Very Simple Water Saving Tip

My shower takes about 2 minutes until the hot water arrives. I hate seeing all that water go wasted down the drain so I keep a watering can handy in the shower to capture the water while I wait for it to get warm.

Then I use the water for plants and the yard. I save about around 15 gallons per week doing this. You can also capture the water at the sink or bathtub too. It is a very simple, free way to save some water.

I plan to make water rain barrels in the future too to capture the rain for my yard. But rain barrels costs money and this doesn't cost me time or money.

Home Theater in an Old House

All across the United States couples are arguing about ugly speakers, huge televisions, speaker wires, cables, antennas and other electronic stuff that makes a nice room look like a recording studio. Generally the husband argues that he wants surround sound and all of the wires have to be there to sound right. And the wife (rightfully) says something like "This looks horrible! You're not going to put all that crap in my living room."

For old home owners the problem is even more complex. If you have a home that was built before fire-side chats and long before the TV, your room likely doesn't accommodate an entertainment center very well. Your center point is likely a fireplace or a large window not a big blank wall that was designed to place an entertainment center. And for old house owners with some antiques, it is a big struggle to find furniture that blends in with traditional furniture.

Well there's hope out there - you can strike a balance. It is possible to enjoy your surround sound and big screen HDTV in a traditional or formal living area.

First be committed to concealing the HDTV when not in use. So many people have big plasma and LCD TVs, it is no longer cool or impressive to have a huge TV monitor mounted on your wall. With the TV mounted on the wall you run the risk of looking having you living space look like a sports bar. Fine for the rec room, but not for the living room.

For old house owners who wish to conceal their TVs here are some ideas and things to consider:

• Modify an antique wardrobe, armoire, or cupboard to fit
  
• There is a ton of space in these and they are built exceptionally well.
  
• An antique is often less costly than a new piece that is basically a reproduction
• When you upgrade, move or change the resale on you antique will be much higher than your moder

• Jay-Leno-It
  If you think the pop-up TV on Leno is cool, you can now get it for the cost of a high-end entertainment armoire. I have seen them as low as $950. But plan on spending around $2,000 for one that blends into an old home's decor.
  
• You have to have a flat panel - no DLP or LCD projection screen
• Handy people and wood workers, should consider buying a antique buffet and modifying it with a lift. Just build a box behind the antique to house the lift and the TV, no one will ever no it's there until it rises from the floor
  

• Consider getting it custom built
• Shop around and get bids - custom built furniture and entertainment centers are often just slightly more than a stock piece of furniture.
• Better yet, build it yourself.
  
• It doesn't work well for upgrades and changes. So you will likely not like the furniture in 5 -10 years when you get new equipment. But if your rich go for it!

• Mounting the TV above the fireplace is too high for optimal viewing, but if you insist on putting it up high make sure to hide it.
  
• Behind some artwork (www.vutec.com/artscreen/)
  
• In the ceiling (www.auton.com)
  
• Ir in the floor (www.inca-tvlifts.com)
• Behind a mirror (www.hiddentelevision.com)
  

I'll write more about this subject later.

Old Security Window Iron Screen Removal

Since most of my windows have been replaced in my house - and I like modern widows more - I decided to have my windows replaced professionally. It cost my close to $1,000 for 3 windows, but if I did it myself it was going to cost me $950. So, it made much more sense to hire it out - and I got a much better window than if I would have ordered it.

But, one of the replacement windows had an old iron screen on it for security. It had a funky screw that requires a special too to remove. The window installer said he had never seen one like it so I was stuck doing some research. I called a local locksmith and he suggested calling a local iron fabricator. Turns out - the local fabricator loans tools to remove the old iron security screen with a $25 deposit. But fortunately I didn't need it. While I was out running around, the contractor was able to free it far enough with a Vise Grip and pry it out with a hammer.

I also found a great Web site of a manufacturer that produces the security screws and bolts. If you run into ones of these unique bolts you can order the bits from them. Don't assume as I did that your window installer will have the proper bits to remove your old security screens.

Ugly, But Cheap My 87 Ford Ranger

I bought a 1987 Ford Ranger a couple of months ago for $400 from a friend who bought it new. He beat the hell out of it, but took care of the engine. I had to give it a tune-up, but now it starts right up and runs smoothly.

It appears that it has

Here are the basic specs:
2.3 L engine 4 cylinder
7 ft bed
Regular cab
2 wheel drive
198,000 miles (yes it has 198,000 miles)

Junk Trucks have Advantages
Costs less to buy
Less to insure
In Iowa - much less to license each year
Throw in gravel, scratch it, dent it overload it - I don't care

It's rusty and dented but runs good
My six-year old son was helping me load it with the cabinets I tore out of our kitchen and he some how threw a piece of wood hard enough to break the back sliding window. As a consequence, I told him that he needs to go with me to the junk yard and look for a replacement window after he helps me unload the material at the dump.

I think every kid needs to see a junk yard and a dump. At the dump, a kid learns about the amount of garbage that we produce and gets to see the wastefulnesses first hand. The first time my son saw the dump he had a lot of great questions and observations. He knows that our garbage doesn't just magically disappear.

This will probably be his first memorable trip to an auto junk yard that he will remember. I write later about how it went.

Our shoping list includes:
4 Tires (205/75/R15) I am looking forward to seeing if he can find those
Side mirror
Sliding rear window panel
(Maybe a bed liner to dress up the truck some)

Why don't they make mini-dump trucks?

If you have a truck that is actually used to haul things, you have most likely have found youself yanking and shoveling debris in order to empty your bed. It is a lot easier to load a pick-up than it is to uload it. There must be an easy and affordable way to make this chore easier.

I have searched extensively for a solution to this problem, but I have always wondered why auto makers don't make dump bodies an option right from the factory. All the aftermarket stuff is crazy expensive, ugly or doesn't work.

Ford May Offer a mini dump truck here is the US
Here are the specs on Ford site http://www.ford.co.uk/ns7/ranger/ranger/rgr_intro/rgr_tipper/-/-/-/

Check out this bloggers article about the Ford Ranger Tipper. http://blogs.edmunds.com/Straightline/.ee8ff1b

Why isn't this truck available in the US? How many Eurpeans are truck owners? I thought Europeans made fun of Americans for our love affair with the truck, so why do they get the cool products like this?

I want one! And I would like mine to be E85 Flex Fuel capable too, please.

Until Ford wises up and offers this in the US
There is a product called Load Handler, that is a cheap conveyor belt that you hand-crank to unload cargo more easiy. I don't see this working very well with a tangled pile of yard waste or mess of building material debris. But I bet it works like shown and with other ideas that are neatly placed within the truck bed. I have never tried it though - and would love to hear from someone that has.

A strange how-to
Build your own insert out of wood, add some casters to the bottom, back-up and slam on the brakes and watch your load slide out. I'll stick with shoveling, until I get me a Ford Tipper, but this is an interesting idea.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1983_November_December/Turn_Your_Pickup_Truck_Into_the_Dump_Truck

Vinyl Box Urban Sprawl Hell

I am not anti-growth or anti-progress. But in my area our population is not increasing yet we continue to gooble-up farmland and puke-up mostly cheaply built vinyl box homes. This crazy growth is fueled by families' desires for strong school districts and the relatively inexpensive price for new construction in our area.

This past weekend I went to several homes featured on the Homebuilder's Parade of Homes. I went to look at kitchens cabinets that were designed by the same business that we have decided to purchase from. I wanted to see a few examples of kitchens that they have designed in actual homes.

The first couple of houses we lookdAt first I was getting, a bad case of the "I-wants," remembering things that I really like about new houses - open floor plans, usable basements, energy effeciency and modern kitchens. Then I saw a house that where someone actually invested in the mechanicals and the construction. This thing had it all and it was wel built and it was also half a million dollars. But despite all of it's charm it didn't have 12 inch think brick exterior like my house.

But then I went into a house that reminded me of what I hate about new houses. This thing had everything I hated, thin walls, cheap light, cheap woodwork, giant garages facing the street, thin doors, ugly garage doors, goofy brick facades, and it was 5 times wider than it was deep.

Buy It, Don't Rent It - A bit about using tools and selling them later

If you have ever rented a tool, you have likely found yourself rushing through a job in order to return the tool within "the first four hours." I have found a better way to operate - buy the tool new or used that you need - even if it is expensive - use it at your leisure until you have completed the job to your satisfaction and then sell it on Ebay. Sometimes you can even make money if you buy the tool used.

To illustrate the difference, I show how buying a chainsaw and selling it on Ebay is smarter and less expensive than renting.

Rent a chainsaw:

• Rush to the rental store in the morning and rent a good chainsaw for $40 for 5 hours.
• Purchase the chain for the saw as required by the store - $15
• Hurry your ass and fell the dead tree in your back yard - 1 hr
• Run to the store and get more chain bar oil - 30 minutes - $5
• Buck up the limbs as much as you can in 3 hours.
• Leave the job 75% done and rush back to the store to return the saw
• Return next week to rent the saw again in order to finish the job
• Total cost: $90 and a lot of wasted time and stress
  

Buy a good used chainsaw - use it and sell it:

• Buy a entry-level Stihl Chain Saw used for $150
• Use it as long as you need to finish the job over several days
• Let your friend buy you beer when he borrows it for a job + $10
• List it on Ebay or sell it locally in a newspaper or Criags list or whatever and get $160 for it.
• Total Earned: $20

This is a very real scenario because I have done it several times. Sometimes you make money and sometimes you pay a little, but it almost never pays to rent. I have done this with rototillers, cordless tools, ladders, lawn tractors and automotive tools.

Cordless Tools Why I Like Black & Decker

I once owned a 12 volt Dewalt cordless drill back when 12v was considered powerful. I used the heck out of it - used it weekly. From hanging drywall to drilling pilot holes in concrete, I put my trusty Dewalt through all kinds of stuff. And it was great, the battery charge lasted a long time and it took some falls from ladders yet kept on drilling.

Then one day, I was burglarized and along with my Stihl chainsaw and fire extinguisher (that’s right, they took my freakin’ fire extinguisher!) they got my drill. So I had enough stolen with these tools and other times that I filed a home owner’s claim. At the time my 12 volt Dewalt was retailing for around $120. So I went out shopping for my new drill and came upon the Black & Decker Firestorm 18 volt set that included a reciprocating saw, drill, circular saw, and flashlight plus 2 batteries and a charger for $149. So for $29 more than the Dewalt I got a bunch of other stuff that I had uses for – especially the reciprocating saw. Now the 18 v B&D tools are not Dewalt, but I don’t use them 40 -50 hours per week like contractors do. And if you didn’t know Black & Decker, owns DeWalt. But by no means does an 18v B&W have the same power as a DeWalt. I would compare the power of my 18v B&D to maybe a 14.4 v Dewalt.

I hoped that my new Firestorm tools would last me through a year. Well, it has far exceeded my expectations. My reciprocating saw has cut out 600 square feet of ceiling, 100 feet of steel pipe, 5 walls and one shower and it is still going strong. I still even use the same batteries, but they are now starting to show signs of needing replacement. With the drill, I don’t think I can illustrate the amount of use I have put it through; I have drilled holes for electrical wiring, repairing plaster, hanging drywall, and even polished metal with it. I even dropped my drill from about 15 feet onto gravel and it still worked fine, but I was quite lucky that the case didn’t break.

So, for you homeowners skip the high-end Milwaukees. Dewalts, and Porter-Cables and opt for the Black & Deckers or the Ryobi Tools. But skip the Craftsman battery powered tools – I got myself a right-angled goofy-ass Craftsman drill for a wiring job I was doing and I won’t buy another cordless Craftsman tool. The thing is a turd.

Black and Decker will serve the needs of the weekend mechanic and serious DIYer. Use the cash for other tools.

Old Windows – Are they Worth Saving?

When I purchased my 1903 dream house, (that is in historic distric on the National Registry of Historic Places) many of the original or at least authentic windows were replaced by modern vinyl. Like most home owners I thought that this was pretty great when I bought the house. But as I evolved as a preservationist and became more educated about old houses, I had some doubts about my modern windows in my historic home. One comment in particular made my stop and think, “Your old windows are more than 100 years old –do you think those crappy vinyl windows are going to last half as long?”

Preservationists' arguments for maintaining old windows summed up:

• Old windows are repairable and new windows are disposable
• Old windows add architectural detail to the house
• Old windows showcase craftsmanship in both glass making and carpentry
• Old windows give a house character and help define the house
• Old windows are as important as the beautiful woodwork
• Replacement windows decrease the size of the originals which hurt the look and feel of the home

A salespersons argument for replacing old windows can be summed up:

• New windows will save you energy
• New window are easier to clean
• New windows will last forever

My take on windows:

• Some old windows should always be saved or reproduced.
  Old windows that contain architectural details such as entryways, leaded glass, rounded/curved beveled glass should be saved or reproduced in almost all cases.
• Storm windows can save energy, but are terrible ugly and inconvenient.
  When installed properly, storms windows are nearly as efficient as modern replacement windows. But storm windows are far uglier than most replacement windows, but for some reason they are encourage by preservation guidelines - even when they are not accurate for the period of the home.
• Replacement double hung windows can be uninstalled
  Contrary to preservation purists' beliefs (a rule in renovation - whatever you do to change your home to meet your needs should be easily undone when your gone)
• Replacement windows are safer
  No climbing ladders to put on or take off storm window or lugging a bucket and supplies up to clean from the outside
• Replacement windows do not distract from the look of the house
  When custom ordered to fit existing window jams. And in many cases actually beautify a house because old trim is cleaned up and ugly storm windows are eliminated
• Windows should be treated the same as heating and cooling systems and electrical and plumbing systems.
  Windows were and are an integral part of a home's ability to heat and cool itself. Preservation guidelines do not fault an owner for updating their heating and cooling systems, or electrical and plumbing, but it is considered to be bad practice to replace old windows. I know what preservationist’s say, "windows are beautiful." Well so are knobs and tubes, gas lines for lighting, and even some radiators and boilers are too. But no one is handing out
• It's true, new windows are more energy efficient
  But you sure aren't going to save the money that the salespeople say you will. (If you want to save on energy, insulate your attic first and replace your mechanicals; windows take have a much longer return on investment.)
• Being energy conscious is a good thing
  Conserving energy is important for old houses owners for many reasons, but most importantly it makes old homes more marketable and saves you money in the long run. Old houses owners need to appeal more to new home buyers.
• Never decrease the original opening of window
  And try to justify it in energy savings or savings on the cost of the windows. People who do this are called remudlers by Old House Journal and I have to agree. The cost of custom replacement windows is not much more than standard sizes. To decrease the size of your opening to accommodate a standard window is going to cost you more in materials and installation. And you are really going to ugly things up. Don't be a remudeler.

And my 2 cents on the choices in replacement windows
There are some many options out there in manufacturers and types and options within each. So research and talk to people whose windows you like. There are many great products out there and some can be from the same manufacturer with a different label on it.

I have learned that often it is can be cheaper to have this hired out rather than it is to do it yourself. I had a large window replaced - a custom size - with added options like grids and argon for less than $380 installed. If I ordered it and did it myself it would have cost me $360. So get some quotes. Also understand how the replacement window is going to look - you don't want to be a remudler.

Introduction

Thanks for checking out my blog. I am an old house owner who works as a desk jockey during the day and acts like a general contractor at night and weekends. When I can, I do it myself because I am cheap, skeptical of most sub contractors, but mostly because I really enjoy it. I have several viewpoints regarding things that affect all of the DIYers out there who are passionate about their homes.