The Differences Between a Wood, Steel, or Fiberglass Entry Door
We are VERY fortunate in that we are called upon to replace A LOT of entry doors every year. The spectrum across the different types of doors we replace varies greatly. Sometimes we are called to replace an old wooden entry door that has served its useful purpose over the decades and now is the […]
What is a Finial?
Working on people’s homes day in and day out admittedly provides me quite the advantage when having conversations with folks about their differing projects. Not that I am actively seeking some type of superior home improvement edge for when discussions occur centering around home items which need fixing, this just kind of naturally happens as […]
What Causes Pressure Treated Wood to Rot Out?
One of the main reasons why pressure treated wood is used in areas of construction that may be more susceptible to moisture exposure than others, is that it is much more resistant to rot than other wood used to build things, whether on the framing side or the finish side. Even this being the case, […]
What Causes a Carbon Monoxide Detector to Go Off?
There are few things more unsettling than a carbon monoxide detector going off in your home. Unlike a smoke detector, where the reason why the alarm is going off is quite obvious (typically visible smoke/steam), carbon monoxide detectors are set off by an invisible/odorless/tasteless gas. Carbon monoxide is associated with the gas that stems when […]
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 […]
