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.

Creating a Mobile Container Garden

These stylish planters can spice up an outdoor area, but the best part is you can move them. Thanks to HGTV.com for the idea and the directions. Good luck with the project, and send me your picture if you do the project!