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You should never ignore mold and mildew inside a shower. When it does happen, act quickly to resolve what could become a dangerous situation. One homeowner plans to replace her old moldy shower for a modern, safer unit. Danny and Joe recommend a few stylish shower options sure to last. Plus, a listener tired of sloshing around his new backyard learns what he can do to redirect water away from his home. Also, many people are ditching their old textured ceilings. Do you plan to as well? Learn to update your ceiling giving it a new smoother surface.
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Working on the laundry room. What day is it? What time is it? I pretty much live in there now, emerging only to eat or to pick up more materials. SOS (Send Over Snacks).
Honor Roll, shall we?
All right. I’m taking the boys for haircuts today and then, you guessed it, back to working on the laundry room for me! Have a great weekend.
IMAGES: The House That Lars Built
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Finish Nailers are one of those tools that no matter what trade you work in, you likely have a need for them. Without a doubt, they are versatile and allow for a lot of trim and construction work to be done with ease. In today’s world of cordless power tools, we look at another addition to the roster of high performers from Makita. Let’s dive into the Makita Cordless Finish Nailer Review and see how it stacks up.
Makita is a brand very well regarded in virtually every industry. They have a very large lineup in their collection and cover everything from OPE to woodworking, concrete, and so much more. If you aren’t familiar with Makita, they are one of the few tool manufacturers that are owned and managed independently from others. When you find innovation in their tools, it isn’t likely to be seen across other brands for some time. This is one of the many reasons Makita inspires loyalty from professionals industry-wide.
Makita is based in Japan, with factories worldwide. With a history spanning back to 1915, Makita has a very strong legacy of producing tools for professionals everywhere. Not only that, but an interesting fact is they were the first to launch a rechargeable drill in 1978, and also the first to bring lithium-ion batteries to tools in 2005. With such strong roots, its no wonder their following is as loyal as they are.
The Makita Cordless Finish Nailer weighs in at 8.4 pounds and only 11-5/8 inches long.
Operating on Makita’s 18V battery platform. I tested this nailer using a 2.0 Ah battery, but this nailer can provide up to 1000 nails on a single charge when using a 5.0 Ah battery.
The Makita Cordless Finish Nailer drives 16-gauge finish nails from 1 to 2-1/2 inches in length.
The metal magazine provides durable storage for up to 110 nails at a time and also has nail length markings to verify the size of the nails in the nailer.
A no-mar tip prevents damage to the workpiece while the nailer is in use. Additionally, the dry-fire lockout prevents firing when nails are not present. This protects both the nailer and the workpiece from damage.
LED lights allow a clear line of sight while in use.
A depth adjustment knob allows for quick adjustments of nail depth for the best finish given each application. This is a key feature on nailers for me, as often I prefer a countersunk nail if I will be filling.
Makita included a standard and sequential fire nailing mode that is switched using a covered switch.
A trigger lock increases safety during use, and the trigger pressure needed to operate the tool is ideal for constant use.
Tool-less jam clearing mechanism allows for quick removal of a jammed nail, allowing little delay to get back to work.
Rubber overmold and bumpers on the tool allow for ideal grip and protection from surface damage while using the tool.
A reversible belt clip allows for easy attachment to a users belt or tool bag when not in use for convenient storage.
So let us get into the nitty-gritty here. How did this cordless nailer perform? Did it stand out from the crowd? The quick answer is yes, absolutely it was a strong performer but I wouldn’t say it was the best nailer I have ever used.
Now, to break it down further, let’s see what really stood out. In this nailer, I loved the ergonomics. Cordless Nailers, in general, are heavier and bulkier than pneumatic versions, so you always have to be prepared for that. Makita did a good job designing this tool to remain comfortable during use without losing any needed functions. It was easy to maneuver this nailer in tight corners as well as awkward areas, something finish nailers need to have the ability to do.
The adjustments on the gun were easy to use and proved effective as well. You could easily make the adjustments needed to achieve a flush finish or a slight countersink when filling is desired. I always advise testing nails in scrap material before you begin your project to ensure that you have the desired depth as the material will affect this. One of the best features of this gun is the tool-free jam clearing mechanism. While I had no jams occur during testing and subsequent use and believe me, I tried to get this to happen, the design is easy to operate. Nailers will eventually jam, it happens for a multitude of reasons, but I always find tool-free solutions to common issues and setting changes to be appreciated. No one wants to be searching for a tool just to operate another tool.
One of the most common complaints about cordless nailers is the delays between firing. This is something you will notice about them, however, I always view the trade-off of compressor filling and refilling delays to be as disruptive. I don’t see Makita’s nailers slight delay between firing as anything significant or troublesome. This nailer is an ace at shooting individually as well as when using the sequential fire mode.
This nailer runs about $325 dollars from The Home Depot for the bare tool. The battery and charger I tested this with, a 2.0Ah battery runs about $129.00 as well. This nailer is among the highest priced cordless finish nailers on the market today. While it is a bit pricey, it is also a solid nailer that performs well. My experience with cordless nailers has been that their life span isn’t quite what you would hope. I think this Makita may outlast them and if that is the case, this nailers value is excellent. Additionally, this nailer is designed for the professional, so the price point falls alongside other nailers in that category. Certainly, if you are on the Makita battery platform it is a no-brainer to give it a try.
Finish nailers are among my most used tools. I appreciate the increased holding power over brad nails but the reduced size when compared to larger nails. There is no doubt that this nailer is up there in price, but most professional tools are. I feel like this nailer is a great option for those needing the portability of a cordless nailer and are on the Makita battery platform. Makita designed this nailer for the professional looking to cut the cord and maintain performance and they certainly succeeded.
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COURTESY OF WIN HOME INSPECTION
Jamie Green, of WIN Home Inspection, a Seattle, Washington home inspection company, was making his way on all-fours through a crawl space of a 70-year-old house. “Crawl spaces are generally pretty spooky because you never know what you’re going to find,” Green tells Reader’s Digest. Green stumbled on something strange as his hand touched down on something both bony and furry. Turns out, it was a stiff cat skeleton with fur still intact. Unfortunately, the home sellers now had an answer for what had happened to their missing feline friend who they’d believed had “run off” years earlier. If you found that disturbing, here’s some cute cat cartoons to take your mind off it.
COURTESY OF KRIS LIPPI GET LISTED REALTY
An old and rather dilapidated property was being sold as part of the estate of the deceased homeowners. Kris Lippi, a realtor with Get Listed Realty, had buyers lined up who were really excited, although they knew they were going to have to do a lot of work to get the house into decent shape, so it wasn’t surprising when they learned that the home inspections turned up “a bunch of patched holes in the concrete floor in the basement—probably about seven or eight of them,” Lippi recalls. (You’ll seriously laugh at these home improvement fails.) Since the inspector couldn’t figure out any explanation for them, he noted in the inspection documents, “inconclusive concern requiring further investigation.”
Seeing the notation on the inspection documents, the adult children of the deceased homeowners cleared up the mystery. Turns out: it was a pet cemetery. Every pet the family ever had was now dead and gone and buried beneath the house. The adult children didn’t think there was anything weird about this at all. In fact, they asked that the buyers agree to never disturb the home’s makeshift pet burial ground.
Needless to say, the buyers were totally creeped out and canceled the contract. For those who enjoy a little haunting with their home-owning, all of these houses are not only haunted but available for rent on AirBnB.
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Getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life is much easier thanks to gorgeous boutique hotels in stunning locations all over the world. For a Mexican getaway, Habitas Tulum offers guests a truly serene experience with thatched-roof luxury huts located just steps away from the Caribbean Sea. The eco-resort was built with locally-sourced traditional building materials such as wood, reeds and grass, and a modern glass tower was installed at the heart of the complex to house the resort’s lounge and dining areas.
The hotel, which offers five ocean-front rooms and 27 jungle rooms, integrates its natural surroundings into the design and was built to be as eco-friendly as possible. The structures were ecologically built with indigenous materials such as palapa roofs made out of dried palm leaves. Many of the structures are raised on platforms to reduce the impact on the landscape.
The design of the eco-hotel was inspired by the serene nature of its surroundings. The luxury suites are decorated with handmade furniture made from locally-sourced wood. In fact, local artisan traditions, craftsmanship and textiles are found throughout the property.
Related: Mexico’s thatched-roof CocoCabañas Resort is powered entirely by solar energy
Guest rooms come with private outdoor rain showers, along with plush robes and bathroom products made from all-natural ingredients. Private open-air decks with ample seating offer the perfect setting to enjoy the stunning scenery. For a bit of exploration, there are various winding paths that lead to the jungle-like surroundings of the complex. For pure relaxation, there is an outdoor swimming pool and a wellness center with spa services.
At the center of the beautiful resort is a three-story glass tower framed in black steel, which serves as a hub for socializing. A Moorish-style restaurant serves delicious meals that guests can enjoy from a rooftop deck. The “yoga mezzanine” is scattered with seating areas, hammocks and colorful pillows. Multiple long tables made out of reclaimed wood are perfect for dining, card games or just reading a good book.
Via Dezeen
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Climbing Pyracantha strutting its stuff from a high trellis.
In the winter, gardeners have to be creative to bring color and texture to an otherwise bleak landscape. One of the best ways to do this is by planting shrubs that produce winter berries. Not only will you get the bright berries themselves, but your shrubs will soon be decorated with a host of colorful, feasting birds.
There are many choices available for winter berries with colors ranging from white, blue, yellow, orange, and red. Read on to find out about the many colorful berry options available.
No garden is complete without the showstopping bright-purple berries of Beautyberry. The attractive, arching branches of this ornamental shrub provide berries that persist until well after the leaves have fallen. Highlight beautyberry by planting it as a specimen plant, or in front of evergreens or another solid backdrop.
Most varieties of Cotoneaster are small, spreading shrubs, with many prostrate varieties used as groundcovers as they tumble over walls and slopes. Both evergreen and deciduous varieties are available, with dark reddish-green leaves, pink spring flowers, and eye-catching small red berries in winter.
From soft multicolored blossoms in spring, to a profusion of tiny fruits into fall and winter, to lovely bark and graceful branches year-round, Crabapples are great choices for a year around garden. Most varieties are small ornamental trees with an arching shape, but weeping forms are also available.
Varieties include some hardy to zone 5.
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The Husqvarna K4000 electric power cutter is a powerful saw that can stand on its own but is more likely to be used as a supplemental tool when gas is inconvenient or a safety issue. Let’s see how it performs against things that are supposed to be set in stone.
This power cutter excels because it’s quieter, lighter, and creates minimal slurry compared to a gas saw. It emits no fuel fumes making it an excellent option for indoor cutting. You need to tether it to a heavy-gauge extension cord and a 20A circuit, so it’s likely to be a supplementary tool to your Pro gas cutter.
SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS When you need to install a full bathroom on an existing slab, there’s nowhere for the plumbing to go but down. I have about five inches of foundation to cut into so my clients can go with the flow. That’s where the Husqvarna K4000 comes in. Its attributes are well-suited for this indoor job. Although I wear hearing protection, a gas engine’s noise level would be really obnoxious as it bounces off the walls. But the K4000 registers 105 decibels – noticeably quieter than the K770s 115 decibels. Running a gas engine indoors – or even in ventilated but enclosed spaces – is simply too dangerous. Carbon monoxide can accumulate much faster than many people realize. So having an emission-free saw like the one is essential to this job. The light Husqvarna electric power cutter’s handle design makes it exceptionally maneuverable. As it sinks its teeth into unreinforced concrete, the combination of a quality blade and powerful motor make for speedy work. I didn’t cut any rebar during the review, but there’s little doubt the saw can handle it. Husqvarna’s Electronic Softstart and a forward-spinning blade reduce the risk of kickback. Although you can dry cut with a vacuum attachment, I opted for wet cuts to capture all the dust and keep the blade cooler. More on that in a moment. Cutting capacity is excellent. The arbor’s design and motor housing’s width allow you to plunge the 14-inch a full 5 inches deep, just like the K4000’s gas-powered counterparts. There’s a constant flow water valve with an integrated regulator that won’t allow the saw to operate unless it’s fully open. Even if the hose is on full-blast, the valve modulates the water output to keep the wet mess to a minimum. The quick-connect coupler makes attaching and removing the hose a snap. A 3-inch wide splash guard on the bottom of blade cover does a fine job of catching most of the splash. Since the handles give you worm drive-type orientation to the saw, it does a nice job of blocking the water heading back towards you. If you don’t like the guard for some reason, a lever on its clamp allows it to slide off. I ran the Husqvarna electric power cutter on a 15-amp circuit. The Elgard system handles the startup surge well and varies the rotation speed to protect the motor against overload. But when the saw is under load, I can trip the breaker pretty easily. Plan on running the saw on a 20-amp circuit and be sure to use a heavy-gauge (12GA or even 10GA) extension cord. Keep in mind that you might have to bring along a 20-amp generator to use the saw if you’re sharing a temporary power box. At 16.8 pounds, the Husqvarna K4000 is a featherweight compared to the (still pretty light) 22.4-pound K770. The handle setup is reminiscent of a worm drive circular saw. Wet cutting can be a messy business, but Husqvarna aims to keep the muddy slurry to a minimum. By allowing just enough water through the constant-flow valve, the K4000 is designed to capture dust before it becomes airborne and not leave you standing in a puddle. The Husqvarna K4000’s 14-inch blade allows for an ample 5-inch depth of cut just like a gas saw. In addition to the weight savings, the electric motor offers an emission-free advantage over a gas engine. That’s important for remodeling or working indoors where noxious fumes can be unsafe. The $909 Husqvarna K4000 doesn’t have direct competition from its main rival, Stihl. Here’s what you can find in that space. Clearly, Husqvarna is sitting at a premium price. Just keep in mind that it’s a well-designed, more refined machine than what the other guys are offering. That’s not a surprise considering the youngest of the other three is 10 years old. This Husqvarna electric power cutter is powerful, light, and safe to use indoors with regard to emissions and dust capture. It’s definitely a supplemental tool to your gas saw, but it’s one that remodelers and other indoor cutting Pros will want to get their hands on.
Performance
Indoor Kid
Making The Cut
Water Management
Current News
Design Notes
Weight and Ergonomics
Constant Flow Water Valve
Deep Cuts
Emission Free
Price
The Bottom Line
Husqvarna K4000 15-Amp Power Cutter Specifications
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Wednesday marked 100 days since new Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison took his job at the Mooresville-based home-improvement retailer. On Tuesday, he made his first public appearance while at the helm of the company by helping dedicate Charlotte Hornets-themed basketball court upgrades on the city’s west side.
[Survey: This hardware store tops Lowe’s, Home Depot for favorite home-improvement chain]
Speaking to reporters at the event, Ellison says Lowe’s will begin making changes in stores that he’s discovered are needed during his three-month tour of its U.S. home-improvement centers. Ellison has said he’s observed that stores need to adopt best-practice procedures for a range of functions, from unloading trucks and resetting displays to ringing up purchases and interacting with customers.
“Our goal is to start rolling things out at the end of the year and the start of next year,” Ellison said during a one-on-one conversation with the Charlotte Business Journal. “We want to test and learn, then roll out. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but again that’s part of the job.”
And, yes, Ellison says, some of those adjustments were learned during his days at Lowe’s chief competitor and No. 1 U.S. home-improvement retailer The Home Depot Inc.
Read more about what Ellison had to say and check out scenes from the event here: http://bizj.us/1pq6lm
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
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1. Follow weather alerts, listen to the radio and listen to hail alerts issued by insurance companies before driving.
2. If a storm is imminent, avoid driving through it if you can.
3. If you are already on the road, find a safe covered area to wait until the storm passes. This can be a garage or undercover parking.
4. A tree will never provide adequate protection and it, along with items like power lines, can even cause more damage if it falls.
5. If you continue driving, you increase the force with which the hail hits your car.
6. Never get out of your vehicle. If the hail is large enough it can cause serious injury, possibly even a fatality.
7. If you are on the highway, try exiting it before the hail gets too bad. If you are forced to stop, the highway is a very dangerous place to do so.
8. Use your discretion when using emergency lights. Theoretically, emergency lights are there to indicate a stationary car. If you use emergency lights while moving, it can create confusion.
9. If, however, visibility is reduced to such a degree that you cannot see beyond a few metres in front of you, emergency lights are a necessity.
10. Do not stop under bridges on a highway.
11. Avoid stopping near low-lying areas that can be affected by quickly rising water.
12. Until you find a safe spot to wait out the storm, employ the same measures you would during a rainstorm.
13. Slow down.
14. Increase following distances by three times the normal amount.
15. Switch on your headlights – daytime running lights are not sufficient or adequate.
16. If your windscreen is damaged in a storm, do not (unless absolutely necessary) attempt to drive with it like that – rather call for assistance.
17. If you stop driving during a hailstorm, check your car for damage that could make driving further dangerous before you continue to drive.
From: WOW
PHOTO: iStock/Willowpix
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