Sun-Burned Lawn

By Todd Fratzel on Landscaping

We have a serious case of sun-burned lawn behind our home. As you can see in the photo there is a very large area of sun-burned grass. You can also see in the lower left hand corner of the photo where our septic tank is buried by the nice rectangular outline of sun-burned grass. This…

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Evaluating a Domestic Solar Hot Water System

By Todd Fratzel on Energy Conservation, Solar Power

Top 5 things to evaluate when choosing a Domestic Solar Hot Water system (SDHW) With the price of energy skyrocketing, many people are looking into ways to reduce their energy use and thus expenses. Solar systems, particularly SDHW systems are an excellent way to do just that. SDHW systems are often less expensive than their…

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Peel and Stick Crown Molding?

By Todd Fratzel on Finish Carpentry, Product Reviews

Self Stick Crown Molding Peel and stick crown molding? What will they come up with next? I’m having a hard time understanding how this product is a good thing. There are a couple of manufacturers out there making peel and stick crown molding. They sell it in short lengths and it comes ready to cut…

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Building Permits – Be Your Own GC

By Todd Fratzel on Design & Planning

Building Permits Obtaining a building permit is one of the first steps in beginning any large scale home improvement project. Most local governments require a building permit for projects that exceed a certain dollar amount. Often times when a client asks me if there are any tasks they can do to cut costs on a…

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Lubricating Wood Screws with Soap

By Todd Fratzel on Cabinetry, Finish Carpentry

Many of you probably already know about this DIY tip but it’s such a good one that it warrants repeating. If you’ve ever installed wood screws in any type of hardwood you know that it’s a tough task even when you pre-drill a pilot hole. One of the classic examples is installing wood screws in…

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Are Carbon Credits A Good Idea?

By Todd Fratzel on Green Building

The recent Green movement in this country has been nice to see. I think the skyrocketing fuel costs have finally struck a nerve with folks and we’re starting to evaluate the choices we make on a daily basis. One of the interesting topics that I’ve been reading about lately is the sale and exchange of…

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Should you be your own general contractor?

By Todd Fratzel on Home Improvement Cost Savings

Should you be your own general contractor next time you do a major construction project around the house? Will being your own general contractor save you money? Will being your own general contractor save you time? Will being your own general contractor get you the best products for less money? These are questions I hear…

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$6,000 Kitchen Remodel Project Is Amazing

By Todd Fratzel on Home Improvement Cost Savings

The fine folks at This Old House asked me to share quite the kitchen remodeling success story with you. A young couple with children recently remodeled their 1970’s style kitchen into a beautiful new kitchen on a $6,000 budget! They were able to accomplish the amazing kitchen remodel by finding great deals on Craigslist and…

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