Let’s say that you see your child’s ball rolling across the living room floor towards the wall – seemingly on its own. Most likely, it’s not the action of a poltergeist, but simply the result of a floor that sags towards the interior wall. It’s not unusual for some sagging of the floor to occur […]

Because electrical, cable, and phone services all come in on overhead wires, they can act as an antenna for lightning. So, it is important to have adequate grounding capacity to dissipate the surge into the earth. If you have had a new service panel installed in the past ten years, you should have two grounding […]

When was the last time you checked the vent hose on your clothes dryer? For most of us, it’s something we never think about. We might remember to clean off the lint filter between loads, but seldom check the condition of the hose that it opens into. Yet, problems in the condition of that hose […]

Cabinetry is generally considered finish carpentry work.  There is little room for error, especially since many cabinets are at eye level, where mistakes are particularly noticeable. Nevertheless, cabinet installation is well within the abilities of most careful people with some skill.  In addition to knowing some of the how-to, anyone trying to install cabinets must […]

There are many elements that contribute to home security.  Some – like alarm systems –  can be expensive.  Security doors can create a sense of living in an armed camp, instead of a neighborhood.  They may even foster a false sense of security – windows, especially those at the rear of a house, can be […]

Wooden doors can be a real puzzle.  Sometimes they open and close easily, and other times they can be really stubborn.  Before you can do something about them, you need to understand why the doors are binding.  There are several reasons this can happen. To start with, as your house ages, door frames that were […]

Many people celebrate the holiday season by adding electric lights and lighted decorations to their home and yard. Yet, if sufficient care is not taken, these items can be the source of a disastrous house fire; according to the US Fire Administration, one out of three Christmas tree fires is caused by electrical problems. To […]

With rising energy costs, it is more important than ever to conserve wherever possible. Generally, cut heating costs by looking for places where cold air can enter, and sealing up those gaps and holes. If you feel a draft, fix it! Here are some specific things to check each fall: Make sure you have adequate […]

If you still have unfinished repairs late in the fall, be aware of the temperature requirements for the materials you are using. As a rule, most products for exterior repairs need a minimum of 50° to cure properly. For example, concrete needs a month to cure, while the water evaporates from within it. Once we […]