The right garbage disposal

Are you looking for a new garbage disposal before the holidays? The Brand I always recommend is the In-SinkErator Evolution series. The Essentials 3/4 horse works great but you like your power there is a 1 horse called Evolution Excel. They are both quiet, easy to install and I have put many of the In-SinkErators in kitchen remodels.

Good luck and happy grinding.

http://www.insinkerator.com/product/selector.php

Clackamas County toilet rebate

Clackamas Country residents are eligible for a $100 rebate when replacing their old toilet with a new 1.28 gpf Water Sense certified toilet. Below is a link for the guidelines and application.

http://www.clackamasproviders.org/images/stories/CRWP_rebate2010.pdf

When was the last time you went in your attic?

5 things homeowners need check in the attic.

1. Bath exhaust fan Your exhaust fan should have a duct run from the fan to a vent in the roof. Often the duct will be connected to it's own vent and sealed. This is important to check since your fan's job is to exhaust all the moisture. You don't want moisture from the shower blowing into your attic causing mold to grow. 
2. Insulation Your attic should have enough insulation that you cannot see any joists that hold the ceiling up. The recommended R-value is up to or over R-60. This means you should have blown-in insulation about 20" deep. 
3. Roof vents Your attic needs to breath. It gets hot and cold throughout the day and year. Condensing moisture needs to escape and air needs to circulate to maintain constant temperatures within the house. Your attic should have vents toward the top of the roof or along the ridge and one every so often at the bottom of your roof where the framing sits on the exterior walls. These will have screens on them and are often called bird blocks. They should not be cover from insulation.
4. Heating and cooling ducts If you have ducting in your attic for your heating and cooling system check that they are wrapped with insulation to help the system work more efficiently. They should also have no leaks that blow air into the attic space. Same applies to the crawl space. 
5. Discolored sheeting  Inspect the plywood where visible for discoloring. There should be no signs of moisture build-up or leaks. If you don't see any leaks in your house this doesn't mean they don't happen. Water can run down a vent pipe in your wall to the crawl space and rot away everything out of sight without ever knowing. Call a roofing expert if there are signs of leaking.

This inspection should only take 20-30 min. Put it in your calendar to do for this weekend. 

Does your attic not ventilate well? Install an attic fan on a thermostat that circulates air from the outside.

Home Improvement under $1000 #1

This before and after is a project that cost just over $500 for the home owner. They needed a set of steps to safely get to the fire pit they had built below their house. Next phase will include replacing the cinder blocks shown and add one more step at the top. Then spread bark dust beyond the rocks.

Concrete calculator

Here is a simple tool to figure how much concrete you need to order or how many bags you will need to purchase.

4 tips to reduce maintenance for your tile entry

Thinking of installing tile on the floor for the entry in your home? Here are a few must know tips.

1. Select a color or tone that is similar to the elements (dirt) outside of your house. This will reduce aging the tile from stains and decrease the amount of maintenance.   
2. Grout color should resemble and compliment the color of the tile. If the tile has variation then match the grout to the darkest and most prominent color of the tile to minimize visible stains. 
3. If a lot of dirt gets tracked in then look at tiles larger than 12"x12". This will reduce the amount of grout that is a pain to clean and may discolor.
4. Finally, if you have installed a Granite, Marble, or Slate tile then seal everything especially the grout with an approved sealer. If a porcelain or ceramic tile has been installed the hardened surface will prevent stains but the grout still needs a sealer. 

A good sealer will be at any tile store and be sure to read the instructions before application.

Vacuum without the allergies

Central Vacuum Systems
Most house hold vacuums just blow the dust around which makes it difficult to capture all the debris that becomes airborne. Many don’t even have a HEPA filter to contain the particles that irritate those of us with allergies. Central vacuums can help reduce these problems and may cost less to install than you think.
Central vacuum systems may minimizing in home allergies by directing the debris out of the room you are vacuuming through hoses in your wall. These systems can be installed in new and existing homes. There is a canister typically located in the garage or accessible attic space where all the debris is captured with a HEPA filter. Inside the house there are locations low on the wall where you connect your hose and accessories, they look much like an electrical outlet.  There is no longer the need to lug around a large vacuum up and down the stairs.  There is also a device that can be installed on the bottom of the wall or under a cabinet so you can just sweep to it and vacuum the debris up rather than messing with a dust pan.
Benefits to this handy system
1. Light weight and smaller
2. Easy to use
3. Minimizes in home allergies
4. Reduces airborne dust and debris
5. Less noise
6. Designed to last
7. Improves the resale value of your home

Contact Garys Vacuflo

Protect your home electronics!

 Electrical panel surge protector that protects your whole house and electronics from surges.

Do you have an expensive TV?
Do you have a computer with valuable info that is not on a surge protector?
You wouldn't want to lose your valuable and expensive appliances or electronics to a power surge or outage. You may think you are in an area where power surges don’t happen but it can happen anywhere and anytime. Imagine rushing home just time for your favorite TV show to find out that your TV will not turn on due to a surge that happened while you were out.
The solution: For less than a new computer monitor add a SURGE PROTECTOR onto your electrical panel that will protect your whole house and all your electronics. Talk to your local electrician about installing one that best suites your home and electronics before they may get damaged.
Consider protecting your new appliances (yes even that fridge that cost thousands) in your kitchen remodel with a panel surge protector while your electrician is on the project.

It may cost less than you think. But certainly a good feeling of protecting expensive electronics.

Three steps to guide you into a smooth remodel.

• Discover a look. Such as contemporary, traditional commercial, etc. Visit the library and check out some magazines or browse the bookstore, walk a home show or even find a remodeling tour. Do some image research on the web. Write down and make copies of the little things you like and the things you don’t like, this will help communicate with the designer and contractor.

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• Establish a budget. Even if you have no idea what a kitchen should cost you still have a comfortable number in mind. It is a big investment and you should feel like you are getting a good value.

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• Make three interviews. Kitchen remodeling has endless possibilities so choose a professional who has the experience in design and building kitchens, such as design build firms. They have  multiple perspectives on how a kitchen is put together. It takes the right tools, communication and language to make your kitchen remodel flow smoothly. Selecting a company should be based on a good rapport, great referrals, a solid amount of knowledge and creative ideas. One helpful tip- Ask who their vendors are and the subcontractors they use on a regular basis. Do a little research on those companies as well. After all they contribute to a large portion of your project.

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Cover these three steps and you are off to a great start for a new kitchen.

How to AVOID a stressful remodel.