5 Ways to Upgrade your Front Door

How often do you think about your front door? Probably not a whole lot.

Besides being the gateway to your home, your front entry is one of the first things people notice when they visit. The choices you make about style and colour can say a lot about who you are. But it’s not all about pretty doors! Exterior doors get a lot of use, are exposed to the elements and are prone to wear and tear.  It’s crucial to keep them in tip top shape.

If you feel like your front door is in serious need of a spruce just like ours did, here are 5 DIY’s that you can tackle yourself to help drastically improve your front door.

PAINT IT

Nothing has a bigger impact than a fresh coat of paint. Whether you decide to go big and bold or just stay neutral, colour can play an important role.

I opted for a classic black and white look.  Keep in mind, you always want to use a paint formula made specifically for exteriors. This will help with moisture resistance and durability.

Don’t be afraid to change the colour of your door bell, house numbers, or even a storm door.  There are a ton of spray paints on the market that make it easy to change the colour of these items just like I have.

For more info on how we updated the trim around the front door, click here.

UPGRADE GLASS INSERT / PRIVACY FILM

The wrong type of glass insert or even an old dingy privacy film can date your front door pretty quickly.

Glass inserts can get pretty expensive but there are a ton of secondhand options on sites like Kijiji or Criagslist that you can find dirty cheap.  If you’re handy, doing the installation yourself is fairly straight forward. There’s a ton of tutorials online to help navigate your way through the switch. Thanks to my amazing best friend, Barbara, (who has a dad in the door business), she graciously provided me with the glass insert and did the install so quickly!

Window film is another great way to add more privacy to your home.  This is commonly used on clear glass.  There are a ton of products on the market but this one is my favourite. Our sidelites, which flank either side of our front door, got an application of mirrored window film. I personally think it’s the modern day version of frosted privacy films.

ADD NEW DOOR HARDWARE

The right door hardware makes a BIG difference! Choosing a high quality product like Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt and Century Front Entry Handle and Latitude Lever will not only improve the aesthetics of your front door but it make everyday life so much easier.

Smart locks are all the rage and with so many different styles and finishes to choose from, Schlage makes it easy to customize your preferences.

Schlage also has a free app that keeps you connected at all times.  You can create and delete up to 30 access codes and share the access codes with family and friends; you can create a custom schedule for your access codes and can check the status of your door. Also, Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt now has Android smartphone compatibility, as well.

Going keyless is one of the best thing ever especially for a busy mom who doesn’t have to fumble for keys now.

MAKE IT ENERGY EFFICIENT

The most common way to lose energy is through your front door. By simply replacing things such as your weather-stripping and door sweep can make a notable difference.

The goal is to keep out environment hazards like water and dirt while keeping heat and air flow inside. These items are inexpensive to purchase and can be found at nearly every hardware store.

DON’T FORGET TO ACCESSORIZE

Door knockers, mats, mailboxes, light fixtures and pretty wreaths are like jewelry for front doors. Add one or two—but don’t overdo it.  You also can’t go wrong with a touch of freshness.  Adding urns with fresh greens or flowers make a great impact that could last all season.

Disclosure: I am thrilled to collaborate with Schlage in our outdoor project. The views and opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

 

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Fall Fix-Ups for Your Home - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Danny Lipford and Chelsea Lipford Wolf share some fall fix-ups, including ways to seal and insulate your home and give your kitchen a facelift.

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EGO Cordless Backpack Blower - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

EGO's lithium ion cordless backpack blower moves up to 600 cubic feet of air per minute, which equates to a wind of 145 mph. And, it's 8 times quieter than gas-powered backpack blowers. It is available at The Home Depot.

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Tip for Cutting Bolts to Size - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

If a bolt is too long, you can use a cordless drill and a hacksaw to cut it down to the exact length you need.

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How to Hang Attic Stairs - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Follow these steps to properly hang a folding attic stairway.

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Fall Fix-Up Tips - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

As the season changes from the warm days of summer to the chilly days of fall, it's the perfect time to prep your home for the cold months ahead.

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Restoring an Old Rocking Chair

One of the joys of wood working is occasionally getting to breathe life back into old pieces of furniture that would otherwise get forgotten. This week I resurrected an old rocking chair that was originally bought for my grandmother but was then passed to my mom. She not only rocked my brother and me in it but her mom also rocked her and her five siblings in it. The chair was purchased in 1950 and for it’s age I say it has held up well! However, a few years back a guest sat in the chair and the entire thing collapsed and broke a part. The guest was fine but the chair was badly damaged. My grandfather did what he could to repair the chair but now that I’m knee deep into woodworking, my mom asked if I could show it some love. Check out the video below to see the extensive process of breaking down the chair and restoring it.

I want to thank Minwax for sponsoring this project. Minwax is once again celebrating the meaningful stories and sentimental value that wood holds with the second installment of, ‘Made With Love. Finished With Minwax.’ This year, Minwax is spotlighting the joy of finding wood pieces, sometimes in the least expected places, and the emotional value these items take on when finishing them with love.

Whether wood items come already imbued with family memories or are simply a blank canvas awaiting a new identity, Minwax provides the tools that enable everyone from novices to trained professionals to either preserve a meaningful history or embed in wood a profound, new meaning. ‘Made With Love. Finished With Minwax.’ provides a platform for people to discover and share their personal stories about taking something ordinary and making it into something extraordinary.

Things I Used in This Project:

ISOTunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
Super Jaws
Outfeed Table
Japanese Pull Saw
Dust Right Separator
Small Port Hose Kit
T-Track Hold Downs
Sanding Grips

Belt Sander
Drills
Mini Lathe
Turning Tools 1
Turning Tools 2
Lathe Dust Collector
Small Clamps
Bench Cookies

Pre Stain Wood Conditioner
Stain
Wipe On Poly
Hide Glue
Two Part Epoxy

The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way.

 

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A Lot of Value In A Little Box – Impact Bits From Milwaukee.

This may come across as a “bit” forward but this is one of the best bit sets of this type I have ever owned. The two things that really make this particular bit box stand out to me would be the super hard/durable 76 alloy steel the bits are made from and the well thought-out storage container….not to mention it’s a whopping 30 bucks at The Home Depot. Here’s my take on it:

This is a close up look at the Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Bit Set. We all know Milwaukee has been making great power tools for years. In the 4 short years I’ve been into woodworking and building, I have only ran into one tool of theirs which didn’t cut the mustard….that would be the late cordless 18 volt brad nailer I recently purchased….that one needs some re-thinking. Otherwise, I’ve always loved their tools and consumables.

This kit however is the real deal – starting with the bits. The selection is pretty widespread over phillips, flats, torques, squares, and hex bits in a couple of different lengths. They also threw in a couple of nut drivers and a 3/8” socket attachment. The exact quantities of each can be seen in the image below.

I wanna talk briefly about the bit material choice for this set before diving into how cool this little box is. Milwaukee uses “custom alloy 76 steel” which “maximizes resistance to wear and shock”. Although Milwaukee is kinda hush-hush about the treatment involved in 76 steel, I’ll offer the short end of the story.

76 Steel is some super hard stuff at 70 HRc (compare to 6061 aluminum which is around 40 HRc for perspective). It also has very high resistance to wear that collectively comes from the high levels of chromium and vanadium as well as a controlled tempering process. The metallurgic compound and heat treating process for 76 steel is also used for hard machining and cutting tools. Many broaching, reaming, thread cutting, and gear cutting tools are made out of the exact same stuff you’re getting in one of these little bit boxes…alloy 76 steel.

What this means to the end-user is a durable tool that is damn near bomb proof. If you’re able to trash one of these bits then give yourself a high five!….and then call Milwaukee for a replacement : )

Milwaukee really promotes the custom machined tip geometry in their marketing material. All of the screws I’ve been driving with this set have been a very tight fit and don’t wobble around in the screw head like some others I’ve owned in the past. The bit to fastener fitment is spot on so I won’t carry on about it…..it does what its supposed to.

Last but certainly not the least point I’d like to share is the killer little box these bits come in. I posted a review on a different impact bit set a while back and the box wouldn’t even close properly almost as though the box designer was absent on “box closure day”. Needless to say this box is well beyond that.

The closure is a snap fit latch that is easy to engage and feels very solid. Where it starts getting cool is how Milwaukee designed these little webs in the plastic so a strap or something of the sort could be routed through them for hanging, carrying, or mounting to a surface. I really like that they’re made in a way that would still allow the user to open the box without the strap interfering with the box opening or closing. You can also find this arrangement in modern cooler lids – you can strap them down and still have access to you frosty beverages. It’s a nice touch.

Opening the box you would probably think “cool…it’s a bit box”; but check it out: Conventionally, getting bits out can be a real pain since they’re often packed in there very tight. They’re usually laid over in the boxes which makes it hard to get these little things to slide out of their nests (especially for those with large fingers). Milwaukee totally changed the game in my opinion by making each bit row easy to remove if need be, or you can simply rotate the entire row. Imagine, you can take a whole row out at once…keep your commonly used bits in a complete row, put the row in your pocket before you go up into the attic, stow it back in the box once you return to the truck. Snap in. Snap out……easy peasy.

They also made the end geometry of the bit-rows in a way that allows you to easily rotate the entire row so the bits now point “up and out” instead of laid over flat. Again, this makes it super easy to extract a bit one handed in case you have something in the other hand.

It takes no time at all to see that Milwaukee did their homework on this one. The super hard material equates to a longer bit life. Quality controlled machining = good fastener-to-bit coupling = less cam out and stripping. And a well sorted box design means less time fiddling and fighting to get your bits out of a crowded enclosure.

The holidays are just around the corner; buy your favorite technician, craftsman, creator or homeowner one of these slick little bit boxes…..even if that person is you : )

Thanks for dropping in to learn more about this bit box. If you’re thinking about buying one, consider using this link or one of the others listed above. These are affiliate links I’ve generated through The Home Depot ProSpective campaign. Sales made from these links provide a small kick back to my website which helps this whole machine to keep going. Aside from my appreciation for you just dropping in to read this content, I also appreciate any and all sales through these links.

Y’all take care and have a great day – April

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How to Install Hardwood Flooring

Out with the old carpet and in with the new hardwood. This job was a total ass kicker but man was it worth it.  The old carpet wasn’t in terrible shape but I just never really liked it. Plus, I’ve always wanted to install a hardwood floor so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Suffice to say I learned a lot. The main thing to understand if your’re considering a job like this is that it’s a long process and it does no good to rush. I took my time on this job and worked steady for about 4 days by myself.  That’s one day to prep the floor and 3 days for installation. If you haven’t already, check out the video below to see how it all came together. Cheers!

Things I Used in This Project:

ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
16 Gauge Brad Nailer
Triton Project Saw
2″ Cleats

Rubber Tapping Block
Knee Pads
Pull Saw

The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way.

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Tip for Dusting Under Furniture - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Some areas are impossible to vacuum, such as under low furniture. Make a dusting wand out of a yardstick covered with a cotton sock, secured with a rubber band.

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Feit Electric LED Dusk-to-Dawn Light Bulb - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Feit Electric makes an LED bulb with a photocell light sensor that turns the bulb on at night and off during the day. It has a twistable base to adjust the built-in automatic on/off sensor. It is available at The Home Depot.

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How to Hang Poster Board Behind Shelves - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Hanging poster board behind dark shelving is an easy, inexpensive way to brighten the space. And, since it's easily removable, you can change the background as often as you like.

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The Little Blower That Could – Ryobi’s 18v Cordless Blower Is Awesome!

Awesome tools can sure come in small packages. This 18 Volt Compact Blower from Ryobi is no exception. When I first unboxed this little guy I actually laughed out loud because it’s just so darn cute. Once I got to using it, I started to realize that this little thing definitely has its place in a shop or job site environment.

This is the type of tool you might not think of as a “must have” in the shop but damn is this thing handy. First thing’s first – this is NOT a leaf blower. Yes it will certainly move some minor leaf loads off the patio but it is not the kind of thing you would expect to take care of a back yard fall leaf collection.

In the shop, this tool really shines when doing general or detailed clean up. I know in my case, saw dust is getting all over everything right now since I do not have a bonafide dust collection system running like I did in the old one. Which reminds me, at my last place I turned a one stage Harbor Freight special in to a two stage DC system for nearly nothing – if you’re interested, check it out here…it’s a super fun and inexpensive means of getting good dust collection in your shop.

Back to the blower…..So since the DC is sub-par at the moment I’m constantly cleaning up saw dust. This little booger is able to blow out loads of dust and chips from small inaccessible areas.

With a 1.3 Ah battery installed, this unit is a featherweight at 3.7 lbs. It has 3 different speed setting that are at the top of the pistol grip and easy to control with the right or the left hand. I’m impressed that Ryobi chose to make the trigger constantly variable. Much like the old rheostat controllers of slot cars, the more you squeeze the trigger on this blower, the faster the motor spins.

The other thing I really like about this package is the rubber nozzle. It’s basically a silicone rubber tube that has a plastic collar on the end that engages to the blower output. Since it’s soft rubber, I don’t have to worry about the tip damaging whatever I happen to run it into while blowing the shop out.

I think the target market for this blower is really much wider than one would imagine. Since I’ve unboxed it, I have found a number of little things around the house it works pretty well for in addition to just general cleanup in the shop.

The only thing I can see that works against it is that it doesn’t like to sit down on the counter very well. Unlike a drill that rests naturally on the battery, this unit is basically unbalanced to the point that it tips to one side when you set it down. That’s really a trivial detail but I thought it was worth mentioning.

If you’re already in the Ryobi 18 volt family then this little guy will be an easy family member to bring on board. Otherwise you’ll be on the hook to buy a battery and charger. The tool alone retails for about fifty bucks and is well worth it in my opinion.

If you’re interested in buying one of these compressors, feel free to use this link. This is an affiliate under The Home Depot ProSpective Campaign which has sponsored this post as well as some others. Purchases made using these links help this page to stay alive and kicking.  I appreciate your support in this way.

 

 

 

 

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Thompson’s WaterSeal Timber Oil - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

Thompson's WaterSeal timber oil penetrates the wood and protects it without sacrificing the beauty of the natural wood. It is available at The Home Depot.

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Tip for Drilling Through Plexiglass - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

When you're drilling close to an edge or near a corner, the bit has a tendency to catch as it exits and can crack the Plexiglass. Here's a tip to prevent that.

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7 Easy Shed Organization Projects

Last week I showed you how to build some custom ramps for a small shed which you can find here. This week I’ve built a handful of small organization features inside the shed to help maximize the space inside.  I managed to keep all my chainsaws, weed trimmer, garden tools, and a variety of other things tightly tucked against the wall.  I can’t stand clutter! These little projects are really gonna help this shed stay nice and organized.  If you haven’t already, check it out down below.

Things I Used In This Build:

ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
Drills
Custom Tool Belt
Super Jaws

The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way.

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Backyard Paradise Winner 2017 - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

The Today's Homeowner team hit the road to Castle Pines, Colorado, home to our Backyard Paradise 2017 contest winner, Monica Sethi.

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It’s a Cordless Air Compressor From RIGID – Check It Out

Since moving into the new home I have been working in the attached garage and have yet to wire and plumb in my large air compressor. I don’t use a lot of pneumatic tools other than a brad nailer mainly, so it hasn’t been a huge inconvenience. In the mean time, I’ve been using this cordless compressor I recently got as part of The Home Depot ProSpective campaign. It’s the RIGID 1.0 Gal. 18 Volt Cordless Air Compressor. I’ve really been putting it to use more than I figured I would to be honest. As a battery powered little compressor, it’s very handy. Here are a couple of things I’ve learned about it since I’ve had time to put some miles on it.

As a small compact compressor it does pretty darn well. It’s not terribly loud when it’s coming up to pressure and ramps up to 120psi in about 50 seconds. RIGID reports that the compressor sound level is 77 decibels which is just a bit louder than your standard household vacuum cleaner.

The hose connection is nice and easy to get to and accepts standard ¼” or industrial 1/4” attachments. It’s the spring loaded type that only requires one hand to operate. I keep a small 4 foot rubber hose whip attached to it at all times so it is ready to go. Fortunately Ridgid incorporated a small adjustable rubber band to keep the hose organized and tucked tightly to the compressor when its stowed away.

The overall construction is very sturdy. The steel tube frame has big rubber isolators that don’t damage the finished flooring in the house.

It has a steel tank with a built-in ¼ turn ball valve for draining moisture that forms in the tank and a single stage compressor that comes from the factory with oil in it .It’s got a big regulator knob that has a “push-to-lock” feature so you know it’s good and seated once the knob is compressed. Lastly, it’s able to deliver 1.4 SCFM @ 40psi and 1.0 SCFM @ 90psi.

With the last bit of information there you should be able to see how this compressor would be ideal for finish nailing and a little less ideal for something like a roofing nailer. Of course it also works well as small compressor to keep around the property for airing up tires and so on. All and all I really like that this compressor is light, compact, and easy to deploy anywhere around the property without the need of extension cords or a gas motor.

The compressor is a pretty good deal at The Home Depot and you can check it out with this link. If you are already in the 18 volt RIGID family then this little unit is an easy win. Otherwise you are on the hook for purchasing a battery and a charger. It’s worth mentioning the compressor will run on as little as one 2.0 Ah battery but it is best paired with two 4.0 Ah batteries if you plan to use it for long jobs away from 120 VAC. And yes, it will work with ANY combination of battery sizes in the 18-volt family.

If you’re interested in buying one of these compressors, feel free to use this link. This link, along with some of the others are affiliate links established under The Home Depot ProSpective Campaign which has sponsored this post as well as some others. Purchases made using these links help this page to stay alive and kicking.  I appreciate your support in this way.

Have a great day – April : )

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Curb Appeal Makeover - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

We help Jonathan and Kate Light update the exterior of their 1970s ranch-style home.

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How to Build Ramps For a Shed

I’m so happy I had this shed delivered. Yes, I would like to have built a small shop myself but time in the schedule simply did not allow for it. Once it was delivered though, I was faced with the challenge of getting stuff into it easily lol. The deck of the building is about 15″ above the ground on one side and about 20″ above ground on the other.  After a quick napkin sketch, I came up with this ramp design you can see in the video down below. This approach was pretty straight forward and was relatively in expensive. If you have a small shed on your property, this video would serve a great guide to building your own ramps.  Thanks for stopping by to learn more about the project.

Things I used In This Build:

ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection
Circular Saw
Custom Tool Belt
Multi Stand
Miter Saw

Saw Horses
Super Jaws
Drills
Framing Square

The links above are affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will get a small commission from the sale of the products.  In a small way it helps to keep this website alive and kicking and I appreciate your support in this way.

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September Lawn & Garden To-Do List - Home Improvement – Today's Homeowner

September heralds the fall gardening season with cooler temperatures and a first taste of autumn in the air. Now's the time to be outside to enjoy the beautiful weather while taking care of some of the following lawn and garden tasks for September.

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