After unscrewing the fuse for the dining room in my electrical sub panel (Older houses have fuse boxes—really weird and scary!), I disconnected the existing light fixture and followed the step-by-step directions to install the new one. Stepping back, re-engaging the fuse, and flipping the switch was probably one of the proudest moments in my life. It worked! And I did it all by myself! I really felt solidified as a homeowner. Even better, a Do-It-Yourselfer! Ahh, then began the feeling that I could do anything!

I decided to tackle one of the spare rooms, my office. Since it was an addition the previous homeowners commissioned, it was not entirely made to blend in with the rest of the house. The floor was lower than the adjoining living room, it had 70′s Celotex ceiling tile, and the classic and lovely wood paneling. The paneling didn’t bother me, I could paint it and it’d be good to go. The floor could easily be raised by adding some 2×4′s and plywood. The ceiling tiles, needed to come down, but the wild card was in what was underneath.

Nervous to uncover something even worse, I began pulling down a few tiles. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised when I saw beadboard! Who would want to cover that up?! I continued tearing the tiles down, hoping it was all in as good shape as the first bit I saw, and it was. Once I removed all the staples from the Celotex and the old ceiling fan, I lightly sanded and primed that beautiful wood. A little caulking was necessary to fill a few small gaps before I applied two coats of the white paint I’d been using around the house for trim.

I was wanting to cut off the top half of the wood paneling, add chair rail, and paint the lower half to create a wainscoting. Then enters the home improvement guru, Dad. Since the paneling had been installed without drywall behind it, it had dips and was less than ideal. So he decided to remove it all, install drywall on top and bottom, then reattach the paneling to the bottom half.

The drywall made the room look so much better! And after paint, some closets, and crown molding, the room was ready for occupancy!

Can’t wait to blog about the exterior makeover of my house in my next post!

Further Information

• Kitchen Home Remodeling Tips (video)
• Working with a Kitchen Designer During a Kitchen Renovation (video)
• Hiring a Kitchen Renovation Designer and Contractor (video)

Whether you’re moving into your first home, renting an apartment or living in the house you’ve loved for years, consider spicing up your home with shelf liner. Shelf liner is an easy way to protect shelves, cabinets and dresser drawers from wear and tear. It keeps surfaces scratch-free and prevents spills or drips from damp dishes from causing damage to shelves and cabinets. It’s easily cleaned with a damp cloth or can be thrown in the washing machine—simply wash and re-use! And if when you want a completely refreshed space, installing new shelf liner is quick and hassle-free!

Easy Liner® from Duck Brand® offers a variety of shelf liners in many colors and patterns that add flair to function. The liners allow you to protect your space and express your individual style at the same time. Easy Liner® from Duck Brand® offers non-adhesive and adhesive liners that are stylish and practical for use in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and more! And the non-adhesive liners are simple to cut, install and reposition.

Smooth Top® Easy Liner® is great for kitchen and bathroom shelves and cabinets. It is a non-adhesive liner made with a smooth surface and a non-slip underside. The smooth surface catches messes and spills as they happen, making clean up a breeze, while the non-slip gripped underside keeps the liner firmly in place.

In addition to lining your shelves and cabinets, Easy Liner® shelf liner has a wide range of other uses. The Select and Original Grip liners provide a great grip to anything you want to keep firmly in place. Add it under pet dishes to keep them from sliding around, use them under rugs, or place a small amount under chair legs to prevent them from slipping across the floor.

If you are looking for more traditional, adhesive liners, Duck Brand offers Peel & Stick Laminate with pre-printed paper backing for easy measuring and cutting. Peel & Stick protects your surfaces and is also useful for other decorating and crafting applications.

Protect the spaces you love with Easy Liner® by Duck Brand® shelf liner. Products are available at several fine retailers. Visit duckbrand.com for more information.

The Easy Liner® brand of shelf liners is marketed by Shurtech Brands, LLC.

In the summer months, ventilation helps remove the oppressive heat build-up that can make your air conditioner overwork and can also lessen the life span of certain roofing materials. In the winter, ventilation removes excess moisture vapor that migrates from the living space into the attic where it can cause problems with mold and mildew.

Natural ventilation is the most energy efficient way to control attic moisture and temperature. Make sure the soffit (roof eave overhang) has plenty of screened openings where outside air can be introduced into the attic.

To allow air to escape, a ridge vent works best. This is the opening at the very peak of the roofline, covered with a breathable mesh and capped with roofing that allows the air get out but also keeps rain and wildlife out as well.

When a ridge vent isn’t an option, a motorized attic ventilation fan can be placed as close to the ridge as possible. These fans can be hard-wired into the electrical system or can be solar-powered. Gable vent fans can also assist in moving out the air and moisture.

This First Time Homeowner tip brought to you by Broan-NuTone, bringing fresh ideas home.

Further Information

• Attic Ventilation (article)
• Adding Soffit and Ridge Vents to Your Attic (video)
• How to Size Attic Exhaust Vent Fans for Your Home (article)

To unjam a clogged garbage disposal:

• Turn off the power to the disposal at the circuit breaker.
• Locate the small hexagonal hole on the bottom of the unit.
• Insert the key that came with the garbage disposal, or an Allen wrench, into the hole.
• Rotate the key back and forth to manually turn the disposal until you release the jam.

To remove bad odors in a garbage disposal:

• Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal, followed by a cup of white vinegar.
• Allow the mixture to foam for a minute or two.
• Pour a pot of boiling water down the drain, and let it sit for five minutes.
• Turn on the cold water while running the disposal to flush it out.

Do this once a month and odors will be a thing of the past.

This First Time Homeowner tip brought to you by Merillat cabinets – the dream kitchen for the real world.

Further Information

• How to Clean the Garbage Disposal in Your Kitchen (video)
• How to Reduce Kitchen Trash Can Odors (video)

Applying non-adhesive-backed shelf liner to drawers and shelves in your bathroom, kitchen, or refrigerator is a great way to keep them clean. Non-adhesive shelf liner can be easily removed to clean any spills. After cleaning just place the liner back in the drawer or on the shelf. This is particularly useful for refrigerator shelves.

Non-adhesive shelf liner grips the surface without sticky glues. For darker wood cabinets, having light colored shelf liner helps brighten the inside of the cabinets. In older cabinets shelf liner keeps years of accumulated oil, dirt, and grime away from your cooking utensils.

This First Time Homeowner Tip is brought to you by Duck Brand products – get the Duck to do it!

Then one day I was innocently checking my email. I had previously signed up for paperless billing for all of my utilities. And on that fateful day in June, there was a new message in my inbox from Alabama Power. Anxious to see how much I was in for, I signed into my online account and clicked on the latest billing cycle. My heart sank when I saw the $220 price tag on my comfort for the previous month. $220 to keep an 1100-square-foot home semi cool for a month. I thought I was doing everything I needed to be “energy efficient,” but I guess there’s always something more you can do.

Having been around my dad’s TV show and his other projects concerning energy efficiency, I was well versed and knew what to do. I started with my 70-year-old metal windows, which were basically giant holes in the side of my house pouring out my precious, and expensive, cooled air. I bought a nine pack of window insulation film for about $12. I’ll be the first to admit it’s not the most attractive option, but boy did it work! The window insulation kit came with double-sided tape and the plastic film. My window openings were a little odd, so I wasn’t able to seal the film 100%, probably only 90%. (After you apply the tape and plastic you “seal” it with a hairdryer).

At the same time I bought the film, I also invested in some magnetic pads for my floor registers and a programmable thermostat. The magnetic pads were used in two of the rooms in my house that I kind of inadvertently made storage rooms. My sunroom had two A/C vents (floor registers) and my “office” had one. I decided to effectively closed off those vents with the magnetic pads and keep the doors to those rooms closed as well. That way the air would be redirected to the rooms I actually used, and there would be less square footage being cooled. The programmable thermostat was really just a back up to what I was already doing manually. But I wouldn’t have to remember to turn the air up when I left because it was already programmed to a certain temp at a certain time of day. I also increased the “away” temperature by a few degrees.

My fingers were crossed for the whole next month. Would my bill go down? It was getting hotter outside, so there was a chance it would only stay the same. Just please don’t be any more expensive!!!

*Bing* New message in my inbox from Alabama Power. Due this month: $150! That’s right, $70 less than last month with only $30 invested. I’d call that instant savings! I was beyond thrilled and knew that as the weather cooled off, so would my power bill. And happily (for me and my virtual checkbook) my power bill continued to decrease each month into the fall, when it was time to revamp my fixer-upper and turn it into a remodeled home.

Read more of my musings as a first time homeowner in my next blog-from first power bill to exterior facelift (on my house, not me!)

Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

• How to Install a Gravel Driveway (video)
• How to Kill Weeds in a Gravel Driveway (article)
• How to Repair Cracks and Resurface a Concrete Driveway (video)
• How to Repair and Seal an Asphalt Driveway (video)

The pressure treated post foundation for the deck was set in Quikrete concrete, and the pine deck boards were secured using the CAMO Hidden Deck Fastening System, so the screws are not visible in the top of the decking. Watch this video to find out more.

Further Information

• Choosing Between Composite and Wood Decking (video)
• How to Build a Deck Foundation (video)
• How to Install Deck Boards (video)
• How to Build Deck Stairs (video)
• How to Build Deck Handrails (video)

Sealing gaps around doors and windows means more than just grabbing a tube of caulk. To really help eliminate those air leaks, make sure you look closely at any foam weather stripping and replace it if necessary. Most foam weather stripping can be found where the bottom of the window sash meets the sill and at the top of the lower window sash where it meets the upper sash. Most of these strips have adhesive backing, so it’s easy to apply.

For larger gaps around windows, pick up a package of rope caulk. It comes in rolls about 35’ long and presses right into the cracks to seal doors and windows.

Finally, examine door bottoms to make sure they seal tightly at the threshold. If you see any daylight peeking through, conditioned air can get out and bugs can get in! Specialty door bottom seals are inexpensive and can be used to eliminate those openings.

This First Time Homeowner tip is brought to you by Duck Brand Weatherization products – get the Duck to do it!

Further Information

• How to Replace Worn Weatherstripping Around Doors (video)
• How to Find Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows (video)
• How to Prevent Pet Damage to Weather Stripping on a Door (video)