my old house

What Is the Mushroom Factor?

2011-01-26T20:36:00.001-05:00

fixing up old houses

That is the question of the day, isn't it? Well, though I wrote a small blurb about it early in the days of this blog, I found that Squidoo had no search results for it. That is right: a whole huge online community had no resource for understanding this concept that we do-it-yourselfers understand all too well.

So. I wrote an article on it. On the Squidoo site they call them "lenses", where people can take a closer look at a topic they want to know something about. It is surprisingly easy to write for the site, everything is set up to work like a very simple blog. Like a one page blog for each topic.

Would you like to read it? What is the Mushroom Factor?

Gutter Guards

2010-09-16T20:16:00.012-04:00

About 5 years ago I had my son Nathan dig a trench for a drain line that would take the gutter discharge out to the ditch. I might mention that Nathan's work standard was "excellence", and he did an exceptional job on this! Anyway, this drain line was intended to not only handle sending the gutter drainage to the ditch, but also the planned future discharge of the washing machine "gray water".

One problem we have had is the clogging of the gutters each fall by the tree leaves and needles. We have several large maple trees along with a large spruce tree in close proximity to the house. This results in a lot of leaves and spruce needles building up in the gutters. Very annoying to the effect that if you don't get up on a ladder at least weekly, they will end up clogged. I researched some ways to eliminate the clogging and, consequently, I went to Lowes and purchased some 3' sections of plastic "screened" mesh gutter guards. I think this will actually work for me. BTW, I have a metal roof, which presents some "unique" problems that call for "customized" solutions. I think I have found it.

I have roughly 300' of gutters to deal with and have installed approx 64' of material so far. I will be installing more of this material over the next couple weeks and will report my progress (and results) as the leaves begin to fall and the fall rains begin.

((In a couple of the gutters I utilized a "hinged" type metal gutter guard (also purchased at Lowes), that seems like it will work well)). My metal roofing calls for various customized solutions!!!

Sump Pump Update

2010-09-16T20:11:00.002-04:00

The sump pump is working well. It is discharging the laundry wash as hoped for. What I am patiently waiting for is a couple days of driving rains to determine whether the sump pump/pit will deal with the basement floor seepage. Although we finally got about a 1/4" of rain in the last 24 hours, it is not enough, so I "patiently" wait!!!

Sump Pump installation (Part 4)

2010-09-01T20:53:00.005-04:00

Well, the concrete has cured. I bought a 12" diameter circular paver to place in the bottom of my sump barrel for the sump pump to sit on. Then I installed the 1-1/2" threaded-solvent weld PVC adaptor on the pump. Then I solvent welded about a 4' section of PVC to that. At that point (about 3' above floor level), I installed the check valve. Below the sump pit cover (at floor level), I drilled a 3/16" weep hole in the discharge pipe. The purpose of the weep hole is to prevent airlock. From the check valve I made my connections all the way to the outside downspout drain, which will take the sump water to the ditch about 200' away from the house.

After everything was installed and connected, I tested by dumping about 5 gallons of water in the pit. The pump discharged it in approximately 5 seconds. Pump is rated for about 42gpm. The pump sits in 4" water and kicks on when water reaches 8" deep, then turns back off when water level is down to 4" again.

I normally do not like rain, and we haven't had any for a couple weeks. (In my alternative universe it is 80' and sunny every day and rains 1/8" every night from 3-4am). However, since this isn't my reality I am actually hoping for some drenching rains just to see if installing this sump pump will alleviate the wet basement issues and prevent water from coming up thru the floor and around the perimeter.

Sump Pumps (Part 3)

2010-08-22T17:13:00.010-04:00

Well hey!!! Here I am posting 2 days in a row!!!

Today we (my son & I)finished excavating the remaining 4" or so of clay/subsoil from our sump pit. It had accumulated a small amount of water overnight, which added to the weight of this subsoil. Anyway, after removing this remaining bit of subsoil (down to the 28" depth), I placed the corrugated plastic sump barrel in it. BTW, I did drill alot of holes in the upper half of this barrel to allow for "under the floor" seepage into the barrel, which should help prevent seepage coming up thru the floor since it will now find its way to the sump pit.

Once the barrel was in place, I backfilled the outside area with 800 lbs of gravel, then topped this with 200 lb of concrete. My one regret was that I didn't listen to my gut feelings on the concrete mix (which my contractor friends had suggested). My feeling was to use sand mix concrete or vinylcrete...and now I wish I had. The problem with the regular concrete mix is that you can't feather out the edges to the existing floor for a nice smooth finish (because of the aggregate). With sand mix (or the expensive vinylcrete) you can feather it. Oh well, too late now. However, it is not really an issue in my 90 year old unfinished basement since aesthetics are not a highpoint feature of my basement.

I also ran my new designated electrical circuit for the sump pump. I already had an unused 20A breaker in my panel to utilize, so all I had to do was run the romex cable, install a box and a GFCI, make the connections, and test...and now I am good to go.

I will now let the concrete cure overnight. Then tomorrow I will install the pump and do the plumbing...and then report the results.

PHOTOS:

Sump Pit

post hole digger

barrel

spud bar in basement corner

Sump Pumps (Part 2)

2010-08-21T18:25:00.010-04:00

The sump pump installation has begun. Did my usual prep work, researching, asking lots of questions, etc. Went to both Lowes & Home Depot and then went home and reviewed their sump pump models online. I later happened to be at a plumbing supply business doing some work and made some inquiries there. They said they only carried Zoeller brand. So, when I got back home I googled this and found out that this is the brand that most of the pros sell and install. Being a firm believer in quality and that you get what you pay for, I went back to this plumber and purchased a Zoeller. What surprised me was that "ceteris paribus" ("all else being equal"), this didn't cost much more than the lesser quality brands at the big box stores.

So, now that I had done my research and purchased my sump pump, I proceeded to purchase the other things I needed for the installation. This included the check valve (from the plumber), schedule 40 PVC pipe & fittings (from Lowes), pea gravel & concrete mix (also from Lowes), and a few electrical supplies that I needed to run the dedicated circuit for the pump. Then I went to Home Depot to rent an electrical jack hammer. Having never used one of these, I opted for the 24 hour rental since I didn't know how long it would take to do the job.

After getting further advice from Home Depot and a couple of contractors I know regarding using jack hammers, I proceeded. First, I marked the 32"x32" square area on the basement floor. Then I used a cold chisel and small sledge hammer to score this perimeter. The contractors (and the guy at HD) told me that this would minimize cracking of the concrete outside the perimeter. The scoring process probably took about 20 minutes, and I am glad I did it because it really did eliminate unwanted cracking. After the scoring, I proceeded to use the jackhammer. I was very surprised how well it worked. Although it is heavy, you just have to steady and guide it while it does the work. All in all, the jackhammering process took about 20 minutes. (Probably the hardest part of the whole jackhammering process was carrying it down to the basement and then back up to return it).

Now comes the truly hard/laborious part. Excavating the broken concrete and the subsoil down to a depth of 28" (the depth of my sump pit). What I did here was to utilize my "indentured servant" (IOW, my son). Obviously he gets free room and board, etc., and so with a little further enticement of some "$$", he has been excavating away. At the rate it is going, I am estimating 4 hours for this part (pretty much in line with what others said it took them for this part).

So...that is where we are at them moment. Next (probably tomorrow) we will lay a gravel base, install the plastic pit container, place gravel all around it, re-concrete the floor around the pit, run the electric circuit, and intall/plumb the sump pump tying it into an underground drain line.

More later...

Sump Pumps

2010-08-08T15:44:00.003-04:00

Background info: We live in a 100+ year old house. The old basement clay tile drain has been an issue for the entire 25 years we have lived here. It has a break in the line "somewhere out there". This means somewhere 6 feet below the surface between the house and the ditch which is about 200' away. And...it could have multiple breaks. Anyway, it has created problems over the years with periodic backing up into the basement. My solution has been to use a bladder attachment on a garden hose to periodically "somewhat" clear the drain. This has been a messy, smelly procedure that I have done on an irregular basis (roughly annually) for 25 years. Well, the other day it was not draining at all, and there was standing water in the basement (about 1 inch on half the floor). So...I did my usual bladder method of clearing the drain, which worked so well for 25 years. However this time the bladder attachment broke off in the drain somewhere, along with the hose coupling. So now, I have to really deal with the problem.

Alternative #1: Dig up the yard 6 feet down and hope to find the broken tile. Decided against this option because it would involve dealing with underground electric lines, destroying wife's landscaping (I don't want to die yet!), and who knows what else. Plus, there may be multiple breaks out there along with tree roots to deal with, etc.

Alternative #2: Leave the floor drain as it is, where it will somewhat work and install a sump pump/sump pit to deal with the real problem.

I have decided on the sump pump/sump pit option. This is something I have thought of doing for years but have put off. Now, because of the bladder stuck in the existing drain, I am "forced" to do what I should have done anyway.

I have always been one to postpone taking preventive measures until forced to do so. Instead my m/o has been to wait til a problem/crisis arises and then take temporary stop-gap measures to alleviate it...until next time. I would probably have saved myself alot of grief in alot of areas if I would just "bite the bullet" and "git-r-done" as soon as a problem is recognized.

One immediate benefit of this has been to force me to clean out the basement in preparation for digging/installing the sump. It also has "forced" me to clean out and repair the gutters and make sure the downspouts are functioning properly.

More to follow: (check back in a day or two!).

Zero Turn Mower update

2010-08-08T15:38:00.003-04:00

Sorry i haven't posted lately. Anyway, the Toro Zero Turn mower has been ok so far. It does cut down on the amount of time spent mowing. Unfortunately, it doesn't cut down on "my time" spent mowing. This is because I am afraid to let anyone else use it out of fear of something bad happening to this costly investment. Hence, I have to do all the mowing. However, like I said, it probably has cut the mowing time in half. Plus it does a nice job appearance wise. My biggest concern is durability: will it last 5 years?

Zero Turn Mower - Part 2

2010-06-06T14:22:00.002-04:00

Well, continuing from the earlier post... As I mentioned, I don't like being in a crisis situation. However, I have to ask myself if this is true, since I usually allow myself to get in these situations by not planning ahead for them. Or...living in an alternative universe, where nothing breaks down. My wife would surely concur that I am a classic case of arrested development.

I also struggle with making decisions because I tend to be a perfectionist and never want to make the wrong decision. Too, I often find myself second guessing the decisions I do make, always wondering if Plan B or Choice B would have been better. Well, since we can't have perfect knowledge of future results we have to do the best we can with the resources at hand such as utilizing our experiences, advice from others, research, etc. And then proceed to make as intelligent a decision as possible.

As previously mentioned, I want to cut down on the time/labor involved in mowing our 3+acres. The zero turn mower is recommended for that. Next, I had to decide on a commercial model ($7-12K), or a residential model ($2500-4K). I opted for the residential $3k model. As usual, fear and 2nd guessing stepped in. I lost sleep, I worried, I was inefficient in other things (like my work), because I was preoccupied (obsessed) with this decision. I originally ordered one from Lowes and then cancelled before it was scheduled to be delivered. This was because further research online troubled me about that decision. Then I ordered a Toro model from Home Depot. Before it was delivered, I also lost sleep worrying about my decision. Further research also created doubts in my mind.

Anyway, I did not cancel this time. After thinking it through, I realize that no matter what you do or how much you research, there are always going to be critics of whatever choice you make. So, it basically comes down to: what do I need and how much do I want to pay, then make the best decision based on those parameters. And then accept that you are making the choice (freely) and accept the results of your decision.

Next: My decision (and a problem and how I dealt with it)

Mowers

2010-05-31T22:22:00.006-04:00

Well, it's been awhile since I have posted anything. In the meantime the grass has been growing, and my trustworthy John Deere 750 tractor mowing deck finally bit the dust. We have almost 4 acres to deal with, and subtracting the house, barn, outbuildings, etc., we have probably close to 3 acres to mow.

When we moved here in 1985 from a small city lot (in a big city), we had no experience dealing with this amount of mowing. For the 1st couple years we went thru 3 or 4 push mowers and one "hand-me-down" Sears lawn tractor my dad had given me. The "yard" had a number of obstacles which destroyed 2-3 mowers (bent shaft). Being inexperienced (and idealistic), we expended perhaps up to 15-20 hours/week mowing with equipment designed for a city lot (it seemed like between my wife, older kids and myself that we were mowing constantly). At one point, when the lawn tractor and the mower gave out, I was doing the entire area with a weed eater (I should've been committed for a pyschiatric evaluation at the least!).

Anyway, in 1987, I came to my senses (my wife would dispute the fact that I have ever come to my senses!) and invested in a John Deere 750 tractor with a 3 point hitch rear mounted 60" mower deck which ran off the PTO). This handled the bulk of the mowing. However, due to my beloved wife's creation of an obstacle course with her ever-increasing gardens, we also had to hand mow close to an acre. And on top of that is the @#*&# weed-whacking!!!!! The big tractor with rear mount mower is excellent for mowing large, unobstructed areas. However.........we do not have large, unobstructed areas except for the rear 1 acre field.

So...over the years, it seems we have been spending 10-20 hours/week fighting a losing battle to keep the grass cut and the weeds under control. So...in my fantasies, I have imagined myself somehow figuring out how to cut down on the amount of back-breaking, grueling labor expended to maintain our acreage. In my fantasy world (for the last 2-3 years) was a zero-turn mower.

Well, last week the JD mower deck finally rusted thru after 23 years of faithful service. What to do, what to do???!!! Truthfully, I do not like operating under pressure, and had not figured on this happening. Anyway I called John Deere and found out it would cost about $2500 for a replacement mower deck. No way did I want to spend this amount of money, especially considering the obstacle course that we have. So I decided to pursue my fantasy of a zero-turn mower......

Stay tuned.....

This weeks accomplishments

2010-04-14T19:12:00.005-04:00

Sometimes it is easy to feel like you are not making much progress if you don't occasionally look back at what you have accomplished. In other words, it is a good idea to periodically take your eyes off all the work that needs done (the "to do list") and look at what you have done, in order to motivate you to get the new "goals" accomplished.

Anyway, I accomplished the following during the last week:

1. Tilled the garden (using the old (heavy) rear tine tiller.
2. Bought and assembled a new "Mantis" tiller. Looking forward to using this for lighter duty maintenance work (cultivating, etc).
3. Replaced the bathroom vent/fan unit. It seems I have to do this every 3-4 years. We have a ceiling mounted combo light/nightlight/vent/heater unit, and it is usually the vent that fails.
4. Re-graveled the driveway (approx 22 tons #8 gravel). Looks really nice.
5. Got new water delivered for our hot tub (also installed new filter). We do this three times/year. (I will need to get in the hot tub for relief for all the back breaking labor of the other projects).
6. Re-installed chimney cap (this problem was described in earlier post).

So, when I am feeling overwhelmed with things to do and feeling like I haven't done much lately, I can look at the above. Of course, my wife wont' let me rest on my laurels for long........(especially since she probably no longer finds me handsome, thus I need to at least be "handy"!)

Red Green Wisdom

2010-04-09T13:54:00.029-04:00

If you are an avid do it yourselfer you might remember the Red Green Show. It had a lot of laughs mixed in with some stuff I didn't get and probably lots of stuff that nobody gets, but Red Green is an iconic Handyman. Down to the beard and sly humor.

I thought a few quotes from the old show might inject a little humor into our pastime of working on old houses. a little craic for the grok ~me.
Ok, probably NOBODY gets that!

The most important quote ever from Red Green:

Remember, men, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

All it takes is a little imagination, some mechanical ability, and neighbors who mind their own business.

The handyman's secret weapon - duct tape.

Be generous with the duct tape, you know; spare the duct tape, spoil the job.

Red Green: [preparing to go forward with a handyman project] Sound ingenious? Sound incredible? Sound impossible? Who cares? I'm not listening.

When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

As you get older, you realize you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you can get yet another financial setback.

One man's junk is another man's antique and if someone thinks rust and dust turns trash into cash, who am I to argue? These people are a lot smarter than we are.

You know, contrary to popular folklore, bats will not suck the blood out of your body. That's your boss' job.

Raising the Bar in the Garden, Raised Beds

2010-04-08T11:45:00.002-04:00

crafty hands make handy crafts!

Handyman has been repurposing. repurposing is close to my heart because it fulfills all those frugal plans that I coddle in my dream plans of being the most virtuous wife, ever. I know that isn't on the list of people around me, but it does sometimes translate into saving money. For things that they would rather have, if given a choice between ...oh I don't know, raised beds for my garden veggies or new spring clothes (for some) or new tool gadget from Home Depot or Sears (for others). See? Repurposing is good.

Handyman made me a raised veggie bed from old barn boards that were just scrap from the pig barn that the former owner had torn down (halfway). We kept the boards in the regular barn which is on its own road to ruin, now. It is time to make use of these things or forever throw them out.

First, though, I had requisitioned the initial boards that were cut for the garden frames for a nifty idea I found while blogging. A organizational shelf area of boards and concrete blocks to store extra pots and buckets. Cheap, easy, and it helps with the outdoor clutter that was accumulating around my new greenhouse.

I can hardly believe what a difference the survival blogs have made for me. Handyman is addicted to them, and their convincing arguments for the value of growing your own food have translated into the garden projects that 15-20 years ago I so coveted.

This is the power of being on the same page.

Important marriage advice for everyone in every area. Get on the same page and life won't feel like such hard work.

Winter Returns and Fireside Fiasco

2010-03-26T12:47:00.002-04:00

Winter returned last night with a couple inches of snow and usually we take cold in stride with our Vermont Castings stove to keep us warm. But just before the cold arrived some strong winds blew in. Handyman had just recently given the stovepipe its spring time cleaning and secured some hardware cloth to the chimney opening to deter the annual nestmaking activities of the starlings around here. Can you guess where the story is going yet?

As a family we were gathered in the living room and having a discussion while the gust of wind that blew outside resulted in a sudden infilling of smoke. The room was filling with smoke! My husband ( aka Handyman here) jumped up... went to see if the roof would allow for climbing up to see what was the matter. Roof too slick from rain... running back into room and then proceeding to pull all the burning logs from stove. The rest of us stood helplessly and cluelessly around. But the smoke was getting to choking level, so we opened doors and windows. Although I had to briefly close the front door as the winds were blowing ash around.

Logs ended up out on the front yard, stove and fire were shut down, bits of ash were swept up, and place aired out. All ended well... except that we are bit chilly for the duration of the cold snap. We surmise that the gust of wind blew the hardware cloth into the chimney and clogged it. Waiting for inclement weather to pass to clear the pipe.

I love a wood stove, but you see it can have its negative side.

Projects in the planning stage...

2010-03-17T20:07:00.005-04:00

With the Spring-like weather occurring here in Ohio in mid March, my thoughts are turning to projects I would like to begin tackling & accomplishing soon. Crossing the threshold between thinking about them and actually accomplishing them is where I often struggle.

Anyway, today I climbed up on the roof to clean out the chimney of the creosote build-up. Filled 2-5 gallon buckets worth of creosote. Also put some hardware cloth under the cap to keep out those detestable chimney swifts/grackles/starlings that want to build a nest in it every year.

Regarding other plans: We have two 16'x32' shed roof chicken coops that I want to fix-up. Both have concrete floors. Both need new roofs. I want to convert one into a combination chicken coop/wood shed (for storing firewood). The other one, I want to convert into a workshop & storage area for equipment (mowers, tiller, garden equip, etc). The 1st one just needs new roof, weatherproofing, etc. The 2nd one I am wanting to re-roof, re-side, put some windows/doors in, insulate, plumb, electrify, etc. Since I am someone who needs to get "on-a-roll", I will start the 1st shed first, and that will be the impetus to roll on into the 2nd one. My problem has always been "GETTING STARTED".

Further plans:
1. Building an arbor over the greenhouse to provide some shading
2. Finally getting that 2nd floor room in the main house and the
attic space above it remodeled.
3. Building some raised bed frames for the gardens
4. Finally get around to doing the remaining "trimwork" on 2nd
floor of garage.
5. Get a new dog. So, at least when I fail my dog will still love me even
when my wife doesn't (and sends me to the doghouse).

One of the things I am trying to change as a "mindset" is to look at these things as something beneficial and something I "WANT to do", versus looking at them as something "I HAVE to do". I want to enjoy the fruits of my labor and for it to be worthwhile.

Spring and Renovations

2010-03-17T16:08:00.002-04:00

Reborn, remodeled, renewed, it seems like those are the motifs of spring at the Old House, here. I finally got to check off the return of the trellis to the porch from the to-do list. They are secured to the porch and ready for me to train the vines on them again. I still hate the old porch, but this will make it a little less onerous.

Appliance Review

It is several years down the road and I still love my Bosch dishwasher, and the Bosch washer and dryer. They work great and look great! One of the best appliance choices we made in a long time was choosing the Bosch brand for these appliances.

Maytag was fine for the big washer and dryer, but the smaller ones we had purchased for my mother's use are even better. They are relatively quiet (which was important for something in the living spaces), save energy and water, and are perfect for small spaces.

I wish I could be as enthusiastic about the Samsung refrigerator. I still love the design of the French door above and the freezer below. The trouble lately has been that the upper part froze things like lettuce and fresh vegetable more often than not. I kept turning down the thermostat but it had periodic problems. So it has a grade C, for average, in my book.

I have been using a Dyson sweeper and it is the first time I haven't had to replace a vacuum because it wasn't cleaning- ALL my other sweepers had to be replaced by this time.

Next Project

We are talking about putting up another shed. Handy man wants to convert one old chicken coop into a work building, and I would like to have a coop for chickens, so we are thinking about putting up a new shed for that. Still in the talking stages, though.

We still have one upstairs room to renovate. It is taking so long to get to it because decluttering acitivities are connected to the timeline. I've been really slow in that dept.

But not altogether remiss! Another trip to the Ikea store to get the supplies for that endeavor, and the new mini-kitchen that was always planned for the little apartment area. We saw the ideal corner sink base for only $300.00 dollars or so.

Really looking forward to going to Ikea!

So that is a little heads up on things we are planning for this year. I think it is time to start writing on the history of some of older remodeling efforts again, too.

No, I'm not dead...

2010-01-27T19:37:00.003-05:00

Well, I've awakened (a little) from hibernation and have actually accomplished a few things in the last week:

1. Ordered & installed new greenhouse panels (replaces wind damaged units). Tried a new suggestion to secure them so they don't blow out in future.
2. Assembled the new bookcase we purchased at Ikea. I am impressed with it. Solid wood and at a good price. Easy to assemble.
3. Assembled new computer desk chair for wife. Seems well made. She finds it much more comfy/supportive to sit in while spending long, long hours on computer.
4. Yet to assemble: New drawing table for artist/daughter, along with lamp for it.

Well, at least it's a start. Starting to feel a little more motivated to get started on the many other projects I need to do...

Have We Done Very Much?

2010-01-18T15:39:00.002-05:00

Sometimes this question is the adult rendition of "Are we there, yet?"

Last time I wrote anything I (rather hopefully) said that the trimwork in the office was being done. That project remains unfinished, but I remain hopeful that it is bumped up into the early springtime. In the sidebar are several other projects that remain from 2009.

We had gale force winds in latter 2009 which blew out several panels from my new greenhouse. That meant a delay in being able to use it, but the panels have been ordered and I hope they are in place for the February 2010 garden preparations. You can see that 2009 demanded patience and delayed gratification.

It also began the organizing de-cluttering efforts that are the main source of renovation for 2010. We moved some things around to prepare for better use of the house. I reorganized and cleaned the kitchen this January so far. Sometimes this sort of maintenance is worth more than remodeling.

I still would like a new front porch and one room remains in need of remodeling, but I would really like to stop working on the house. My aim is to wind up the remodeling work.

Future posts will cover those projects and recount what we have already accomplished. Tales of the good, the bad, and the ugly; the forsaken, and the delightful, will be thrown in there somewhere, too.

The only thing on my purchase list right now is a bookcase. Or perhaps see if Handyman wants to build something in.

...see how those projects sneak up on you?

Fall:Back to Work Time

2009-08-09T13:23:00.003-04:00

I noticed Handyman picking up on the trimwork job this week [the new office remodeling was finished except for the trimwork]. We really have not worked on many projects this summer, and to tell you the truth I am relieved. There is a time to work and a time to refrain from working.

If you have an old house it seems that you can feel pushed to be busy on something all the time. We have put our energies elsewhere for most of the summer, and now that the end of summer is on the horizon we can pick back up the loose end, or get back in the traces- however you want to look at it.

One thing for sure: the work waits for you, and it is always there.

Household Tip #1

2009-08-09T13:20:00.002-04:00

What a cute idea! And useful way reuse old pots. Clay pots are easy to spray paint, so you really don't have to use one that is glazed. Just paint it any color you want- even detail it with a tole design or speckles ...whatever

clipped from www.marthastewart.com

Bring a favorite flowerpot indoors, turn it upside down, and you have a charming way to keep your kitchen string neat and accessible. Choose a clean pot with a bright glaze, and place it over the ball of twine, threading the end through the drainage hole. Pull out the string and snip lengths for tying herb bouquets or trussing a chicken. Try this idea with wayward balls of twine and cord in your crafts closet, too.

A Word On Brands

2009-04-30T10:06:00.000-04:00

Like most D-I-Y's, Handyman and I are frugal and like to save money. Sometimes we have been penny wise and pound foolish. Anyone else been there? Over the years I believe we have learned through trial and error that brand name really counts in appliance purchases. We weren't just bragging when saying we bought a Bosch dishwasher. We learned the hard way to keep up with changes in brand names and what makes a good deal. I am very happy with Bosch brand in both the dishwasher and the washer/dryer set we purchased some years back. These appliances work well, they are quiet (an important asset over time, though not immediately considered usually), and in this day and age: energy efficient.

Handy man notes the fact that this energy consciousness means the dishes do not dry as fully as the replaced 'Kitchen Aid', but for me that is a non-issue.

So when we mention a brand name here it is not to sell you a bill of goods, it is to serve as a fellow consumer giving a consumer report. That is what I most appreciate when we have to go looking for big ticket items... some context on what makes that a good buy for us. When we looked for a new refrigerator the choices were confusing. New Brands, New Features, everything was unfamiliar. We spent so much time running from store to store (our usual modus operandi). I always researched consumer report reviews, etc, and used to keep up with remodeling advertising in the magazines, but that wasn't always the information I needed. I don't need to know what new stylings are in the latest showcase houses... I need to know what is best for the long term in this middle class life I lead.

Peripherals: The Greenhouse

2009-04-29T09:40:00.001-04:00

Not having weighed in here for a little while, it was time!

A household is so much more than the shell of the house itself, there are furnishings, interiors and exteriors, and there are the out buildings, which I am calling the "peripherals", here. Nowadays, even the garage is connected to the main house, so we don't think too much about peripherals, but in olden times these outbuildings were important. Think about it: the barns, the chicken coops, the summer kitchens... wow, the outhouse! Most of these were connected to an agricultural mode of living, but sometimes we have our own need for "little buildings".

I've always been the garden nut around here, but in light of the present economy our focus has turned towards a greater sufficiency for good food. Thus, the addition of a small green house!

Just like having a computer and realizing, hey, a pair of headphones would be nice, a printer is really useful... the outbuildings serve the same purpose of expanding the household's capabilities. We didn't have to have a greenhouse, but in a cold climate it sure will be nice for starting plants that need a jump on the season. I always thought green houses and conservatories were pretty, anyway.

We also learned that important lesson on silicone caulk, too. Handyman can tell you more about that in the future, because he just finished the onerous job of cleaning out the faulty caulk from one of the windows that blew out during a recent storm- the 'non-setting' of the expired caulk just wasn't going to hold against the kind of winds we experience around here. So one down and numerous ones to go....
Remember to check the expiration date on that silicone caulk before you buy!!!

Right now I am very happy with the little green house and have started to use it, despite the fact that I have to figure out a way to shade it through the summer months. It gets full sun and heats up quickly. A framework of removable screening (lathe fencing) is going up around it soon.

Tool sheds, gazebos, all sorts of out buildings get added as time goes by.

GE Silicone II Caulk - Warning

2009-04-07T13:19:00.000-04:00

I will go into the details of assembling/erecting my new greenhouse later, but wanted to get this out ASAP:

I read where it was advisable to use silicone caulk as an additional adhesive/sealant to better secure the clear plastic window/panels to the framework of the greenhouse. This is indeed advisable.

HOWEVER: Make sure you check the expiration date of the silicone caulk. I learned this the hard way. I just bought this caulk off the shelf at the local hardware store on Saturday (4/5/09), took it home and used it the same day. Now, 2 days later it still is not curing and is just as free flowing as when first applied. Now, I have done alot of caulking over the years, including using 100% silicone caulk, and never had a problem like this. Subsequently, I googled it and found other people had this problem and it was because it was beyond the expiration date. To further research this, I went to the GE mfgrs website, and sure enough, if it has expired IT WILL NEVER CURE!!! It remains like a gooey lubricant. I checked the tubes I bought and they had an 10/08 expiration date.

The only recourse is that you get a refund for the product. Unfortunately, that doesn't nearly begin to compensate for the major effort it will/would take to remove the silicone that you have already applied. You have to totally remove all the expired silicone, using isopropyl alcohol as necessary. In my case I am not going to bother with it, and will just leave it. I had applied 4 tubes of this stuff in 3/16" wide channels. Can you imagine trying to remove some 300 lineal feet of this? Plus I would have to remove all the panels and risk damaging them in the process. Plus not only would I have to remove the silicone from the channels, I would also have to remove it from the panels. This stuff is so gooey/sticky, that the task would be virtually impossible.

SO: If you are going to use 100% Silicone Caulk...be sure to check the expiration date...and buy it as far from the expiration date as possible!

Also, I had bought the GE Silicone II Caulk. A number of the reviews mentioned that DAP brand is a much better product.

I love my new greenhouse, but I still am very upset over this silicone caulk issue.

FURTHER LESSON LEARNED: Always check expiration dates. Never assume the store is rotating stock or pulling expired stuff off the shelves!

Bosch Dishwasher - Further comments

2009-04-06T23:19:00.000-04:00

Well, as I mentioned in my earlier post...I have a few comments about our new Bosch dishwasher.

Things I like:

1. It is more energy efficient than my previous Kitchen Aid.
2. It is extremely quiet.
3. It gets the dishes sparkling clean.
4. You don't have to worry about plastic melting if placed on bottom rack.
5. The upper rack is adjustable to two levels to accommodate taller items.
6. Both the upper & lower racks have adjustable prongs which is nice for handling odd size items.
7. Full stainless steel interior tub (including door). Door exterior is black.

Things I am still getting used to:

1. It seems to take longer to run a complete cycle (135 minutes). It has a
countdown timer. This doesn't really matter, since we generally only run one
(sometimes two) loads/day.
2. It does not get the dishes as dry as my Kitchen Aid did. You can increase the drying time (which I did), but they still are not fully dry. It is probably the reason that plastic doesn't melt on bottom rack...it has a lower drying temp. Since we do not (generally) immediately remove the clean dishes, they do tend to fully dry from air/evaporation.
3. It does not seem to hold as many dishes as the Kitchen Aid.
4. It does not have a built in disposer. It does have a filter/trap which they
recommend emptying once a month (or as needed).

In conclusion (to date):

I am happy with this dishwasher. It is quiet and does a very good job of getting the dishes sparkling clean. As I mentioned before, I will never buy a Kitchen Aid dishwasher again because of what I consider a manufacturing defect and the subsequent "brush-off" that their customer service gave me.

Our New Bosch Dishwasher

2009-03-29T16:20:00.000-04:00

First, the background:

I purchased and installed a Kitchen Aid dishwasher in my remodeled kitchen in 2001. This was (supposedly) a quality dishwasher with a stainless steel interior tub. My problems began about 4 years later when the catch for the dish detergent compartment door had deteriorated to the point where it no longer existed. This looks like a little $.25 item that could not stand up to the rigors of a dishwasher. Consequently, you could no longer put the detergent in the dishwasher detergent dispenser compartment. I called Kitchen Aid to complain, and they essentially said "screw you, customer". I was left with choice of calling service tech for about $250, putting up with it, or buying new dishwasher. My response to this poor customer service for what I consider a manufacturers defect (in designing a catch that couldn't handle the job), was that I would never buy a Kitchen Aid dishwasher again.

My temporary solution was to start using the 3 in 1 Electrasol Powerball capsules, and drop them directly in dishwasher. This was ok, except for it causing etching of glassware and less than desirable dish cleaning. Anyway, I put up with this annoyance/inconvenience for another 4 years.

Then...after some research...I determined that Bosch has a good reputation, so I decided to get a Bosch dishwasher. I went to Lowes and purchased a Bosch Model SHE45M dishwasher with stainless steel interior. I asked the sales guy for 10% off and got it. Also, asked them to match Home Depot 6 months same as cash and got it. I think I could have even gotten 12 months same as cash if I had asked.

Anyway, bought it, took it home, and installed it (same day). Had to make a couple modifications. In order to run the supply/drain hoses thru the cabinet I had to drill a couple new holes (lower & further to the rear). Other than that, installation was easy.

My opinion so far: Happy, but too early to tell. I was used to the racks on the Kitchen Aid. Bosch is different...and I will have to get used to the difference. Kitchen Aid "customer service" was the deciding factor in going with a different manufacturer. I consider this little $.25 item to me a mfgrs design flaw, and they should have owned up to it.

I will post further comments as I get used to the new dishwasher...