How To Remove Stains From Granite

By Todd Fratzel on Kitchens, Maintanence

Several readers have asked me how to remove stains from granite countertops. Granite and other natural stone countertops are natural products that are very porous. Porous stone can easily absorb materials that can cause stains. Therefore in order to remove stains you need to understand how stains are created.All stains are created when the “spilled”…

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Buy A Fireproof Safe For Your Home

By Todd Fratzel on Safety

Recently some friends of ours lost their home to a horrible fire. Worldwide there are over 115 million house fires each year! I bring this up because it’s important to consider buying a small fireproof safe for your home to protect valuable property and documents from fire. Small safes like the SentrySafe DS3410 Black Fire-Safe…

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ZIP System Sheathing Review

By Todd Fratzel on Building Materials, Framing

I’ve written several posts about the new ZIP System sheathing products from Huber Engineered Woods. This exciting new product combines the benefits of Advantech sheathing with a built in vapor and moisture barrier. We have been using the ZIP System roof sheathing and the ZIP System wall sheathing for this new ranch style home. As…

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PVC Fascia

By Todd Fratzel on Siding & Trim

I’m a huge fan of using PVC fascia trim boards on new houses. PVC trim boards come in many sizes and work excellent for exterior trim applications. For this new house construction we’re using PVC trim boards from Kleer. Kleer trim boards are a rigid cellular PVC board that comes in standard 1x and 5/4…

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Cluster Flies are quite Pestering

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Safety

We’ve had a bit of a fall warming spell this week and the warmth has brought out pestering cluster flies. Cluster flies (Pollenia rudis) are slightly larger than the common house fly and they typically make their appearance on warm fall days or when the weather begins to warm up in the spring. Cluster flies…

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New Harvey Tribute Windows

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Windows

We are starting to install the new Harvey Tribute windows in the new house we’re building for a customer. The Harvey Tribute windows are an upgraded vinyl window that Harvey is now offering with some great new architectural details and energy efficient options. These Harvey Tribute windows were ordered with several upgrades. The windows feature…

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Cheap Rockwell RK9000 Jawhorse

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools

Rockwell Jawhorse The Rockwell RK9000 Jawhorse is a really versatile sawhorse that will make a great addition to any workshop or garage. This amazing Jawhorse can provide 1 ton of clamping force while holding up your work like a traditional sawhorse. Once you own the Jawhorse it’s likely that you will want several of these…

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How can your fireplace hurt your heating bill?

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation

Chimney Balloons Save Energy On a cold winter eve who of us is not tempted to go to the living room and stoke up a fire in the fireplace and read a book in front of the crackling hearth? You may be thinking “I am doing myself a favor by supplementing the furnace with additional…

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