HOME RENOVATION REPAIR

Kitchen-appliances-14 Kitchen & Bath Design News calls our attention to cracks in stone counters caused by hidden rusting. Since when does stone rust? When it has been reinforced…to prevent cracks. Seems conscientious counter fabricators strengthen the thin strip in front of the sink with an embedded steel rod so the strip won’t crack under the weight of those dirty pots and pans. But with water nearby, the rod gets rusty and expands, like ice in mortar. Father-and-son correspondents Jim and James Heaphy, drawing from a scary science journal called Advances in Fracture Research, explain the phenomenon as “oxide jacking,” which is another way of saying “homeowner heartache.” There’s a solution to the solution-solving problem, they note, namely using rods made of stainless steel or fiberglass. But it kinda makes you wonder if some larger rethinking may be in order. Ever experienced a similar sort of problem-hidden-inside-a-solution? Send it along. I’m keeping a list.

Today is my most favorite day of the year, times two! It’s Halloween and tonight we get to set our clocks back, which means an extra hour of sleep. Yay! Now, it won’t be all fun and games. Ok, it will be mostly fun and games, but this is also the time of year when you should test and replace the batteries in all of the important devices in your home. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms, security systems, and even the remote controls for your entertainment center, if it runs on a battery it’s time for a check up. Battery testers only cost a few dollars and will save you from replacing batteries that still have plenty of life in them. So before you get in costume, party, and pass out from eating too much candy, take 15 minutes for this simple yet important chore. Don’t fret, you still get an extra 45 minutes on the back end!

Before starting any home remodeling projects, find someone who does have an idea how it’s working and what you need for it. Our website is helping right people to find a right contractor.

A Home Contractors Direct typically oversees all project details, hires and schedules subcontractors, inspects subcontractor work, orders supplies and oversees their installation
Home Contractors helps to resolve design issues with interior designers or architects.

You gotta go. That’s why you should have a go bag. You know, a kit full of essentials in case of an emergency, that’s ready to go when you are. I’m certain you all are aware of the concept of a go bag, but how many of you have followed through and put one together? That’s what I thought… Lucky for you some entrepreneurs in Old Westbury, NY have put together an entire line of emergency preparedness kits called In Case of Emergency Qubes, or Ice-Qubes. Ranging in price from $20 to $950, Ice-Qube kits pack everything from basic essentials to comfort items in a neat cube shaped box… of varying size. The Ice-Qube Luxe has enough previsions to sustain a family of four for up to 72 hours (half that if we’re talking about my family). Ice-Qubes are also available specifically for babies and for dogs. It’s true that with a little bit of research you can put together an emergency preparedness kit the suits your every need, but if you or someone you care about just can’t seem to get around to getting it done, the ICE-Qube is a pretty good plan B.