Interior hardwood floors can get damaged by sand and grit from shoes, animal claws, boxes that got slid across a floor instead of being carried, etc. You can sometimes get professional repair results with minimal effort. If a scratch is not deep and you have decent hand-eye coordination, you can use small, fine artist brushes […]
Concrete is simply artificial rock. If it's mixed, placed, finished and cured correctly it can last 100 or more years. If your concrete steps, walkways, patios, etc. are crumbling, you may be able to repair them with traditional products and methods or you can choose from some modern materials. Often concrete deterioration is just a […]
Old Man Winter finally got up and went home. This past year, he reminded me of that family relative that still is sitting on my couch at 10 pm on Thanksgiving, not knowing it was time to leave a while ago. With warm temperatures and favorable weather here, it's time to get started on some […]
Ada Wilhelm has a gorgeous rectangular tile floor in her house in Hernando, FL. She wrote to me with a very simple question: "How can we darken a grout that is too light?" Well Ada, I'm wondering why you want to lighten it after looking at the photo you sent below. The grout, to me, looks […]
I primarily build and repair houses, but I am a little bit of a shade tree mechanic. My wife's car is a wonderful Volvo XC90 that was made in Sweden in 2004. Do you want to know how to check the transmission fluid level on your XC90? Read on. The other day, I noticed a […]
Susan Coyle wants to dress up her home in Atascadero, CA, with some nice extruded fiberglass window boxes. Here's what she asked: "Is there a specific brand of extruded fiberglass window box that you recommend?" Susan, I don't know that there are any standout brands. I have about ten wonderful extruded fiberglass window boxes here at […]
I don't know how many older homes there are on Long Island, NY that have traditional plaster, but I'm willing to bet it's in the tens of thousands. You can still get real plaster installed in a new home, but it's more expensive than drywall that's now the belle of the ball. If you own […]
Many people still like the feel of a real book or magazine in their hands instead of a tablet that lets you read and view digital content. What's more, you may have a collection of books, trinkets or small gear you'd like to display in a simple bookcase. You might shy away from a project […]
This is probably The Outfield's most popular song. It's got a snappy beat and rhythm, but the message in the song is not really that great. It's all about selfishness - something we need MUCH LESS of in this world.
Here's a quirky song you may like. Perhaps the most famous song by The Outfield, one you'll recognize immediately, is Your Love. This was linked from the February 12, 2015 Newsletter.