Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
You can cut energy bills while working from home
Q: I had dinner recently with some friends who, like me, work out of home offices, and we all agreed that our utility bills were up significantly since we started working from home. Are there are specific things we can do to lower these costs, especially now that they are our bills and not being paid by someone lse?A: Whether your run a business of your own from home or just spend a lot of time there telecommuting to your job, a fact of life is that you're going to be using more energy at home. A lot of it, in fact, when you start considering the office equipment, the lighting and even the increased use of home appliances like a coffee machine or frequent visits to the refrigerator.
Since I also work from home, I've been collecting lots of tips and ideas on ways to save energy, and I've found that they really can make a big difference.
The first thing is little problems that will grow bigger in cost because you're now spending even more time at home during the ay. The need to plug holes and cracks that let air escape outdoors, regulating drapes and blinds to control the sun, making sure your home has adequate insulation levels, turning off lights in empty rooms -- and making sure you've got efficient CFL bulbs in the fixtures since they'll be used more -- and all those other "common sense" energy savers now are even more important because the house isn't sitting empty all day.
Here are some specific suggestions related directly to your increased home use of computers, copiers, fax machines, lights and other energy-users:
Consider buying energy-efficient office equipment and use their energy-conserving features.
A good ink-jet printer might be adequate for your needs, and it costs less to buy than a laser printer and also uses less energy to operate. Don't forget that printers, like other equipment, use energy to keep in standby mode, so turn them off when you don't need them.
Just because you bought a new computer or other component doesn't mean it's automatically saving energy. A lot of equipment has special features and buttons that you need to activate to get them to work. Read the instruction booklet for details.
One great tip is to plug your office equipment into power strips that can be turned off with the flip of a switch, cutting out all that standby power that electronics use.
-- McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Renovation & Design
Red, red gravel of home replaces grass
DALLAS -- Instead of a soft, velvety lawn in my back yard, I now have what landscape designers call hardscape, an expanse of reddish, tannish decomposed granite where the grass used to grow. Although I would prefer to see thick, green turf, I haven't seen thick, green turf back there in several years.A late-winter construction project killed off the original St. Augustine lawn. My husband and I had successfully sodded the back yard ourselves when we bought the house 24 years ago, so I figured we could do it again.
Three tries over the past three springs resulted in the same failure. The St. Augustine died, leaving a mud hole in the centre of the yard, encircled by garden beds. One year it was the drought. Another year it was the never-ending rains. The rapacious chickens, though, are as much to blame as the weather.
They ate succulent St. Augustine blades down to the runners and moved on to the more wiry Bermuda.
The city chickens live in a coop. But I feel sorry for them that they are cooped up all day, so I let them out each evening, when I can monitor them. When I had grass, they promptly started peck, peck, pecking at it. It didn't matter that I supplement their grains and seeds with shredded lettuce and cabbage or that they get served more fresh June corn than my family.
No matter how pretty my back flower garden looked this spring, all I noticed was the mud hole at its centre. As the mud hole turned into hard-packed, black clay in the heat, I began considering chicken-proof alternatives.
Decomposed granite is being used more and more as an eco-friendly paving surface for garden paths and driveways. Landscape architects like it in contemporary garden designs as a ground cover, and my favourite European garden magazines show its application in cutting-edge English installations and at rustic country houses in Provence.
Decomposed granite, called DG in the trade, is granite broken down over millions of years into pieces from pebble-size to grit. It is available in several colors, depending on the location of the quarry. The stone wall and landscape boulders already in place in my back yard are reddish-brown Oklahoma sandstone, so my home centre's DG supply, also reddish brown, is compatible.
I consulted with landscape professionals about having someone install the granite for me. Impatience, frustration and a headstrong nature led to the decision to do it myself. Or, more precisely, to convince my able-bodied son, just graduated from college, that removing three inches of hard-packed clay from the surface area and relocating 3,000 pounds of rock would clear his head and work out his biceps.
While home centre's sell DG in small bags, it's more economical to buy it in bulk.
The standard application process is to spread about 1 1/2 inches of DG, water it thoroughly, wait a day to allow it to settle, then repeat the process -- and sometimes repeat it a third time. A three-inch layer is considered the minimum depth for stability and to keep Bermuda grass from growing through the DG. How-to instructions also recommend using a heavy roller or a vibrating plate compactor to hasten compaction.
A proper DG surface does not move underfoot like sand or gravel, but its porosity allows water to penetrate to the soil below. That aspect makes DG a good paving material around trees.
The downside is that, even compacted, grit particles that can scratch hard-surface floors are tracked into the house. Also, I found my supply to contain a fair share of what I would call granite rocks, not pebbles. They can be crushed with a hammer, if I ever get around to it. Finally, once you rent a tiller and a mechanical compactor, not to mention the considerable labour involved, hiring someone to do it might compare more favourably. Just make sure you or the contractor can do the math correctly.
I like the look of the even surface, and the brown colour is earthy, natural and appropriate in a garden. My husband loves it because it does not have to be mowed or watered. I also like the scritch-scrunch it makes under my garden clogs. My mother, 98, wondered how I would ever get grass to grow on it.
The garden hens are appalled. They loved the process, because freshly tilled soil reveals lots of tasty morsels. The tiller made the clay fluffy, giving the busy hens new territory to scratch. But when they were released from their coop after installation was complete and made their usual beeline down the garden path, they came to a screeching halt when they reached the northern boundary of the decomposed granite.
It was funny to watch, at first. They gave the foreign matter wide berth, ducking under rosebushes in flower beds, hopping from mossy boulder to mossy boulder and flapping from there to iron garden chairs in succession until they reached familiar territory.
But when they started flapping from planted container to container, squashing blooms, I started some flapping of my own.
Do the math: How much DG do you need?
Multiply the length of the area to be covered, in feet, by the width, in feet, which gives you the area's square feet.
Multiply the square feet by .25 feet (representing a minimum depth of 3 inches, converted to feet), which gives you cubic feet.
Landscape stone is sold by the cubic yard at rock yards. Therefore, divide the total cubic feet by 27 to get cubic yards (27 cubic feet equals 1 cubic yard). The result is how much decomposed granite you need to order.
-- Dallas Morning News
Renovation & Design
Readers across country share super solutions
Back by popular demand, here are 15 super solutions sent in by readers:1. To store rolls of gift wrap, use an empty wine box. The dividers help hold the rolls upright in a relatively small space. You can store the box in the guest-room closet or basement. Pam
2. When cooking omelettes, do not overbeat the eggs and do not salt until cooking time is almost complete. Salt can break down the structure of eggs. Also, keep the pan moving while the eggs are cooking and do not overcook. If it is your intention to add mushrooms, onions or other veggies to the omelette, for best flavour saut © them first before adding the ingredients to the omelette. Chefs Mike and Brandon
3. Recipe for "Berrylicious Smoothie": In a blender, combine 1 cup frozen, unsweetened assorted berries, 1 cup pineapple juice, half cup fat-free soy milk or 1% milk and half cup frozen vanilla yoghurt. Blend until smooth. Meghan
4. You can use silly putty to clean muck off of your computer keyboard. It can also be used to remove lint from clothes. Teresa
5. While cooking tomato sauce, add a half a teaspoon of instant coffee to the sauce. This extra step takes the acidic edge off of the tomato sauce. Lila
6. When Jan's friends went to Australia for six weeks, they visited a tea plantation. The owner of the plantation explained how to remove caffeine from tea. Add hot water to loose leaves and steep for 1 minute. Discard the liquid. This first brew contains most of the caffeine of the tea. Add water to the teapot and let steep for 2-3 minutes and drink that infusion that has only small amounts of caffeine (over 80% of the caffeine is removed during the first wash of the leaves). Jan
7. Freeze your pre-shaped cookie dough. Virtually any drop cookie can be easily frozen in its dough state to bake at a later time. Simply line a jelly roll pan with plastic wrap (make sure that the pan fits flat in your freezer), scoop out your dough into balls with a cookie scoop and place each ball side by side on the jelly roll pan. Fit as many as you can tightly together. When the pan is full; cover the dough with plastic wrap and place it flat in your freezer. When the cookie dough balls are completely frozen, lift up on the bottom layer of plastic wrap to release the balls individually and place them in a zippered plastic freezer bag. Return to freezer. Extra tip: If cookie dough gets gluey, resist the impulse to add extra flour so that the cookies don't become tough. Cool in fridge until firm, or roll out between two pieces of waxed or parchment paper. Norma
8. When barbecuing hamburgers this summer, don't press down on the meat when the burgers are on the grill. That will just press out moisture and you'll end up with dry burgers. Carter
9. I make rice pudding with leftover rice. Place rice in bowl, add 1-2 cups of low fat Cool Whip, rinse half to 1 cup raisins and add about 2-3 tsp of cinnamon. Mix well and cool in fridge until needed. It is delicious. This would be for using about 2 cups of rice. Gail
10. Yesterday, my daughter got gum in her hair, and I was dreading the peanut butter treatment. Rather than use ice, or cut her hair, I took the section of hair that was full of gum and put a paper towel behind it, then sprayed it thoroughly with Pam cooking spray, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and was able to comb all of the gum out. A quick hair shampoo and problem solved. The paper towel was used to help catch the spray from soaking into the rest of her hair. Tina
11. I save rainwater in 45-gallon plastic barrels and I like to have open tops so I can scoop the water out with a bucket for flushing the toilet and watering etc. (I also salvage my laundry water and reuse it for flushing the toilet). Anyways, I learned a hard lesson when I returned from a week away and found a deceased red squirrel in a barrel that was half full of water. It had fallen in and couldn't climb out so it drowned. I had forgotten to put a two by four into the barrel so any squirrel that happened to fall in the water could climb out. I also tie the wood down so it doesn't float up and out. Dick
12. Juice from canned peaches, apricots or pears may be mixed with melted butter and lemon juice and used as a yummy baste for broiled chicken. Extra tip: To get truly golden-brown and crispy chicken, you'll need a cast iron skillet. Cast iron simply cannot be beat for even heat distribution and temperature maintenance. The most important factors contributing to perfect fried chicken are the temperature of the oil and the actual step of frying. Vegetable shortening, lard, and peanut oil are all popular frying mediums, as they have a high smoke point. Sandi
13. A great way to recycle egg shells is to put them in the bottom of plant pots as a substitute for rocks. Egg shells are much lighter than stones and carry plenty of nutrients for plants. Extra tip: Instead of throwing out egg shells lay them in the soil near tomatoes. Calcium is great for tomatoes; the extra calcium helps prevent blossom end rot. Roma
14. I was burned with hot butter over most of my hand, I immediately sliced a russet potato, placed the slices over the burn and wrapped my hand with a kitchen towel. The starch in the potato stopped most of the blistering and eased the pain. Pat
15. For crunchier coleslaw, cut a cabbage in half and soak it in salted water for an hour. Drain well and use. Lester
Solutions, is compiled from various sources. Thanks to all who contributed! Similar information may be found elsewhere.
Solutions sleuth Reena Nerbas is a home economist and speaks professionally on the topic of household challenges; she is also the author of two national bestsellers, Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard on radio and television programs across Canada.
Renovation & Design
Good paint finish starts with preparation
IF you've been putting off painting that bedroom, or avoiding the painting project for the spare room, it's good to know painting is not as onerous a task as you might imagine.The key to a successful and hasslefree painting job is proper preparation, explains the manufacturer Painter's Mate Green brand tape, geared especially for painting and ideal on glass, wood and metal.
The company says tackling a painting project is not as intimidating as it looks if it's broken down into a few simple steps. While making the decision to change a bedroom wall color can happen on a whim, the best results usually lie with those who take the time to select the right materials and prepare adequately for the job.
Follow these simple prep steps for a smooth project:
Take down any wall hangings or other . removable fixtures and the nails holding them up.
Remove electrical and phone switch covers.
To prevent accidents it is a good idea . to shut off the breakers that serve the electrical outlets in the room you're painting.
Move furniture out of the room. If that . is not an option, place furniture items in the centre of the room and cover them with plastic or canvas drop cloths. (TIP: Pre-taped drop cloths feature a pre-taped edge that helps drop cloths to stay in place. They are available at home centres and paint stores. Make sure they are securely in place using painter's tape).
Patch and repair any holes or imperfections in the wall by filling with spackling compound and sanding down to a smooth finish.
Clean walls with a sponge and a diluted soapy solution starting from top to bottom. Be sure to rinse the sponge frequently. Make sure walls and other surfaces to be painted are completely dry before painting.
Protect everything you don't want paint on. For the sharpest paint lines and accurate results, apply good quality painter's tape on trim, window and doorframes and baseboards.
Apply a pre-taped drop cloth, carpet masking tape or tarp against baseboards to protect the floors.
Paint walls following the directions . from the paint manufacturer. It is important to remember that there are different types of paint and finishes, which all need to be considered to find the best paint for your project.
To ensure sharp paint lines, remove . tape at a 90-degree angle before paint fully cures. When painting more than one coat, use a utility knife around the inner tape edge to break the paint bond to tape, and then remove at a 90-degree angle.
--Canwest News Service
Renovation & Design
Don't let skeeters make themselves at home
A small layer of Fiberglas mesh is the only thing that keeps Canadians sane at this time of year.Look out any window at dusk and you'll see why. Hundreds of hungry mosquitoes patiently searching for the inevitable tear in your screens that will lead to the beginning of their blood feast as you sleep -- or try to sleep.
All this is why basic screen repair skills are useful.
Modern screen frames are made of a factory-painted extrusion (usually white or brown) that includes several key features.
First of all, its hollow shape is made to accept preformed 90-degree aluminum or plastic corner clips that hold any four-sided frame together.
Another feature is the narrow groove found in one face. This groove is made to accept a flexible strip of rubber or foam called a spline. The spline is pushed into it with the mesh lying over top during installation.
The mesh is not only held firm by the spline, but the action of it sinking down into the aluminum channel as you push it into place automatically tightens the mesh, creating a sag-free installation. Take a close look at your own screen frames and you'll see all the parts.
Screen repair supplies, including corner clips and replacement splines, aren't common items on hardware store shelves, but that doesn't mean you can't get them.
The best place to start looking is at a shop specializing in screen repair. Large, national hardware outlets also list screen materials in their catalogues, but they might have to order them.
Aluminum frame extrusion is typically sold in 12-foot lengths, in case you need to replace any damaged frame parts. This stuff can be cut with any carbide blade in a chop saw or table saw.
Mesh is sold off rolls of a fixed width, typically starting at 24 inches wide and working up.
There are two kinds of window screen mesh: aluminum and Fiberglas. Fiberglas is the best option for home repair because it combines low cost and good looks. It's also flexible, making installation much easier. Although not as tough as aluminum, Fiberglas mesh easily lasts a dozen years with care.
Start mesh replacement work by grabbing one end of the old spline with a pair of needle-nose pliers, and pulling it out from all around the frame. Throw out the old mesh. Next, cut a piece of new mesh that's about four centimetres longer and wider than the inside dimensions of your frame.
Place the frame on a large, flat surface with its spline channel facing upwards. Place the mesh on top. The objective is to orient the mesh so the leaf is parallel to the sides of the frame, then preserve this orientation as the spline is installed and the mesh pulled tight.
All of this is easier than it sounds because the mesh is stretchable and can veer out of alignment as you work along one side. Steering the installation of mesh is all about pulling it one way or the other with your hands in that area that's just in front of the point at which the spline is being pushed into place.
Take a length of spline material in your off-hand and an installation wheel (or wide-bladed stubby slot screwdriver) in your dominant hand and begin to push the spline into the groove with the mesh underneath. You'll immediately see how this action draws the mesh down and acts to tighten it as installation progresses.
Continue to work your way around the frame, always being conscious to keep the squares of the mesh parallel to the sides of the frame. When you've splined your way back to the starting point, cut the excess spline material to length so it butts tightly against the end where you started.
Use a fresh utility knife blade to trim away the excess mesh that extends beyond the spline.
Any hope held by those patient mosquitoes has now been well and truly dashed.
Steve Maxwell is Canada's award-winning home improvement expert. Sign up for his free homeowner newsletter at www.stevemaxwell.ca.
--Canwest News Service
Renovation & Design
Qualified plumber can help
QUESTION -- I recently purchased a new home and want to have the washing machine moved into the detached garage where the dryer is located. The problem is that the floor level in the garage is approximately 1.5 metres below the level of the house floor which is located about 11 metres away.I understand that it would be impossible for the discharge of water from the washing machine into a sewer connection under the house up hill and 11 metres away. Is there any solution to this problem?
ANSWER -- There are a couple of alternatives to your problem that come to mind, although we are reluctant to suggest one over the other for a lack of more specific information. What you might want to do is review both of these suggestions with a qualified plumbing contractor who can assist you in making a decision on which alternative best suits your situation.
The first solution involves connecting the new waste line from the washing machine into the existing sanitary sewer system at a point that is lower than and in reasonably close proximity to the garage. The fact that the house is higher than the garage doesn't exclude the possibility that the sewer that supplies your home is, at some point (between the house and the street or adjacent property), lower than the garage. If this happens to be the case, you're as good as washing clothes in the garage as we write these very words.
In the event that our first suggestion will not work in your case, then you should consider having a holding tank installed that your washer can discharge into. The holding tank accepts the waste water and upon reaching a certain level will automatically pump it up to a plane where the water can be discharged into the sanitary sewer system. Special back-flow devices must also be installed to prohibit the waste water from backing up into the holding tank. This system will also work for those of you who may be considering a shower in your basement.
-- Associated Press