Fix That Leaking Toilet!

I'm not going to go into a lot of details, but toilets are one thing you overlook until they aren't working right.  If they're leaking or running too much, you should try to fix it.  The Family Handyman offers some solutions to the usual problems.



I have seen too many instances of unrepaired leaking toilets that have rotted the floor they sat on.  It would be so much easier to address the issue before that kind of damage is done.

Link:
http://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/how-to-repair-a-leaking-toilet

Radon: Silent Odorless Killer

A silent, colorless, odorless radioactive gas that can cause cancer.

You might have got a radon test when you bought your current house, and that was the last time you thought about this dangerous gas and the cancer it can cause.  Think now.  Get a detector (they're cheap!) and educate yourself here.

Don't just brush by this and not act.




Link:
http://www.familyhandyman.com/smart-homeowner/home-safety-tips/what-is-radon/view-all#step1

March Home Maintenance Checklist

It's a good idea to keep your home up, and hopefully improve your home by doing routine, needed things each month.  This checklist from msn.com seems to be pretty comprehensive.

I'm not going to pretend I am going to completely follow it.  I know I should be doing more.  On the other hand, this gave me some ideas and I will be following up with them.

One thing I particularly liked is to keep your curb appeal, enhancing it with a new addition when you can.  Maybe it's a tree or new plants.

Link:
http://realestate.msn.com/march-home-maintenance-checklist

Will St. Josaphat Steeple Be Saved?

Curbed Detroit, which is an excellent blog about, uh, Detroit, has some great news for us.

Last November, a storm severely damaged St. Josaphat Church in Detroit, right near Mack and clearly visible to anybody driving down I-75 by there.  After the damage was done, the steeple roof was leaning to one side and resembled an elf hat more than anything else.  It was also unsafe and adjacent Canfield street had to be closed.  Early reports on the historic, but sparsely attended church said it was impractical to repair and that the steeple would have to be cut off, which was too bad because it is a beautiful landmark that I always enjoyed seeing.

Well, recent breaking news is good.  It looks like there is a way to save it and the funding to do so.  At least that is what some are saying.  According to the Detroit Historic District Commission (and you would think they know), the 113-year steeple is heading for rehab.  Plans are for structural repairs and a new slate roof.

We will keep you posted of further developments.  Or you could just drive around downtown and see for yourself.

If you would like to contribute to the Save Our Steeples fund for this project, you can do so here.

Links:
http://detroit.curbed.com/archives/2014/03/it-sounds-like-st-josaphats-crooked-steeple-will-be-saved.php

http://motherofdivinemercy.com/2013/12/03/save-our-steeples/

Inexpensive Upgrades for Your Home

Maybe you don't have ten million dollars for a mansion where every detail is handmade and perfect.  Maybe your house is a very normal house.  Most houses are like that, you know.  What makes that house your home are the little things you do to make it nicer for you.  Here are some ideas for that:











Link:

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/frugal/home-luxuries-for-less-1.aspx

Here is an electric DIY project you can do yourself.

Video: Grouting Tile Right

Grouting tile, you'd think it was easy.  It's not.  At least if you want to do it right.

Black, White, and Porch All Over

If you haven't figured out that I like traditional homes, you haven't been paying attention.

This stunning porch caught my eye.  The rest is just gravy.  Click here for the slideshow.



http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=C4&Dato=20130928&Kategori=BUSINESS&Lopenr=309280803&Ref=PH

Hard Day's Work

Hard day working on one of the rental properties today.  Thank goodness for my brother Peter.  One thing for sure, after what we did and what needs done, I value good tenants more than ever.

How to Wire a Thermostat

Once again, my posting today is prompted by something I needed.  In this case, I took the old thermostat off without writing down which wire went where.  Bad idea.  Here is an explanation of which wires should go to which, when you have central air.  Needless to say, this is simpler if there is only heating and no A/C.

If you're not comfortable with this project, get someone who is.  You can seriously damage your furnace if you do it wrong.

How to Use a Caulk Gun

Caulking is more important than people realize.  A poor caulking job either looks incredibly sloppy or results in holes that water get in, which defeats the purpose of caulking in the first place.

Take your time, do a good job.

Just like this guy.

Bob Vila and his Sandpaper

Bob Vila is still one of my favorite home improvement hosts, and not just because he used to appear on Home Improvement, the Tim Allen show.  He also has a way of explaining things simply without a lot of pretense or fakery.

So here he is with sandpaper.  This is a pretty good suggestion, actually.

http://www.bobvila.com/blogs/storing-sandpaper/

Fertilizing Your Lawn

Do you religiously fertilize your lawn?  I know I don't.  I may have done it a couple of years ago.  Well, that has got to change, for me and for you.

A scheduled program will give you a healthy lawn with fewer pesky weeds.  It will require less watering to thrive.  Like they say over on the Scott's website:  "If you put your lawn on the regular feeding schedule outlined below, it will look lush and green, and your neighbors will turn green with envy."

By the way, I also would urge you to get a spreader from a brand company and use it.  I have tried those so-called universal spreaders and can never figure out where the setting should be to drop the proper amount of fertilizer.  I'm going to get the Scott's one, use Scott's fertilizer, and conquer my fear of over-fertilizing the lawn.  In fact, I plan to do that today.

Plus, they have cell phone app.

http://www.scotts.com/smg/goART2/InfoHowTo/when-to-fertilize/art1400454///

How to Install a Curtain Rod

Uneven Concrete? Don't panic

At least that's what Glenn Haege tells us.  In this article, he tells of ways to even out poured concrete.

Common Repairs

This has never happened to me, yet.

Sometimes it is the small, annoying repairs that cause us the most grief.  We know there is probably a simple solution, but we don't know what that is.  Well, here are some ideas.

I am amazed at the number of solutions I can now find online.  I recently had this experience with a floor repair.  It did not take but a minute to find the repair.

http://www.diynetwork.com/windows-walls-and-doors/how-to-repair-common-problems-on-walls-doors-and-floors/pictures/index.html

Repairing Hardwood Floors

I actually looked this up for my own reasons.  I've had some tenants who, for some reason, pulled up some of the floor boards in the dining room.  Anybody want to comment and speculate why?

Foreclosures

We had tremendous success purchasing a foreclosure.  It was in pretty good shape when we acquired it.  We repainted it and took the old moldy carpet up.  We bought it for a cottage, and it worked out pretty well for us.

Then we bought another one for a rental.  It worked out great.  It's our favorite unit.

Foreclosures present a tremendous opportunity to get your home at a discount.  Sure, it will not have stainless steel appliances or granite counter tops (at least usually it won't), but you have got plenty of money for things left over

And if you want it for quick resale, here are some thoughts:

http://reiaofmacomb.com/5-sneaky-details-you-cant-miss-when-rehabbing-your-michigan-foreclosure/#more-'

Wall Anchors

Homeowners need to know how to effectively install these devices.