Helping you build projects without a big shop using Japanese hand tools and power tools
Like you, I’m always having to fix something or try and upgrade something really outdated around the house. If you’re interested in changing that old valve under your sink or scraping that popcorn ceiling you’re in the right place.
I’m still looking for a way to increase the energy efficiency in my attic roof-line. Sherwin Williams has a product called E-Barrier Reflective Coating that acts as a radiant barrier to the surface it’s painted on. Here are some specs from the site. In summer, e-Barrier reflects radiant energy from the sun In Read More …
One of the most effective things I’ve done in the name of trying to conserve energy and make my older home more efficient is seal the outlets on the outside walls with spray foam insulation. These are the reasons a latex foam was chosen over the polyurethane type. There were too many warnings on the Read More …
While we were looking around for gifts this year we came across a really neat antique wooden box. Using it as a recycle bin for inside the house immediately came to mind. The only problem was it would scratch the wood floors in the kitchen. Here’s what I did to make the old box wood Read More …
This is a portion of getting our house to be more energy efficient by decreasing the amount of cold / warm air that leave the inside of the home in summer and winter. Expandable foam is a great product for sealing larger gaps that can’t be filled with caulk. I kind of had an idea Read More …
I’m not really sure how the big hole in the drywall near our water heater got there, but it finally got on my nerves enough to get itself fixed. I didn’t have any drywall tools, so the fix cost me a little more than $25. At least I got some new tools out of it, Read More …
Upon opening the last power bill we got, I nearly had a heart attack. The bill had doubled with no apparent reason. After the initial shock wore off, I decided to do something about the amount of electricity and power in general we use in the home. This is the first of three research post. Read More …
I have an Alpine RW3000G evaporative cooler for the garage, and the pads were getting pretty bogged down with mineral deposits. They were changed out the pads a couple of months ago at the beginning of the summer, but it was definitely time for a new set. Close-up Of Mineral Deposits The tools and materials Read More …
Warning: There is a chance that popcorn ceilings can contain asbestos. If there is any doubt you should use a asbestos services professional to test for it. This is the final installment of what it took to remove and re-texture the ceiling in our library. The previous posts covered the preparation and removal of the Read More …
Warning: There is a chance that popcorn ceilings can contain asbestos. If there is any doubt you should use a asbestos services professional to test for it. This is the second of three posts on removing the popcorn ceiling in our library, formally known as the formal dinning room. Other posts for the process: Library Read More …
Warning: There is a chance that popcorn ceilings can contain asbestos. If there is any doubt you should use a asbestos services professional to test for it. This is the first of three posts on the removal of the popcorn ceiling in the library, what used to be a formal dinning room (who needs them). Read More …