They include:

• A ladder that can easily reach your roof gutters
• A hose hooked up to a water supply
• A long pole (a broom handle will work if you don't have anything else to use.)

First, you're going to need to determine how bad the clutter in your gutters is. If you don't live near any trees, you'll most likely be dealing with some built up grime and various bits of debris. If you do have trees in your yard, chances are that your gutters are packed with leaves as well as dirt. It's a good idea to clean your gutters every year, once all of your trees have shed their leaves, but if you find that yours don't get that dirty you may be able to get away with every two years.

Before you actually start cleaning your gutters, let's talk about why it is so important to keep them clean. Over time, you're going to get quite a lot of debris in there. Your gutters serve to catch rainwater and divert it away from your house. If your gutters are clogged, you're going to have to deal with some leaks along the gutter system, or you may notice that water is collecting around the base of your home. This is very bad for your foundation and can lead to rot, cracking and other dangerous problems with your foundation. It's a lot easier just to take the time once a year to keep them clean.

Ok, now, let's get started. Get your ladder and put it up against the house so you can easily reach the gutter without stretching. If your ladder is too short, you're increasing your chances of injuring yourself, so stick with one that is big enough to do the job. Now, you'll be able to see what you're dealing with in there. If there are a lot of leaves, you can use your long pole to loosen them, but you'll probably have to resort to good old fashioned hand scooping at some point. If you have just a lot of dirt, you can use your hose to spray the inside of your gutter clean.

Once you've removed all the debris in the area you can reach, you'll need to move your ladder down a few feet and keep repeating the process until all of your gutters are cleaned out. That wasn't so hard, was it? Remember, try to clean your gutters out every year to avoid dealing with runoff problems. Since it's so easy, it's no big deal to keep them spic and span.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-02 20:07:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Alternative Energy For Homeowners As home heating costs rise, and energy in general gets more expensive, many homeowners are turning to alternative means to power their homes. While many systems require a lot of effort to implement, there are quite a few that can be easy to install and quite economical. Whether it is......
• How to Choose New Siding For Your Home If your home is starting to look a little run down, or you just don’t want to go through the expense of painting it again, you may want to consider purchasing siding for your home. There are many benefits to using siding and it can be virtually maintenance free if......
• How to Safely Get Rid of Rodents Whether you live in the country or a big city, chances are you've dealt with rodents a time or two. These little critters may be cute but they are a huge health risk to you and your loved ones and they need to go. There are more than a few......
• How Your House Works by Charlie Wing If you have ever looked at a sink, a lamp or anything in your house and wondered how does that work this book has your answers. Any homeowner can benefit from learning more about how specific appliances and fixtures work, but there are not many resources that put it all......
• How to Renew Your Deck Your deck is subject to all kinds of weather, and within a few years, it's easy to end up looking like you need a completely new one. If you want to keep your deck looking brand new for years to come, there are a few techniques that you can use.......

• Corn House Seeds Tropicals Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Salt Water Ponds Water Features Garden Décor Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Pole Windsocks & Devas Garden Decor Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Owl House For Rodent Control Pest & Weed Control Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Cane Pole Accessories Fishing

First, you'll need to make sure that you don't have any decaying wood lying around near your house. This is a frequent cause of infestation. If you have firewood, make sure that you store it away from the house and when you bring it inside, burn it immediately. This cuts down on the risk of basically giving the termites the key to your front door.

It is also important to check your home's foundation for any cracks. If you find them, seal them up properly. This will help prevent future infestations, but it really can't do much if you already have a problem. However, before you move to the next step, you'll have to get this done. You'll also need to create a barrier around your home that termites won't be able to cross.

This usually involves putting sand around the foundation of your home. If you have a lot of wood near the ground, this is very important. Cement block foundations usually do pretty well in preventing infestations on their own, but it doesn't hurt to be too careful when it comes to termites. Make sure that you pack a good, thick layer of sand around the foundation. If you get a lot of rain or wind, you may need to reapply this every few months.

Next, it's a good idea to schedule a yearly visit with the termite inspector. The less time you give them, the harder it will be for a termite colony to spread. Keep in mind that they can have thousands of offspring every month and it doesn't take long for a few termites to morph into a few million. If you live in an area that has frequent termite swarms (cloudlike concentrations of termites seeking new homes) you'll want to take extra care and be very vigilant.

If you do find termites on your property, it is best to let a termite control professional handle them. Many people make the mistake of trying to use bug spray or even fire to get rid of termites that they find in nearby logs. Well, when you destroy that home, they're going to need to find a new one and the ones that survive are going to head straight for yours.

Termites can be destructive, but you don't have to give them free reign. Employ these protection practices to ensure that your home stays termite free.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-03 20:14:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Green Flooring For Your Home If you are considering installing new flooring for your home, now is the time to consider reducing your carbon imprint. There are many new choices for flooring that are not only eco-friendly but also beautiful, economical and long lasting. Let’s go over some of the most popular choices for green......
• Repairing Damaged Drywall Sheets of drywall are generally quite strong, but they are only made out of gypsum plaster that has been pressed between two sheets of thick paper. The thing that ensures rigidity is the kiln drying process. The basic construction of the drywall allows for it to be inexpensive as well......
• Gutted! By Lawrence LaRose If you’re thinking about buying an old house to restore, stop right now and buy this book. It is the absolute epitome of what you should not do, and it may even make you change your mind. Anyone interested in home improvement horror stories will love this book, and there......
• When to Call a Pro If you are interested in do-it-yourself home repair, it’s easy to think that you can tackle any project. However, thousands of dollars and a few trips to the emergency room later can make you rethink that position. If you are considering renovating your home, remodeling a room or changing anything......
• How to Get Your Home Ready for Winter Winter may be a few months away, but now is a great time to start getting ready for it. With energy prices on the rise, it is important to find ways to cut costs and reduce the amount of energy you use in the winter. Let’s go over a few......

• House Plants Tropicals Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Organic Additive Free Superfood Supplements & Diet Exercise & Fitness
• Proof/Prooflike Sets Coins: Canada Coins & Paper Money
• Foundation Shrubs Plants, Seeds & Bulbs Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Wood Crucifixes Christianity Religions, Spirituality Collectibles

Exterior Maintenance:

Often, the source of moisture or flooding begins outside the home. Gutters collect and move mass amounts of water on a single home with just a few inches of rainfall. A quick inspection of your gutters, down spouts, and the grading surrounding your foundation can indicate a potential problem. Gutters should be clean and properly sized for your home. Down spouts should draw drainage away from the home, to the lowest portion of your lot. In other words, the water should be directed to where it would drain naturally. Some areas allow drainage systems to be connected to city storm sewers and retention basins. Check with the water and sewer department in your area before making any changes that involve public systems.

The surface grading around your home should provide a gentle slope away from your foundation, pulling any added rainfall or moisture back into your lawn. Most building codes state that the surface grading should, in the first ten feet from the house, slope down at least six inches. Check with your local building codes to find out the specifics for your area.

Interior Maintenance:

Some basic steps for keeping your basement moisture free are to provide proper ventilation for dryers, bathrooms or any other sources of moisture, and making certain that your sump pump is in proper working order. It is essential in dealing with moisture, and during a flood can save homeowners thousands of dollars. A dehumidifier can help remove moisture from the air, which can aid in the prevention of the formation of mold.

Applying a waterproof sealant can keep moisture at bay and is not only easy, but relatively inexpensive to apply. Walls and flooring must be prepared before the sealant is applied, by scraping away loose materials, filling in cracks, and creating the cleanest surface possible by vacuuming. Simply follow the instructions included with the sealant for application and drying processes. If a sealant has been used in the past, but is no longer effective, you may need to remove the old material from your flooring before applying a fresh coat. This can be time consuming, but a little bit of extra work in the beginning of the process will yield a dry, moisture free basement in the long run.

Flooring Solutions:

If your basement is mostly used for doing laundry and completing small projects, a fresh, bright coat of paint is often enough to improve the appearance and help keep moisture at bay. However, a finished basement may have carpeting, tiles, and even hardwood flooring in some cases. Moisture and flooding can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage on these types of materials.

A simple, attractive and cost-effective alternative to these typical flooring materials is water resistant carpet tiles. Not only do carpet tiles not require a carpet pad, which can become soaked with water, causing a nightmare for homeowners dealing with flooding, but the tiles themselves are often water resistant and can be individually removed, cleaned, dried, and replaced in their original position at no cost to the home owner.

With a little knowledge and preparation, you can have not only a dry basement, but an attractive and inviting space that will likely add to the ultimate resale value of your home.

This was a guest post written by Jason Capshaw. Jason Capshaw is a weekend warrior and former general contractor. He loves woodworking and spending time on home improvements.

Photo Credits: cafemama

Originally posted 2010-02-05 16:29:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Steps to Installing a Home Steam Shower A home steam shower makes your bathroom a retreat, and if you're a do-it-yourselfer with some experience you can probably handle at least some of the installation yourself. Not only will it make time spent in the bathroom more enjoyable, but any type of bathroom remodeling improves the value of......
• Ideas for Green Home Improvement There are a wide variety of different green home improvement options that you can pursue that are going to improve your home. Some of them are time consuming and expensive, but this is not true for all of them. Not all of us have the money necessary for dropping $15,000......
• Guide to Buying a Home Water Softener If your home’s water is excessively hard, it may be time to think about purchasing a water softener. If you are not sure if you have hard water, there are a few easy tests that will help you determine this. First and foremost, you can send a sample to a......
• How to Prevent a Damp Basement With black and other forms of mold becoming an enormous problem for Americans, it has never been more important to make sure that your home is not a breeding ground. Mold is very harmful, and black mold in particular can be deadly. No one wants to go around breathing spores......
• Green Flooring For Your Home If you are considering installing new flooring for your home, now is the time to consider reducing your carbon imprint. There are many new choices for flooring that are not only eco-friendly but also beautiful, economical and long lasting. Let’s go over some of the most popular choices for green......

• Egg Knobs Doors & Door Hardware Building & Hardware Home Improvement
• Harmony Bamboo Water Fountains Water Features Garden Decor Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Cast Iron Water Fountains Water Features Garden Decor Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living
• Faucets, Taps Plumbing Building Materials & Supplies Green Construction Store
• Pewter Knobs Cabinets & Cabinet Hardware Building & Hardware Home Improvement

1. Physical Structure –

The inspector will go through the foundations and all the exterior features of the home to see if there are any potential problems. They will also check for drainage and any other issues that may affect the home’s safety. By checking to make sure that everything is up to code, they can save you a significant amount of money on repairs.

2. Heating and Cooling System –

Many older homes will have heating or cooling systems that are incredibly out of date, or even possibly dangerous. It is very important to make sure that the inspector completely goes over the duct work, the furnace and the air conditioning unit, if any, before completing the inspection. If the home has a very out of date system, it may be subject to leaking and this can be very dangerous.

3. Plumbing System –

Once again, older homes may not have the best plumbing in the world. If the owners did not keep up on regular repairs, you can be stuck with pipes that leak into the walls, or even lead pipes that can cause a health risk. The inspector will check the materials of the pipes as well as their integrity.

4. Electrical System –

This can definitely be a major problem with many older homes, especially the ones that were built at the turn of the century. It is no easy task to rewire an older home and it is very costly. Your inspector will make sure that all of the wiring is up to code and that it is not dangerous to operate. For example, if the lights dip when something is plugged in, this is a very bad sign and could be the cause of a dangerous fire if the wiring gets too hot.

5. Interior Construction –

The inspector will also go over the interior of the house to check for water damage, or out of code features that might endanger the new inhabitants of the house. They will be looking for mildew and mold as well as other potential health hazards during their inspection.

You can save tens of thousands of dollars by spending the money on an inspector before purchasing a house. We always recommend that the buyer hire the inspector instead of letting the home owners do it, to make sure that there are no problems with the results. Before you close on any property, have it completely inspected and wait for the report.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-08-21 05:25:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• 4 Easy Little Touches Anyone Can Do To Their Home When it comes to home renovation, many people are under the impression that it means big projects that are costly. Actually, there are many different small and inexpensive projects that can be done that will not only make your house look great, but also increase its value. Most of these......
• Install Interior Window Shutters to Cool Your House If you’re dealing with a lot of windows in your home and you are worried about keeping it cool inside, one of the best solutions is interior shutters. They will cost more than drapes, but they are easier to clean and much more permanent. The look of interior shutters can......
• Ideas for Green Home Improvement There are a wide variety of different green home improvement options that you can pursue that are going to improve your home. Some of them are time consuming and expensive, but this is not true for all of them. Not all of us have the money necessary for dropping $15,000......
• Is Wreckovating Worth It? If you are considering changing your home, it is important to decide if “wreck-o-vating” or the process of completely tearing apart a room and redoing it entirely is worth the effort. There are many opponents to wreckovating, but in some cases, this style of renovating may be necessary. Here is......
• Complete Guide to Bathrooms by Black and Decker Our bathrooms are used every day, and as such, they are usually one of the first places that trouble strikes. Whether you’ve ended up standing ankle deep in water at 3am, or you just want to find some ways to save money on plumbing costs, this is the ideal book......

• Water Heaters Heating, Cooling & Air Home Improvement
• Bathroom Plumbing & Fixtures Home Improvement
• Owl House For Rodent Control Pest & Weed Control Gardening & Plants Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Marine Corps Militaria (Date Unknown) Militaria Collectibles
• Dehumidifiers Heating, Cooling & Air Home Improvement

1) Surface Drainage -

This problem is the most frequently cited problem that homeowners face. It is the back up or slower than standard drainage of surface water, and it is responsible for the number one household malady - water in the basement.

2) Electrical Wiring -

This common problem is the result of insufficient overload protection, insufficient electrical supply and home wired connections, which are potentially dangerous to occupants.

3) Roof -

This ailment is the result of degraded or damaged shingles, which causes roof leakage. Flashing that was improperly installed can also be a problem.

4) Heating -

This category includes such items as a defective, non functioning thermostat, chimney blockage, and an unsafe venting of exhaust away from the home.

5) Overall Maintenance -

This is where various areas of easy to repair items accumulate, such as makeshift fixes for wiring or plumbing, broken fixtures, cracked and peeling painted surfaces, and degraded masonry.

6) Structural Issues -

This category covers damage sustained by load bearing, structural components, such as the foundation, floor joists, rafters, support beams, headers around doors and windows, and much more.

7) Plumbing -

Plumbing problems rank high when it comes to issues of the home. This includes the presence of old and outdated materials, defective or damaged fixtures, problems with the septic system or sewer lines, and so forth.

Exterior-

Problems with the exterior of the home, such as for doors, windows and outer surfaces, allow atmospheric heat and humidity penetration, although they do not have much of an impact on the overall structure. Caulking and weather striping are the usual suspects when it comes to issues of the exterior.

9) Ventilation-

It is frequently the case that individuals will over seal their home in an effort to have a more efficient air system. This results in the excessive build up of moisture, however, leading to rotting of structural elements.

10) Miscellaneous-

This catchall category covers cosmetic issues that were not cited enough to gain its own category.

The results of the survey are dependent upon the age of the home and the area it is located in. Homes in the desert do not have as strict regulations on rain protection than in Chicago for example. For the homeowner, it is important to go through the home and review various sections of the home in relation to these categories. They should avoid any self repairs if their skill level is not considered to be up to standards, especially when it comes to wiring and plumbing. Fix what you can before the inspection, and you may avoid having to do the same procedure twice.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2009-01-21 05:56:25. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Review: Joey Green's Fix-It Magic: More than 1,971 Quick-and-Easy Household Solutions Using Labeled the Mad Scientist of Home Improvement, Joey Green has come out with another book where he lists of over 1900 easy household solutions using products you probably already have around the house. This tome is definitely a good one for the green movement, as you will be reusing products......
• How to Convert Your Garage When it comes to adding on to your home, one of the most logical places to start if you are on a tight budget is your garage. It’s already there and if it is connected to your house, you’ve already got an extra room right at your disposal. However, there......
• Dealing with Drywall Damage A common result of when you have a plumbing problem or a leak is water damage to the drywall in your home. However, because water damage will not simply go away, it is a home repair project that should absolutely take priority on your agenda. Trying to spot water damage?......
• Joe the Plumber If your home, apartment or some other building is suddenly experiencing a water leak, then repairing the fixtures, the faucets and the pipes can become extremely urgent in no time at all. You may be able to do some of the repair work yourself, but in most cases it is......
• The Ultimate Guide to Plumbing By Merle Henkenius If you’ve always wanted to be able to handle the various plumbing projects that pop up around your house, this is a book that is a definite must have. Plumbers can be expensive, and in an emergency, they may not be easy to reach. Once you’ve read this book, you......

• Decora/Rocker Switch Plates & Outlet Covers Electrical & Solar Home Improvement
• Solar Water Pumps Alternative & Solar Energy Electrical & Solar Home Improvement
• Exterior Spot Lights & Flood Lights Outdoor Lighting Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Harmony Bamboo Water Fountains Water Features Garden Décor Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living Nursery
• Plumbing In-Ground Pools Pools Pools & Spas Yard, Garden & Outdoor Living