We all want to be our own bosses and save money. Those are two of the many reasons many of us chose to self-contract our own home renovations, especially the larger ones. For most of us, of course, a renovation that involves a bathroom, a home office, or even a kitchen, doesn’t present such a large challenge that we would need a professional to manage the job. We can hire a tile setter or have new cabinets made and installed or even find a trusted dry-waller or painter ourselves. When the reno becomes so big though that we must go to city hall and file plans and get permits then things can get more scary and complicated.
Article 1 : Contracting Your Own Renovation ( From The Maple Ridge News, 2003 )
Article 2 : Plumbing Pipes That Fit ( From The Maple Ridge News, 2003 )
Whenever I have a plumbing or electrical repair to do I talk it over with the guys and girls at work and I do a lot of homework first. I would recommend to anyone that isn’t comfortable with the basics to hire a professional plumber or electrician rather than risk injury or damage to yourself or your home. With that said though I did want to discuss a very important plumbing issue.
Article 3 : Chosing The Right Wire ( From The Maple Ridge News, 2003 )
In a past column I discussed some plumbing issues, and I reminded my readers that I am not a plumbing expert. In today’s column I want to discuss the dangers of using the wrong electrical wire in certain instances and I again must say that I am not an electrician or an electrical expert. I say that up front about plumbing and electrical specifically because these are areas of such great importance around your home, areas that can be both dangerous and costly.
Article 4 : Leaky or Smelly Basements & Crawlspaces ( From The Maple Ridge News, 2003 )
Basements can be a great place to find extra living space for families. The problem with many homes, however, is the suitability of the space. Dryness and warmth are important for anyone living, working or playing in the newly created space, but it isn't always as simple as just adding walls and floors.
Article 5 : Drywall Nail Pops & Cracks ( From the HIC Manual, 2005 )
Drywall nail-pops and cracks in either the ceiling or corners is almost always a symptom of other, hidden problems. The issue could be the construction of the house or the installation and finishing of the drywall. Depending on the extent of the damage the homeowner should be prepared to spend a couple of days repairing things, including filling and painting, and possibly up to a week.
Article 6 : Leaky Roofs, Chimneys & Flashing ( From the HIC Manual, 2005 )
Concerns about the roof systems on homes is probably one of the most talked about when buying, renovating or repairing. The rest of the house can be in excellent condition but if the roof leaks nothing else seems to matter. Roof structures on houses involve a myriad of components and knowing how they all work together is crucial.
Article 7 : Mould & Mildew Inside The Home (From The Maple Ridge News, 2003)
Mold and mildew in the home are symptoms of other problems plain and simple. The problem could be as simple as a bit of poor ventilation in one room like a bathroom, or it could be a bigger issue involving the entire house. Mold and mildew can be a very serious health concern for families.
Morgan Jensen has written hundreds of home improvement articles over the years.
We have included an assortment here for you to read and download free to share with others.
All we ask is that you use the information wisely and carefully, and always do your homework before attempting any renovation or repair around your home. Always ask the experts!
The following articles are in no particular order. Some have been reproduced from newspaper columns written by Morgan over several years; some are drawn from his home improvement consulting manuals (HIC); and the remainder have been written specifically for this website.
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Article 8 : Exterior Peeling & Flaking Paint ( From the HIC Manual 2005 )
Depending on what part of the country you're in this problem will take on different meanings. In wet, temperate climates there is more trouble with moss and mildew and painting or staining are made all the more difficult because of the dampness. In dry climates like the Prairies the peeling and flaking are often a result of sun and wind damage. For hot, extremely dry climates the peeling and flaking are due to the sun as well, but also the heat.
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Article 9 : Rotting Beams, Joists and Sills ( From the HIC Manual 2005)
When this occurs in a home or any kind of structure it can be devastating unless it is dealt with right away. Other than the obvious concern about the structural support failing, there is the discovery of how and why this happened.
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Article 10 : Sweaty Windows & Doors That Don't Fit ( From the HIC Manual 2005 )
This particular topic actually entails quite a few different problems not the least of which is moisture in the home and ventilation. We dealt with some of that in Article 7 but will review a few of the same things here again. Homeowners often think that these two problems are caused by the same things, that they simply need new windows and doors, but this isn't always the answer. While it may be true that the windows are outdated and the doors are at the end of their life cycle simply replacing them with new ones rarely fixes the problem. We have to look at the underlying causes.
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JBSHOME IMPROVEMENT
Morgan Jensen
