Growing up, Karie Fay picked rocks, hung drywall, carried lumber, straightened nails and performed other sundry tasks necessary to property development and home building. As a born writer, she performed all those tasks with her head in the clouds and her nose in a book. Karie grew up on construction sites and learned to love the smell of sawdust even as she wore girly-girl dresses. Being a practical gal, she attained a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in law and a concentration in sociology. Fate intervened when her writing talents were given a nod and her skills sharpened: During her junior year of college, she was offered a position as the Op/Ed editor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello's “The Voice.” She soon found herself writing for various clients, including RealEstate.com and the San Francisco Chronicle’s website. Karie's 30 years of experience and ability to write how-to guides that readers can easily visualize has led her back to her DIY roots. She particularly enjoys topics that feature a “Green” solution with a creative outlook such as recycled concrete driveways and cob houses. Today Karie lives in Michigan with her fiancé, teenage son and two dogs. She gets her hands dirty whenever she can, building or crafting various things.
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Always take the time to prepare properly for the job at hand. You may think it will only take a few minutes and doesn’t involve much, but drywall is messy, and repairing it is messier yet. Taking the time now will save you much more time later. Clear the room, if the repair is extensive, or the immediate area for smaller repairs. Remove wall hangings, nearby curtains, furnishings and other impediments. . . .
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Not only does carpet cleaning remove dirt and help reduce the number of microscopic critters living on a diet of your debris, it can also improve your air quality and reduce the amount of dangerous bacteria and viruses in your home. Recent research indicates that the carpet in your house probably harbors about 200,000 bacteria per square inch – meaning it’s 4,000 times more contaminated than even your toilet seat. . . .
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Sort of like nature blooms anew after the slumber of winter, springtime home maintenance prepares your house to emerge fresh and strong. It’s the perfect time to undo fall’s closing-up of the house while preparing it for the rest of the year. Most spring maintenance consists of things the average person can do without professional assistance. If there are tasks you don’t feel comfortable doing, find a professional in the field who offers references and guarantees. . . .
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Natural bird feeders are perfect no matter where you live. Not only do they typically cost less to make, since most or all of the parts come from nature instead of the store, they’re also a “greener” choice. The best part? These bird feeders are kid-friendly projects, so you can get your whole family involved. . . .
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Unlike a gas range, an electric range will never leak fuel or create carbon monoxide from burning fuel. Instead, an electric range uses an electrical supply – your home current, 220 volts – and converts it to heat. The greater the electrical flow generated, the more heat that results. Turning the knobs controlling your burners or oven works similar to a . . .
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Insulation isn’t free, and depending on which type you use, the cost can quickly add up. But as the old saying goes, sometimes you have to spend some to make some. When it comes to adding duct insulation, your monthly savings in utility bills will soon cover the costs, especially if you install the insulation yourself. . . .
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Unless you’re into cold showers, the sudden failure of your water heater is likely quite a shock. Looking at the ticket price for a new one, or the repair bill on the old, will undoubtedly give you another shock to top it off. Save your heart – and your pocketbook – by troubleshooting your water heater problem yourself. . . .
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There’s no avoiding it – if you want to update your wallpaper-covered walls, it’s going to take some work. What’s the alternative? Simply painting over wallpaper doesn’t usually work very well, and covering it with drywall is expensive and impractical. Your only real option is to remove the wallpaper and refinish the wall with your choice of materials. . . .
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With the proper finish, a hardwood floor will keep the color and sheen you love throughout the years. Sure, an appealing stain dresses up the wood, but it’s the finish that protects it and keeps it worth looking at. Whether you are refinishing a floor or adding new wood flooring, a quality finish job will repel stains and moisture, block dirt, and lessen if not eliminate . . .
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The inner workings of your gas fireplace probably seem too complicated to understand, and the thought of working on it overwhelming. Take heart – many of the problems you may experience are simple to troubleshoot and solve. Even if you choose to have a service technician repair your gas fireplace, it should cost less if you can direct him straight to the problem. . . .
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