Spring Maintenance Checklist

By Robert Robillard

Home Maintenance Checklist Fall and Spring cleaning are necessary to maintain a house and keep it in good condition.  No matter where you live, seasonal changes in temperature and moisture levels require special maintenance tasks.  Here is a Spring maintenance checklist to help you: turn off outside water bibs and remove hoses (fall), open hose…

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Replacing Window Screens

By Robert Robillard

Image: landlord-success.com Window Screen Replacement Why pay for re screening services when the task of replacing window screens is a relatively easy one that you can do yourself? Wood Screen Doors: For wood screens, remove the middle piece of screen molding and rip off the old screen. Pry off the old staples/tacks. Set the new…

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Flushing Two Boards

By Robert Robillard

Flushing Two Boards – Carpentry Tip Here’s a trick to get to pieces of lumber to line up when one of them is a bit twisted or bowed. You’ll need two hammers to do this. As shown in the photo, pre-start your nails. One hammer is used as a lever to pull the boards together…

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How To Design A Wine Cellar

By Robert Robillard

How to Build A Wine Cellar This article will give you the essentials needed to understand and learn How To Design A Wine Cellar. When building your wine cellar, room preparation is key in controlling the environmental factors that may negatively affect the storing and aging of your wine.  A properly constructed cellar will allow…

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Rebuilding a Rotted Deck

By Robert Robillard

Deck Building And Repair Tips What Would Henry David Thoreau Say?  On my current project I am very privileged to be rebuilding a rotted deck on this magnificent and historical home.  It was Henry David Thoreau’s “Last House,” he died in this home in 1862. The house plaque reads: Henry David Thoreau: Died May 6,…

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Copper Lantern Repair

By Robert Robillard

Copper Lamp Post Repair A client of mine has this beautiful copper lantern on a post in their front yard. This past winter heavy winds and pushed snow from the snow plow caused the solder joints holding the lantern seams together to break.  They asked if I was able to perform a copper lantern repair. …

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Wood Rot

By Robert Robillard

Dry Rot Dry rot can be a big problem in a house. Interior wood rot is usually caused by high moisture, running water, poor ventilation and bad maintenance, or a combination of these conditions. The speed of decay will depend on the moisture content. Wood and wood products that have been exposed to continual moisture…

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Furnace Room Door Vent

By Robert Robillard

Photo by concord carpenter. [Notice vent in upper door.] Problematic Furnace Room Door Vent Location This door leads to a mechanical room that is located in a barn converted into a house. The room is accessible from the outside only and it’s design and set up has been problematic from the beginning. When I was…

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