Stephen Alberts

Nov 27 2022

Nine Easy Ways to Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Here are 9 quick and easy tips to make your home more energy efficient.

In this article, we’ve compiled nine easy ways that you can improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Ways to Lower Energy Consumption

Keep reading to learn about nine super simple ways to get energy efficient this fall:

1. Update your thermostat.

Programmable/smart thermostats can be set to automatically switch off to reduce heating/cooling whenever you’re asleep or out of the house to save energy. On average, this can save you about $180 per year!

2. Seal your windows.

Add weatherstripping around drafty windows, put a bead of silicone caulk over cracks in your drywall, or apply a sheet of shrink film to your windows to keep that cold air out and the warm air in.

3. Don’t overuse your space heater.

Space heaters use a lot of energy, and they can also be a big drain on your utility bill. If you’re going to use a space heater, make sure you’ve got an efficient model. But as an alternative, layer up and use thick blankets whenever you can.

4. Unplug chargers.

You might think that leaving your charger plugged in while you’re not using it is no big deal, but if you have a couple for each member of your family, they can make up a good chunk of your energy bill! If you’re not using your chargers, unplug them and save energy.

5. Wash clothes in cold water.

Much of the energy of the clothes-washing process goes towards heating the water, and you can save up to fifty dollars per year by lowering the temperature at which you wash by just fifteen degrees.

6. Replace air filters.

If you change your air filters regularly, you could cut down on energy consumption by up to 15 percent! Clean air filters let you and your family breathe cleaner air, and they also put less strain on your system.

7. Wrap up the water heater.

If you have an electric water tank, consider wrapping it in an insulating blanket—that way, you can prevent heat loss.

8. Use a clothesline.

You can’t exactly dry your clothes outdoors during the winter, but it’s quite refreshing to do so in the summer. When it’s cold outside, letting your clothes air-dry inside is an option too. Since dryers account for about 6 percent of a home’s energy usage, this can be helpful.

9. Update your lights.

Energy-efficient light bulbs use 75 percent less energy than traditional bulbs and last twenty-five times longer! They might be a bit more expensive, but the price will even out because of how long they last and how significantly they lower your electricity bill.

Staying Energy Smart

At One Man & A Toolbox, we care about the environment and your wallet. That’s why we’re big proponents of shifting into an energy-efficient lifestyle and teaching others to do the same. If you need help converting your home into a more efficient place to live, get in touch with us today.

Nov 24 2022

Common Flooring Problems and What’s Causing Them

One of the most overlooked parts of the home? The floors…

Wood floors are gaining popularity once more. Many remodelers often pull back the carpet in a home to find beautiful wood flooring underneath and wonder why in the world the previous owners would cover it up.

Flooring Issues

Whether you’ve just discovered old wood flooring or plan on installing new, it’s important to be aware of the types of damage and issues that can affect wood flooring.

Here are some common flooring problems and what’s causing them:

Everyday Wear and Tear

Wood flooring has a protective finish on it that helps it withstand everyday use. But this finish isn’t indestructible and it will start to wear off over time. As it fades, your flooring will start to show signs of wear and tear, like scratches, dings, and dents. There might also be worn spots in high-traffic areas. You can prevent heavy damage by using furniture pads and not wearing shoes indoors.

Pet Stains

If there are water spills or pet accidents that fly under your radar for too long, they will leave a permanent mark. Pet stains tend to soak through the finish and into the wood fibers. Stains in the finish must be sanded out, and stains that are especially bad might even require board replacement.

Sun Fading

Due to photosensitivity, some wood flooring may fade and change color in the sun over time. If you have a high-quality finish, this process will be delayed, but you have a better chance of avoiding it by installing blinds.

Peeling Finish

If your finish starts to peel in areas of your floor, that’s a sign that it wasn’t applied correctly, and you’ll have to sand the floor down and start from the beginning. A peeling finish usually means that dirt or chemicals (like stain residue) weren’t removed before the stain was applied.

Wide Gaps

A small amount of separation between boards is fine, but if you have noticeably wide gaps between boards, that indicates improper installation. Wood expands during humid weather and contracts when it’s dry, so gaps will appear larger during certain seasons of the year. If your boards were excessively damp during installation, the gaps between them will be wider once they dry, causing an issue with aesthetics.

Cupped Edges

Cupping is a type of water damage—cupped boards have edges that are raised higher than the center. If wood flooring is installed over a wet subfloor, this can happen, but high humidity can also be the culprit. Sometimes, floors will flatten out on their own as moisture evaporates, but sometimes sanding is required.

Keeping Your Floors Beautiful

At One Man & A Toolbox, we believe that your flooring is one of the most important aspects of your home, and it should be as beautiful and as structurally sound as possible. Get in touch with us today for help in solving any of your flooring issues

Nov 21 2022

Which Renovations Will Add the Most Value to Your Home

It’s no secret that the housing market has surged in recent years. And while buyers are spending more money, homeowners should still do what they can to make their property attractive.

Renovations are a great way to add value to your home. In this article, we share three renovations that will really pay off:

Renovate Your Kitchen

Remodeling your kitchen won’t just make you happy, it’ll also impress potential buyers if and when you decide to sell. According to HomeAdvisor, kitchen remodels increase a home’s property value. With that said, this is an expensive renovation project. Remodeling your kitchen can cost an average of $26,000.

Keep in mind that there are ways you can save money while renovating your kitchen. One of the best tips is to do your research before hiring a contractor. While you want someone with experience, you don’t want to end up paying more than you need. Use the internet as a resource, in addition to asking friends and family for recommendations.

Creating an Open Floor Plan

It should come as no surprise that many homeowners are drawn to properties with a lot of space. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sell a small home. On the contrary, just make sure your home has an open floor plan.

One way to do that is by enhancing the natural light in your home. Consider removing a wall to open up a room and brighten up your space. To help with flow, you could add a bookcase or shelving unit where the wall once was.

If knocking down a wall is too big of a renovation project, you could also try rearranging your furniture. For example, moving your couch away from the walls can help your small area look bigger.

Update Your Bathroom

Bathrooms might not be the first place you consider renovating, but they’re important to homeowners. According to a Houzz survey, homeowners are willing to pay more money for renovated bathrooms with certain features, including custom vanities and premium finishes.

While not every home has the space to completely transform a bathroom, there are small changes you can make that still add value. For example, swapping your outdated cabinets with modern ones or adding mirrors to make the space appear larger.

The goal of renovating is to improve the look and feel of your home. Not only can renovations make you, the homeowner, happy but they can help you attract the right buyer when it’s time to sell. Regardless of whether you sell your home in six months or five years, the remodel ideas above are a great place to start.

Nov 18 2022

How to Choose the Best Type of Fencing for Your Property

Robert Frost said, “Good fences make good neighbors.”

Whether that’s true or not, who’s to say? What is true is that the veritable array of fencing options available to the modern homeowner is staggering. That’s why today we’re going to discuss some of your options.

When considering fence type, it all boils down to purpose: security or decoration

Security

Whether you’re building the fence to keep something out or something in, a security fence is what you need. There are a variety of security fences available, and your choice will depend on what you want to prevent crossing your property line.

So, let’s take a look at some of your options:

Privacy fence—The privacy fence is a classic urban solution for folks avoiding the gaze of their neighbors. Whether wooden or vinyl, they also offer an aesthetically pleasing and difficult-to-climb barrier.
Palisade fence—The palisade fence is another visually attractive security fence option. These are made up of close-set, vertical iron or steel stakes, which create a difficult-to-climb and intimidating barrier.
Chain link—Of the security fences we’ve discussed here, the chain link is the most economical. These ever-popular fences are flexible and easily built.

Decoration

Maybe you’re not worried about security as much as your property is lacking that certain something. If that’s the case, decorative fence solutions are for you.

Here are some of your options.

Picket fence—The white picket fence once symbolized the ideal middle-class lifestyle. These fences are made up of evenly spaced vertical boards on horizontal railing. They are simple, effective, and easy on the eyes.
Split-rail fence—Also known as a log fence, these fences are good for those looking for a more rustic feeling that harkens to a simpler time. They are traditionally built from rough-cut wood railing that connects to vertical posts. However, vinyl rail options are available.
Lattice fence—This fence comes in many shapes and sizes, but at its core is a fence of intersecting wood or vinyl strips that form a pattern. Often found in gardens, this fence can also create an aesthetically pleasing barrier around your home.

Need Help with Your Fence?

One Man & A Toolbox would love to help you build your dream fence. Reach out today for a fence you can rely on for years to come.

Nov 09 2022

Why Hanging Heavy Paintings Without Professional Help is a Bad Idea

With the number of how-to guides for hanging heavy paintings online, it’s tempting to do it yourself.

However, that’s a bad idea. One misstep can cause serious damage to your wall and your painting. Whether the painting slips from its hook or pulls free from the wall from the weight, something is going to break.

Weight

The biggest challenge to hanging such a large painting is obviously the weight. Without proper mounting, a fall is certain.
You will need a specific set of materials to create a mounting that can sustain that weight depending on your wall medium. This can vary wildly. From drywall to plaster to masonry, each requires a different approach.
That is why you need to hire a handyman who can tell you when you need to use molly bolts or a drywall anchor to handle the weight of your painting.

Balance

Up next after weight, you will have to contend with balance. On your own, the painting is already going to be unruly. With a friend, you still need to line everything up just right, or you’re going to have a crooked painting.
Worse yet, a crooked painting is more likely to fall. Even if you don’t notice, a misdistribution of weight can cause a painting to shift and become dislodged from its place. It’s better not to risk it.

An experienced handyman will not only ensure your painting remains level, but also that its weight remains evenly distributed across the mounting.

Security

Any heavy object you mount on your wall is constantly under the strain of gravity. Paintings are no different. Everything is being pulled to the ground.

Even if you’ve leveled the painting and are confident that your hardware can handle the weight, how about the long term? Do you know if that mounting will last the test of time under that strain?

It’s enough to keep you up at night.

Need Help?

So, why risk it? The damage to your property could cost you more than the money you save doing it yourself.

For help with your heavy mounting needs, contact us at One Man & A Toolbox today.