Tag Archives: Grounds

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  Cute Bungalow or Acute Jungle-alow?

  Posted on November 30, 2023 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Vegetation promotes possible wood destroying organisms Pacific Northwest cold winter months offer a relief from urgent yard upkeep. However, the lack of urgent does not equate to a lack of important yard upkeep. When outdoor plants go dormant it is time to attend to the foliage that has crept ever closer to our homes. Here […]

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  Little Things That Make a Big Difference

  Posted on March 30, 2023 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  In the work break and sun breaks we all balance the could dos, should dos and will dos. Let me offer some simple ways on sunny days to make headways on the house keep. This article will focus on worthwhile chores for the outside in dry weather. Estimated time on for each category: 20 minutes […]

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  Deck Tips Before You Start

  Posted on January 30, 2023 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Decks are one of the more common do-it-yourself projects undertaken and even when “contractors” are hired I’ve been surprised at the misses. As you begin to plan and prepare for your deck renovations and replacements I want to offer you some important tips. These come from the most common mistakes and shortcuts I have seen […]

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  Solstice House Check Up

  Posted on December 30, 2022 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Essential House Maintenance Chores Repeated every December and June The summer and winter solstice are great times to perform needed house maintenance so let this article be a “maintenance needed” dash light to gently prod you toward some simple house care. Addressing these tasks will make you familiar with possible repairs, alleviate the worry of […]

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  Trees, Lightning and Snow Strikes

  Posted on December 10, 2022 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Ironically. The first snow of the season came with something that felt pretty ironic. In preparation for my impending home inspection license renewal I took a course on evaluating trees and common issues. Numerous pictures and conditions were identified to warn folks of tree trouble. I felt informed and ready to bring a few new […]

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  Snow is Coming, So What?

  Posted on December 10, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  20 minute projects that will count in the cold! We prep the car for snow, school districts send out their cancellation plans, parents stock up pantries, grandparents knit winter caps, but what can home owners do? It is easy to forget or even know what to do in preparation for the upcoming winter storms and […]

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  Rain Drain Maintenance

  Posted on January 21, 2021 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Outside drains are an item we seldom think about. They are located on driveways, in the middle of yards, and around walkways providing the vital function of collecting rain water and diverting it to drain systems – underground piping. These pipes end up in drain fields and city storm systems and most importantly down grade […]

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  Wanna Build a Fence?

  Posted on April 30, 2020 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  There are some things I am grateful to have learned after inspecting hundreds of fences. They are one of those components that dramatically alter the look of a house and overall yard and provide a level of security for outdoor living areas and safety for children and pets. As you prepare for the repair or […]

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  Removing rodent ladders

  Posted on April 10, 2020 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Since we are all out doing house projects and yard work with all this extra time on our hands I wanted to offer a little reminder that little creatures are moving into eaves and attics. Some of them have been watching hedges and trees get ever closer to top floor access and this spring may […]

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  Heat Pump Maintenance in Snow Storms

  Posted on February 20, 2019 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  With all the recent snow fall, collapsing shrubs and broken tree branches, there has been a major maintenance issue with heat pumps. After we had 18 inches of snow the second weekend of February, it seemed like my heat pump was running too long and sounding a little strained. I peaked outside and was alarmed. […]

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