In Hour 1, we speak about sealing out smoke odor from a neighbor, screening in a pool and extra.
Hour 1
Sealing Out Smoke Odor
Colleen Powell hasn’t been ready to make use of the chimney in her duplex for the reason that prime was eliminated. She will’t mild any fires within the hearth, however she now has a smoke drawback.
“The neighbors subsequent to me are people who smoke. Someway it comes by means of to my place and smells the strongest close to it. Do you may have any recommendations about what might be finished to repair this drawback?” Colleen asks.
More often than not, warmth from a hearth prevents downdraft. Nonetheless, for the reason that chimney is capped, the smoke has nowhere to go and is making its manner into your dwelling space.
If in case you have a damper, shut it instantly. Then, buy a hearth plug. It blows up like a balloon and slips proper up into your hearth to seal out downdrafts, noise and odors.
You may get the identical end result with a foam board. Merely lower it to form and use caulk to seal it contained in the chimney.
The compelled air out of your heating and cooling system will pull outdoors air into your property, so it is best to seal your property envelope as greatest as you’ll be able to. Caulk any cracks and gaps and set up socket seals behind your plugs and change plates.
Not solely will you retain the smoke scent out of your property, however you’ll additionally increase your property’s power effectivity.
Choices for Screening in a Pool
Christy Baggarley in Georgia needs to construct a screened-in enclosure round her pool, however can’t discover the place to purchase both a package or the person elements.
Christy asks, “Does such a factor exist? Additionally, in one in every of your movies, you confirmed a super-rugged display screen. The place can I purchase a few of that for our pool enclosure?”
The display screen system Christy is referring to is a retractable display screen from Wizard Screens. These screens can be found in quite a lot of sizes, and there’s even a motorized choice.
We aren’t acquainted with any kits that you could put collectively your self. Screening in a pool is a really concerned job, so we suggest calling knowledgeable to put in one.
One system we’re acquainted with is the Display screen Tight Display screen Enclosure System, however they at present solely ship their aluminum display screen enclosures to pick markets in Florida. Name an area contractor to see what’s accessible in your space.
If you wish to construct it your self, heavy mesh display screen is accessible in a whole bunch of colours and mesh densities. For the posts, use high quality handled wooden, sand it and stain it earlier than you connect the display screen. This may give the enclosure a pleasant clear look.
Hour 2
In Hour 2, hear our ideas for selecting pressure-treated wooden, fixing a crack in a concrete slab, and panorama lighting.
Suggestions for Selecting Stress-Handled Wooden
A caller needs to know: “What can I do to maintain pressure-treated lumber from twisting and bowing as soon as it has dried out?”
It’s almost inconceivable to maintain pressure-treated wooden from twisting and bowing, however right here’s what you are able to do to reduce the possibilities of that occuring:
- Purchase a superb high quality pressure-treated wooden — all are usually not the identical. The most effective you will get is kiln-dried after-treatment lumber. One of these pressure-treated lumber is dried in a kiln after it’s handled with chemical compounds, so any extra moisture and chemical compounds are eliminated. This helps decrease the wooden’s tendency to warp, cup and shrink.
- Earlier than meeting, apply a penetrating clear coat over the wooden to reduce motion afterward. You can even use a semi-transparent stain.
- Hand-pick by means of the pile. Discover the driest, straightest boards. Since they’re dry, they most likely have already warped into their everlasting place.
Fixing a Crack on a Concrete Slab
Jane Muich in Missouri has employed a contractor to put in vinyl plank flooring in her rental. To save cash, she eliminated the baseboards and carpeting herself.
Nonetheless, after pulling up the carpet, she discovered two 1/8-inch-wide cracks within the concrete slab. One crack is sort of 20 toes lengthy and is un-level in some sections. The opposite crack is about 5 toes lengthy.
She asks, “Should these cracks be mounted earlier than the ground is put in?”
Quick reply: Completely! And now’s the time to do it prior to installing the flooring.
You may repair this with a floor-leveling compound. Customized Constructing Merchandise has quite a lot of flooring leveling and flooring patching compounds you’ll be able to select from.
It’s like repairing a crack in drywall. Combine the floor-leveling compound and use a concrete trowel to fill within the crack. Let the compound dry in keeping with the directions and apply a second coat.
Learn: How Thick to Apply Flooring Leveling Compound to a Subfloor
If you happen to don’t do that, you will note the crack as soon as the luxurious vinyl tile is put in. Additionally, make sure that your contractor leaves a niche across the perimeter of the room so the flooring can develop and contract.
Round The Yard: Panorama Lighting
Panorama lighting can improve the fantastic thing about your property at night time if it’s strategically positioned.
Don’t simply haphazardly place lights all about. Stroll round your yard at night time and pay attention to options that might be enhanced with somewhat mild or darkish areas that might be made safer with somewhat illumination.
Earlier than you begin shopping for fixtures, contemplate what sort of mild you want. There are a number of lighting strategies and those you select will decide the tools you’ll want to purchase.
For instance, shadow lighting shines a single beam of sunshine on a function, say a trellis, and casts its shadow on a floor behind it, like a wall or fence.
Uplighting is a good way to light up bushes utilizing a flood mild hidden beneath them to dramatically spotlight their construction.
Moonlighting reverses this concept by inserting spotlights excessive up within the bushes, pointing downward, to forged the shadows of the limbs on the bottom very like moonlight would.
And naturally, downlighting with a number of small fixtures is a good way to softly mild up a pathway or staircase.
After you have an concept of what you wish to obtain, experiment somewhat with a powerful flashlight to make sure you just like the impact. Your money and time can be higher spent for those who do the planning upfront.
Round The Yard is sponsored by Pavestone.
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Easy Options
Wooden Trim Cleansing Tip — Combine one quart of water with about one cup of liquid material softener. Use a material or sponge to clean the ornamental molding and baseboards.
So, why does this work? Nicely, the antistatic property of the material softener helps to take away the grime and prevents static cling from attracting extra mud.
Watch: Learn how to Clear Baseboards in Two Straightforward Steps
Bungee Wire Device Storage — Right here’s a tip for utilizing bungee cords to retailer and set up hand instruments within the workshop.
First, twist off the hooks from the wire, then connect one finish of the wire to the wall with a cable staple. Stretch the wire tightly throughout the wall and safe the other finish with one other staple.
Now hammer in two or three extra staples throughout the wire, spacing them 4-6 inches aside.
Then, merely slip the hand device behind the taut wire.
Watch: Utilizing Bungee Cords for Organizing and Storing Instruments