Recent content by bethany14

Argh. The stinkin county won't allow the FPSF! They have code amendments that address it, but for a heated space. So, I asked the engineer if I ran PEX (radiant heat) in the porch floor if that would cut it. I got a big fat no. As a matter of fact, in the 30 minute conversation I had with...

You'll waste money and pollute your local water by using herbicides against them. Are they really that ugly? I suggest giving it up, and learn to love the pretty flowers. Their deep tap roots will keep your yard from becoming a big flat impervious sheet. They have culinary and medicinal uses...

Adhesive remover and a scrub brush. Oh, and a 20 yr olds back ;) Some folks prep concrete floors with muriatic acid as a wash, but read your label and use caution.

You don't want to just stop the water 'long enough', you want to stop the water, PERIOD! Re-route storm water runoff away from your foundation, and put a dehumidifier in the basement. Then wait!

There are many benefits to metal roofing: energy savings $500 tax credit estimated 75% recoup at resale homeowners insurance discounts oh, and that nice pitter patter :) more info here: http://www.metalroofing.com/v2/content/news/energy-tax-incentive.cfm

You can actually fire up a fluorescent light with static electricity (careful!), so I don't think that's slowing it down. If you flip the switch and leave it on, does it eventually come on? If so, then I don't think you have a problem, as fluorescents are slow to start by nature.

If that tree is on the south side of your home, you may want to consider keeping it. The summer sun packs quite the punch, and that tree is a free and a most attractive defense against it... I say, trim it out, and hang a swing from it or place a bench under it. Put out a feeder or two, and...

Another con, A friend of mine is building for himself in a very small town in Eastern MD. When he got permitting for his tankless they were very apprehensive toward the 'new' technology--they went as far as insisting he needed a pan under the unit, as for a tank. After much debate, they...

When all I need is cheap paint in basic colors I go to the 'oops' dept of the local hardware store. We also have building 're-use' centers nearby, where they sell recouped paint. Maybe you have sources like this nearby? Or, you could whip up some for yourself...

Some highlights copied from: http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Whole-House-Systems/tankless-water-heaters

I just came across an alternative to concrete foundations called "Frost Protected Shallow Foundations" (FPSF) info here: http://www.toolbase.org/TechInventory/techDetails.aspx?ContentDetailID=713 Apparently, it costs less, is easier to install, and uses geothermal heat to maintain a...

Well, I spoke to permitting and found out it's just decks that need to be 'free standing', but not porches! Great news for me, but I still wonder what the heck the difference is between a deck and a porch:confused: As of now, the plan is to dig a trench around the perimeter and fill to just...

Could you attach a 5/8's strip on a 90 degree angle on the edge of the trim, so that it wraps around to meet the frame? I think as long as the strips are symmetrical it won't detract much from the beauty of the original trim, and it shouldn't be too noticeable with a near match or complementary...

Good news! It took me a while to address the issue b/c a)needed a couple cold days I could store fridge/freezer contents outside b)needed a couple days that I could leave the machine pulled out wide open and sprawled in our teeny kitchen. Anyway, finally did. When I cleared everything out of...

Hi Jeff, I was hoping to see you here :) It's LRFC22750TT Noise is louder inside, near the bottom. It's loud in the fridge inside, but much louder in the freezer drawer which is on the bottom. It sounds like it's coming from the top of the bottom third, if that makes sense. We don't use...