HomeAdditionPlus.com Monthly Newsletter

Home Improvement News for the DIY Homeowner

June 14, 2010            Edition: 0055

HomeAdditionPlus.com June 14, 2010 Newsletter

Newsletter Topics

• Latest Happenings

• Memorial Day Puzzler Contest

• New Drywall Tape Machine

• EZ Hang Door Tool

• Homeowner Contractor Management

• Going Green with Renewable Flooring

Latest Happenings

This past month has been quite busy at HomeAdditionPlus.com. I wrote a number of new articles on a wide assortment of home improvement and remodeling topics, many of which are hitting close to home with me personally. As part of gearing up for summer at our lake home, I have been in the process of orchestrating the “annual” maintenance of our gravel road. This is always a production as it involves dealing with contractors and diverse homeowner opinions on what should be done and what can afford to be done on the road. It’s never an easy process and why I’ve always steered away from condominiums and condo associations.

I’ve also been wrapped up in a number of small home improvement projects around our lake home, including the installation of a new garage door opener and contracting out some new landscaping along our shore front.

I’ve also been in discussions with a number of companies about evaluating some new home improvement and remodeling products. Stay tuned to HomeAdditionPlus.com over the next month to learn about some neat new tools and materials for the home.

Puzzler Contest with $100 Home Depot Gift Prize & a can of KILZ Clean Start
 

This Puzzler Question Contest is sponsored by KILZ, the paint and primer company. Send me the correct answer to the Puzzler Question below and you will qualify for the opportunity to win a $100 Home Depot Gift Certificate and a can of KILZ Clean Start zero VOC primer.
 

If you are interested in winning the gift certificate send your answer to the Puzzler question below, along with your email address, to puzzler@homeadditionplus.com by midnight (EDT) on July 13, 2010.

The winner will be randomly selected from a drawing of those who submitted correct answers on July 14, 2010. A notification to the winner will immediately follow the same day. The winner will be required to provide me with their name, address and phone number so that the $100 Home Depot Gift card can be sent to them. The notified winner will have 24 hours to respond after being notified, before another name is drawn from the list of correct answers. Only one answer per reader/HomeAdditionPlus.com site visitor.

Puzzler Question: What is the name of the piece of exterior board trim that goes along the edge of a gable roof system, and which runs parallel to the roof slope, from the eave to the roof? Send answers to puzzler@homeadditionplus.com
 

Introducing New “Asphalt Shingle Roofing Cost Estimator” Tool
 

Besides writing a number of new articles, over the past couple of weeks I also wrote a new software program to estimate asphalt shingle roofing costs. My new “Asphalt Shingle Roofing Cost Estimator” tool enables homeowners to instantly get an idea of what they can expect to pay to have a roof shingled or reshingled. Best of all, the cost of using this program is free! The tool is a database driven program, which allows me to easily go in and update material and labor costs as necessary. Consequently, the tool should always remain fairly accurate in estimating shingle roofing costs. Combined with my “Asphalt Shingle Roofing Bid Sheet” a homeowner should be well prepared on how to find a qualified roofing contractor and what they can expect to pay to have a roof shingled or reshingled.
 

New Garage Door Opener Installation Video
 

During the installation of a new garage door opener, I decided to film it and post it to HomeAdditionPlus.com. My “Garage Door Opener Installation Video” provides a number of useful tips on how to properly install one. You absolutely want to watch this video if you have plans to install your own garage door opener on a steel garage door. Not properly reinforcing a steel garage door, before installing a garage door opener, could damage your garage door and possibly even injure someone.
 

Fireplace Firebacks
 

I also responded to a site visitor on the use of firebacks in wood burning fireplaces. Firebacks provide both functionality and beauty to a fireplace, and there are both cast iron and stainless steel types to choose from. See my article on “Fireplace Firebacks” to learn more.
 

Maintaining a Gravel Driveway / Road
 

Maintaining a gravel driveway is necessary to prevent it from slowly crumbling apart. Water runoff and frequent automobile use slowly cause potholes to form, and the edges to where down. In addition, if you live in a rocky, cold climate area, large stones hidden under the gravel driveway often work their way to the surface of the gravel driveway due to frost heaves. See my article on “Maintaining a Gravel Driveway” to learn more.
 

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!

Mark J. Donovan

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