Little things can mean a lot

I try to be the most consistent handyman I can be. I also try to be the most consistent blogger I can be. In both, I often try to take on more than I can realistically handle, which leads to mixed results at best.

On the handyman front, those larger projects have been my downfall. So I'm going back to basics and focusing on the small things. Yes, major projects have major impacts, but often, the smaller things can have an equal - or greater - impact.

My new philosophy - which I've been able to stick with for THREE consecutive weekends - is to finish one project each weekend. To date, I've re-fixed the power-flush toilet (which we've decided to pull the plug on, but I'll save that for another day), patched the plethora of nail and screw holes that dot our walls and bolt three bookcases (which were made obsolete by our built-ins) to various wall. All small things that make a small impact.

The project I'm most proud of, however, is re-purposing one of those bookcases into a closet of sorts for my daughter's bedroom. If you've never tried to alter a manufactured bookcase, then you'd probably assume it's easy. While it wasn't a terribly major undertaking, it was a lot more involved than I envisioned.

I am not a furniture maker, nor do I have any knowledge of how furniture is made, so the first thing I had to do was remove the trim from the face of the bookcase to see what I was up against. Starting at the top, from the inside of the shelving unit I tapped the trim until there was a space wide enough to insert a long flat-head screwdriver (a pry bar would have been helpful). Once the trim was off, I saw that the shelves were not only nailed into the frame from the outside, but they were also set in notches in the frame. So much for just pounding away until the shelves either broke or came loose.

Using a nail set, I sunk those outer nails through the frame and into the edges of the shelves. I then removed the staples from the two thin pieces of plywood(?) that make up the back of each shelf and took them off, opening the back of the top two shelves. I then used my hammer to remove the top of the frame. Believe me, this was a great way to work out my frustration with the Patriots, who were in the process of getting shellacked by the Browns.

Once I'd removed the top, I could push the sides of the frame far enough apart to lift out the shelves and reassemble the frame using finish nails. The plywood backing didn't survive removal very well, so the upper half of the unit has no back (which is fine, since we'd painted the interior of the shelves the same gray as our walls). The bare wood of the notches where the two shelves had sat will need to be painted, but for now, I'm ok with them being bare. The various nail holes also need to be filled, but as with the paint, I'm ok with that.

I learned my biggest lesson from re-setting the trim (using the old nails that were still in place). I don't own a rubber mallet, and being the expert hammer-wielder I am, I hit it too hard dinged the trim pretty good in one place. Oh well. That's what wood putty was invented for, right? Luckily, that was the first nail, so for the remainder, I placed a block of 2x4 between the trim and my hammer.

Once I had the unit reassembled, hanging the closet rod was a piece of cake. Ditto for bolting the unit to the wall. Thanks to having a 2-year-old, that's something I could almost do with my eyes closed.

Even before the clothes were hung and toys placed on the bottom shelves, I was damn proud of my work. So was Mrs. Handyman, which made me happy. But the happiest moment was my daughter's reaction upon seeing her new "closet" for the first time: "Oh, that's wonderful."

Because I enjoy it, any opportunity to flex my handyman muscles is a reward in itself. But reactions like that make my work that much more special.

(A note about the photo. At right, you can see one of the salvaged school doors I installed on industrial sliders to use as bedroom doors. Right next to the bookcase is the owl my wife and I made out of paper glued to a canvas for our daughter's first Christmas in 2008. It serves double duty by covering the thermostat.)

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If you're planning to do something similar, here are some tips based on my experience.

1. Depending on the size of the bookcase, number of shelves to be removed and your level of experience, plan on this taking about an hour.
2. As with any project, figure out what tools and hardware (nails, screws, etc.) you'll need and have them on hand before starting. Once you start, you don't want to be scrambling around (or running to the hardware store). Remember, it's better to have too much than not enough

Tools you'll need:

• Nail set
• Hammer
• Finish nails
• Rubber mallet (or scrap of 2x4)
• Pry bar (or long flat-head screwdriver)
• Adjustable closet rod
• Screwdriver (for installing closet rod)
• Level (for installing closet rod)
• Screwdriver (or power screwdriver/drill with screwdriver bit)
• Wood screws
• Toggle bolts and/or mounting brackets (In case you can't bolt the unit to a stud)

Disposal dilemma part 3: the conclusion

In the last episode, we left off at the point when I picked up my new KitchenAid disposal. If you need to catch up, read part 1 and part 2.

When I woke up Saturday morning, I couldn't wait to get the old disposal out and the new disposal in. I'd pored over the instructions the night before and gathered the necessary tools so I'd be ready to go when Mrs. Handyman and our daughter left for mommy & me dance class and to meet up with a friend.

First up: getting that useless InSinkErator out. While the instructions that came with the new disposal were helpful, this video from This Old House made my life much, MUCH easier. (It didn't hurt - nor do I believe it was a coincidence - that they were replacing an InSinkErator with a KitchenAid.)

Removal was pretty straightforward, with one exception. Why is it that one stubborn bolt always seems to derail a project? And why is it that I always fight with it for too long before coming up with a perfect solution? In this case, it was one of the bolts (located in the rear, naturally) that connects the disposal's drainpipe (the black pipe on the far left in the above photo) to the main drainpipe (white pipe above). The solution: get out a hacksaw and cut through the plastic pipe. I could have saved myself at least 15-20 minutes of fighting while crammed into the small space under the sink.

Another thing worth noting is that when I removed the metal access door at the bottom of the InSinkErator to disconnect the electrical wires, I found that compartment almost completely full of water. It's a miracle that thing never shorted out - or worse.

The installation wasn't quite as easy as installing a switchplate, but it was pretty easy. Once all the pieces and bolts were in place, lo and behold, it actually worked. And it's much more pleasing to see "KitchenAid" stamped on the sink drain than it was looking at "InSinkErator."

Here are the lessons I learned, which are helpful for much more than installing or replacing a disposal:

• When something goes on the fritz, deal with it immediately. Don't wait for bad things to happen (see "electrical compartment filled with water" above).
• By "deal with it," I don't mean rig a temporary solution. I mean fix it properly. If you do have to find a temporary solution (i.e. bucket), don't let it become your permanent fix.
• Read the directions, if only to determine which tools you'll need. It's no fun to stop mid-project to hunt for a bigger wrench. Or have to run to the hardware store for supplies you don't have on hand. Luckily, I didn't have to do that - this time.
• Search online for a video that shows the process. Words are good, but pictures (especially moving pictures) are better. Much better. This Old House and eHow are excellent resources.
• When you hit a snag (such as an impossibly stuck bolt), step back for a minute or two and look for another solution besides what the instructions or video say to do.
• When working in tight, cramped spaces, get out of that space at regular intervals. Otherwise, you're going to pay for it the next morning.
• Last but certainly not least: If you own an InSinkErator, check it regularly for leaks. You've been warned.

Most of what you need is included with the disposal. Here's a handy list of the necessary tools you'll want to gather before diving in. You may not need all of them, but it's good to have them on hand just in case. Keep in mind that these are the tools for replacing a disposal. If you're installing one from scratch, you're on your own.

• Phillips and flat-head screwdrivers (preferably with short handles)
• Adjustable wrench
• Ratchet and sockets
• Pipe wrench or large vise grips
• Plumber's putty
• Wire nuts (2)
• Hacksaw (optional)

Disposal dilemma part 2: the solution

Note: If you missed part 1, you you can catch up here.

My first stop was to research the problem of a near-constant leak from the bottom of our InSinkErator disposal (which was exacerbated by running the dishwasher). Turns out it's pretty common and apparently happens to other models. Not surprisingly, I found nothing about the problem on the company's website. But I did find the name and number for the only authorized service rep in Maine, so I gave him a call.

Entertaining as it was, I'll paraphrase our conversation: Yes, it's a common problem. He could come look at it the following week, but the cost of the visit alone (forget any necessary parts) would most likely be more expensive than a new disposal. Is that hard, I asked. "Can you swap out a switchplate?" (I can). I thanked him and hung up.

I found a well-reviewed KitchenAid from Lowes, but it wasn't available in any nearby stores. No problem. The bucket could stay in place a little longer, so I ordered it and had it shipped to my local store. Delivery was a little delayed, so it arrived last Friday. I was so excited I planned my entire Saturday morning around installing it.

I'd done my homework and found that while installing a disposal isn't quite as easy as swapping out a switchplate, it's not much more difficult.

Even though it wasn't challenging skills-wise, the installation is best told as a standalone story - which I've told in Part 3: the resolution.

Disposal dilemma part 1: the problem

Welcome to the latest chapter in what's becoming a continuing saga of appliances, fixtures, etc. outliving their usefulness in our home. This episode is sponsored by the InSinkErator Badger 1/3 HP disposal that's lived under our kitchen sink for nearly six years.

When I replaced our kitchen faucet in March of this year, I noticed a small amount of standing water on the bottom of the cabinet under the sink. I cleaned it up and made it a priority to find out where said water was coming from. It didn't take long (one running of the dishwasher) to locate the slow leak at the base of the disposal. I placed a small tin flowerpot underneath and again monitored the situation.

Over the next few weeks, there was only a small amount of water in the pot, so I continued to monitor. Eventually, water stopped showing up, so I decided it had been a fluke, perhaps linked to the problem of the dishwasher overflowing (which we'd had repaired). I left the flowerpot in place - just in case - and lined the bottom of the cabinet with some old plastic placemats.

Fast forward to September. We were gathering cleaning supplies for the woman we hired to give our place a good top-to-bottom cleaning every two weeks when my wife noticed some dampness on the bottom of the cabinet. No biggie, I thought, the pot must have gotten pushed out of the way of a small leak.

I saw just how wrong that assumption was when I went to sop up the water. The placemats were practically floating on a bed of standing water, and their undersides were covered in an oozy slime. The veneer on the cabinet's lower shelf had almost completely peeled off. Once I got the mess cleaned up, tossed the placemats and dealt with the wrath of Mrs. Handyman (who rightly said I should have dealt with the problem in the first place), I placed a larger bucket under the disposal. Before calling someone, I needed to be absolutely sure it wasn't a pipe that was leaking.

It wasn't. That first night, after running the dishwasher, there was at least an inch of water in the bucket.

Next up: Part 2: the solution (which wasn't what you might think.)

To DIY or not to DIY ...

I'm making my guest-blogging debut at Building Moxie today with a post about the necessary evil of hiring out your home improvement and the potential perils of doing so. It's a personal story, and the names have been changed to protect everyone - the innocent and the guilty.

Click here to give it a read. Some of it may hit too close to home, but hey, that's the nature of home improvement.

While you're there, bookmark Building Moxie. JB and his team do a bang-up job over there, and I'm proud to have been asked to contribute.

Taming a wild belt sander (video)

Wow, I've been gone a long time. Now that my professional commitments have settled out, I'm back in full force (at least for now).

For my first post-hiatus post, I thought I'd share with you this video, which came to my inbox yesterday courtesy of the Handyman Club of America. I've just been filing their newsletters (and a lot of other things) for future reference, but when I saw the subject line (Video: If a Keystone Cop Touched a Belt Sander), I couldn't resist.

Sadistically set to the "William Tell Overture," the video carries the disclaimer "Warning: violence! Pain!" for good reason. There's no blood, but a LOT of potential for lasting damage - both to the floor and to the guy using the sander.

After you watch for yourself, you'll see why I don't feel bad for the guy (nor do I feel bad about not feeling bad). He asked for everything he got. Enjoy.

Eyes and ears and mouth and nose...

I have a confession to make. I don't use protection. For my eyes, ears, mouth or nose, that is.

Sure, I'm a bright guy. I know it's important to use protective gear when using tools. But as I learned from G.I. Joe, "Knowing is half the battle." However, knowing and doing are two different things.

Actually, when I sand drywall, I do wear goggles and a mask over my mouth and nose. That wasn't always the case. I had to inhale a lungful of dust before breaking down and buying my goggles and mask. As for ear protection, do my iPhone ear buds count?

To be honest, I'm not sure why I eschew protective gear. I'm not really a risk-taker. I suppose if I had to pin my attitude on one thing, it would be that it's inconvenient. Then again, hearing loss, blindness and/or black lung would be worse. So far, it's worked out for me, but how long until my luck runs out?

So let me pose the question to you: Do you use protective gear? Why or not?

As for me, I'll try to do better, but I can't make any promises. Maybe when I find myself in the "What did he say?" boat, I'll change my tune.

Apologia

It's been almost two weeks since I've posted here. I guess that would qualify me as a terrible blogger. As I've said before (maybe too many times), I struggle to find a balance between work, family time and home improvement. Especially in summer. I always have the best intentions about getting things done, but life just seems to get in the way.

At any rate, I'd like to take a second to apologize for the unplanned hiatus. I promise to do better.

In praise of Mike Holmes

One of my favorite shows is HGTV's "Holmes On Homes." It's not a new show, so I realize I'm late to the party, but if you're interested in home improvement or DIY, you have to check it out.

Pardon me while I gush about it for a few paragraphs.

The basic premise is that Mike Holmes visits homeowners whose homes are in dire need of repair, but who, for the most part, don't have the skills to do it themselves. Usually, what Mike does is clean up messes created by contractors and/or builders who've done shoddy work.

It seems that most other HGTV shows place an emphasis on showing the before and after results, but not "Holmes on Homes." The show focuses on the hard (often grueling and frustrating) work it takes to get from before to after. No, he jumps right in and does a lot of the back-breaking work himself.

While the process makes for great TV, it's not the best reason to tune in. That would be Mike himself. He's just a regular guy who can't stand shoddy work - and he seems to feel compelled to "make it right" (which is his personal slogan, as well as his Twitter handle - follow him).

My favorite episode to date was one in which Mike completed a handicapped-accessible (left unfinished by not one, but two contractors) for a former teacher who's now confined to a wheelchair. During their pre-construction conversation and tour of the apartment, he learned that she also struggled with the design (Mike noticed burn marks on her arms from reaching across the stovetop for the controls) of her kitchen and that she loves to read.

So Mike, showing that his heart is at least as big as his biceps, not only finished the bathroom, but he also made it easier for her to reach her upper cabinets, installed a stove with controls on the front (and which opened to the side, rather than down), and created a beautiful reading area in her living room. If you get a chance to see it, I challenge you to keep your eyes dry.

His skills, attention to detail and compassion have made Mike one of my heroes. I'd pay good money to sit down and have a beer (or twelve) with him. Watch the show and you'll feel the same way.

I want this job

One of my favorite blogs is Home Fixated. They do a great job blogging about home improvement, tools, how-to tips and a lot more - with a sense of humor. Which is why I wasn't surprised to see this great tool review posted this morning. OK, so the Bosch 360 Jobsite AM/FM Stereo isn't technically a tool, but it's close enough.

As its name implies, the 360 is designed to be used on job sites, and the company claims it's "designed to withstand the toughest jobsites (sic)." And the company is apparently willing to back up that claim. Along with their regular product review, Home Fixated posted a video they shot during a drop test demo, which is fun to watch. I particularly seeing it in slow motion.

How did the 360 withstand an approximately 10-foot drop (twice)? Read the review and watch the video to see for yourself.

And while you're at it, bookmark Home Fixated.

Don't be a Lego man

When it comes to tools, especially of the power variety, safety isn't always top of mind. This is not news to anyone. A lot of times, you're in a hurry to get a project done, so you sacrifice safety for speed. Don't get me wrong. I'm not judging. I do the same thing myself - too often, I'm afraid.

For a lighthearted look at some of the disasters we flirt with when we rush, I'll let the Lego men in this video do the talking. Then I challenge you to not think about what it might look like in real life.

On that happy note, enjoy.

My four must-have power tools

Because the article on essential tools for homeowners lacked any mention of them, I thought I'd come up with my own list of essential power tools. So here they are (in no particular order):

1. Cordless drill. I can't tell you how often I use my Craftsman cordless around my home. I used to have an electric screwdriver, but when the battery went DOA, I just started using my drill. My trusty drill has helped me frame walls, hang drywall, bolt bookshelves to the wall (I do have a climbing toddler, you know) and much, much more.

2. Circular saw. Even though, sadly, this is one power tool I don't have, I often run into situations where I could really use one. In fact, power saws have been a major hole in my tool collection. The only one I had (until last Christmas, when my dad gave me a jigsaw) was the (cheap) chop saw I bought to cut baseboard. When I finally have the time to jump back into home improvement, a circular saw will be joining the family. And based on past experience, it will be cordless because I'd definitely find a way to cut through a cord.

3. Palm sander. My Corner Cat is another of my loyal and reliable friends. If you do any painting or refinishing, this is a great tool to have. Not only that, but if you're no wiz with a power saw, you can use it to sand off those splintered ends that a less-than-perfect cut will leave.

4. Dremel rotary tool. The WD-40 of the power tool world, this tool does it all - and has since 1945. With dozens (if not hundreds) of bits and attachments available, you can use this handy palm-sized wonder for everything - carving, engraving, sanding, cutting, cleaning, polishing and so much more. I'm ashamed to say that this is also conspicuously absent from my arsenal. And I'm not quite sure how I've overlooked it for so many years.

That's my short, very sweet, list. In my experience, with these four power tools, you can fix, build or improve just about anything around the house. Sure, I'm missing two of them, but remember this old parental saying: Do as I say, not as I do.

I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Must-have tools

While doing research for work, I came across this list of seven tools every homeowner should own. (the headline says eight, but you'll notice the numbers skip from six to eight). Want to have little fun? Before you check it out, come up with your own list of eight and see how it compares. Then see how many of them you actually have in your home.

It's a pretty good - if basic - list (What? No power tools?). But it's perfect for someone who's just a dabbler in home improvement. With a few more tools in your arsenal, you'll be ready for those annoying fix-ups that you'll inevitably encounter.

For the record, I'm only missing one. Care to guess what that is?

What next? (aka the five-year itch)

Five and a half years. That's how long we've owned our loft. Coincidentally, that seems to be the outer edge of the life span on a lot of our appliances, all of which were new when we moved in.

As I've mentioned before, problems with our power-flush toilet and tankless boiler have been ongoing for most of those five years. Now I can add to the list the Insinkerator disposal and the dishwasher.

The disposal has acted up off and on for a while, sometimes refusing to process anything else and backing up into the sink. Because the dishwasher empties into the drain, this has sometimes caused problems with water spewing out of the relief valve. This valve is located at the top of the sink, next to the cold water handle, so you can probably guess the results (think pools of water all over the kitchen counters). After the last backup, we stopped running egg shells, coffee grounds and things like banana peels and melon rinds through. Problem solved.

Now it seems the disposal has sprung a small leak. It's located directly under the sink, along with a few other things like trash bags, lightbulbs, and a Swiffer we never use anymore. The leak is on the left-hand side where we store flower pots and other things we rarely use. Specifically, it's on the opposite side as the Big Bucket of Cleaning Supplies. So imagine my surprise when I went to crawl under the sink to install a new faucet and found a pool of standing (and very stagnant) water. The solution? Put a vase under the spot where the water drips. I know it's only a temporary fix, and it's worked ok for now.

Rewind to a couple afternoons ago. We usually run the dishwasher overnight, but this particular day, it ran in the afternoon. When I went into the kitchen to refill my water glass, I found a large puddle on the floor in front of the dishwasher. Cleanup became the first concern, and it involved taking the kick plate off the front and swabbing the (very cramped) space underneath.

Next came diagnostics. At first, it seemed that the leak was under the dishwasher, but that turned out to be wrong. Instead, it appears to be leaking from a spot on the bottom outside of the door. Not coincidentally, this is where a hose feeds into the unit. The sheer volume of water makes a "quick fix" like a catch-cup impossible, so we'll have to call in a pro. Until then, it's all about sopping and and wringing. Fun times.

If you're keeping score, in the coming weeks we're going to have someone come in to fix/maintain our boiler, dishwasher and disposal. The problem is, I have no idea who to call for the dishwasher and disposal. A plumber? Or is there someone in the area who services our specific brands?

To top it all off, one of our cars started shaking pretty violently when we drove it on the highway. This is going to be an expensive month ...

It's not that easy being green, part 2

Finally, as promised, here is the saga the wall-hung boiler. I know you've been eagerly anticipating this, so thank you for your patience.

As you recall, the developer who transformed an old shoe factory into 34 condos (one of which we own) was very forward-thinking. He went out of his way to use a few energy-efficient and eco-friendly technologies in every unit. One was the power-flush toilet. Another was the Baxi Luna tankless wall-hung boiler, which operates on natural gas. These types of boilers have been popular in Europe for years, but at the time we moved in, they were relatively new to the U.S. According to the manufacturer, the Baxi is "from 86 to 98% efficient" and "can heat a home or office space from 600 to 6,000 square feet."

As with the toilet, the boiler has been, to put it mildly, a challenge. Heating has never been a problem, and we've been nothing but pleased with our gas bills over the last five winters. Hot water is a different story.

Less than a year after we moved in (about a year after it was installed) our Baxi began struggling to keep up with our hot-water needs. When the temperature dropped, we'd get about five minutes' worth of hot water before the boiler would reset and start over. With no tank to keep hot water in reserve for just such an occasion, the water would go from comfortably warm to ice cold within seconds. Showering became an adventure. (As an aside, others in the building have had similar issues. As a result of my "pioneering" adventures with repair, I've been called on more than once to help someone fine-tune their boiler because of "Cold Shower Syndrome." Ditto with the toilet.)

Knowing nothing about boilers - let alone space-age ones - I called in the professionals from a local plumbing company that supplies and services Baxi (and other) tankless boilers. On their first visit, they replaced a rubber bladder on which dust, dirt and other particles had accumulated. The next day, the shower went cold.

Their second visit involved replacing the mother board inside the boiler (cost: $175). This worked. Temporarily. Within a few days, the boiler was back to its old tricks. The pros came back and found that the board had shorted out. They replaced it at no charge. Cold showers resumed the next day.

Fourth visit: replaced a part inside the Temptrol shower control. Bet you can't guess what happened the next day.

Fifth visit: the tech adjusted the temperature control knob, turning it from all the way up to about halfway. Naturally, I was skeptical. He explained that the Baxi was apparently having trouble keeping the cold water coming into it at the highest temperature. With the temperature set halfway, we'd lessen its workload and still have water hot enough to shower. In the spring, when the water coming in warmed up, we could turn the temperature back up.

This "fix" worked, but for the last four-plus years, we've dealt with a different problem: water pressure. While the Baxi worked, someone could shower while the other washed their hands, for example. Now, if hot water is turned on in two places, the water pressure drops to a trickle. And guess what? Even in the dead of summer, if that temperature knob rises a half-inch above halfway, cold water "rains" supreme mid-shower.

Call me crazy, but I expect the things I buy to actually work, especially when they're as pricey as a Baxi. But instead, we've learned to just deal with its shortcomings. Does that seem right to you? (Aside #2: As explained here, this is apparently a known issue with the Baxi.)

It's more or less an accepted fact that using green technologies is more expensive, but that the good that comes from using them is worth it. That may be true in monetary terms (and if the products actually do what they're supposed to do for more than nine months), but in terms of reliability and inconvenience, I'll quote one of my 2-year-old's favorite sayings at the moment: "No way, Jose."

I refuse to throw up my hands in defeat

As a parent, there are few things as "rewarding" as cleaning up your child's vomit in the middle of the night. Especially when there's partially digested milk involved. Imagine the rewards of doing it three times in the span of four hours.

Without taking clothing into consideration, version one was easy: dining room table, wooden chair, concrete floor. No sweat. The third wasn't terrible (graham crackers and water on a pretty resilient rug). The middle one? That was the winner of the night. Curdled milk was all over the overstuffed rocking chair in my daughter's room, down the side, underneath the cushion, in the fabric-covered tote of books beside the chair ... you get the picture.

When I saw the destruction the chair alone endured, I was sure it would be so nasty that we'd have to go all "Velveteen Rabbit" and toss it in the burn pile. But I wasn't going down without a fight. After searching online, I found that we had a "miracle cleaner" right in our cupboard: Arm & Hammer baking soda.

Now I've heard about all the wonderful things baking soda is supposed to do, but being a natural skeptic, I've viewed those claims as I would a huckster hawking a cure-all tonic. So not feeling too confident it would work, I decided to try it. So after wiping off and sopping up as much of the vomit as possible, I sprinkled baking soda liberally on the damp spot. This morning, I vacuumed it off to find that the chair doesn't stink. So it gets to stay, after all.

And the best thing is that I didn't have to endure the stench of that industrial-strength cleaner powder they use in schools and (unfortunately) on trans-Atlantic flights. To me, that smell is worse than the vomit itself.

However, I haven't - and don't intend to - test Arm & Hammer's efficacy against scarlet fever.

(Photo courtesy of Real Simple)

Giving up the garden

If you're waiting with bated breath for part two of my "It's not that easy being green" series, bear with me. It's been busy-ness as usual for me, so I haven't had time to delve into the saga of the wall-hung boiler (which may itself turn into a multi-part series).

Instead, I'll post a quick update about the garden.

As I've written before, the garden seemed like a great idea, but in practice, it's been so-so at best (the photo to the right was actually taken on a good day). Having one of the less than a dozen garden plots (for 34 units), we've considered giving ours up for a while. But every spring we pledge that this will be "the year" for our garden.

A couple weeks ago, we finally gave it up. But it had nothing to do with the work involved.

This year, a fellow gardener had the thought that because our garden plots are situated on industrial-filled land, a soil test might be in order. The results showed the sporadic presence of heavy metals, including lead (we're still waiting on exact lead numbers).

My wife and I have always tried to eat organic (or at least locally grown) produce, especially since our daughter was born almost two years ago. So needless to say, those preliminary soil results led (no pun intended) us to give up.

Not having a garden should mean more family time and - of course - finishing home projects. I only wish we'd gotten the soil test results before I dug two-plus feet down in our plot so we could line it to keep the grass out.

It's not that easy being green, part 1

When converting our building from a vacant shoe assembly plant to lofts, the forward-thinking developer installed a couple energy- and water-efficient technologies. In theory, this would seem like an excellent decision. In practice, however, each has provided more than their share of headaches. In part one of a two-part post, I'll talk about the first of these: The toilet.

We have a power-flush toilet, which uses air pressure to quickly (and loudly) drain the bowl, eliminating the need for excess water to be stored in the tank. The trouble started within

six months of move-in.

Part of it was my fault. Never having seen a power-flush before, I dropped a sanitizing tablet into the half-inch of water that accumulates under the flushing assembly. This actually caused the chain from the handle to the activator button to corrode and break. My wife was not amused when this happened while I was in Florida on business. Upon returning, I was able to fish the majority of the mostly undissolved tablet out of the tank and replace the chain.

The next headache was with the assembly itself. As a result of our water coming into the building through old pipes, the small amount of sediment it contains builds up over time and causes the stopper to stick in the open position. With this open, the system can't re-pressurize - and the toilet won't flush. Luckily, the sound of running water accompanies this, so I know when to fix it. While this is annoying, it's easy enough to take apart and clean.

The major problem is that I've taken that assembly apart so many times that at least four of the eight screws that hold the cap in place have stripped the plastic holes they fasten to. This also prevents re-pressurization and is more difficult to fix. To seal the tank, I put silicone around the rim of the cap (on top of the rubber O-ring) to hold it in place.

So far, my solution has worked (knock on wood), but I know it's only a stopgap. I've scoured the Internet for a more permanent fix, and so far, the only solution I've found is to use fatter screws. Having no other ideas, I'll try it.

So while our toilet is taking care of the Earth, it's certainly not taking care of us.

Next up: the wall-hung boiler.

"Daddy fix"

One of the drawbacks of being even slightly handy is that you build up expectations. In the past, my not-so-handy (or not-handy-at-all) friends and family have often called on me for advice or ask me to help them install or repair something (or even to do it for them). Partly because I like to get all the experience I can, and partly because I've always had trouble saying no, I usually oblige. Not surprisingly, it poses quite a quandary when it comes to my own projects.

While I enjoy helping, these requests have thankfully dried up in the two years since my daughter. People are respectful of the fact that I don't have the time I once did for my own projects - never mind theirs.

This segues perfectly into the new quandary of high expectations - my daughter's.

As she's gotten older, more independent and very, very smart, she's seen me fix a few things, including some of her toys and pop-up books that no longer pop up. I love seeing the expression on her face when she sees Elmo and his daddy back in their rightful place in one of her books. The Baby Einstein book "Jane's Animal Adventures" was a particularly tricky fix, but it's been restored to as close to its original form as humanly possible.

So now, whenever something breaks, she hands it to me and says, "Daddy fix." Flowers, bananas, books, toys - it doesn't make a difference. I love that she looks up to me as a Mr. Fix-It hero who can repair anything.

Aside from the fact that she often seems to break things on purpose with the thought that I'll fix them, the biggest problem is that sometimes Daddy can fix. Sometimes he can't. For example, you can mush a banana back together. But in the case of flowers, tissues or other un-fixables, if a reasonable facsimile can be found, a little sleight of hand usually does the trick.

So in addition to my continuing education in the ways of DIY and home improvement, I'm also getting a self-taught education in magic tricks.

But given how smart this one is proving to be, I have to wonder how long I can get away with that.

Kickin' it with home improvement

I saw a new Home Depot commercial on TV last night that implored viewers to "kick your excuses to the curb" and finally finish those home projects they've been meaning to get to (I'm paraphrasing; it was late).

That got me thinking about my excuses for not getting to the projects I have either in-progress or on THE LIST. What I came up with is: time, not having the right tools, inconvenience (tools and supplies live in my basement storage unit and I do all my cutting down there) and a lack of knowledge of exactly what I'm doing.

Of course, time is the biggest of these. I can deal with all the others, but without the time to commit to projects, nothing else matters. As I thought about time, that seemed too generic, so I've broke it down into segments: work, family (in general and watching my daughter during the day) and basic household chores.

So if I were to kick my excuses to the curb, I'd be unemployed and wolves would be raising my daughter. I think I'll just deal with my tortoise-like DIY pace.

A "tired" old scam

Everything I know about car maintenance and repair I learned from my first car, an '83 VW Rabbit. It was a solid piece of automobile, complete with metal bumpers, that I overpaid for and constantly had to tweak just to keep it running. There was no fuel injection on that beast, so it's fair to say that aside from the basics, I know nothing about today's engines. And I know less about suspensions.

Not surprisingly, my wife knows very little. More surprisingly is that there are repair shops that didn't learn from all the hidden camera investigations that revealed mechanics attempting to persuade female customers they needed expensive (and completely unnecessary) repairs.

Am I making inaccurate, wild or irresponsible accusations? Judge for yourself after reading the facts.

A short time ago, my wife took one of our cars to a Northeast-based national chain that specializes in tires to get four new ones installed. (Rather than refer to them by name, I'll simply refer to them as Tire Giant to keep the lawyers away.) Through social media, Tire Giant provided us with a discount on the service, so it seemed like a great deal.

Once the car was in Tire Giant's possession, an employee told my wife that the tie rods and boots (among other things) were shot. Unless we spent more than $1,000 to repair them, Tire Giant wouldn't be able to perform an alignment. Nor could they guarantee their work. Being naturally suspicious of repair shops, and wanting to have the problem checked out by our regular garage (friends of the family), she declined the repairs. As you might imagine, the car drove very poorly without that alignment. Especially at high speeds, which, when someone commutes by highway an hour each way to and from work, is not only annoying, but downright dangerous.

Fast forward to our regular shop, where we took the car for an inspection. After performing a thorough examination of the vehicle as they usually do when we bring it in for any service, they not only issued an inspection sticker, but didn't see anything wrong with the items Tire Giant had mentioned. Unfortunately, this garage doesn't do alignments, so we had to find a new shop.

Yesterday, Don Foshay's Discount Tire in Biddeford performed the much-needed alignment - for $39.95. They had no trouble doing this with the supposedly "shot" tie rod et al, nor did they mention that those items needed to be replaced. How odd.

You may disagree, but from where I'm sitting, if one shop wants to perform $1,000+ worth of repairs, shouldn't another? I'd think so. But neither of the two other shops where we took our car did. And one of them was able to perform that "impossible" alignment without those repairs.

No wonder repair shops and mechanics get a bad name. All of this makes me wish I knew more about cars and could perform more work myself. Apparently, it's possible to do your own alignment, but while I love learning new skills, in matters of safety I'll leave that to the professionals.

Unless those professionals work for Tire Giant.

Extreme drywall repairs

As I mentioned in my last post, I like to keep any drywall repairs simple. My skills do go beyond a simple DAP Patch Stick, but I'd rather not use them for a lot of reasons. The mess of sanding being at the top of the list.

But there will come a time when I'll need to man up and go the distance, even if that means cutting old drywall out and replacing it with a new patch.

That's why I love Extreme How-To. It's one of the best DIY resources out there, and they are great at taking what could be a very difficult project and providing thorough step-by-step directions, like they've done with this article on repairing drywall.

After reading it, you'll understand why the magazine is called EXTREME How-To.

Toothpaste for grownups

Ever have to patch drywall? I have, and you know what? For the most part, it's not that hard to do.

The easiest I've ever used is to fill nail (or dart) holes with white toothpaste (ah, college). On a white wall, it can be almost impossible to notice. Do it the night before your landlord comes by for the final walk-through and you should get your security deposit back. Or at least if you don't, the nail holes won't be why.

As an adult male homeowner, toothpaste won't do. So for small-ish holes (i.e. 99 percent of what I've dealt with), I use a marvelous invention called the DAP Patch Stick. It's like the toothpaste trick, just more permanent and durable. And it's for grownups. At less than four bucks a stick, there's no excuse for not having one stowed in the garage or junk drawer. That goes for every household.

(As an aside, the last time I was at Home Depot, I noticed there's now a DAP Stick specifically for nail holes, which costs about a dollar more. Is it worth the difference? I'll let you judge for yourself. Personally, I'm reminded of the Simpsons episode where a company released a "new" version of the Malibu Stacy doll with the only change being that she had a different hat.)

The other grownup method I've used for repairing drywall is much more labor-intensive. Therefore I avoid it as much as possible. If the hole's too big for the DAP Stick (in my estimation, which tends to be much more liberal than DAP's), I have to get out the old drywall mud, slather some on, smooth it as much as possible, wait for it to dry and then sand it smooth. Luckily, I've only had to do this a few times - with varying results.

And most luckily of all, I've never had a hole big enough to require floating a new piece of drywall (knock on wood). That would require a house call/demo from dear old Dad.

%&*@! garden

Here in Maine, it was in the high 60s and low 70s this weekend, which meant having a picnic near the ocean (Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth), lots of playing outside with our daughter, and the first Dairy Queen run of the year. With Sunday being Easter, we spent a great day (mostly outdoors) with extended family.

What this weekend didn't mean was tackling any DIY - with the exception of pulling some weeds in the garden. For a lot of people, gardening is zen-like in its relaxing qualities. Not so for me.

Even though we live in an old shoe factory (which houses 30-plus other units) and all the land is community property, we do have a garden plot, which is essentially a 10' by 20' box constructed from 2x4s that's filled with topsoil. For the last four summers, we've faithfully grown tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and even pumpkins - with varying success.

As a garden, ours would make a great lawn. While there are a lot of weeds, the
biggest problem is grass, which grows in our plot like, well, weeds. To give you some idea just how bad it is, the photo to the left isn't from the other day. No, that was our "garden" last August. I'm not proud.

After four years, we want to fix that before we plant this year. Which means I have my work cut out for me.

The next non-rainy Saturday (and/or Sunday), I'll be out there with a shovel, digging out all the topsoil so we can lay a plastic lining. Then I'll be re-filling our box with new soil.

I'm not looking forward to the back-breaking drudgery. But compared to plucking hundreds of blades of grass on a weekly basis, the trade-off is more than worth it.

Speed vs. safety

Are you like me? Are you already planning how you're going to squeeze in some home projects this weekend? After all, Sunday is pretty much out, it being Easter and all. Even if you're not religious, chances are you celebrate in some way (family gathering, dinner, one of your twice-a-year pilgrimages to church, etc.).

It's invigorating to cross a project (or better yet, projects) off my to-do list. So I know if I do get some work in on Saturday, I know I'd normally be tempted to rush, trying to get as much done in as little time as possible. In those cases, safety (or at least a heightened sense of it) tends to either take a vacation or at the very least slide to the bottom of my priorities list.

But after watching the below compilation of DIY disasters from, I'm having second thoughts. Seems there's a reason the old saying is "Measure twice, cut once" and not "Speed trumps accuracy (and safety)."

Enjoy. (Just pardon the laugh track.)

I (heart) how-to sites

Our bathroom sink has been running slowly for days. I've been meaning to dump some Liquid Plumr (or equivalent) down there, but keep forgetting to buy some. So we've lived with it (and the consequences, none of which are good).

Brought some home last night and did the old pour-and-pray thing this morning. Half a bottle did little, so I wondered if there was something solid blocking the drain. What I found was a thick lining of black sludge that had gathered on the bottom part of the stopper. I tried scraping it out (fighting dry heaves the whole time), but it did little. I needed to be able to get at it easier.

I've tried to pulling the stopper out before, so I know it's held in there by something. So how do you take it out?

You know those iPhone commercials that say, "There's an app for that." Luckily, when it comes to home improvement or repair, "there's a website for that" - no matter how gross or arcane your job is.

Within minutes, thanks to the well-written instructions at The Natural Handyman, I found and removed the pivot nut (which I'd never heard of), pulled the stopper out and (mostly) cleaned off. I was also able to pour the rest of the Liquid Plumr down the open drain. The stopper's going to need a good soak in bleach.

Unfortunately, there's still a slow leak, indicating a more substantial clog. Next stop: removing and cleaning the trap. Luckily, The Natural Handyman has an article for that too.

Will work for tools

Like a lot of home improvement newbies, I have gigantic gaps in my tool collection. For example, I own two saws: a chop saw and a jigsaw. The former was, for two years, the only saw I owned, having been bought to cut baseboards in late 2007. The latter was a Christmas gift that I've used once with so-so results.

It seems like every project I tackle requires that I either a) buy a new tool, b) borrow the necessary tool or c) make due with the tools I have. Reminiscent of advice given to students prepping for the SAT, C is more often than not the answer I choose.

So I'm left to wonder: if I can do this well with the bare bones, what could I accomplish with the right tools? And what are the basics I should have in my arsenal?

Of MSN's 15 tools every homeowner should own, I own exactly seven. A more exhaustive list is Popular Mechanics Top 50 Important Tools (With Tips!). After seeing only four familiar faces in the first ten, I gave up counting.

Until I'm independently wealthy, I'll just have to approach my tools like I would any collection: build slowly, keeping the end in sight.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock people ...

"Time is the only capital that any human being has, and the thing that he can least afford to waste or lose." - Thomas Edison

Like everyone I know, that about sums up my life these days. The only "home project" I've tackled recently has been dinner. Once a severe handicap, through practice and repetition, my cooking skills are improving.

It's kind of DIY if you scrounge in the refrigerator and assemble something that tastes good, right?

Another "problem"

In addition to this weekend's pleasant weather surprise, there's something else that's conspiring to derail my home improvement projects: my work load.

As with the weather, I'm not complaining about having work to do. My services are in demand. They like me! They really, really like me! And it sure beats the alternative.

These kinds of "obstacles" make me thankful for everything I have.

My new motto: The home improvement will get done. Eventually.

Weather "woes"

The temperature approached 70 degrees here in coastal Maine on Saturday (which coincidentally was the first day of spring). That kind of weather is unheard of in mid-March, which made it a real gift. Being the appreciative sort of folks we are, my wife, daughter and I took off that morning for a day of adventure on the streets of Portland.

(Aside #1: I don't know how or why we've never walked the East End Trail before, but after Saturday, it's going to be a staple. Aside #2: if you have kids, you must take them to the new playground at Deering Oaks.)

So I didn't get to anything on my to-do list. But based on the amazing weekend I had with my girls, that's a very good thing.

Quick and easy (yeah, right)

The faucet is in. According to everything I read, swapping out a faucet is one of the easiest DIY projects you can take on. I'm sure that's true ... if you read the instructions and make sure you have everything you need.

First snag: I didn't have a basin wrench. "Who needs one of those?" I asked myself. Me, apparently. There were these little nuts (see left) up behind the basin (what else) that connected the old faucet to the sink. So it was off to Home Depot at 9 last night. Got home at 10 and removed those nuts with no problem.

That's when I realized that when you replace a single-control faucet with a dual-control one, you need hoses to connect the faucet controls to the water supply. Home Depot was closed by then, so secured the faucet in place, then gave up and went to bed.

Off to the Depot again this morning, returning triumphantly with flexible water supply hoses and plumbing joint compound. I attached one end of the hose to the bottom of the faucet. That's when I hit snag #2: They were too short. By about six inches.

Back to HD(trip #3 if you're counting). I returned the 12-inch hoses, picked up some 20-inchers and headed home. Ten minutes later, we had running water. Success!

Lessons learned:
1. Read the directions (see below - notice the handy drawings of both a basin wrench and flexibe water supply line)
2. Make sure you have the right tools and supplies - BEFORE removing the old faucet.
3. Measure, measure, measure
4. Expect at least one flesh wound. Or battle scar, if you prefer. (See below. I have a matching one on my right hand)

5. Save the Guinness until AFTER you're done.

About that faucet ...

I'm really doing double-time to get a lot of work done today. Why? It's that faucet. I just can't wait to swap out the old one. And if I don't have any leftover work tonight (for a change), then I get to do it.

Stay tuned ...

(Before & after pics to come)

Finding a balance

The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy. Between work and life in general, there hasn't been much time for any home projects. Sadly, it looks like work is going to keep me away from DIY until at least Saturday.

I'm itching to get back to my list, especially since the FedEx guy just delivered our new faucet. Installing it should be an adventure, since plumbing is not a strength of mine. Not yet, at least.

For now, it's going to have to sit on my desk, still in the box. Don't think it won't be taunting me every time I walk by.

Bring on the weekend!

Weekends are too short

Good intentions be damned, there's never enough time to get my projects done. Friday I put the last two windowsills in, and I planned to seal around the edges and fill in the larger gaps on the right and left of those two (I measured twice and cut once, but sometimes there's no accounting for bad math).

However, the weather turned springlike on the coast of Maine this weekend. The three of us (wife, daughter and me) have been sick for a couple weeks, so it was a perfect time to get out and do something. Trouble is, that meant I didn't do anything indoors - including windowsills.

To complicate matters, we live on the second floor and don't have a yard to speak of. All my power tools, lumber and other supplies are stowed in our storage room in the basement - which has no outlets. One thing I did this weekend was buy a DC converter to change my light socket into an outlet. That should help. We'll see.

So there my windowsills sit. The edges of the first four have been filled, but need to be sanded and painted. Those last two are in, but that's it. There's always next weekend, right?

My question for you is this: how to you manage your time to ensure that your projects get done?

Mother Necessity, where would we be?

We've all heard that necessity is the mother of invention. But did you know that home ownership is the granddaddy of necessity? Unless you build a home (and are very active in the design phase), no one buys their dream home. That's a given. So with that in mind, home improvement, repair and maintenance become a necessity. You with me?

When you buy an open-concept loft (especially when it's your first home), those necessities pile up. The gray concrete floors, flat white walls, cheap gray rubber baseboards, nonexistent window sills/trim and more were enough to (almost) drive us mad.

Happily, I've completed all of those projects (except the windowsills, which are in progress). With the notable exception of the floors, I did them all myself. (Aside: we paid someone to acid stain the floors a brown tortoise-shell and seal it with a hard wax. I may think I'm handy, but even I know amateurs shouldn't - for the most part - mess around with hazardous chemicals.)

And that's not all. In coming posts, I'll talk about some of my DIY triumphs, and the inevitable challenges I had to overcome. After all, almost everything I've learned has been through trial-and-error.

Stay tuned.

In the beginning ...

Before I get started, here's a little about me: With a BA in journalism and an MA in English, I am by trade a desk jockey. But from a young age, I've always been a little bit handy, mostly by osmosis. Like most baby boomers, my dad is a tinkerer - the kind of guy who can fix (or at least gerry-rig) anything. Between my younger brother and me, he chose me to be his "apprentice." Not coincidentally, he's often said he's impressed by my ability to anticipate a solution and be ready with a suggestion - or at least the right tool. I've really learned a lot about home improvement, car maintenance and basic DIY skills - more than I could possibly have learned from any class.

After getting married, my wife and I rented for five-plus years, during which time I didn't get much occasion (beyond the odd picture-hanging) to flex my DIY muscles. Luckily, they didn't atrophy because in February 2005, I started needing them again - in a big way.

Home ownership itself often requires that one develop a working knowledge of carpentry, electrical work and more. However, we bought an open-concept loft in an old shoe factory with visions of making it "our own." Among the many projects I've completed (some with help, others by winging it) are: tiling our backsplash, ripping out and replacing the cheap rubber baseboard throughout and building walls. Along the way, my tool stash has grown, although I still find that I'm improvising a lot (i.e. using the wrong kind of saw for what I'm doing), but all in all, it's been a great learning experience.

Like most people, the one thing I wish I had more of is time. Five years later, I still have a lengthy project list, and between working from home (and, up until Valentine's Day, working weekends as well) and taking care of our almost two-year-old daughter (did I mention I'm also a stay-at-home dad?), the list continues to grow with few projects getting finished.

Now that my weekends are free, I'm hoping to start ticking off those projects and truly putting our stamp on this place. I'll be documenting my progress, as well as posting interesting articles, blogs, etc. about DIY and home improvement.

Wish me luck!