Archives: Home Improvement

How To Install A Dimmer Switch

By Todd Fratzel on Electrical

Installing A Dimmer Switch A fairly easy home improvement project is installing dimmer switches. Dimmer switches can help create better visual settings in a room depending on the activity the room is being used for. In addition, using dimmer switches can actually help reduce your electric bill when the light is being dimmed. As with…

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How To Assemble John Deere Plug Aerator

By Todd Fratzel on Landscaping, Power Tools

Today I finally got around to assembling the John Deere 48″ Plug Aerator that I purchased recently. The 48″ plug aerator is a tow-behind model that attaches to the hitch on my John Deere X300 lawn mower. The assembly took me about one hour with the help of my three year old son (hmm…..does that…

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Ceiling Fan Speed Controls

By Todd Fratzel on Electrical

Today I learned something new about how to control the speed of ceiling fans. We have a ceiling fan in our bedroom that we use pretty regularly during the summer. It has three pre-set speeds, slow, medium and fast. Here’s the problem: the slow and medium speeds are so slow that they really don’t do…

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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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