Tag Archives: Maintenance

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  Driveway Crack Up

  Posted on January 18, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Do you have cracks in your driveway? You’ve probably never noticed before. Cracks seem to be such a common thing that no one thinks about it. Cracks in driveways can be caused by improperly cured concrete, settling of the ground below, crushing loads from a truck, tree roots, drainage issues and soil erosion. They can […]

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  This gift sucks – in a good way!

  Posted on January 11, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  So did you get a wet dry vacuum as a Christmas gift? If so, it probably smells like new plastic and looks beautiful. The brand tag is clear and easy to read and the inside is so clean you could eat off it! After fifteen years my little 3.25 horsepower, 8 gallon Craftsman is anything but new. The only […]

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  Another of my favorite products

  Posted on January 4, 2016 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  One of the first tools my dad taught to use was a volt meter. I remember him giving me one of his old analog meters to add to my tool set. The two lead wires were red and black with sharp metal probes. These probes were to stick in those slots I was taught as a child to never […]

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  Water nightmare – Episode II

  Posted on December 28, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  What’s the number one enemy of the Pacific Northwest home? Water. Another story about my next-door neighbor who lives in our duplex. They have been an incredible source of good Fix It and Use It stories. “I’m on a crusade against rubber supply lines on washing machines!” Realtors and clients have heard me recite that line again and again. […]

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  Cleaning Drains is Disgusting

  Posted on December 11, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  My two teenage daughters and wife have long beautiful hair that regularly cause our sinks and tubs draining slowly. Now I love their hair but I must say that cleaning it from behind the stoppers is disgusting. I have found a nifty and inexpensive tool that can make this job a breeze. I found it […]

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  One of my favorite products!

  Posted on November 9, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  My walls were blanketed with posters as a teenager – the Three Stooges “Golf with friends”, Jerry Rice “Goldfingers”, and dozens of Seattle Seahawks game day posters from Pietro’s Pizza. poster to name a few. Needless to say my walls were a mess when they all came down. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner […]

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  Is it worth changing to LED lighting?

  Posted on November 2, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  Remember the bluish hue from LED Christmas lights when they first showed up? My wife and I did and were not about to taint our white holiday haze with any of those. We decided to skip the LED craze at first. Later I saw some of the funky bulb designs that were showing up – loops and disks […]

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  It’s got you covered, treat it well

  Posted on October 15, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  If you ever had a roof leak you understand how stressful it is to have your roof fail. If you ever had to replace your roof you know how expensive it is – $10,000 or more! If you have never had reason to notice your roof before it’s doing its job! The number one component […]

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  Two tools every home owner needs

  Posted on October 15, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  There are lots of important tools for home owners but there are two that I highlight when talking with clients. These are tools that I have found invaluable in my own home experience. A good ladder. One of the best investments I made when I started home inspections was a Little Giant Ladder. I saw Al from […]

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  Ground level gutter check

  Posted on October 15, 2015 by mikew in Fix It & Use It

  My neighbor texted me the other day in the midst of one of those great Seattle rainfalls. They had water in their basement, the bedroom carpet was wet and they were desperate. I could empathize with their stress. Water is by far the biggest problem I see with basements. Crawlspace-owners do not feel the effects […]

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