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Latest Happenings

This past week was a very busy one for me as I was out in Chicago, Illinois attending Cabot’s Woodcare Council. It was hosted on the grounds of the beautiful Morton Arboretum and involved about a dozen people, including Paul Dimeo from the show “Home Edition Extreme Makeover”. I learned a lot while at the event and met some really cool and expert people in the wood care industry. I’ve already started to write about some of the things I learned while there, particularly as it relates to wood deck care.

Winter has been extremely mild here in southern New Hampshire, so I was able to spend more time writing and filming additional home improvement tips over the past month that I think can help many of you. I particularly focused on writing about deck, roofing, and tile projects. I also filmed a new video on how to attach trim to metal studs.

With the lack of snow, and for the most part warmer temperatures this January, my wife and I began aggressively planning our spring “honey-do” projects. Top on my list is restoring one of our decks. As I tackle that project, which will include replacing the decking boards and railing system, I plan to film a number of new videos on this subject in the ensuing months, so stay tuned if you have your own deck restoration plans.

I also did a bit of cold weather flying over the past month and flew to several local airports. On one morning I had an interesting experience when it was 2 degrees (F) outside. I captured that experience in an article that I’ll share with you in this newsletter.

Wood Deck Maintenance Checklist

My bathroom remodeling checklist was so popular last month that I decided to write and release a new checklist this month. After attending the Cabot Woodcare Council meeting I thought it fitting to write a checklist on wood deck maintenance. By regularly inspecting and maintaining your deck you can ensure its beauty for years to come while at the same time saving yourself major deck repair expenses down the road. See my “Wood Deck Maintenance Checklist” article to inspect your own deck this spring.

Attaching Trim to Metal Studs

Metal studs are being used more frequently now days in residential construction. They are often used in basement remodeling projects. Fastening baseboard trim, chair rail, and crown moulding to them creates some unique problems. Watch my video on “Attaching Trim to Metal Studs” to learn some simple tips on how to attach trim to metal studs.

How to Remove Ceramic Tiles

Tiles can go out of style over time. When you’re looking to replace your old tiles there are a few tips that I can offer you to help the tile removal process go easier and faster. See my article on “How to Remove Ceramic Tiles” to learn how.

Ceramic Tile Underlayments

The tile underlayment is the unsung hero of any tiling project. It can make or break the tile project. If a tile underlayment is not installed, or not installed properly, a tile project will surely fail in short order. Read my article on “Ceramic Tile Underlayments” to understand their importance and how to install them properly.

Roofing Nail Guns

If you plan to shingle a roof this spring don’t even think about it unless you plan to buy or rent a roofing nail gun. This said, there are several types of roofing nail guns on the market to choose from. Read my article on “Roofing Nail Guns” to learn which one is the best for your roofing project.

Cold Weather Flying in a Cessna Skyhawk 172

I know this article is not home improvement related, however if you have an interest in flying or in how an air cooled aircraft engine works you might find this article interesting. One thing about flying that I think is really cool is that you can’t be a pilot without really understanding how various systems in the plane work, including the engine. Much of that knowledge can be transferred to other vehicles such as your automobiles. So read my article on “Cold Weather Flying” if you want to learn a bit on how small aircraft engines work on very cold days.

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As always, if you have any specific home improvement questions or would like to see specific new home improvement related content send your questions to me at mark@homeadditionplus.com.

Again, good luck with your DIY home improvement projects and enjoy the rest of winter.

Mark J. Donovan

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