After we purchased our current home we found asbestos (vermiculite) in the rock-wool kitchen insulation. I could not, in good faith, keep the ceilings up, knowing that was all looming overhead. Additionally, the upstairs was hot.. very hot.. it had very little (or missing) insulation. All walls and ceilings were torn down – throughout the […]
Archive | Home Improvement
RSS feed for this sectionAverage Costs of Fixing, Upgrading or Remodeling
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING ESTIMATES Electrical Retrofit receptacle – rewire reverse polarity $50-$75 standard light fixture $125-$200 receptacle – replace conventional with GFCI $100-$125 receptacle-CO/ALR (aluminum) $75-$100 receptacle – stove/dryer $100-$125 receptacle-conventional $125-$150 receptacle-split $175-$250 receptacle – exterior with cover $175-$250 fluorescent light fixture $180-$250 ground-public system $90-$120 ground-private system (with ground rods) $250-$300 exhaust […]
HDMI – The correct way install HDMI cabling over 50 feet
This is a public service so that no one else makes the mistake or spends the money and time (in the attic) that I did to make this work. HDMI cable is expensive and will only support distances up to 50ft before steps must be taken in order to avoid signal loss/degradation. Monoprice is the […]
Life Expectancy of Household Components
The National Association of Home Builders put together a study that totaled average life expectancies for various housing components. To get this information, NAHB conducted a comprehensive telephone survey of manufacturers, trade associations and researchers to develop information about the longevity of housing components. Many of the people interviewed emphasized that the life expectancy of […]
Insulation Choices and Pricing for Your Home
If you’re a homeowner and looking to beef up your insulation, which material is best for you? Insulation comes in many forms these days and there is not a simple answer. One type of insulation will be better suited for your situation than another. Some installations you can actually do yourself and others require the […]
Austin Landfill – Where to Dump Your Trash
The Actual Name is Austin Community Landfill – Not City of Austin Dump I had a very hard time finding out where to dump all the trash from a recent remodel. Too many organizations, too many broken links. All I wanted to do was dump a load of trash and not drive too, too far. […]
How to Build Your Own Pool
Right Click to Download Expense List for this Pool
City of Austin Building Codes, Ordinances and Technical Information
**Dont’ ask how long it took to find this, but the content of this page is buried in the COA website…. and is now added here for a little extra visibility** There are several sources of codes and technical specifications that the City of Austin follows. We follow the Austin City Code of Ordinances Land […]
Austin Recycling Program – Free Tumbled Glass and Organic Mulch
Need unlimited, free tumbled glass or organic mulch? A friend of mine told me about this program and it took me a while to find the details. This well-hidden, gem of a program put on by the COA is called the Austin Resource Recovery Center. It’s a place where folks like us can take our trucks and […]
Free Paint at Austin ReBlend!
Not only can you dispose of your hazardous materials and waste safely here, you can: Dispose of Automotive Products Dispose of Lawn Care Products Dispose of Batteries Recycle Paint and Paint Products Recycle Empty Containers. NOTE: Austin reblend is prohibited by TCEQ regulations to take waste from businesses Let’s get to the point though… In […]