How To Fix Wet Basements

By Todd Fratzel on Basements

Fixing Wet Basements It seems that everyone wants a finished basement these days and it’s pretty obvious why. Basements offer valuable square footage to a homes living space if it’s dry and inhabitable. However, many basements are prone to poor ventilation and drainage and even standing water during wet weather. Fixing wet basements can be…

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DC Rowhouse | Guest Blogger

By Todd Fratzel on Remodeling

Occasionally I read a home improvement related blog and want to share the site with my readers. So I’ve decided to start publishing a few guest blog posts. Most of these posts will likely be written as an introduction to the blog. If these are successful then I’ll make them a regular part of the…

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Gator Hook & Loop Drywall Sandpaper System Review

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Product Reviews

Gator Finishing Products The folks at Gator Finishing Products sent me another one of their products to review and this one has been a huge hit with one of my drywall crews! Ali Industries’ has recently introduced the new Gator® Professional Drywall Pole and Hand Sanders and Drywall Hook & Loop Sandpaper System. The Gator®…

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How To Remove Soap Scum – Shower Doors

By Todd Fratzel on Bathrooms, Maintanence

How To Remove Soap Scum Our new home has a fantastic large two person shower which is one of my favorite features in the entire house. However, the great glass shower door has become a real challenge to keep clean. Our problem is with really hard to clean soap scum on the glass shower door.…

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Replacement Blades | John Deere X300 Mulching Mower

By Todd Fratzel on Lawn Care

John Deere X300 Mulching Mower Today I learned an expensive lesson about choosing the correct replacement blades for a John Deere X300 mulching mower. I own a John Deere X300 with a 42″ mowing deck. You can actually buy this machine with two different decks apparently, a regular 42″ deck or a 42″ mulching deck.…

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Craftsman 12 Volt Lithium-Ion Auto Hammer

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools

Craftsman Auto-Hammer The other day I saw a demonstration of a really cool new tool that will find its way into many workshops! We’ve all seen the popular palm nailers so this new auto hammer is an extension of the idea. This innovative new auto hammer is a cordless tool that allows you to install…

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Brick Facade Over Metal Stud Framing

By Todd Fratzel on Masonry

Brick Facade & Metal Studs Brick facades and metal stud framing are becoming increasingly popular in commercial and residential construction. This type of construction is popular for several reasons including speed, cost and performance. I’ve written several posts recently documenting the metal stud framing, Densglass Exterior Sheathing and the Masonry Flashing Details. In this post…

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How To Install Leviton 6260M Electronic Timer Switch

By Todd Fratzel on Electrical

Leviton 6260M Timer Switch In a previous post, Leviton 6260M Electronic Timer Switch, I wrote about these new timer switches that I purchased to use in our three bathrooms. Using timer switches will allow us to run the fans after we’ve left the room in order to make sure all the excess moisture is removed…

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