Have a time frame in mind when you buy a home, and let it guide your purchase. If you plan to start (or expand) a family in the near future, a studio is not a good idea. If you want a home in which you can age in place, or want to preserve that option, consider a ranch-style dwelling on one level, rather than a multilevel dwelling with stairs.
Humid air feels warmer than dry air. Increasing the humidity of your home also helps you resist winter colds and moisturizes dry skin. Operating a room humidifier will make you feel more comfortable. If your heating system has a humidifier, make sure that it’s functioning properly.
You can also add humidity by keeping house plants. Plants clean the air and add moisture to it at the same time. Putting trays of water on top of radiators also helps. So does leaving the bathroom door open after a shower, to let that warm steamy air circulate through the house.
Install additional attic insulation at right angles to the previous layer. You don’t have to use the same type of insulation – it’s fine to use batts or blankets over loose-fill, or vice versa. Upgrading from three inches to 12 inches can cut heating costs by 20 percent, and cooling costs by 10 percent.
When you read product labels, look for signal words. Signal words are found on labels of new products and let you know how toxic a product is. Older products in your home may not list signal words. Drugs and personal care products are not required to list them, although many are hazardous.
Poison – highly toxic
Danger – extremely flammable, corrosive, or highly toxic
Warning – moderate hazard
Caution – mid/moderate hazard
No signal word – not hazardous
Identify possible damage, such as broken pipes and downed tree branches or power lines. Report damage to utility company and avoid the area to prevent personal injury. To repair roof damage, call or consult a licensed roofing contractor. Never try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame or torch. Shut off the water and call a licensed plumber. Carefully assess snow or ice accumulations around the home. Clear walkways and sidewalks to prevent injury, but use caution to avoid overexertion. Close exterior water spigots.
If you plan to refurbish a major shop tool or other equipment, take some photos before you start. They possibly can save you some head-scratching during the reassembly process. Take pictures from a number of angles, and take close-ups of areas where you think you might have some questions later. The more complex the machine, the more photos you should take.
Small cabinets with plastic drawers are easier to use if you mount them at eye level in your shop. That way items are easier to see without pulling out all of the drawers to get what you need.
If you are frustrated with the choices of molding styles at the lumberyard, make your own. A 15-piece molding head set for radial or tablesaws costing less than $60 can provide endless options. If the stock cutters don’t meet your needs, you can easily re-grind a new profile. Hone the edge and within minutes you can produce customized molding for new projects or to match molding no longer available.
A way to get a good fit when installing decorative molding is to install the first piece with a square end. Then cut the second piece at a 45-degree angle in a miter box or saw to expose the profile. Use a coping saw and follow the edge of the profile, under-cutting it about 3 degrees. This lets you get a good fit, even if the corner is not perfectly square.
To store a carpenter’s square, nail either a 13-in. or 22-in. length of tongue-and-groove flooring to your shop wall, groove side up. Then, to hang your square, just drop one leg of the square into the groove of the flooring piece. The length depends on which leg you want to be horizontal.
