Home Repair

Easy Advice For Getting Rid Of Pests

It can be very frustrating finding out about your pest problem. Failing to act can cause the problem to become worse. Luckily, you now have the information at your fingertips. Learn how to get rid of pesky pests in your home by reading the following article.

You can put steel wool in the holes to keep rodents away. It’s too hard for a mouse to chew through these steel strands. Stuff any holes larger than 1/2 inch. Mice can easily squeeze in the tiniest cracks.

Once you eliminate fruit flies, do they seem to keep returning? Your drain may actually be the issue. Source which drain is of particular concern for the fruit flies and place a piece of plastic wrap over it to see if they appear there. If so, put some boiling water in your drain and scrub it well. That should help you avoid breeding fruit flies.

Use an outdoor perimeter spray to keep insects from entering your home. Make sure you spray your home’s foundation, porches, steps, and other areas that are located near any windows and/or doors. When you’re spraying, look for crevices and cracks that make entry points for pests. Seal such spots with caulking or other material.

Always store your food carefully. Food scents attracts many different kinds of insects. In addition, when your trash bag is full, take it out immediately. Pests love the smell of your garbage.

It can be quite difficult to eliminate bedbugs because they can hide in out-of-the-way places. Seal off escape hatches before you poison bedbugs. This will help you to be sure that the bugs won’t pop out of the holes after you try and exterminate them.

If you have any plumbing leaks, immediately fix them. That’s because water attracts pests. The pests might sense there is a leak from far away. Don’t get in your own way when it comes to pest control. Eliminate your rodent and bug problem within your home.

Do not give mosquitoes a breeding ground to hang out in. Wherever water is simply standing, get rid of it. Mosquitoes will breed in tiny pools of water.

Plastic containers make great storage items. You should take them out of the bag or box and put them in a plastic container. When you get back from grocery shopping, immediately transfer these items to a better container. Using containers made from plastic can keep pests under control and extend the freshness of foods.

Make sure you research which types of pests are entering your home. Learn what attracts your pests, as well as what will repel them or eradicate them. By knowing all about the pest that is in your home, you can better adapt a plan for eliminating it.

If you are going to tackle a wasp nest or a bee hive, wait until the sun goes down. You can usually get rid of a bee hive by yourself if you use a spray foam that you can get from a hardware store. …

Kitchen Renovation

11 Ways to Protect Yourself From Getting Hammered by a General Contractor

The smell of sawdust wafting through the air, the sounds of hammers and saws, stacks of building supplies, and workers in , it looks like someone is having some construction work done! And while all of the pieces and players are in place and all appears to be in order, looks can be deceiving. In fact, if you have hired a contractor that you know very little about then until the project is completed and proven acceptable, there is likely a certain amount of trepidation…unless, you have done your homework.

Before having any home or office remodel done, it is an absolute must that you take the time to protect yourself and your investments by doing all you can to make sure that your contractor is everything they should be. Sad to say, just because you have spent the time getting an assortment of bids, contacting the Better Business Bureau, checking with state and local consumer protection agencies, the local authorities in regard to any licensing or banding requirements and a host of other background related details, you still need to go a few steps farther to protect yourself from getting hammered at the end of the job.

Write It Down!

Once you have found the contractor for your job, you need more than a gentleman’s agreement. You are making a choice to spend a great deal of money and you need to make sure you understand what the cost will cover. Consequently, you need to get all agreements and promises in writing, before anything else is done. In addition, there is no crime in asking for clarification of any part of the contract you don’t understand. If you don’t understand something or are not in agreement, don’t sign the contract! A general construction contract should include:

The contractor’s name, address, phone number and fax number

A detailed description of all the work to be done

A description of materials-this includes brand names, size, weight, color, etc…

Beginning and finishing dates

Payment schedule. You want to pay as little up front as possible and make payments throughout the course of the project, with the right to withhold payment if at any time the work does not meet your satisfaction. Don’t agree to financing arrangements you cannot afford.

Any guarantees that the contractor is making or warranties regarding the workmanship

A statement allowing you to cancel the contract based on the laws of your state.

A statement allowing you to cancel the contract after work has begun if you find unexpected or hidden problems once the job has been started.

The contractor’s responsibility to secure permits; if you have to get the permit, do not sign!

The bonding and licensing numbers of the contractor

The contractor is responsible for paying any subcontractors, supply costs, equipment rentals, etc. before you make the final payment. If this is not done, you become liable for the charges!

Don’t be pressured into signing a contract that you have not read through or don’t understand!…

Remodeling

Getting Started On Home Improvements – Useful Advice To Know In Advance

You do not want to cause damage to your home through your home improvement projects. As such, knowledge is power when it comes to home improvement. The article below has what you need to know to become your own handyman.

There are times when only one little improvement can increase the value of your home. If you are considering selling your home, you might want to think about improving it in a few small ways. You could just give the interior and exterior of your home a new paint job. Weekend job like these are low-cost and can enhance the value of your home.

Buying new furniture can be very costly. You can add some pizzazz to your rooms with nice furniture by shopping local thrift stores and garage sales. You can locate amazing gems among the trash. Of course, some of the deals may need a little elbow grease before they are up to par, but this is a small price to pay.

Believe it or not, you can actually fix the bubbles in the old vinyl tiles in your floor. If your old vinyl flooring has a bubble under the surface, slice it open with a sharp utility knife to release trapped air. This can flatten that bubble at least on a temporary basis. Inject glue into it to hold it to the floor after you have cut it. Stores sell a glue that comes pre-loaded in a syringe just for this type of purpose.

Cover your electrical outlet covers with aluminum foil before painting your walls. It is much easier to use foil, rather than tape, and it protects your covers from the mess. It is also easier to clean up. Just let paint dry before removing the foil and recycling it for other purposes.

Work on outdoor areas, as well. Part of your backyard can function as additional living space. This creates an idyllic outdoor environment for relaxing or cooking out with the family.

Remove or secure the extra cord or loops on your window blinds. Long or dangling cords pose a safety risk to small children and pets, who may become ensnared. Make sure you leave sufficient cord to operate the blinds, but get rid of excess, unnecessary length. By removing it you are preventing a potential accident before it occurs.

Making the inside interior walls of your home soundproof is a sound investment, pardon the pun. It would be quite luxurious to soundproof your entire home; however, this would be quite an expensive project. The crucial areas to keep soundproof are bedrooms, bathrooms and equipment rooms. The kitchen can be a nice area to soundproof as well, unless it’s a fairly open kitchen that attaches to a lot of different areas.

When thinking about replacing the cabinets in your home, look to wood cabinets. They are durable and stand up well to daily use. Wood that is often used in cabinetry is maple, oak, or cherry. They can all be stained and if you …