Home Improvement Wallets

There are a variety of things that a homeowner has to do to maintain his property, a few of them more frequently than others. For example, draining the water heater just has to be done annually, changing furnace filters every few months, watering the lawn every few days in the summer and trimming the trees maybe every two or three years. These are simply a few things on a lengthy list of maintenance needs on every home. One thing that must be done in many areas of the country at least two or three times in the fall is cleaning the leaves out of the rain gutters. This is certainly not enjoyable work. Water will start to break down the leaves so that a sludge is created, which can be a problem. On top of that, there is the fact that the rain gutters are affixed to the roof. This type of work would be intensive when done at ground level, but it is worsened when a homeowner needs to drag a ladder along and climb up and down over and over to get to rain gutters. Fortunately, someone determined there had to be a better way to go and invented the idea of gutter protection.

The theory with using gutter protection is that it helps to keep things from getting into the gutter to begin with, thus you can avoid having to clean them out. All sorts of stuff aside from leaves can get into your gutters although leaves are by far the biggest threat. But toys, newspapers, litter, and lightweight trash like plastic bags are easily thrown or blown up onto your roof over the course of a year. And anything that stops the flow of water down your rain gutters is a much more serious problem for your home than you might be aware.

Obviously, the idea of rain gutters is that all the water flows down the gutters and then down the spouts where it is supposed to be directed away from your foundation. When rain gutters and spouts fill with leaves that turn to sludge, along with other debris, rain and melted snow will end up in places where you don’t want to, which causes damage As an example, if it is winter and the gutters are loaded with half-melted snow, it provides an excellent place for ice dams to form and this can do serious damage to your roof and gutters. This is merely one way that having blocked gutters can damage your home in a big way.

You will need to have professionals come to your residence to install the gutter protection, however, this is an investment in your home’s value that will benefit you. For one thing, you will not be required to balance on top of a rickety ladder and pull moldy wet leaves out of the gutters. You also don’t have to watch the fall of the gorgeous leaves as the weather turns colder and dread the ritual of having to pull them down from there.

Termites can wreak havoc on the framing of your home or business. If you have caught and dealt with the infestation of termites before they have actually eaten the home to pieces from around you, and if it is still standing, here are a few hints on how to repair and replace the damaged framing. If the home is totaled from the termite damage, it may be time to read up on building a new home.

If termites have eaten into the main sill plate of your home it will be important to replace this sill plate. Did you know that until fairly recently builders were not required to use treated wood for a sill plate. If you happen to own a home that does not have a treated sill plate and termites have destroyed it, you will need to replace this damaged piece.

Install a temporary beam in the basement of your home. This beam could be made out of doubled 2x10s or 8s. Jack the temporary beam with either screw jacks, hydraulic jacks or just plain doubled-up 2x4s. You dont need to lift up more than possibly 1/16 of an inch or just enough to relieve the bearing weight that is on the offending member. This weight may consist of the exterior walls, roof and interior floor joists. If you have any questions on the jacking process it would be wise to consult either a professional contractor or engineer. Keep in mind if your home is brick a different method must be used.

Once the weight is off it will be time to remove the old sill plate. Keep in mind that sill plates are often bolted to the foundation. If this is the case it may be necessary to chisel out small sections at a time. This part of the procedure can be very time consuming, so make sure you dont get impatient and dont mind getting dirty. It may be necessary to use a sawzall with a metal cutting blade to cut the nails, just be careful not to let the sawzall blade poke holes in the exterior siding.

Once the old termite damaged sill plate is removed measure where the existing foundation bolts are located. Transfer these measurements onto the new sill plate and cut slots wide enough to allow the installation of the new sill plate.

Install the new sill plate, slipping it into the location of the old one. After it is in place use oversized fender washers, or washers that the engineer has specified, and properly sized nuts. Tighten up the nuts to snug the new sill plate into place.

After the sill plate is installed it will be time to remove the jack system and the temporary beam. Once the weight of the home is back onto the new sill plate, it will be necessary to nail all of the joists into the new sill plate. This procedure can be tough, especially in tight spaces. If you dont have a nail gun or if the space is to small to fit a nail gun, specialty fasteners may be needed and these can be specified by an engineer.

Spiders live in residential homes; its just a fact of life. A few spiders crawling around your house is actually beneficial as they eat other pests, such as centipedes and beetles. Therefore, its generally better not to kill every spider you find crawling around your home. However, if you notice an increased amount of spiders crawling around your home, it could mean that you have an infestation.

The first step is not to panic. The second step is to pay close attention for a few days in a row as to where and when you notice the spiders. Some locations are more prone to spiders, and desert states like California and Arizona are known for more dangerous spiders that can make their way into a home. This article addresses what to do in the case when you suspect a common household spider infestation.

Understanding Spiders
Spiders favor entering homes because a typical home provides the exact environment they thrive in warm, dark spaces. Spiders hide in dark, dry locations. Some spiders also favor damp areas, such as under a sink or in a damp basement. Spiders also favor rotting materials; its a prime location for laying eggs. Make an effort to keep your home free from rotting material such as damp or wet wood.

Tips for Preventing Spider Infestation

Clutter
Spiders are attracted to clutter. Keeping you home as clutter-free as possible will decrease the amount of spiders in your home. For example, do your best to keep piles of clothes off the floor. Dangerous brown recluse spiders favor hiding in piles of clothes.

Dust
Keep your home as dust-free as possible, especially in corners and ceiling where spiders often create webs. To make dusting easier, use a duster with an extended arm to help you dust the hard-to-reach places. Also dust under furniture and beds. Use a wet rag, at least every other week to remove thicker layers of dust.

Cardboard Boxes
Spiders love to live in cardboard boxes. Replace your cardboard boxes with plastic storage bins.

Windows
Repair windows and screens as to prevent spiders from easily entering your home. Cracks and holes in windows, doors and around the house on the inside and on the exterior should be fixed and sealed.

Cats
Cats are known for eating spiders. At the very least, the cat will do a go job at chasing them away.

Natural Remedies
Place peppermint or spearmint leaves in window sills; spiders dont like the send and it will ward them off.
Spray a mixture of tea tree oil and water onto vents and window sills. Spiders dont like this scent either and will turn away.

Very often people are caught off guard when there is no gas left in the cylinder. This can be quite tough, particularly when you are short on cash. However, with LPG gas regulators you can be better prepared since it will tell you when you are about to run out of gas. This will enable you to know how much gas is left in the cylinder so that you are in a position to replace the cylinder when the need arises. LPG stands for liquefied gas and is essentially a blend of butane and propane, a highly combustible combination. This gas is normally stored in steel cylinders because it evaporates when exposed to room temperature.

Things to Consider

There are quite a few things that you should consider when using a gas cylinder regulator. This is because LPG comprises of butane and propane, both of which are highly inflammable and also quite hazardous. Hence it is very important that you know how to use these regulators so that unnecessary risks can be avoided. When dealing with gas bottle regulators, check the rubber tubing carefully for any signs of cracks or holes so that you can replace it as and when required. Always clean the regulator with a wet cloth and make sure that it is kept far from inflammable things.

Check the regulators for pressure from time to time. In case you smell gas be cautious and avoid lighting a matchstick to determine whether there is a leakage or not. Instead, make sure that all doors and windows are open to allow fresh air to come in. Likewise, avoid operating any electrical appliances or switches in case of a gas leak as it spark a fire quite easily. After taking the necessary precautions, call your gas company so that an experienced person can take care of the leak.

Replacement of Cylinder

When you are replacing your old cylinder and connecting to a new one, press the LPG gas regulator down till you hear a click sound. This indicates that your cylinder is ready for use. Likewise, when disconnecting gas bottle regulators, make sure that the cylinder is completely empty of gas and then switch off the regulator knob. When using LPG gas regulators, one cannot help emphasizing the importance of safety. Make sure that your cylinder is far away from electrical appliances. At the same time refrain from making any repairs yourself. Finally, make sure that you buy gas cylinder regulators from authorized dealers only so that you are sure of its quality and authenticity.