Installing New Gutters

It seems like there is always something to do when it comes to fixing up your home. Replacing your gutters usually isn't at the top of your list. This often-overlooked project seems challenging, but DoItYourself.com has you covered with instructions.

From DoItYourself.com 

1. Map Out Your Gutter Run. Before you make any gutter purchases, make a map of your home, and of the current gutter system that is installed. Determine the length of the gutter run, how many downspouts your system will require, and how long those downspouts will need to be. If your old gutter system worked well, you may find it easiest to simply copy that exact system and replace it with a new one, keeping the old downspouts in the same area, etc. Write out all of your measurements and needed items, prior to leaving for the local hardware store.

2. Chalk It Up. If your gutter run is 35 feet or less, the highest point of your run is going to be at one end, and it will then slope downwards to where the downspout is. Look for the high point to be an inch down from the top of the fascia (this is the board that the gutters are attached to). The slope should ideally be 1/4 inch for every 10 feet of gutter run.

If the run is more than 35 feet in length, you will find that the high point will be at the center of the run, with slopes leading to the downspouts on either side. Once again, you should discover that the high point will be located an inch down from the top of the fascia and the slopes should be gradient with a 1/4 inch slope for every 10 feet. Having someone hold one end of the gutter, you should hold the other at the appropriate angle and snap a chalk like so that you will have a guide to follow when you go to put up the new gutters.

3. Install Downspout Outlets. Using 1 1/4 inch deck screws, attach your downspout outlets. Even with the chalk line and attaching at the end of the house, these outlets will be close to but not at the extreme end of the run (remember that the roof extends out over the house). Ensure that these are firmly attached and then move on to the next step.

4. Hang the Gutter Hangers. The gutter hangers should be attached to the fascia every 24 inches using the 1 1/4 inch deck screws. Fastened about 1 inch away from the ends of the roof, these hangers offer the gutters a form of support. Make sure that you leave room at the ends of the supports for the gutter caps and also ensure that you have followed the chalk line, in order to maintain the proper angles.

5. Cover the Gutter Corners. If your corners don't have a downspout and aren't located at the end of the run, you will want to cover these joints with gutter covers. These will prevent water from leaking out where it should not, preventing unnecessary damage and prolonging the life of your gutters.

6. Cutting Gutters. Using a hacksaw, carefully cut your gutter sections so that they fit between the downspout outlet and the end of your roof. Put the cap over the end and snap the section into the outlet for the downspout, then hook the gutter onto the hangers. Remember that your gutter sections start from the middle of the downspout outlet and be sure to follow your chalk lines.

7. Bring It Together. From the ground, connect your gutter sections. This is a very simple step - using special connectors, these sections will easily match up and then will just snap into the gutter sections. For best results, have someone to help you support the gutters as you hang them.

8. The Drain Pipes. For your downspouts, you will want to cut a piece of drainpipe so that it will fit between the downspout elbow joint on the outlet and the one on the wall. Putting the elbows on the pipe, then snap it onto the outlet and, using a drainpipe hanger, be sure to secure the other elbow onto the wall. Then cut another piece of drainpipe, this one designed to fit between the wall elbow and hang down to approximately one foot above the ground. Snap the drain pipe into the wall and then attach another new elbow joint down by the ground. Fasten a hanger for your drain pipe here and, after cutting an appropriate length of pipe, attach it to this joint to funnel the water away from the side of your home (this piece may be as long or as short as you would like).

Hanging gutters may seem like a perplexing and difficult home repair but, when these easy tips are followed, the job is surprisingly simple and can easily be accomplished in a short amount of time. For best results and for safety's sake, it's always best to have someone work with you. In fact, the light weight materials make this a good family project that can be accomplished over a weekend. Give it a try - it's easy!

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/installnewgutters#ixzz22hvUUjPK

Exterior Repainting Tips and Techniques

Thanks to Doityourself.com for these painting tips. 

Remember: A coat of fresh paint will not glue down a coat of old paint that's ready to crack and fall off.

Paints are common coatings used on wood and provide the most protection. Latex-based paints and stains are water borne, and oil or alkyd paints are solvent borne. Paints are used for aesthetic purposes, to protect the wood surface from weathering and to conceal certain defects. Paints are applied to the wood surface and do not penetrate it deeply. The wood grain is completely obscured, and a surface film is formed. This surface film can blister or peel if the wood is wetted or if inside water vapor moves through the house wall and wood siding because of the absence of a vapor barrier.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/exttips#ixzz21I1oFZ3i

Tips for Preparing a Room for Painting

DoItYourself.com is one of my favorite websites. They offer tips on all types of projects around the house. These projects are a great way to raise the value of your house. Here's a great article I found for inexperienced painters!

The steps involved in preparing a room for painting include the following:

1. Remove as much furniture from the room as possible, and move the remaining furniture to the center of the room. Cover the remaining furniture with a drop cloth, and use removable masking tape around any moldings, doors and windows. Use drop cloths to protect the floors. 
   
2. Cover the smoke detector with a plastic bag, and turn off any heating or air conditioning to prepare for the sanding and painting. 
   
3. Scrape or sand any loose or flaking paint using sandpaper or a paint scraper. Scrape down to the bare surface if needed. 
   
4. Use a putty knife to fill any nail or screw holes with a good quality spackling compound. Fill any cracks with caulking. 
   
5. If the woodwork is seriously damaged it may be necessary to apply epoxy filler, like the filler used on car bodies.

Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/prepareroomforpaint#ixzz20dOqPtWp

Stay Cool in Summer Heat

It has been hot in and around the city of Pittsburgh this week. It is important to stay cool and hydrated in heat like this. I found some tips from MedicineNet.com that I found helpful. Stay cool our there!

TIPS TO STAY COOL

• Alter your pattern of outdoor exercise to take advantage of cooler times (early morning or late evening)
• Wear loose-fitting clothing, preferably of a light color.
• Cotton clothing will keep you cooler than many synthetics.
• Fill a spray bottle with water and keep it in the refrigerator for a quick refreshing spray to your face after being outdoors.
• Fans can help circulate air and make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned house.   

There are more tips in the article. Thanks MedicineNet!  

Home Is Where the History Is

Homeownership is an investment in our future and a gateway to our past. No wonder they call it the American Dream!

As Americans prepare to celebrate Independence Day next week, thousands of them will flock to places like Mount Vernon, Monticello and Peacefield to learn and understand more about our country’s history and the men and women who shaped its future. The homes of founding fathers like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were more than shelter; they were places of respite, reflection and inspiration.

“Homeownership is an investment in our future, but it’s also a gateway to our past,” says NAR President Moe Veissi. “The homes of our country’s founders offer insights into their characters and values, and reflect the spirits of their owners, just as our homes do for us today.”


In some ways, historic homeowners bear little resemblance to the homeowners of today. George Washington inherited Mount Vernon when he was 20; only 4 percent of recent home buyers were between the ages of 18-24, according to the 2011 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. John Adams was born in the house that would remain in the Adams family for four generations. Today, fewer than 3 percent of families in this country have received their primary residence as an inheritance, according to a recent Survey of Consumer Finances published by the Federal Reserve Board.


Women’s rights to own property in America’s early days were often based on their relationships with men, so it’s not surprising that many women today view homeownership as its own form of independence, with single women representing more than one-fifth of all home buyers in the current market.


Homeowners across U.S. history do share some common ground, of course. Most of the founding families lived out their lives close to where they were born, and the same is true today. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly 60 percent of Americans currently live in the state in which they were born, and NAR research shows that the typical buyer moves only 12 miles from his or her previous residence.


“I am as happy nowhere else and in no other society, and all my wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello,” said Thomas Jefferson of his home. Although today’s economic environment has postponed homeownership for some, numerous surveys show that most Americans still aspire to homeownership. In the NAR Profile, a full 60 percent of recent first-time home buyers cited the desire to own a home of their own as the primary reason for purchasing a home.


“There’s a reason homeownership is called the American Dream,” says Veissi. “As we celebrate our country’s independence and reflect on its past, REALTORS® remain committed to keeping the dream of homeownership alive for generations of Americans to come.”


The National Association of REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2012-06-28/home-is-where-the-history-is/.

Beat the Heat, Summer Energy Saving Tips

It has been getting warmer and warmer in Pittsburgh this week, so I thought I'd revisit some energy saving tips so you can beat the heat and save some money. Here are just a few, visit the full article for more info and more tips!  Thanks to FreshHome.com for the article!

1. Replace outdated AC units

2. Avoid using your oven, try grilling

3. Keep the sun out with curtains

4. Take cooler and shorter showers

Pittsburgh Road Closures this Weekend

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for sharing this weekend's road closures. It may be a little tricky to get around some areas downtown.