Drum roll please. I’d like to announce the great One Project Closer Irwin tool giveaway! The fine folks at Irwin have graciously sent an awesome set of Irwin tools and we are going to pass them along to one lucky winner.
The Tools
Our first item up for ogling is a Quick Adjustable Wrench. This tool features precise scale markings, a locking slide lever, and a ProTouch comfort grip. The Adjustable Wrench can easily resize and won’t move once it’s locked in place.
Next, we have spring loaded... Read Full Story
We just received a notice from Allstate on the Landlord’s Policy on our rental townhome. Apparently, Allstate made a mistake on our policy, omitting a Home and Auto Discount we are entitled to receive for having our cars, primary residence, and rental property home insured with them. Allstate gets two thumbs up for being honest about their mistake (I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that some court didn’t order them to do this). They claimed the mistake was due to an inadvertant... Read Full Story
I’m slowly but surely making progress on the new floor. It’s looking really good and I’m excited to see it come together. Soon I’ll be starting the baseboard and quarter-round. I took a slight detour from the floor to get our half bathroom back in “usable” condition. Not having it available was becoming a real problem.
After installing the new floor, the drainpipe flange was about a ¼” lower than the floor. One side of the flange had been broken and the P.O. had used a metal repair slot to... Read Full Story
Check out our first One Project Closer video! We decided on this topic for our first video because I couldn’t find good information on this when we were considering a self leveling underlayment for our basement. The reality is that getting the right consistency from an SLU is pretty easy if you follow the instructions with the product you select.
We hope the video is helpful to folks thinking about using an self leveling product in their projects. If you like the video, consider visiting... Read Full Story
This week’s Before and After is a fantastic bathroom transformation sent in by Jon at Tales from the Eye. Jon, wife, family friends, and a few contractors worked together to transform their 1964 Ranch-style home’s bathroom to a more modern look.
Renovating a bathroom is a great way to add value to your house, particularly if you DIY or serve as your own general contractor. Jon’s bathroom upgrade will certainly add value to their home, and make it a little easier on the eyes while they live... Read Full Story
Installing framing members on a slab requires use of a pressure treated bottom board to avoid wood rot. Concrete slabs will wick moisture between the underlying dirt base and the wood members sitting on top of the slab. If untreated wood is used for the bottom board, the high moisture level will promote rapid decay.
The obvious way to incorporate a pressure treated base board is to use one in lieu of a regular untreated board for the bottom member of the wall. This method is the least... Read Full Story
Taking care of basic maintenance on your car can really save money. Recently, my brake pads starting squealing so I took my car to Midas for an estimate. That was my first mistake. Midas will charge $25.00 for the inspection unless you have the work done. Other places won’t charge for the inspection at all. Midas wanted to change the brake pads, rotors, brake shoes and drums for a whopping $930 give or take some change.
I took my car to a family member and we did the job in an hour for the... Read Full Story
If you did your homework before accepting a tenant, chances are late rent payments will be few and far between for you. If you rent long enough, though, some renter will eventually be late on a payment. Even the best tenants aren’t perfect all the time. This article is a compilation of a few thoughts on late rent payments, what fees you should charge, and how to make the most of late fees when they’re appropriate.
If you decide not to read all the points, there’s only one key take away... Read Full Story
My parents bought me a Ryobi Angle Grinder last April for my birthday (thanks parents!). It’s a handy tool that I’ve been using a lot.
About the Ryobi Angle Grinder (model# AG452K)
The Ryobi Angle Grinder has a 5.5 amp / 11,000 rpm motor. It takes 4 1/2″ wheels and weighs a light 5 lbs. It has a 5/8″ x 11 UNC arbor size. This grinder came with a tool case, side handle, changing wrench and three different wheels (grinding, sanding, wire brush). This model is wired with 10′ of cord to work with... Read Full Story
If you’ve installed ceiling fans in your house, congratulations! This small upgrade can reduce your energy bills while at the same time adding value to your home. Fans can pay for themselves in a few short years, and their cost is also recovered in the sale of your home, making them an excellent overall investment.
When used properly, fans can save money in both the Summer and the Winter (and the other 2 seasons as well), although the savings will be substantially less in cooler months in... Read Full Story
