subterranean parking structure. We called a contractor and he recommended "injection." I wanted to get your opinion of this as we want to correct this problem. Silvia D. Hi Silvia, I don't believe in injections because they have a bad failure rate. In my experience, it becomes an ongoing maintenance issue as they are constantly coming back for more injections. Not that ...
Bust your clutter in 2009
Does your daughter make you close the garage door every time she is expecting company? Does she close all the bedroom doors before that company comes inside? Is your "filing" room or office both a fire and health hazard? Did you nearly sprain your ankle stepping on shoes overflowing from your closet? Has every horizontal space in your home become "temporary" storage for everything from old magazines to leftover screws?
Sweeping the chimineas
Chiminea - it sounds like a new Latin dance (hey, maybe we can start something) - but the chiminea (chim-ih-ney-ah) has actually been around a long time.
Home-buyer beware
"Don't let this happen to you," said the local man we'll call Mr. Broke.
Anything that got burned needs to go
Hello Mr. Lamoureux, I was working on my car to see if the fuel injectors were working right. I get them disconnected and turn the engine over and the fuel sprayed against the back wall of my garage which caught fire. By the time I got the fire out on my engine, I started to put the fire out in the garage but some damage had already been done. Some of the drywall was burned ...
Your Home Improvements: Noise from sink drives her crazy
Robert, Whenever I run some water in the kitchen sink, I hear a whistling sound. I'm not completely sure, but it sounds like it's coming from the drain. I know it's not a big emergency question like you're used to answering, but it is annoying nonetheless. It started about one month ago and it's driving me crazy. I would just like to know what it is. We have lived here many years and I have ...
A winter wonderland — of safety
I know. You shelled out good money for that fresh-cut Christmas tree only a week ago, and you'll be darned if you're going to take it down before Jan. 2.
Protect yourself from paint poison
Ahhh, the smell of fresh paint! I always loved it, didn't you? Taking a snootful of air in a freshly-painted room always seemed new-life-affirming.
How to replace pool ladders and acoustic ceilings
Hello Robert, The aluminum ladder in my swimming pool needs to be replaced. I don't see how I can get the old one out without damaging the inside of the pool. Could you help me on this? Alex S. Hello Alex, First of all you have to drain the pool to pull the old ladder out which will probably do a little plaster damage, but that is easily repaired. Once you get that ladder out ...
Dreaming of a bright Christmas
Yes, we know. You already have your Christmas lights up on the house and on the tree. But here's the deal. Now might just be the best time to buy those LED Christmas lights you've been considering.
What’s the deal with water softeners?
Hi, Robert, When we lived in the San Fernando Valley we had soft-water service from (a major provider). But we always ran out of soft water, so we bought our own unit and it performed great. I probably only put salt in it every other month, and the water was great for everything and kept deposits way down. When we moved up here we noticed how hard the water is. We wanted to put in ...
Save blade by lowering it right
Hey Robert, My grandfather was a woodworker and had every tool imaginable. He always said you were supposed to lower the saw blade on a table saw to the height of whatever you were cutting but I never did ask him why. I've always wondered, is there a real reason for this? Is this for safety reasons or does this help save the blade? Edgar D. Hello Edgar, You actually want to put the blade ...
Smoke on the mountain, fire in the hearth
With all the smoke and ash flying around in the air, and blazing brush fires displayed on your television, these days you're probably seeking less fire, and not more. Even so, with the coming of cooler weather, you may soon find yourself craving a curl-up in front of a cozy fire in your fireplace.
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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