TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Silent Screen Door
If your door slams shut with a bang, you can place a couple of short beads of clear silicone caulk along the jamb at a few of the contact points. This will soften the blow. Be sure to prop the door open for a couple of hours after application, to let the bead of silicone dry completely.

Digging Sod
When digging up sod that is going to be replaced, skin the sod off in large sections about 3-4 inches thick- peel back. Do not cut into little chunks. This will make replacement and re-rooting clean and effective.

Shutting Off Gas and Water
Know where and how to shut off gas and water to your house. Do this when you travel to avoid any unhappy surprises when you return.

Creating Stronger Products Using Staggered Joints
In many phases of construction the staggered joint produces a stronger finished product.

• Horizontal Example - While installing a hardwood floor, the ends of the boards should never line up in consecutive rows. Instead, it is recommended that several rows be installed before boards line up.
• Vertical Example - Boarded siding needs to be staggered in a similar way to a hardwood floor- except on a vertical surface.

Gutters
The whole idea of gutters is to catch falling water from your roof, direct it to a downspout and deposit it on the ground in a direction that is pointing away from your building. A lot of foundation damage and rot on exterior walls occurs because the downspout is missing the "tail pipe" and is dumping a concentrated quantity of water right at the base of the house. This water seaps down into the foundation and undermines the structural integrity of that wall which totally defeats the purpose of the gutter system in the first place. Inspect you gutters to make sure that they are free of debris, not leaking, and are directing water away from your building.