The Atascocita Branch Library is one of my favorite places. It sits on Pinehurst Trail Drive, and I have brought my kids to story time there for years. This past May, the library turned 30. It first opened on May 5, 1996. That milestone got me thinking about our own house. It is older than the library. So is our…
Category: Home Improvement
Why Your Allergies Are Worse Indoors Than Outside
Some people notice it right away. Outside, they’re fine. Ten minutes after walking in the door, the sneezing starts. That’s backwards from what most people expect. It usually points at one thing. Dust mites live where you sleep Dust mites are microscopic. They eat the skin cells people shed, and they prefer warm humid places. In most homes that means…
The Pipe Between Your House and the Street
Somewhere under your front yard is a pipe you have probably never thought about. It carries everything from every drain in your house out to the city sewer main under the street. It is called a sewer lateral. Two facts about it are worth knowing before it ever becomes interesting. Fact one: in most cities, that pipe is yours. The…
Why the Smoke Smell Comes Back Weeks Later
The house got cleaned. The smell went. Then a warm week rolls in, or somebody runs the heating for the first time since it happened, and there it is again. This happens constantly after a fire. It isn’t bad luck. Odor is a physical thing Smoke smell isn’t a lingering impression or something in your head. It’s particles and oily…
How to Vet a Stucco Contractor Before You Hire
The contractor makes or breaks the whole thing. A good crew leaves you a clean finish that lasts. A bad one leaves cracks, leaks, and a second bill to fix the first job. Stucco and masonry are skilled trades. The prep, the mix, the timing, none of it forgives a rookie. So do a little digging before you sign a…
Stucco for Warehouses and Commercial Buildings
A warehouse wall is not like a house wall. It is bigger, plainer, and it has a job to do. It has to keep weather out, hold up for years, and look decent while doing it. Stucco checks all three boxes, which is why so many commercial buildings use it. For a business, the exterior is more than looks. A…
Why Nor’easter Season Hits Jersey Shore Homes Harder Than You Think
If you’ve lived along the Jersey Shore for a few winters, you already know Nor’easters aren’t just “a bad storm.” They’re a specific weather pattern, and the way they form means they punish coastal homes in a way most inland homeowners never see. The wind comes from the wrong direction, the rain lasts too long, and the tides don’t help.…
Why Is My House So Loud? Insulation Might Be the Answer
If you live anywhere near NAS Oceana, I-264, or just have neighbors who think 10pm is a reasonable time to mow, you know how loud it can get inside a house with thin walls. Most people blame the windows or just live with it. But the insulation is often doing more work, or not doing it, than anything else. Worth…
Why More San Antonio Homeowners Are Switching to Metal Roofing
It’s not just an aesthetic choice. The number of residential metal roof installations in San Antonio has increased noticeably over the past several years. Some of that is design trends. A lot of it is homeowners running the math and deciding they don’t want to deal with another asphalt roof. The Hail Factor Central Texas is one of the most…
THE 5 BEST WAYS TO GET HAIR OUT OF DRAINS
A hair clog is one of the most common clogs that virtually everyone encounters at some point. Even if you employ a drain stopper, hair may build in your lines over time, forming ugly clumps that significantly slow down your drains. The good news is that you don’t need to quit shaving or take dramatic steps to prevent this issue.…