What is a Parapet Wall?
There are some facets of modern homes that although one might not realize it, have had drastically different uses at other points in time. Perhaps there is no better example of this than the parapet wall. When one sees a parapet wall on their home, there is probably zero attention paid to it at all, […]
What Temperature Does it Have to be to Fix Your Roof?
It is not unusual for me to be quizzed by folks as to what temperature it is ok to paint on the exterior of one’s home. Many may think this is a valid question as even the most novice of homeowners would realize that 25 degrees (Fahrenheit) seems too cold to paint outside, but is […]
How Long Should Plaster Cure Before Painting It?
If you have ever done or looked into doing any type of painting project around your home (whether on the inside or the outside), the chances are that you have heard the warning that surface preparation is the key to a successful paint job – both from a structural standpoint and a beauty standpoint! There […]
How to Stop Paint on Galvanized Metal from Peeling
One of the more challenging types of paint failures to combat is that of peeling paint on galvanized metal. Galvanized metal is steel or iron that has had a zinc-based protective coating applied to it in order to neutralize the formation of rust on its surfaces. What often adds to the frustration of painters and […]
Whatever Happened to ‘Bleaching Oil’?
When many folks think of New England, amongst the wide variety of picturesque imagery, can often be found the stereotypical New England beach house. These days, beach houses have often developed into edifices that could very well be said to make the average McMansion jealous. Thinking back to a traditional New England beach house however, […]
What is a Juliet Balcony?
Every so often I hear terminology relating to a home or some type of construction that admittedly makes me stop and think, “Where have I heard that before?” Recently I was asked by a Client for a bit of advice on a project involving a Juliet balcony. When I brought the term up in conversation […]
What is Putty Used for in Construction?
When nailing up a piece of wood, composite, or other miscellaneous material, often one of two things occur. If you are nailing with some type of pressurized nail gun, there is a hole on the backside of the nail head that is formed. If something is being nailed in by hand, there may not be […]
What is Parging?
New England is a part of the country where the majority of folks have some type of basement. Contrasting from a good portion of the rest of the country where most people’s homes are built on “slabs” (most often to lessen the chances of flooding, particularly on areas with higher water tables). The older the […]
Painting Chimneys – The Ultimate Roll of the Dice
If you were to take a stroll down any street in a densely populated residential area, depending of course upon where you are strolling, you may notice varying degrees of people who have the chimneys on their home painted. While I am known to say things along the lines of “We will paint pretty much […]
The Difference Between a Gutter and a Downspout
In any industry, there are items that people not within that industry may mix up terminology for. When this occurs, the person whose industry is in the middle of this verbal confusion will most often become quickly perplexed. An example of this may be say if you were a firefighter and you bumped into someone […]
