What Are Joist Hangers?
In the arena we typically play in, we most often use joist hangers when building or providing maintenance to decks or porches. While always being incorporated into a new deck or porch that we are building, it is not unusual for us to come across an older deck or porch where there is an absence […]
How to Protect Your Home from Winter Weather
With Winter literally punching us in the mouth this weekend, I thought it would be good to review some basic tips on how to best guard our homes from the brunt of what we often face this time of year. Winter weather can be harsh on your home. Cold temperatures, ice, snow, and strong winds […]
Are You Thinking About Updating Or Renovating Your Bathroom?
Renovating your bathroom can make it look fresh and more functional. It’s also a great way to potentially add value to your home. However, it’s important to plan carefully so your project turns out the way you want. Besides the obvious question of figuring out how much money you are willing to allocate towards the […]
What Is A Flying Squirrel?
Recently I had a colleague of mine have a heckuva time figuring out what a specific noise in his attic was that was preventing him from a good night’s sleep. He had a number of pest control folks come by the house to take their crack at identifying what the culprit was. It did not […]
The Most Powerful Tool In The Universe!
There is an old example which is often used in telling stories about teamwork that is very powerful. If you take one twig and try to snap it, more often than not it will snap very easily. If you were to bundle that single twig with other twigs, each twig that is added makes the […]
Why Do Windows Have Weepholes?
Have you ever seen the holes on your window, right where your window sill edge meets the portion of your window closest to the exterior and wondered what they were and what they are used for? Those are weepholes and they serve a variety of purposes! Windows have weepholes for several important reasons. Weepholes are […]
How To Clean Dripped Paint Off Masonry
The older your home is and if it has some type of masonry (brick, cement, granite, etc.) foundation, walkway, or patio associated with it, the better the chance that at some point along the way someone may have dripped paint on it. While this may be unsightly, it is not unusual for blind eyes to […]
Roofing Or Painting – Which Should Be Done First???
It is not unusual for someone who is updating or repairing the exterior of their home to have their roof being replaced at the same time that they are repainting their home’s exterior. In these situations where we are called upon to help, we often get asked perhaps a question-oriented version of ‘which came first, […]
The Importance Of Sealing The End Grain On Your Cuts
Even the most skilled and savvy veteran carpenters are prone to occasionally doing things that may not be optimal. Seriously. I am fortunate enough to work directly with some of the most skilled craftspeople known to man and I still run into something in this vein that drives me nutty – very much a pet […]
The Modern Smoke Alarm
Modern smoke alarms are crucial devices that help keep us safe by detecting smoke and alerting us to potential fires. They use advanced technology to function effectively, but sometimes they can go off accidentally. Understanding how they work and how to prevent false alarms can ensure they do their job without causing unnecessary panic. How […]
