DallasDirt » Home maintenance & Repair

Remodeling, Anyone? October Is Surgical Bootie Time

Candy Evans — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:00:51 +0000

By now most of us who even pretend they want to sell their homes in the spring know you have to get all the work done on the house in October and November. Because, let’s face it, in December all we do is try to mail holiday cards and work in-between going to parties. In January, we will be too tired. And broke. My checklist looks like this:

1. Replace weatherstripping back door.

2. Clean gutters

3. Trim trees

4. Re-carpet upstairs after in-laws leave post holidays (schedule now!)

5. Re-upholster family room sofa after kids leave post holidays (buy fabric, schedule now!)

6. Clean chimney

7. Paint eaves

8. Figure out how to graciously get more of kids’ belongings out of the house

9. Quit reminding spouse to shut garage door — maybe it will all get stolen!

While perusing through D Home, I found this story — might be helpful to any of us about to let a workman take one step into our homes. Get those surgical booties ready, have them waiting by the front door!

Dallas Real Estate News: Thank God For Mr. Carrier

Candy Evans — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:17:59 +0000

Over on Frontburner, Jeanne Prejean reminds us that we ought to erect a shrine to the man who invented that neat machine that chills the air by removing humidity. His name was Willis Havilland Carrier, born in upstate New York, a mechanical engineer and graduate of Cornell. His company now spreads his name over half the homes in the Sunbelt.

Maybe I appreciate Mr. Carrier more right now: Savage Air Conditioning was just out because my upstairs unit needed freon, or whatever the coolant is. From 95 degrees to 75 lickety-split. And yes, I heart my Carriers.

Buying an Oriental Rug From a Local Dealer: Charity Begins at Home

Candy Evans — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:44:38 +0000

My story on Arzu Studio of Hope Rugs stirred up the folks in the rug business locally. One of the dearest, David Rejebian, whose brother Brad was our banker for a long time, offers his perspective from someone whose ancestors have been in the rug biz for almost 80 years. His point: local vendors also give back to the community, like ours. Sometimes charity begins at home:

In reading your piece on Oriental Rugs, I feel that I must respond to some of the points.

As you know, I am fortunate to be a part of an oriental rug family in Dallas since 1934. My grandfather and father built a business on honesty and trust.

I can see by the project that you write about that a very good thing is going on in Afghanistan. There have been various projects over the years that have tried to do this. In fact, the Oriental Rug Retailers of America, which my father founded, attempted to address some of these issues, with respect to child labor back in the 70′s.

My questions though, are these. If 92% of the proceeds from the sale of the rugs in the project is going to be returned to the weavers, how does the wool get purchased, spun, and dyed? And how do the rugs get shipped and marketed. There are a number of costs associated with producing a rug that go far beyond just weaving cost. Don’t misunderstand me, I think what these people are doing is very worthwhile, but I guess that I may be misunderstanding the math here.

Additionally, the statement about only buying a rug with a mission disturbs me a little. Are people to assume that those of us in this business that are not here simply for what we can take FROM our community, but rather to live by the idea that one needs to put back into the community that we take from….should we be excluded from the rug buying public?

My grandfather and father thought it extremely important to do those things. And they were not concerned about whether people should know. A lot of people in Dallas do a great deal for the underprviledged here, and without any fanfare.

As the people you have written about are doing, my family has done for the last 75 years. No “Going out of Business” sales, no “80% Off” sales….just honest dealing with the people of this community, with the idea that you put into the community what you get out of it.

I believe that the project in Afghanistan is wonderful…..but let’s not lose sight of great things being done by the local community as well. I count my self as one of those.

David

Rejebian and Son Oriental Rugs
6604 Snider Plaza
Dallas, TX 75205

Shred Your Life Away at Fretz Park April 24

Candy Evans — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:00:23 +0000

Cleaning out the garage to get your home ready for sale or just being your usual (my usual) OCD self? The city of Dallas is having a shredding party at Fretz Park Saturday April 24. Jump for the deets:

April 24, 2010, 10a.m. – 4p.m., at the Fretz Park Recreational Center, 6950 Beltline Rd. , Dallas , TX 75254 (SE side of Beltline and Hillcrest).

THERE WILL BE A SHRED POD FOR DOCUMENT SHREDDING

WHAT TO RECYCLE:
Electronic Items :Televisions, Video Games, Cell Phones, Computers, Calculators,
Toys
Paper
Glass
Clothing
Hardback Books
Scrap Metal
Tires (No Limit)
Plastics
Small Appliances
Batteries
Light Bulbs
Clean Styrofoam
Packaging Foam
Bubble/Shrink Wrap
Plastic Bags
Mattresses
Furniture
Used cooking oil

DO NOT BRING: Household Chemicals, Paint, Building Supplies, or Water Beds.

The first 50 Dallas residents with a valid I.D. to drop off items will receive two free movie passes

For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at 214-670-4475.

For other useful info visit: www.greendallas.net

Snowmageddon: Are Dallas Roofs Able To Handle More Snow?

Candy Evans — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:42:45 +0000

So the forecast says snow, and we know what that could mean: another 11.2 inches. Hopefully, Dallas won’t make any more weather history in the next couple days, but when we were covered with it two weeks ago, I got curious: are Texas roofs built to withstand a heavy snowfall? The national standards vary from region to region, of course, and I’m told the minimum snow load for the Dallas, TX area is 5 lbs. of snow weight per every square foot of roof. Ten to 12 inches of fresh/new snow equals about five pounds per square foot of roof space.

So I’m wondering: did our record snowfall push the envelope on those roof loads? In the Mid Atlantic states, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety, most roof designs can support at least 20 pounds per square foot. However, design loads can range from 10 pounds to 20 pounds per square foot in Mid-Atlantic states, and between 40 pounds and 70 pounds per square foot in New England.

So is it time to up the design loads for Dallas? And is that yet another question to ask when you buy a house?

Record Dallas Snow Crushing Some Local Carports

Candy Evans — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:05:19 +0000

It was all so pretty last night, those branches frosted with the pretty white magic we so seldom see in Dallas. But this is a heavy snow, the packing snowman kind (I know being a Chicago gal) and during the night those weight-laden branches fell, taking power lines down with them. Which is why almost half the city was without power for a long time, may still be. (Fingers just starting to thaw.) So you can imagine what that snow did to wimpy carports. This 14 inches happens about one in a century, so I don’t know if we need to exactly legislate for heftier carport construction standards. I, for one, had the best time shoveling our driveway with a hay shovel last night!

Update: Anyone with trees on their property is in trouble. My yard man lives in Duncanville and has a major tree down. I just heard parts of Forest Lane were closed due to a tree falling right in the street. I’m told Royal Crest looks like a “war zone” . The branch pictured here? Down.

Who Re-Gifts for the Yard Men?

Candy Evans — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:13:27 +0000

True confessions here, bare your soul in the spirit of the season. Who re-gifts to the house maintenance folks for the holidays? Glenn Hunter’s post got me thinking: there are so many caretakers for the home — the pool man, the lawn men, tree trimmers, Chem Lawn (natural chemicals, of course, I use Gecko Green), painter, handyman… who do you give holiday gifts to and what do you give them? Money? Clothing? A food basket from Sams?

And where do you draw the line? If they come weekly, then do you give them a gift at Christmas? What about quarterly? Do you give gifts to the garbage men? The postman? And that pesticide dude, does he even remember what you gave him last year?

New Resource Group Forms: Dallas Green Building Alliance

Catherine Horsey — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:10:36 +0000

Last year a group of contractors, while working together on a sustainable/green/resource-efficient residential project on Walnut Hill, started hanging out together to talk about sustainability, how to make their projects more sustainable, and how to support each other in those efforts. After months of once-a-week conversations, they decided to start a new group, the Dallas Green Building Alliance. Their mission is to be a resource for homeowners, Realtors, builders–anyone with an interest in learning more about building and remodeling in a sustainable way. Their brand-new website is absolutely loaded with information, technical and otherwise, on heating and air conditioning systems, low-VOC finishes, solar, projects, etc. Yes, they are looking for business, but they have definitely drunk the Kool-Aid and they are really committed to this. Check it out.

Dallas Home Seller’s Weekend Chores: Caulk It Up

Candy Evans — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 02:30:28 +0000

Don’t even think it’s Miller Time until you have these pre-sell, honey-do’s out of the way:

Clean and seal decks. Ideally, you’ll need three consecutive warm, sunny days. Rain’s over. On day one, dry out the deck. Apply deck cleaner and scrub the deck on the second day and let it dry 24 hours. On the third day, apply deck sealer.

Hire a certified chimney sweep to inspect and clean chimneys. Doing this task now instead of the fall allows plenty of time for repairs before the next heating season. It’s also easier to schedule a sweep.

Wash the exterior of your house, using ordinary garden hose pressure and a mild detergent. Beware of the pressure washers — they are powerful enough to force water under the siding where it may encourage mildew and rot, or worse. And do not set them on open or screen windows as a neighbor kid once did.

Caulk exterior joints around window and doors.

Clean lint from the entire clothes dryer vent system, from the dryer to the exterior vent cap. What if it’s on the roof, you ask? Well, that’s a dumb place for a vent cap.

Inspect and repair or repaint all patio and deck furniture. (Like this will really take three days…)

Check operation of attic fans and roof-mounted turbine vents.

HBA of North Texas Surplus Sale

Candy Evans — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:08:08 +0000

Is coming up, June 18. Remodelling? Fabulous way to pick up some high-quality construction items, everything from wood, cabinets, tile, carpet to insulation. Details forthcoming.

Dallas Dirt Comments

Candy Evans — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:21:26 +0000

We have people of superior intelligence commenting here on Dallas Dirt. Proof: someone just posted a comment that I think is brilliant and appropriate for Earth Day. Why don’t electricians wire houses so that, as you walk out the door, you could flip a switch and turn off all electrical outlets? Not only would that save electricity it would prevent potential fires from hair dryers/curling irons/irons/Christmas tree lights left plugged in. Our house is wired as a “smart house”, meaning we are able to access electronics (lights, music) from our cell phones or computer. Naturally, I have done it once in nine years. But if I could shut down the juice remotely, I might do it more often.

Building Notes: Put Outlets In Your Drawers

Candy Evans — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:25:46 +0000

I thought I was such a clever lass to put outlets in the knee space below my vanity bench so I can keep my hair dryer plugged in perpetually, but this makes much more sense: the hair dryer or curling iron can be plugged in all the time, and if you do this in the kitchen you can keep all those gadgets that need charging plugged in and out of site.

Drive Up Appeal Begins At The Front Door

Candy Evans — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:56:18 +0000

A frantic reader has asked me what she can do to “spiff” up the front of her home, namely the front door and entrance.

“Help,” says she. “I have no time to even begin with the inside, so I figured I’d spend the only 5 minutes I have where it counts — at the front door.”

Good move, say my experts, Jane Mills and Cliff Ellman of Spiffi Decor. That’s exactly where you want to begin. The front door is where the love affair with a home begins, it’s the bride on the threshold. The buyer absorbs all senses around him as he (she) stands there and really decides: am I going to marry this house? Let the pheromones begin!

It goes without saying the front porch should be spotlessly clean, ditto the door molding and door itself.

“Everything must look fresh and new, ” says Jane.

But don’t stop with a bottle of 409 and fingerprints. Check out the weather stripping, squeaking hinges, peeled paint (big no-no) and door knocker. Do you have door numbers so buyers can even find the house? (Don’t laugh — a house in Preston Hollow that I saw yesterday which appears to be empty has no numbers on the house or curb. How can I look this house up?) What does the mailbox look like? The doormat: new, we hope, and coordinating with the house. As for those numbers, make sure they mimic the home’s style — you wouldn’t want traditional brass on a sleek contemporary home, or rice-stick thin steel numbers on a traditional Georgian.

“And think about what your home’s entrance will look like at night, ” says Jane.

Night? Most showings are in the day.

If someone is interested in a home, says Mills, don’t you know they are going to drive by the place ten times a day even at night. Make that front porch sparkle – like an engagement ring.

Flowers — yes, the bouquet. Fresh, fragrant and coordinating with the home style and color. Not your style? Add a lovely sculpture or an urn filled with a fresh succulent.

Take five, ten minutes to really get that front door and entrance perfect, grand, inviting your buyer in to take your home right down the aisle.

The Disappearing W Signs ???

Candy Evans — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:02:27 +0000

I was on Daria Drive Monday, waving to the Secret Service dudes, and there are “Welcome George and Laura” signs in all but two yards on the street. Didn’t see any missing. Meantime, you heard about Patrick Bibb here, first.

3525 Turtle Creek Update, Inquiry

Candy Evans — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:15:26 +0000

Inquiring minds are asking me:

Did 3525 Turtle Creek ever obtain Landmark Status?

What about that multi million dollar assessment to improve the interiors and exteriors?

What is the total number of units in the building?

What physical changes are proposed for the exterior elevation?

Has anyone agreed on anything?