While windows attract most of the attention when it comes to energy efficiency, doors can play a major part in what can go wrong -- or right. Doors have a particularly difficult role to fill. Not only do they need to open and close smoothly and easily, but they also have to seal tigh...
The inspector told me I need more insulation in my attic. Not surprised, this house has always been cold. But, he did say I have to be very careful as the existing insulation, which is clearly not enough, is some stuff called vermaculite. I guess this stuff has asbestos in it. I ...
You can find more on the subject of improving the efficiency of attic space by linking to some of our sites, such as “Tips for Preventing Attic Ventilation Problems,”“Making Your Own Attic Stairs Insulation Cover,” and “Will Insulating Attic Flooring Increase How Much Weight It Can Suppor...
"I had a heart attack," says the first man."You see,I knew my wife was cheating on me,so one day I showed up at home unexpectedly but found her alone watching television.I ran around the house looking for her lover but could find no one.As I ran up the stairs to the attic,I ...
If you are looking for a fast solution for how to get rid of rats and mice in your house, you’ve come to the right place. The experts at Western know the telltale signs of these pests: Noise –Most rodents are nocturnal, so you may hear gnawing or scurrying sounds from attics, dr...
Should I wait for the little babies (if there are any) to grow?? Are the babies already grown, but still leaving in the attic?? Should I start cutting plywood and try to find exact location and manually deal with the relocation issue?? Should I try to trap the mom, seal all access...
Everything we want to get rid of just gets tossed down the basement stairs and with 6 kids that's a lot. Finally, I figured out to use a 2 bin laundry sorter for donate and sell and make it easily accessible for everyone to throw stuff in it. Then I'm going to put on my ...
One advantage of using closed cell spray foam insulation is that you can avoid having to put the polystyrene and taping it. Simply offset the studs from the wall, and the foam, when applied, will completely seal the wall and insulate it. The moisture drive in a basement is from the inter...
Still, it also looks as if there are wet areas around the stairs and wall and along the wall in your exterior photos. Are those outdoor drain pipes (near the stairs guarded by your dogs) connected to the roof gutter system - let me know, as that'd be a likely problem, too. Ho...
Besides being towards the core of a building, other features to look for: Built with fire-resistant materials, such as concrete or brick. Easy to seal off, such as usingtarpsand tape to close off the air gaps and vents that could let smoke in from the outside. ...