Archive By Section - Your Home
Defend your space
Though you might be starting to think about "back to school" already, or still deep in "summer vacation" mode, brush fire season is upon us, and now is the time to prepare for it.
Take your home on the road
Do you just want to get away from your home now and then? But do you also want to carry some of its creature comforts along with you? In all these situations, and many others, a recreational vehicle (RV) could be the solution.
Robert Lamoureux: HOA board members can be sued
Robert, Hello. I'm one of three new board members for a three-story building, and we are all new to this. We have been notified that we have to perform a "regulation four" (?) fire inspection, which is going to cost us around $2,500. We're not familiar with any of the codes and don't know exactly what is supposed to be checked. Is this something that is mandatory? We all have jobs and would find ...
Robert Lamoureux: Hire only licensed contractors
Hi Robert, I had a leak that took out 70 percent of my ceiling. We called a dry waller who said permits were not necessary because they were not repairing the complete room. I don't want any problems so I'd like to check if this is legitimate. Thank you very much sir. Miguel B. Hi Miguel, You are absolutely going to need permits. Whenever there is a question of safety, permits are required. The ...
Perfect Patios: Use delightful decor in outdoor spaces
A patio can be a stark and messy thing, or it can be a welcome refuge for family and friends.
Keep cool with regular service
On Thursday and Friday we caught a break from the super-heat-wave, with weather that made the SCV feel like Cabo San Lucas. But even so, this recent hot spell has been a wakeup call to many local residents who have suddenly realized that their air-conditioning systems are not operating at peak efficiency - or not operating at all.
You should watch that water
You have a gardener who comes by twice a month, and an automatic sprinkler system, so you figure your home's landscaping requires no attention from you. But then you take a week's vacation - and, upon your return, find your front lawn has turned brown and the mud from a six-inch-deep trench in your planter is now spread out over your driveway.
Wooden doors don’t belong here
Hello Robert, I've been reading your interesting column for quite some time now. I'm a newbie contractor but want to learn all I can and do the best job possible. I installed four doors to a trash room about six months ago. When I got there, there were no doors there. The complex called me saying the fire department told them that they cannot use wooden doors. My question is why not? They are solid ...
It’s time to fix your fixtures
If the finish on your kitchen faucet and related hardware is more akin to corrosion than chrome, or if your bathroom plumbing fixtures were put in when disco was the dance craze, it's well past time to change these out. And if you are doing kitchen or bathroom remodeling on a larger scale, the plumbing fixtures might just be the focal point from which you begin.
Robert Lamoureux: Be sure fan is installed correctly
Mr. Lamoureux, I hired a handyman to install a ceiling fan for me. He was going to replace a light I had in my bedroom ceiling with a fan that had a light also. He pulled on the light that was already there and said the box would be strong enough to support the fan. I told him I was going to think about it. I don't know a lot about this, but I've checked ...
There’s no pain if you drain
Every homeowner has that little, nagging voice in the back of his or her head. You know, the one that gets loudest when you walk through your garage and past your water heater.
Robert Lamoureux: Gas shut off valve for earthquakes
Hey Robert, I discovered a gas leak in my home. I went outside to shut off the gas valve and discovered I have an emergency shut off valve. Why didn't it turn the gas off? Sonny R. Hi Sonny, The emergency shut off valve is for earthquakes, not for gas leaks. It can't differentiate between supply and demand. The gas valve will shut down on anything over a 4.0. It works on the same ...
Robert Lamoureux: Several options for waste concrete
Dear Robert, We need to remove a long walkway at our house. Where can we dispose of the concrete other than a landfill? Thank you very much, Yolanda G. Hi Yolanda, In Santa Clarita, you can go through Waste Management. Or, you can take it Curtis Sand and Gravel off the 14 freeway where they will recycle it. They will charge you a small fee to dump it. They then grind it down and ...
Critters are coming to your home
The ants are antsy, the bees are busy, the gophers are going, the rats are racing, the mice are munching and the spiders ... well, they've been multiplying all winter. And the bigger animals, such as skunks, possums and raccoons, are out on the prowl.
Robert Lamoureux: Playing electrician is dangerous
Hi Robert, This is my second question I've sent you over the years. I've been doing some electrical work around the house. I found a problem inside my wall which was a Romex wire that had a huge tape ball on it and under that wires were nutted together. That's where the problem was. Does that entire piece of Romex need to be replaced? Thanks, <p ...
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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