September 17th, 2008 — House Damage, Repair, Replace, stairs
Broken or loose stairs are not only unsightly, but they can also be incredibly dangerous. Repairing stairs doesn’t have to be difficult and unless they need a total replacement, you should be able to take care of it with just some basic tools.
To get started, you’ll need to have some nails, screws, a ladder, a hammer, screwdrivers, and a level. It is vital to make sure that your repairs are sound and a level is a very essential tool for this.
For a creaky stair or one that is a little lose, you’ll need to head into the well of the stairway. From there, you will be able to pinpoint the exact problem. Grab your ladder and locate the stair that is causing the problem. There should be a bracket with some screws under each step. Try tightening these screws to see if that doesn’t fix the problem. While you’re there, it’s also a good idea to go through all of the brackets to make sure that they are secure.
Nine times out of ten, this will fix your stair problem and it takes only a few minutes to complete. But what if there is a more serious problem at work? In this situation, the wood of the stair may actually be degraded. If you have carpeting, you’ll need to pull it up to take care of this issue. It’s best to start at the bottom and take up the carpet over each step. It’s a little labor intensive, but your only other option is to cut out the area of carpet over the problem step and this only leads to further repair issues.
Once you have the carpet removed and the backing, you’ll be able to see what you are working with. Remember that your safety needs to come first. Avoid walking on any steps that are structurally damaged. Locate the area of wood that needs to be replaced. Most modern steps will be made with a flat board that is secured on top of the sides. You may need to go back into the well to remove the bracket, of if the wood is just nailed on top of the side boards, you can simply remove it.
Now, you’ll need to replace that board. It’s best to do a complete replacement of a bad step, instead of just placing a shim in there. Once you have the wood completely out, measure it and cut a brand new step. You’ll need to make sure that your measurements are exact and that the wood you are using will hold up to daily traffic. Never skimp on quality when you are dealing with steps.
Go back and replace the new board, making sure that it is completely secure and attached. Now, you’ll need to replace the carpet again, but your reward will be a staircase that is no longer dangerous, noisy or falling down. If you have a serious issue with your stairs, it may be best to call a professional, especially if the entire structure is starting to show signs of wood rot or complete disintegration.
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August 4th, 2008 — Air Conditioning, Handy Man, Low Budget
Summer is usually synonymous with high electricity costs and as our cities become more overloaded, there has never been a better time to start saving power during these months. It’s actually quite easy to start cutting your power costs, and it only takes a few minutes to implement some changes that can drastically reduce how much money you spend each month on energy costs. Let’s look at just a few changes you can start right now.
1. Only run your air conditioning when you are home.
No one likes coming home to a stuffy house, but there is really no need to run your air conditioner all day when you are not home. Turn that unit off and you’ll see a big change in your power bills. It will take a few minutes to cool off a room or the whole house, but you’ll be saving so much money it won’t seem as painful.
2. Open the windows at night.
Most places are lucky enough to have a pretty cool breeze during the night. One great trick you can try is opening up the windows when you go to bed and then closing them when you get up. The whole house will remain a lot cooler and you’ll be able to get away with using your air conditioning a lot less. This is a method that was used before air conditioning even existed and it still works today.
3. Utilize less air conditioning by using more fans.
A simple fan can do a great job of keeping a room cool, and it can help you circulate more cool air throughout your home. Try to find a model that sits on the floor, as well as one that is a bit higher up. Put them in rooms with air conditioning and face them out so that they can pull that cold air to other parts of your home. Fans costs much less than an air conditioning unit to run as well.
4. Consider adding awnings to the southern windows in your home.
This can reduce your home cooling costs by as much as 30 to 40%, especially if you have a lot of southward facing windows. The initial investment will really pay off. If you can’t afford an awning, consider getting insulated drapes that will accomplish a similar task. Once again, you can really make a difference in how much you’re paying for energy with this little technique.
Crazy Bonus Tip:
If you live in an area that has a lot of high winds, it can feel as though you are trapped in a blast furnace. Find the prevailing direction of the winds and then seal the windows on that side of your house with the same sealer you would use in the winter. It sounds crazy, but it really does work. Older homes that do not have new windows can really benefit from this tip. By limiting how much hot air you have in your home, it will feel a lot cooler.
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May 21st, 2008 — Handy Man, House Damage, Repair, Wood Floors, Woodwork
Few people know that proper care of woodwork requires much more than an occasional dusting. Your woodwork was once made up of a living thing, and without the proper care, it’s going to look quite dead. However, it is possible to revitalize your wood and keep it strong and healthy without much effort. If you’ve got an older home with a lot of woodwork, you may need to spend some extra time on it, but generally, these techniques should only take a few minutes.
Let’s start with revitalizing wood floors.
If you’re floor is already dried, cracked and the shine is completely gone, you’re going to need to do a major overhaul to bring it back. This means stripping the floor of any remaining varnish and re-staining it. This may take several coats depending on the color you would like. Once you’re done staining, you’ll need to revarnish the floor. In most cases, and especially with high traffic areas, this requires several coats and plenty of drying time in between. You need to keep the area as dust free as possible during this process so that the varnish stays smooth.
If you’re floor has seen better days but it’s not quite down for the count, you’ll need to add some oil to it to get it back. We recommend Murphy’s Wood Soap followed by Olde English Wood Oil. This comes in a few scents, but the lemon oil is probably the best for your floors. Completely wash the floor with Murphy’s and then add the oil to it once it is completely dry. You’ll really need to work that it and then give it plenty of time to dry since it will be a little slippery. Wood floors should have this done at least once a year to keep them looking fresh.
Moving on, let’s talk about the woodwork in your home, such as door frames, window sills and any built-ins you may have.
If the varnish is still in pretty good shape, but they’re looking a bit dull, you can try Murphy’s and Olde English to bring them back to life. Another great trick involves some olive oil on a soft rag. Gently work the oil into the wood until it has been completely absorbed. If the area is near curtains, take them down before you start to avoid staining them with oil.
If the woodwork is already dry and or damaged, you’ll need to strip it completely down and start over. For doors, it’s best to take them down to this so you don’t end up with drips in your stain or varnish. Otherwise, you’ll need to be careful and avoid overloading your brush with stain or varnish. This will help decrease the amount of drips. If you catch some while you’re still working, quickly brush them into the finish to disguise them.
The key to keeping your woodwork looking great is constant care and the right kind of cleaning products. Never use any cleaner on your wood that was not specifically made for wood. This will only strip the wood even further and make it harder to maintain.
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