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Using Gloss, Satin or Flat on Your Home
How do you know which finish is best to use when painting your home? The answer requires analysis of a few factors. For instance, where do you live? Is it hot year round or do seasons change? The biggest factor in making the choice between a gloss and semi–gloss or flat is durability over aesthetics.
Consider this: On a bright sunny day a full gloss paint covering a two-story home will create amazing glare and bounce back light rendering it almost impossible to look at. Sure, gloss paint lasts longer than others, but will the trade off be worth it when a semi-gloss will do nicely and add greater aesthetics to your home?
There is one stigma associated with gloss surfaces -- shinny looks new and fresh! Sure, a flat finish leaves a neutral base, but a semi-gloss is better middle of the road finish.
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Water Pumps Help Prevent Flood Damage
Think water pumps and you probably picture pools, aquariums, and hot tubs. What about flood damage from rain, melting snow, living near the ocean, or an overflowing appliance? It doesn’t take much of a crack in the foundation or from an upper floor for water to amass and destroy your home.
There are floor level and submersible water pumps, also recognized as “sump” pumps. Use a flow chart to determine what model would be most efficient, in terms of GPM (gallons per minute it can remove) and length of discharge line. The discharge line releases the water outside, and should not have the fluid return directly back to your foundation, create a problem for neighbors, or depending upon where you live, flood into the sewer system.
When not in use, check on the line periodically for damage or in colder months, for freezing. Pipe insulation and Styrofoam are two easy ways to protect the line, as well as trying to keep it below ground frost level. Water pumps that have screens to catch clogging material, and float switches to adjust to changing levels of fluid, eliminate additional concerns that may come from an already messy situation.
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Home tool kit
Every home needs a tool kit, but what to buy first? It is hard to imagine how one would get along without these tools: Screwdrivers Buy the fancy one with several different tips stored in the handle. Make sure the handle is large enough to get a good, comfortable grip. Pliers A pair of quality adjustable pliers is a a must. Buy a couple of sizes of Channel-lock type pliers. A pair of needle-nosed Vise-grips is invaluable. Hammer Buy a quality claw hammer. 12 ounces is a good starter size. Flashlight By all means, buy several flashlights, but keep a small one in your toolbox. Throw some extra batteries in there, too. Tool box It is tempting to throw your tools in the junk drawer in the kitchen, but have you looked in there lately? There is stuff in there that you thought you lost long ago. Buy a small tool box and keep your tools in it. You will always know where they are. Fair warning Once you discover the tool department at your DIY store, expect to become addicted. Each time you enter, you will see the neatest thing that you just can´t live without. The clerk in the tool department is a good person to know. He (she) can recommend the right tool for the job.
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Connections Run Smoothly with Proper Pipe Fittings
Pipe fittings are a plumber’s trusted friend, for they are the connections that help maintain continuous flow. Fittings with exterior threading are known as males, and those with interior threading are females. For everything to work properly, pipes and their fittings must be compatible materials, so match accordingly with brass, chrome, copper, galvanized, PVC, and stainless steel.
If using PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) piping or fittings, a copper crimp ring adapts all components. Elbow pipe fittings are usually at 45 or 90 degrees, and nipple fittings extend straight connections. Female threaded caps and male threaded plugs are used to close off pipes.
Other common pipe fittings that you may need for your plumbing are couplings and unions. Regular couplings connect pipes that are of the same size, reducers connect different sizes, and compressions are used to prevent leaking from the connected valve or appliance. Unions are used to easily detach pipes for repairs. With just a little practice, you’ll soon be an expert.
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GFI
That funny outlet is also called a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. It is probably located somewhere close to water; the kitchen sink, the bathroom, outdoors, or the garage. The outlet is designed to constantly measure the current in the black wire against the current in the white wire. A very small difference between the two wires will cause the outlet to shut off the current very quickly. If you drop the hair dryer into the bathtub, or run over the extension cord with the electric mower, the outlet shuts off. The buttons are there so you can test the operation of the outlet. Since the outlet is close to water, and has metal moving parts, it is possible that the parts can rust. That is why it is important to test it once a month. Just push the TEST button. The button should pop out and the outlet should shut off. Then push the RESET button to turn the power back on. If the outlet does not work like it should, you can replace it pretty inexpensively. Also see the categories Safety, and When Do I Call An Electrician.
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Let a Thermostat Turn Temperatures into Savings
Sometimes all it takes is something small to make a sizable difference. You notice art, sconces, maybe a smoke detector on a wall, but how about the thermostat? This often inconspicuous round, square, or rectangular device is your solution for room temperatures savings. By regulating exactly how cold or how warm your rooms will be, you lower monthly energy costs and also provide a healthier environment for your household. The thermostat is best placed where it can detect air current but not overly close to heating or cooling sources.
Programmable thermostats allow you to set what temperature rooms should be at certain times of the day or evening, which mostly benefits when the house is unoccupied; there is no need for the heat or air to kick on when no one will be home for a lengthy time. With non-programmable thermostats, you monitor the temperature yourself by turning a dial or sliding a lever when you need a desired climate. Having a digital or non-digital thermostat is purely preferential, for both models are capable of providing you with the heating and cooling functions. Enjoy the comfort and lower energy bills!
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Designing your deck
Most DIY stores have a deck planning software program that will let you see what your deck will look like. Take measurements in with you. Measure the side of the house, showing doors, windows, offsets, electric meter, gas meter, water hydrants, etc. Also measure the distance from the ground to the bottom of the door. The design software will show you not only a picture of your design, but will also provide a material list and price of materials. Don´t be afraid to experiment. Look at building the deck around two or even three sides of the house. Try different levels. For example, my deck is L-shaped, with three levels, the tallest level being about 36 inches off the ground.
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Hardware Supplies Should be a Staple of Everyone’s Home
Everyone has a spot in their home, a nook where they keep a set of hardware supplies. This is (to some degree) literally the nuts and bolts of keeping your home in order. A good starter kit of hardware supplies should include a hammer; flat head, Philip’s, and ratchet screwdrivers; various nails, screws, nuts, bolts, and washers; a flashlight; a headlight for hands-free work in the dark; adjustable and Allen wrenches; pliers; measuring tape; sandpaper; a level; a battery charger; handsaw; a drill; a variety of extension cords and adaptors; and masking and duct tapes.
You can usually find these tools in a size that fits your strength, as well as for traveling convenience. Cordless power tools and combination tools (such as a screwdriver that fits inside a hammer’s handle) are great if you have limited storage space. Outfitting your selection of hardware supplies is fun because it’s a vital part of your home being everything you want it to be.
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