You Can Renovate Your Stairs
Live in any home long enough and you’ll be undertaking repairs, perhaps a major renovation. One area of the home that is easy to overlook is its stairs, particularly those that lead from the first floor to the second floor.
If your home’s stairs are in terrible shape, only an entirely new staircase may help. That project is expensive, one where you’ll probably have to call in a team of professionals to handle it.
You can renovate your stairs on your own, a project that may be as simple as bringing out a hammer, some nails and a sheet of sand paper to start. Follow these steps to make your staircase a showcase:
1. Inspect each step. Bring along your hammer and walk up each step, hammering in any nail that isn’t flush with the stairs. Replace broken or bent nails with nails of the same size as needed.
2. Fix cracks. You may be able to save the stair’s tread by using a filler to fix cracks. Ask the Builder’s Tim Carter recommends that homeowners first insert “expanding urethane glue or a heavy-bodied epoxy” in the crack and top it with wood filler. Use stain or epoxy to make the crack disappear. You’ll need to sand the tread first and then follow the other steps.
3. Tighten treads and risers. Stairs are made up of three main parts: stringers, which hold the stairs in place; treads that you walk on and risers that are perpendicular to the treads and support each tread. Tom Silva of This Old House magazine, notes that glue and or nails often holds these pieces together. Plan to scrape off the old glue before applying a new coat of glue. If you have access to underneath the stairs, you can tighten the stairs that way too.
4. Baluster and railing — The wood spindles holding up the railing are called balusters. These may need tightening, especially if screws are already present. Or, you can add new screws to secure each one. The post at the bottom of the stair is a newel post and that can be best secured by refastening it to the stair stringer. Install screws to connect and use gorilla glue to hold in place.
When sanding, you’ll want to carefully remove debris, something you can accomplish with a damp towel or a vacuum. Stairs should be completely dry before applying your first coat of stain. Follow the directions on your can of stain to know when to apply your second coat. Once your done, your stairs should look like new and perhaps you have saved yourself from an expensive and unnecessary renovation.
Home Improvement Idea
for the weeks of: January 29
Working for Yourself ...
It would be nice to kiss your boss good-bye. But you need the paycheck. How about starting your own home business. Investigate what you need to do to setting up your home business … at home!
Weekly Tip:
view our in-home office ideas
How to Clear Snow From Your Roof
Winter’s snowy arrival was delayed this year as unusually warm weather kept most of the country east of the Rockies green and dry. Quite suddenly, all that has changed and some areas of the midwest are experiencing heavy snowfalls. One snowfall usually doesn’t present a problem for most houses, but multiple storms and the customary thawing and refreezing can add a heavy weight to your roof, quite possibly causing it to buckle under severe conditions.
In between storms is the time when you’ll want to take care of the snow on your roof. Prevent ice dams from forming and lighten the load by considering the following options:
Snow blower — If you have a flat roof on your home as many businesses do, then you have the right surface for blowing snow off of the roof. On pitched roofs, snow is more likely to eventually fall off to the ground below. With a flat roof, snow has no where to go, but to build up. Get your snowblower on top of your flat roof as soon as possible to remove that snowy burden from its surface.
Roof rake — No snow blower should be used on a pitched roof, which means that a roof rake is the ideal tool to handle this job. Names such as Garelick, Avalanche!, Snow Joe and Garant are what you’ll hear of when shopping for a roof rake. Snow rakes typically come with a 16-foot handle and some offer a 5-foot extension, allowing you to work from the ground. Roof rakes are best used immediately after a fresh snowfall, but aren’t particularly helpful in removing ice.
Ice melt — Once ice builds up on your roof you’ll start to experience ice dams, which if left untreated can force melting snow to back into your home, causing significant damage. Ice melt can work at temperatures well below freezing and, on a sunny day, can get the job done even when temperatures are near single digits. Look for a product that is especially designed for your roof as other products may be too abrasive for your shingles. One product, RoofMelt, is easy to apply. Simply toss a tablet on top of your roof — it then melts its way down, settling on the roof’s surface. RoofMelt comes into contact with snow and ice, creating water and freeing up the ice dam. Products containing calcium chloride are among the safest to use on roof surfaces.
Fire department — How about your fire department? Can they be called on to help out? Probably not, unless there is an emergency. Such an emergency would be one where there is a leak and it is threatening your electrical line or equipment. Of course, if you hear odd noises and suspect that something is remiss, you can call on your fire department for guidance.
Considerations
If you can’t handle the job yourself, there are people who would be willing to do the job for you. For a price. That price may seem steep, but the alternative — expensive roof repairs may greatly outweigh your costs. Be careful when using a ladder — ensure certain footing on the ground before attempting to climb up and handle.
Home Improvement Preparation Tips
If you’re planning a home improvement project this year there are several things you’ll want to take care of being starting your project. Arranging financing and hiring a contractor are givens, but there is one matter that should be handled before anyone sets foot on your property and that would included preparing your home first with a thorough clean down and discard of unneeded items.
Let’s take a look at how you can prepare your home for the improvement you have planned:
1. Throw it out — Whether you’re renovating a small den, a family room or kitchen, or the entire house, use this time as an “excuse” to throw out what you do not need. The “throwing out” part can take several angles: hauling stuff to the dump, holding a garage or yard sale, or calling up a local charity that might be glad to relieve you of your useful used items. If you donate it, get a receipt for your taxes.
2. Take an inventory — The rooms under renovation will soon look very different. Will the furniture that is in those rooms “fit” with the improved area or will these be replaced too? As with the first step you may want to donate or sell what you don’t need. Consider touching up what you plan to keep too — that couch looks tired, but it can look brand new with a new slipcover.
3. Store your stuff — Once you have gotten rid of the clutter and have disposed of what you don’t need, the rest of your stuff will need to be stored. Your attic, basement and garage are places where these items can go and a shed may work out if it is in good shape and has room. Get boxes, bags and storage containers to hold all of your stuff while the renovation is underway. Seal everything tightly and check up on your stuff too to make sure that critters aren’t using your storage as a nest.
4. Get cleaning — You’ll be cleaning after the home improvement job is done, but you should clean in advance too. That means dusting, vacuuming, wiping down surfaces and leaving the room spotless. Cleaning in advance gives you less work to do later. And, it keeps dirt from mixing in with paint, wallpaper, dry wall and other work that will be done as your home is renovated.
Once the home improvement project is done you can give your home a final clean up before bringing everything out from storage. The key, of course, is to have less stuff in your home than before and all that preparation you did has helped you to reduce what you really do not need.
View more home improvement ideas in our BLOG-magazine
How to Find Affordable Dining Room Furniture
The expression, “you get what you paid for” certainly describes dining room furniture. You can choose complete sets that include a table, six or more chairs, a server and a china closet, made of the finest cherry woods and outfitted with custom fabrics. Or you can choose the knock off pieces that place wood veneer over particle wood.
Dining Rooms
Perhaps the unspoken question here is this one: who uses dining rooms anyway? Yes, it is true: dining rooms are fading away as both husband and wife work and kids are busy with their after school activities. When families eat together it is on weekends and that meal involves eating out.
Not every homeowner has abandoned the dining room. Some families are still headed by one wage earner or one of the parents works from home. Dining time together is important and it isn’t reserved just for major holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
If you’re looking for affordable dining room furniture you have several options including the following:
Furniture stores — Yes, furniture stores still exist and not everything is built in China and shipped here. In any case such stores know that the popularity of dining room furniture has waned in recent years and that customers who do buy want quality furniture without paying full price. Scan the ads for your local furniture store and make your purchase when the big sales are held. January and again in July are typically the best times to buy furniture.
Discount outlets — If you don’t mind hit or miss shopping, then local outlet or discount stores can be good places to shop for furniture. These stores get stock in as it is offered to them. This means your local “lots” store may buy up what a furniture maker or retailer wasn’t able to sell last season to sell to you this season. Expect to find some slightly damaged pieces, however, something you’ll fix or learn to live with.
Estate sales — Buying used furniture may be the farthest thing from your mind, but it can be an afforable and good investment. Figure that with an estate sale, the owner had her set for several decades, perhaps the furniture was handed down to her by her mother or grandmother. If antique furniture appeals to you, then you could find a collection of exquisite dining room furniture at a comparably low price. You may have to pay one person to move the furniture to your home and another person to make repairs, but the result can be you enjoying many years of top quality furniture at a price you can afford.
Buy direct — Some manufacturers allow you to buy direct, bypassing the middleman retailer and buying from the factory. Each retailer handles this differently. Some will only sell to you through one of their stores, but if a store isn’t in your area, you can buy dining room furniture factory direct. Keep in mind you’ll be responsible for shipping costs.
Considerations
Remember, you may be in a good bargaining position as demand for dining room furniture remains low. Keep in mind that some furniture is shipped in from China, costing American jobs and is sometimes of suspect quality.
How to Declutter a Closet
Are you still looking for those black open toe shoes you wore last fall? That’s understandable if your closet has swallowed your shoes, clothes and everything else.
Closet clutter can lead to frustration and extra time spent looking for items that should be placed front and center. You can take control of your closet and find those black shoes and everything else that is missing step by step:
1. Open and remove. Open your cluttered closet and remove everything from it. Everything but the shelves and light fixture, that is! Please note that not everything you take out will go back in.
2. Review and separate. Determine to declutter at once by putting to the side anything that you will not wear again. Place these items in boxes or bags that will be taken to your local thrift store. Those shiny red pumps you wore to the club back in the 1980s won’t be coming back in style — mark these and other dated clothing for the thrift store.
3. Hangars and boxes. If you don’t already have enough hangars and storage boxes, then you’ll need to assemble those items before returning anything to the closet. Create an order for hanging your stuff. Seasonal clothing should not be placed back in the closet — put those in marked boxes and store in a safe place elsewhere in your home such as in your attic. Hang shirts with shirts, pants with pants, blouses with blouses and so on. Short sleeve shirts should be separated from long sleeve shirts. You can also group by colors and styles. Come up with a system that is right for you.
4. Organize your shoes. By now, you should have found your famous open toe black shoes. If not, then check with a friend who might have borrowed them…. Anyway, the shoes you keep should be placed on a shoe rack. If you don’t have one, then go buy one. Get rid of those shoes that were never really comfortable and any pair that are well worn and simply won’t get worn again. Keep only those shoes you know you will wear over the next year. Donate the rest.
5. Boxes and tote bins. — With everything hung in place, you’ll still have items left over that won’t be going to the thrift store and don’t belong in your attic. Clear totes are an excellent place to store items such as sweaters, winter gear, hats and other items you don’t use as much. Choose clear so that you can see in them. Place totes on shelves or if you have room on the floor they can go there. As far as boxes go, reserve these for select items such as belts, shoe laces, purses and other items you won’t be needing too often. Label boxes to identify what is in them.
If your organization plans fall apart, consider investing in a closet organizing system. Such systems can make excellent use of a small area, allowing you to keep what you want and have where you can find it.
How to Choose a Cordless Drill
If you recently bought your first home or are a longer term owner considering what tools to have on hand, a cordless drill should be a part of your power equipment inventory. In addition to other cordless devices such as screwdrivers, lawn edgers, hedge trimmers and garden sheers, a cordless drill can be taken anywhere and help you get the job done with the right amount of torque and no cumbersome wires to trip you up.
Let’s take a look on how to choose the right drill for your needs:
Battery Voltage — When choosing a cordless drill you’ll come across different products, with many claiming to do the same thing. You can cut to the chase by ranking your choices based upon battery voltage — the greater the voltage the more power you’ll have for boring holes. The top of the line models offer 18V power, but the trade off for these is that they weigh more. You may find that a 12V drill is sufficient for your needs and at the right weight too.
Battery Choices — Battery technology has been changing and this is important because battery life and recharging times have improved. Nicad or nickel-cadmium batteries were once the standard, but these are being replaced by nickel-metal-hydride or NiMH batteries. NiMH batters are smaller, lighter and more environmentally friendly. Be mindful that quick charge batteries, although convenient, tend to wear out faster. Smart chargers, however, employ technology that can give you a quick recharge in under 10 minutes without damaging the battery.
Get a Grip — Figure that grip will be very important to you especially if you have a lot of work to do around the house. Choose one with a T-handle to get the best grip, avoiding pistol grip cordless drills that are difficult to manage in tight spaces.
Single or Double Speed — The lowest cost drills have a single speed, while most of the better drills have two speeds — low and high. At low speeds, a drill is sufficient for driving screws. For drilling holes, a high speed setting is best. Compare models to find one that suits your drilling and driving needs.
Shop Around — There are many places where you can search for a drill including at hardware stores, home centers and online through an Internet retailer. If you’re planning to buy online, take into consideration shipping costs when comparing prices. You’ll also want to examine the retailer’s return policy and product guarantee too.
Other factors to consider when searching for a cordless drill is its clutch and whether multiple settings are present, a forward/reverse switch and that it comes with a keyless chuck.
Should You Renovate or Replace Your Wood Shed?
Your shed may not have cost you much, but it could be costly to replace. That’s especially so if you have an eye for a new shed that requires a permanent foundation and is of wood construction with hardy plank siding, a center beam and posts. Never mind the cost you’ll incur with deconstructing your current shed and sending off those parts to the dump.
What alternative do you have? There is one: fix up your current shed and make “do” with what you have. Let’s take a look at what is wrong with your current shed and what steps you can take to bring it back to mirror its original use:
Evaluate the building — Take a good look at your shed and make a note of every problem that is present. If it leaks, then the roof may need replacement. If doors are difficult to open, then the track may need to be realigned. Examine the foundation for signs of deterioration and make sure that the shed is structurally sound. If your shed is beyond redemption, then skip the remaining steps and plan to buy or build a new one.
Replace the siding — Rotten siding simply looks terrible. It also offers a strong indication that your shed is in bad shape. If sanding and painting the siding alone doesn’t do the trick, then replace rotten panels as needed. Fill in gaps around windows and doors, and seal holes. Use caulk as needed and prep the siding to be painted.
Repair or replace the roof — Wood shed roofs should last for many years, but your shed may have been neglected, contributing to some of its current woes. Prop up a ladder against the shed and carefully check the roof for durability. Rotten plywood could send you plummeting to the ground below and isn’t easily seen below a layer of shingle. Replace the ineffective plywood and remove the old shingles or place a fresh layer of shingles over your good roof.
Update windows as needed — If your shed is particularly large and well used, you may want to replace your outdated windows with new ones. Consider energy efficient windows especially if you have a heat source within the shed. Shed windows are generally easy to replace and the frame should pop out with little effort.
Secure your flooring — What kind of flooring is in your shed? Has it been damaged by water, cold weather or by animal incursion? Or, it could be made of untreated construction-grade lumber, which is suitable for a shed kept outside according to Joseph Truini, writing for Popular Mechanics. Pressure-treated lumber should be used advises Truini. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it will be effective.
Decorate your shed — If you use your shed simply for storage, then decorating it may not be a priority for you. However, if your shed is also a place you can work, then consider decorating it with such embellishments as shelves, lighting, curtains and your favorite easy chair. You already spend much of your time in your shed…why not make it a home behind your home? You can also add in insulation and dry wall, running electrical lines for outlets and putting in switches for light fixtures.
Final Thoughts
A well maintained shed can add value to your home. Conversely, a shed in poor shape can make it hard to sell your home and reduce your home’s value.
If you suspect animal incursion the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management offers information on how to detect and address such issues. Most any animal may seek to make your shed their home at least when you’re not around and especially when weather conditions are adverse.
Quick Remodeling Guide
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