Have Water Damaged Drywall? Learn How to Fix it Here!

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

People are surprised how little water it takes to damage drywall. If you have damaged drywall due to water then you’ve come to the right place.

We found this article in the Washington Post that describes how to repair the drywall and avoid mold damage.

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From the article:

Repairing water-damaged drywall is not too hard. Ceilings will present the most difficulty if you’re not a professional. Working over your head is not easy, and getting the repair to blend in with the rest of the ceiling will be tough to achieve if you’re not highly experienced at finishing drywall.

It’s best to try to cut out the wet drywall as soon as possible so that you minimize any mold growth. Mold spores are hidden in the typical ceiling; the temperature is perfect, and they have food. The only ingredient missing was water, and now that’s present. Mold can bloom within days if you don’t act.

Be sure to wear goggles or other eye protection as you remove the damaged drywall. The last thing you need right now is a scratched cornea from a nugget of gypsum falling into your eye.

One of the biggest challenges in getting the ceiling ready for a new piece of drywall is cutting back the water-soaked drywall to the center of one of the ceiling joists. This is accomplished with any number of tools, from a sharp razor knife to a reciprocating saw held at a low angle so the blade just cuts into the drywall and not the wood joist.

You can also cut to the side of a joist and then nail on a scab or sister 2-by-2 that will be the lath catcher for the new drywall. Just be sure the bottom of the framing material is flush with the bottom of the existing joist. If it’s lower, you’ll end up with an unsightly hump in the ceiling.

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Looking for storage ideas in your laundry room? Checkout this article with laundry room storage ideas for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Click here to read the entire article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/18/AR2011031805121.html

Looking for Ways to Simplify Your Life? Try These Ideas!

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Jeremy Leake

Being a parent is one of the most challenging jobs there is. There isn’t many things in life that are harder. In order to help you make your life easier we found this article with easy ways to make you life easier. We hope they help!

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From the article:

Wraps Wristband Headphones
Instead of searching for tangled headphones at the bottom of your bag, have them at the ready on your wrist with this innovative disguise. The stylish neutral leather means it’ll match all your workout attire.

Two-In-One Whisk and Scraper
The added lip on this kitchen classic makes it easy to scrape up every last bit of batter from the bowl. The best part? The dual-use tool means minimal clean up.

Carpool Kids
In the rush of back-to-school, it???s easy to forget exactly who is responsible to pick the kids up from soccer practice. This free iOS app easily organizes carpool schedules between parents. Ride share with a friend without an iPhone? Their responsive website allows non-Apple users to access all the features on a web browser.

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Looking for more ways to make your life easier? Checkout this article about ways to make your life easier that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/problem-solvers-09-16-16

Looking to Fix Things Around Your Home? Don’t Want to Spend Much Money? Try These Fixes!

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Jeremy Leake

Things break around your home. It’s a fact that most homeowner’s don’t like. We found this article from Realtor.com that lists some easy, cheap fixes for common mishaps around the home. We hope they help make your home look better and save your wallet too!

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From the article:

Treatment for a scratched wood floor. For minor scratches, crayons will do the trick. Pick a color that matches the flooring, and color in the scratched area. Be sure to stay in the lines; then buff to a shine. A matching permanent marker can camouflage deeper, ugly scratches. Another method: Grind the meat of a walnut or pecan into the scratch. The nut oil will provide a shine that blends with a polyurethane or water-based surface finish.

Pennywise way to unclog a drain. For a balky drain, try dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the sink followed by a cup of white vinegar. After about 15 minutes, you can clear the drain with boiling water. Do not attempt this trick immediately after using a commercial drain opener like Drano or Liquid-Plumr.

You???ve stripped a screw. Now what do you do? Using a hacksaw, cut into the top of the screw to create a new groove for the screwdriver.

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Looking to look for your houses warning signs that something is happening? Checkout this article about house warning signs for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Read all the ideas here: http://realtormag.realtor.org/home-and-design/briefs/article/2013/05/cheap-home-remedies

Are You a Homeowner That Likes to Do Your Own Repairs? Learn What Repairs are Often Done Wrong Here!

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Some homeowners like to do home repairs themselves and others don’t like to do any repairs. If you’re one that likes to do your own repairs we found this article for you. Some repairs are easier to do than other. Some, like the ones on this list, are ones that may seem simple but then you quickly get in over your head. We hope that you give these projects due diligence and not end up with a disaster.

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From the article:

When embarking on home improvements and renovations, it???s important to separate the do-it-yourself projects from those best handled by professionals. Attempting to handle a professional job on your own could lead to expensive repairs and additional renovations. Here are some DIY disasters and how to fix them with professional help:

Fixing plumbing pipes
If the plumbing starts to go out in your basement or attic ??? or underneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks ??? be extremely careful in how you go about fixing them. Homeowners often think that they can twist pipes with a wrench to get a clog out, but this can lead to a pipe coming off and water puddling all over the floor. Moreover, when pipes have more extreme damage like holes, rust or cracks, they need to be replaced. Don???t attempt to buy new pipes without some guidance; you could get end up getting the wrong materials or the wrong size.

That???s when you need to find a licensed local plumber. Plumbers have the knowledge and experience to safely and quickly fix your plumbing issues, whereas attempting to do the job without experience will likely lead to costly repairs ??? including new flooring or insulation, depending on the extent of damage.

Felling trees
While some homeowners may choose to trim branches on their own, felling trees is another matter entirely. There are a lot of risks involved with felling trees, including:

– Sharp tools causing injury
– Branches hitting power or phone lines
– Trees hitting the landscape (bushes, lawn, fence, etc.)
– Trees falling onto the home
– Trees falling onto a child or pet

In short, there are many risks involved with DIY tree removal ??? and there are many municipal regulations and restrictions involved as well. Homeowners should hire a tree service or certified arborist to remove a tree.

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Know what repairs you should do yourself as a homeowner? Checkout this article about homeowner repairs that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/5-diy-home-maintenance-mistakes-fix/

Moving? Find Out What Makes a Home a Good One Here!

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Buying a new home is stressful. There are so many things to consider. Is it large enough? Does it have enough bedrooms and bathrooms? Is it in the right subdivision? The list goes on and on. In order to help you out we found this article that helps you determine what makes a house a good one. We hope it helps you find your dream home!

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If you need Baton Rouge dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Buyers spend a lot of time looking at properties online, touring homes on the Sunday open house circuit, and talking to their real estate agent. They???re laser-focused on finding the best home that meets their needs. The problem is, buyers sometimes don???t take the long view of a property. They???re only looking at a home as a potential buyer ??? and not as someone who, years down the road, may also have to sell the property. Given that homes are such a big investment, there should be a little inside your head, picking away at your options and decisions.

As the home buying market starts to heat up again, here are ten things you should consider when choosing your next home.

1. Location, location, location
Perhaps nothing is more important than the three L???s, and there???s a reason why it???s said three times.

Location is extremely important when it comes time to sell. You can have the worst house in the world with the ugliest kitchen and bath. But put it on a great block or in a good school district, and your home will be coveted.

Location location location matters on so many different levels. At the highest level is the town where the house is located, then the school district, then the neighborhood and the block ??? right down to the location of the lot on the block. Keep all of this in mind when shopping. Also remember that while real estate markets rise and fall, no one can take a great location away from you.

2. The school district
The school district is right up there on the list of what???s most important to many buyers. It???s not uncommon for buyers to start their search based solely on the school district they want to be in. Parents want their kids to go to the best school, which can drive up prices of homes in those districts. Even though you might not have children, buying a home in a good school district is always smart. If the schools are desirable, homes tend to hold their value. As a homeowner, you should always be aware of how the schools are doing, not unlike being aware of your roof???s condition, the neighborhood development or city government.

3. The home???s position on the lot
Where the home sits on the lot in relation to the street or the overgrown oak are key elements in picking out a home. In the case of a condo, an end unit vs. an interior unit is a key consideration. You may have chosen the most beautifully renovated home in the best school district and figure all is good. But if the main living areas are shaded by a neighbor???s extension or the master bedroom looks into the neighbors??? family room, you may have a location problem. Light or privacy may not be a hot button for you, but chances are, they might be concerns for a future buyer.

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Looking for information on doing a home inventory? Then checkout this article about doing a home inventory that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.zillow.com/blog/10-things-that-make-a-home-a-good-home-88384/

Want a Man Cave? Checkout These Must Haves!

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Having a man cave is something that most men dream about. Some place that is all theirs to go hang out and unwind in. If that’s you or your husband then you’ve come to the right place. We found this article with 100 man caves must have ideas. Have fun planning your dream man cave!

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From the article:

Every man needs a room to themselves, and these man-cave must haves are the perfect way to fill up those macho rec-rooms. Still unsure about that man-cave, Merriam-Webster just entered man-cave as a recent addition into the English language, and if it is in a dictionary, it has to be legitimate.

One of the essentials to any man-cave is a personal bar. From personal draft beer dispensers to score-keeping booze sleeves, these alcohol-assisters will make the booze go down that much smoother.

A false assumption many would make about a man-cave is that it does not need decorating, yet this is completely false. Filling a room with manly movember movie prints, skateboard furniture, geeky 8-bit aquariums and weaponry decor will not only appease the eyes, but make the space much more enjoyable for all visitors.

Finally, no man-cave is complete without games, from eye-controlled arcade games to convertible foosball tables, these recreational activities will keep men busy for hours. And, if men truly want to make a luxurious space that will be the talk of the town, they just need to spend money on some touchscreen Texas Hold ???Em tables and $100,000 pool tables.

Use this list of man-cave must haves and guys may never leave the space again, especially if there are bromantically scented candles to kill any bad odors.

Geeky Gamer Furniture

The Playstation controller by Mark M is for Video Game Fanatics

Fancily Boozed Fixtures

Express your love of alcohol with these beer bottle chandeliers

Beer Fridge with Door Tap

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Looking for life hacks to make parenting easier? Then checkout this article with parenting life hacks that could be of interest to you.
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See all the ideas here: http://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/mancave-must-haves

Looking to Winterize Your Home? Try These Ideas!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

It’s important to winterize your home. Most people know this but not really sure what to do to winterize it. We found this article that we hope will help you determine what to do in order to protect your home. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

So you’ve pulled your sweaters out of mothballs and found your mittens at the bottom of the coat closet. But what about your house — is it prepared for the cold months ahead?

You’ll be a lot less comfortable in the coming months if you haven’t girded Home Sweet Home for Old Man Winter.

With the help of several experts, we’ve boiled down your autumn to-do list to 10 easy tips:

Insulate yourself
“Another thing that does cost a little money — but boy, you do get the money back quick — is adding insulation to the existing insulation in the attic,” says Lipford. “Regardless of the climate conditions you live in, in the (U.S.) you need a minimum of 12 inches of insulation in your attic.”

Don’t clutter your brain with R-values or measuring tape, though. Here’s Lipford’s rule of thumb on whether you need to add insulation: “If you go into the attic and you can see the ceiling joists you know you don’t have enough, because a ceiling joist is at most 10 or 11 inches.”

A related tip: If you’re layering insulation atop other insulation, don’t use the kind that has “kraft face” finish (i.e., a paper backing). It acts as a vapor barrier, Lipford explains, and therefore can cause moisture problems in the insulation.

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Looking for more information on getting your home ready for winter? Checkout this article about winterizing your home for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ways click here: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=13107899

Think Your Home Might Have a Water Leak? Find Out How to Find Out Here!

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Water leaks can be tricky. Not only can they be difficult to fix they can be even more difficult to find in the first place. We found this article that describes six different ways to find a water leak. Hopefully it will help you find the water leak in your home should you get one!

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From the article:

In most cases the water line running to your home is “metered” for accountability and billing purposes. A leak on your line can be very costly. Yet, even a very small leak can be found through trying a few simple techniques and can save you from a nasty surprise from your local utility company. If you have been notified that you have a leak, here are a few steps you can do before calling a plumber. The more you do, the less it will cost you in the long run!

Check the toilet for leaks by removing the top off the tank and listening very closely. If you hear any hissing at all, try to locate where it is coming from. If you locate the area where the leak is coming from, assess it and determine if you can fix it. If you can’t, then call a plumber.

If nothing is noticeable, add some food coloring and put a couple of drops in the tank (not the bowl). Wait several minutes and if you have coloring in the bowl, you have a leak in the flapper at the bottom of the tank that is allowing water to seep through. At this point you can assess if you want to do the repair yourself, or call a plumber.

If you have more toilets, go ahead and repeat the process with each toilet to make sure you don’t have more than one problem.

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Looking for ways that your home talks to you? Checkout this article about how your home talks for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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For all the ways click here: http://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Water-Leak-in-Your-House

Think Your House Doesn’t Talk? Think Again!

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Bad things happen to good homes. Unfortunately this is true. Wouldn’t you the homeowner like to know about problems before they become major problems? We found this article that we hope will help you identify warning signs that something else is happening in order to avoid a bigger headache in the future.

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From the article:

Your home is trying to tell you all sorts of things. The way it sounds; the way it smells. And there are plenty of visual cues to tip you off that something isn???t right. ???Everything is moving all the time, expanding and contracting at different rates, reacting to heat, rain and wind. A house is moving and breathing,??? says Tapley Dawson, a partner at The Home Doctors in Novato, California. In other words, a house is something you’ve got to take care of.

Dawson recommends that you do a good walk around the house every fall before the rainy season begins, checking for cracks, clogged gutters or anything that just doesn’t look right. That way you can catch problems early.

If you own an older home, you should do a thorough check in the springtime as well, since those homes are prone to more damage. “You can’t just live there blindly and assume it???s going to be all right,” Dawson says. “You have to participate and be active. The whole house needs love.”

You see: Bubbling, flaking or cracking paint.
Cause: This means moisture is somewhere in the wall and should be addressed as soon as possible. Some latex-based paint will actually balloon out, says Dawson, which is a big red flag. (During a rainy day in Houston years ago, I had a 5-foot-wide bubble on my ceiling, slowly dripping. When I poked it with a screwdriver, it streamed water into a bucket for half an hour.)

Trapped moisture can occur on ceilings, on walls, around windows and on trim and molding. ???If you see it, it ain’t going away,??? says Ralph Stow, a contractor at the Dallas Renovation Group. ???It???s there for a reason.??? Moisture is somehow penetrating from outside or even from a leaky pipe or A/C unit. The paint might be ???alligator-ing or checkering below windows in the corners,??? Dawson says, which means there’s a leak and water is getting into your stud bay. This can cause mold and wood rot.

Who to call: A home repair specialist can help determine the source of the leak and how to fix it. A plumber, general contractor, roofer, mold removal specialist or water damage professional may be needed also, depending on the problem.

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Looking for ways to maintain your home? Checkout this article about maintaining your home for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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For all the warning signs to look out for click here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/17552868/list/10-Problems-Your-House-May-Be-Trying-to-Show-You

Dryer Fires. Truth or Myth? Read This Then Decide!

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

We’ve spent a lot of time discussing the dangers of dryer fires. Some of you may still not believe they actually happen. We found this article from Consumer Reports that we hope will help you form a concrete opinion.

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From the article:

In the e-mail, an unknown author warns of a clothes dryer’s burned-out heating unit. According to a “repair man,” the author writes, the burnout was caused by fabric-sheet film buildup on the lint filter. “You can’t SEE the film, but it’s there,” the author writes. “This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire and potentially burn the house down.” The best way to avoid these problems, according to the “repairman,” is to take that filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months.

But according to Consumer Reports testers, this e-mail mixes a lot of hyperbole with only a few helpful dryer-maintenance tips. At Consumer Reports we’ve tested hundreds of clothes dryers for our ongoing dryer Ratings and recommendations (available to subscribers). CR’s appliance director, Mark Connelly, says it’s possible that over a long period, fabric sheets, fabric softeners, and laundry detergent ingredients contribute to an unseen film or waxy buildup on the dryer lint screen. But “it’s highly doubtful,” he said, “that any such invisible buildup alone leads to heating-unit burnout or a fire.”

Improper dryer vents are a much bigger and more common safety problem. Here are a few tips to keep your clothes dryer running safely and efficiently.

Use metal dryer ducts to help prevent dryer fires. Consumer Reports says that flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic are the most problematic because they can sag and let lint build up at low points. Ridges can also trap lint. Metal ducts, either flexible or solid, are far safer because they don’t sag, so lint is less likely to build up. In addition, if a fire does start, a metal duct is more likely to contain it. See our dryer venting safety report for more tips as well as photos and a dryer-venting video.

No matter which kind of duct you have, you should clean it regularly. In addition, remove the visible lint from the lint screen each time you use your dryer. This not only will reduce the risk of a fire, but your clothes will dry faster and your dryer will use less energy. If dryer film is a worry, there is certainly no harm in occasionally cleaning the lint filter with warm soapy water and a small brush.

Clean inside, behind, and underneath the dryer, where lint can also build up.

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Have more questions about dryer fires? Checkout this article about dryer fire statistics for busy homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/clothes-dryers/truths-and-myths-of-dryer-fires/overview/index.htm