An exterior stucco finish makes a home look handsome and classy, no matter what style it is. But like all finishes, it loses its good looks with normal wear and tear. You could have it redashed (adding a layer of stucco to the existing surface), but a cheaper, easier solution is to paint it. It’s definitely in the DIY realm and similar to painting a home with wood siding. Just follow the steps detailed below for painting stucco....
Are You Using Too Much Laundry Detergent? We live in an age where more is often better — more food, more drink, more clothes, more money and so on. Even with the simplest things in life, like washing your clothes, it’s natural to conclude that more is better. But you can make a lot of mistakes with your laundry, including overloading on detergent. Knowing how much laundry detergent to use can save your laundry, your washing machine and your wallet....
Lowe’s announced changes to its stores last week to benefit construction professional customers, adding services to make shopping trips for Pros faster and more convenient. “We want to make sure any time spent away from the jobsite is efficient and productive for the Pro customer, especially small- to mid-size companies,” said Fred Stokes, Lowe’s senior vice president of pro sales and services. “We’ve enhanced our shopping experience, bringing in new products and services that help add value to each trip Pros take and cut down on the number of stops they make throughout the day....
Backfiring is an auditory clue that some part in your vehicle isn’t functioning properly and could be nearing the end of its service life. Backfiring can sound like a throaty gurgle or a mild popping. However, if you hear what sounds like a loud firecracker exploding under your hood or coming from the tailpipe (and maybe see a flame!), that indicates there’s a problem. A car can backfire when fuel vapors ignite in the exhaust system or intake manifold instead of inside the combustion chamber....
What Is Liquid Glass? Liquid Glass is a brand of polish and finish for automotive paint. It’s not a car wax — it’s a proprietary formula that, when applied properly, gives long-lasting shine and protection to paint. On This Page Why Do People Love Liquid Glass? People — especially classic car enthusiasts — love using Liquid Glass in part because it’s so easy to apply and doesn’t need frequent re-application....
What Is a Door Sweep? No exterior door offers a complete seal against cold air, blowing snow, rain, dirt and pests. The only way this would be possible is if the door dragged on the floor, which would of course make it difficult to open and close. That’s where door sweeps can help. On This Page Also called draft stoppers, these devices are narrow barriers of rubber, plastic, brush-like bristles or other materials designed to keep cold air and other things from getting into your home underneath exterior doors....
What are Belt Sanders? Belt sanders are multiuse tools. They are commonly used for trimming to a scribed line (photo), sanding very rough surfaces, leveling surfaces (like a replacement board in a hardwood floor) and freehand rounding and shaping. Because they have a lot of power and can handle coarse grits, they excel at the rapid removal of wood. Also, unlike orbital and vibrating sanders, the sanding action is linear, so even with coarse grits you can sand with the grain and get a good-looking result....
via bosch Multinational power tools giant Bosch recently announced the release of a new thermal camera designed to give DIYers and pros an easy way to accurately measure, visualize and analyze thermal variance on almost any job. The lightweight GTC400C 12V Max Connected Thermal Camera is the first in the company’s “detection product” lineup and, according to Bosch, is setting the standard for detail and accuracy. “Perfect for professionals and the DIY handyman, the GTC400C is the best value thermal camera on the market,” says Bosch Product Manager Ricardo Pedroso....
Moving Away From Lawn Grass In the U.S., we love our lawns. “[It’s] part of being a good neighbor and being someone who cares for your property,” says Mary Meyer, Ph.D., professor emeritus and extension specialist for the University of Minnesota. On This Page A lush lawn makes a great play area for children and dogs. It’s invaluable for sports and games. And it’s a nice way to visually frame a house and garden....
Huntstock/Getty Images Last week, the National Association of Landscaping Professionals (NALP) announced a partnership with FMC Corporation to put more resources and tools in the hands of small-to-medium sized lawn care companies. Through the joint initiative, part of the “FMC True Champions” program, the FMC Corporation will sponsor NALP memberships for lawn care operators (LCOs) making $450,000 to $850,000 in annual revenue. These NALP memberships will provide growing companies with business resources and training programs, allowing them to “transition from working ‘in’ their business to working ‘on’ their business,” per an NALP statement....
Family Handyman Smart home technology has greatly expanded over the last several years. Numerous brands are constantly developing intuitive, interconnected systems to control every part of your house, even if you are far away. Ring recently sent us a Video Doorbell 2, Motion Sensor, Bridge, Spotlight and a couple Pathlights. It’s an impressive suite of products that makes your house more secure and definitely more futuristic. I have some experience with smart home products, but there’s something different about the Ring system that gives a larger sense of interconnectivity and protection....
What to tie down and how to do it Smaller items like lawn chairs, toys, grills, garden ornaments and plants should be brought inside. For items too large to bring inside, here are a few guidelines: The best anchors are eyebolts or another type of sturdy hardware deeply embedded in concrete footings or pads. In areas where high winds are common, the ideal approach is to build a “tiedown area.” These are areas made of concrete with hardware anchored in place for securing objects....
With winter just around the corner, you’re probably starting to think about retiring your coach for the year. Unfortunately, failing to properly “winterize” your RV or camper can result in broken pipes, frozen water heaters and other damage that could require (often expensive) repairs. To avoid that headache, follow this guide to prepare your RV for winter so you won’t encounter any unpleasant surprises next spring. Required Supplies Before you start, acquire the necessary supplies....
clu / Getty Images Home saunas are no doubt relaxing, and studies show they may well improve users’ health, too. One found that 30 minutes in a sauna lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while another showed that sauna use reduces systemic inflammation. Yet another discovered that sauna use substantially lowers the risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. To increase the health and enjoyment factors, check out these how-to-use-a-sauna tips from home sauna devotees....
Retail giant Ace Hardware has opened 110 stores since the start of 2021, and expects to open an additional 60 locations before the end of the year, according to a press release by the company. That growth is outpacing the company’s goals, according to Katie Heraty, an Ace spokesperson. “To support our new store growth, numerous markets have been identified in each state,” Heraty said. “The 60 or more Ace stores still projected to open this year are geographically spread throughout the country in urban, suburban and rural communities....
kolokoso/Shutterstock Spray foam is a great insulation option, but is especially demanding to apply because it’s sticky and dries quickly. The instructions that come with spray foam have to be followed exactly to achieve optimal results. And it’s incredibly important to study the instructions so you can avoid how not to use it. Use Spray Foam Without Solvent Handy Spray foam is tough to use neatly, even when you’ve got lots of experience with the stuff....
Some recurring car maintenance tasks are almost second nature to us, like changing your oil. Other items on you car to-do list, however, aren’t as obvious, even through they’re crucial to taking care of your vehicle. There’s ongoing maintenance for your tires as well. That includes regularly checking the tire pressure, as well as rotating your tires. That later task, rotating your tires, isn’t something most drivers think about very often....
No matter how much you love your dog, you don’t want him or her rooting around in your flower gardens. The digging can destroy your beautiful blooms, plus create a big mess. But you can prevent dogs from rooting around in your flower beds by employing one of the following methods. Five Tips for Keeping Pets Out of Flower Beds: Fence them in. Prevent dogs from entering your flower beds by installing decorative fencing....
Commanding almost 29 percent of the flooring market share in 2020 according to Statista, resilient vinyl flooring has risen in popularity to leave laminate far behind, with a 12.5 percent share. Things weren’t always this way. Laminate used to be the more popular flooring material, and millions of homeowners still choose it over vinyl. Laminate and vinyl plank flooring actually are cousins: They were introduced to the North American market at around the same time as low-cost alternatives to hardwood, tile and other traditional flooring materials....
Evgen_Prozhyrko/Getty Images A space heater can be an easy and effective way to warm your home, but space heaters come with some risks.The National Fire Protection Association reports that space heaters are responsible for 43 percent of home house fires and 85 percent of home heating fire deaths. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the risk of a fire goes down substantially if you know the following 10 space heater safety tips....
