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"The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After The Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten"
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Recently Written
- Tint Your Plaster For Touch Ups on Primed Walls & Trim
- Do Not Use Pens, Felt Pens or Chalk Lines!
- Hard To Find Reproduction Antique Hardware
- WCB Coverage – It’s a Must…Sometimes Even as a Homeowner
- Cutting a Hole In The Ceiling? How To Keep Drywall Dust Contained!
- The Secret To Buying Name Brand Power Tools Dirt Cheap!
- Roof Shingles All Over The Yard?
- WALLTITE ECO™ – The Purple Spray Foam Insulation
- Standard Wall Framing for Drywall
- Stuck For Design Ideas – Check Out “TRENDS”
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The Secret To Buying Name Brand Power Tools Dirt Cheap!
As every contractor or serious handyman knows, good quality tools are expensive. I’m talking about Dewalt, Porter-Cable, Bosch, Milwaukee and so on. But there is a secret to buying good tools at very low prices!
Have you ever wondered what happens to all those tools people return to stores? They get reconditioned and sold through other tool companies that specialize in selling factory reconditioned tools.
My favorite is Tool King Reconditioned Tools in the USA (even though I live in Canada). I recently ordered from them and the order only took 6 days to arrive. I picked up a ROTOZIP for $35.00 and Dewalt Drywall Screw gun for $59.00, overall I saved about $120.00 and both arrived in brand new condition…
Roof Shingles All Over The Yard?
If you are having your existing roof replaced and tearing off the old shingles make sure you have a clause in your contract with the roofing company that specifies exactly how roof debris will be torn off and disposed of.
Under no circumstances should a roofer throw shingles directly onto your lawn or driveway without protection. As you can see in the image of nails below, roofing nails have a large head that allows them to stand up easily and this is dangerous. If a roofing contractor throws shingles directly onto your lawn, you will always worry about nails left in the grass – and there would 100’s, if not 1000’s!
The last thing you want after your new roof is completed, is to worry that you, your children, or others visiting you could step on roofing nails hidden in the grass!
WALLTITE ECO™ – The Purple Spray Foam Insulation
If you follow Holmes on Homes, you will have seen this product used many times. It offers many advantages over standard batt insulation.
WALLTITE ECO™, made by BASF, is a medium-density polyurethane insulation/air barrier system designed to improve the energy efficiency of any type of building. Its industry-leading performance results in substantial energy savings by maximizing the effectiveness of the building envelope, thus reducing energy costs.
WALLTITE ECO’s formulation includes recycled plastic, renewable content and a zero ozone-depleting blowing agent, qualifying it as the first closed-cell spray polyurethane insulation to obtain the EcoLogoM, North America’s most widely recognized multi-attribute environmental certification.
Check out the Video below by Mike Holmes for a good overview of WALLTITE ECO
Standard Wall Framing for Drywall
In a typical home standard wall heights are 96 3/4″ to 97″ depending on the moisture content of the framing material. In most construction wall framing you will have a single base plate and double top plate with 92 1/4″ pre-cut studs. As with all things in construction, there is a very good reason for these dimensions and the resulting total wall height. If you are using 1/2″ drywall you will have 1/2″ on the ceiling and 2 – 48″ wide horizontal sheets on the wall for a total of 96 1/2″. This leaves 1/4″ t0 1/2″ of space below the drywall board at the floor.
This spacing is critical and must be allowed for. On average, walls shrink in height about 1/4″ and if you do not allow for this space and fit your drywall boards tight from ceiling to floor, the pressure on the horizontal joint will likely cause unsightly problems, possibly causing plaster to crack, tape to separate and bulging, or all three problems. When properly installed, with the top board tight to the ceiling and the lower board tight to upper board the two sheets can move down with the wall framing as it shrinks – this will ensure the drywall joints remain free from pressure as the wall shrinks preventing any bulges and related problems at the joints.
See the image below for details on this required spacing:
Stuck For Design Ideas – Check Out “TRENDS”
Living in small towns has many advantages, no rush hour, easy living, peaceful surroundings, lots of outdoor recreation… the list goes on. But, when it comes to the latest product choices and design ideas for your new home, renovation or yard, living in a small town has it’s downside – their is no big name stores that can afford to display all the latest and greatest products, and stores seldom carry the best upscale design magazines.
If you are looking to set your new home or renovation apart from the rest and tap into some very cool design ideas, I strongly encourage you to check out “TRENDS MAGAZINE“. This magazine brings you the latest designs and products from across the country and even overseas. Unlike many upscale magazines, TRENDS focuses on designs that are both practical and beautiful, with enough variety to please most people
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NEW! Holmes Magazine
If there is one guy who's opinion you can trust for construction and renovation advice it is Mike Holmes from Holmes on Homes. Now you can get his advice delivered right to your door with the launch of his new magazine!
If you've been wondering where you can subscribe to his new magazine? Look no further, you can get a subscription right now for only $18.95 Cdn and save up to 52% off the newsstand price (6 issues). I got mine and am looking forward to the first issue. Visit HolmesMagazine.com to get yours today!
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58 Garage Plans - One Low Price!
If you are an serious handyman or do it yourselfer and are planning to build a garage or barn, You'll love these plans and designs for 58 garages! I stumbled on this package when looking for ideas and cheap plans. I was very impressed with what I got for the price. Check out 58GaragePlans.com for yourself, even though these plans are smaller and less detailed than regular blueprints, you won't regret buying this package - there is lots of ideas, construction details and plans for only $29.00!