Leaky Pipes Cause Water Damage
Water damage is the enemy of all homeowners. It rots wood, producing mold and weakened support. It leads to foul odors and potential electrical hazards. Combating it can be time consuming and expensive. But the alternative is worse.
Tackle any sign of a leak at the first opportunity.
A leak doesn’t have to be an active drip. It can be something as simple as a crack or hole in caulk around the plate that backs a shower control. Water will inevitably move into that hole, where it then gets trapped. Some will evaporate. But some will remain behind, leading to weakened drywall and mildew build up. Read more
Lawn Care 101
Taking care of a yard is a year round job for some. For those who get a brief break due to snow on the ground, there are still some things you might want to study up on before Spring.
The first thing to keep in mind is that Spring isn’t the only, and not always the best time to do prep work. If you need to re-seed bare patches, just before the first snowfall of the year is a good time to start. The seeds will get worked into the soil by the weight of the snow and lay dormant for Winter. Read more
Tile And Plumbing: What You Need To Know
Tile and plumbing are natural neighbors. Bathrooms, kitchens and other areas that use water are often laid with tile because homeowners expect to splash it around from time to time. But those two can be good neighbors or bitter enemies.
Properly laid and sealed tile will keep water from getting into unwanted areas for decades. But sometimes caulking isn’t perfect and it can dry out and crack. Taking the time to make a good seal the first time around can prevent expensive repairs later. Read more
How to repair a hole in the drywall
For small holes up to approximately ½” you can simply use spackling compound and a putty knife. Apply the spackle, wait until it dries then sand smooth. Spackling compound will shrink a bit so sometimes you will need to apply a second coat after the first coat dries, you will then need to sand it again before touching up the paint.
For medium holes 1/2” to 3” you will need to get a drywall patch (there are various other methods to repair a hole this size but a drywall patch kit is the simplest). Most of these kits come with a patch that is self adhesive. Simply cut the patch so that it is larger than the size of the hole by about 1” and stick it over the hole (some kits actually enable you to stick the patch through the hole then pull it tight behind the back of the hole enabling you to fill in just the hole). Then you will need drywall compound (which can be found in smaller containers than a gallon) or spackling compound. Using a wide blade putty knife (3” or wider), apply the compound over the patch and a couple of inches surrounding the hole, then after it dries, sand it smooth. You will need to repeat this step a couple of times until you can no longer see where the patch is, sanding after each coat dries. Finally, touch up the paint. Read more