The Value Of Gutter Diverters
Have you ever just happened to be walking around the exterior of your home during a rainstorm, glance at your gutters, notice the amount of water jumping OVER your gutter or a portion of a gutter and wonder why the heck you have gutters in the first place? Perhaps the home maintenance version of the […]
What Does ‘Sizing’ For Wallpaper Mean?
In a portion of the industry that is not as prevalent as it once was, there is a bit of a “code word” often used that may be a little tricky to understand at first. When hearing the term ‘sizing’ in the context of hanging wallpaper, your first inclination may be to assume that the […]
The Pros & Cons Of Solar
Solar energy for our homes has been something that we have all heard about for years and in certain time periods the concept of solar seems to be more prevalent in the news than others, but all the while becoming increasingly popular! Whether a politician passionately speaking for or against it as a means of […]
Why Are Some Outlets Installed ‘Upside Down’?
Have you ever been to somebody’s home or business and saw an outlet on the wall installed upside down [with the portion of the outlet where the ‘ground’ receptacle (the ‘round’ one) being on the ‘top’ vs. the ‘bottom’ of the outlet] and thought, “Why the heck is that like that? You might even have […]
The Most Unknown, Yet Possibly Most Effective Vapor Barrier In Existence
If you are familiar with modern building practices, you may already be well aware of the importance of having a vapor barrier underneath your finish siding when building or modifying your home. A vapor barrier under siding helps keep moisture from getting into your home’s walls. It stops water from rain or humidity from causing […]
What Is A ‘Pitch Pocket’?
Not to be confused with ‘Pickpockets’ (which tend to be a bit more dastardly), ‘Pitch Pockets’ are special parts of roofs that are used to seal around things which stick up through the roof, like pipes, wires, or support beams. These things are called roof penetrations. Pitch pockets help keep water from leaking into the […]
The Worst Room To Wallpaper In Your Home
In any walk of life, there certainly are no shortage of items that may make you scratch your head. Contracting is no different. Wallpaper in our homes has been variably popular throughout the history of wallcovering availability in general and although it may ebb and flow in terms of its widespread use in any individual […]
How Do You Know When Your Septic Tank Is Full?
Knowing when your septic tank is full is important because it helps prevent problems like bad smells, slow drains, or even sewage backing up into your home. A septic tank is part of a system that collects and treats wastewater from your house. Over time, the tank fills up with solid waste and needs to […]
What is a ‘Racked’ Doorframe?
There is seemingly tons of home improvement industry jargon which often sounds like a completely foreign language – even to many Contractors! One of these types of items that I think is fun to say – though VERY not fun to deal with – is when someone refers to a doorframe as being ‘racked’. A […]
Concrete Stain
One of my favorite products on the planet is concrete stain, particularly when it is a solid stain. If you have been associated with the coatings industry for any length of time, you may very well have a favorite type of product. A number of years ago, I was even quoted in an industry magazine […]
