The Home Know-It-All

Geodesic Dome Houses

Photo courtesy of Timberline Geodesics.

If you've been thinking of building your own home, why not build an energy-efficient, weather resistant, affordable, and totally unique one? Geodesic domes are available in manufactured kits that allow you (yes, you personally!) to build a home with only minimal construction knowledge and a handful of common tools. The structures are eye-catching and have many advantages over conventional homes. 

Weather Resistance
A geodesic dome is one of the strongest building designs because it is comprised of triangular panels that form a sphere. By its very nature, a sphere has 1/3 less surface area than a comparable box-style structure, which allows air to pass over the dome with less resistance. The spherical design also distributes stress more evenly, reducing the effect of strong winds, tectonic shifting, and large amounts of snow. 

Energy Efficiency
Because a geodesic dome has less exposed surface area than a conventional home, outside weather has less impact on indoor temperatures, making the dome an extremely efficient structure to heat and cool. Additionally, the curve of the sphere causes internal air to circulate much more efficiently. There's a reason why radar towers in Antarctica incorporate the geodesic design!

Comparable Costs
Though costs vary, you can expect to pay less than $40,000 for a 40-foot-diameter dome, which provides about 2,000 square feet of interior space. Seems like a fantastic price, right? Well, it is. But don't forget the cost of finishing the interior, wiring for electricity, installing plumbing, and all the other work that goes into making a house habitable. In the end, the cost is about the same as other homes. 

Additional Benefits
Geodesic dome houses are totally customizable—you can add windows, skylights, and additional rooms off the center sphere with little effort. In fact, most manufacturers offer to build custom designs at minimal added cost. Because there is no need for load-bearing walls to hold up the roof, the interior of your dome is open to accommodate any design or layout you can envision. 

For more information on geodesic homes, visit Timberline Geodesics.

Until next time, 
The Home Know-It-All

Testing An Electrical Outlet

In high school I held a summer job at an antiques store. One afternoon, I was given the task of wiring a chandelier for display in one of the shop windows. As I lay on the floor with the smell of burning plastic wafting from the nearby outlet and lightning bolts dancing across my vision, I realized I would never be an electrician. But I did get the rest of the day off. 

Fortunately, testing an electrical outlet is a simpler and safer task. With the correct tools and know-how, you should be able to identify which outlets in your home aren't functioning properly and why. Should you find an outlet that isn't working, my past experience leads me to suggest finding a qualified electrician to fix it. 

Selecting An Outlet Tester
Though tester designs vary, opt for a plug-in model, if possible. This simple device looks like a small box with a standard three-pronged electrical plug attached. It's a very easy tool to use and should not cost you more than $20. If you have any ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets—characterized by test and reset buttons sandwiched between three-prong sockets—be sure your tester is designed to handle them. 

Testing Your Tester
Check your outlet tester on an outlet you know is working. A dead battery or malfunction in your tester can lead you to think an outlet is dead when it's actually alive and dangerous. 

Most testers will do more than merely indicate whether the outlet is functional—they specifically point out improper wiring. Lights on the device glow according to the condition of your outlet. You can decipher the lights using the legend printed on the tester. For a more comprehensive guide to tester readings and what they mean, visit The Circuit Detective.

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All

5 Home Improvements That Don't Pay Off

If you plan to sell your house someday, you should know that certain home improvements don't boost resale value as much as you think. Based on the percentage of the remodeling costs you'll typically recoup at resale time, these are among the least lucrative projects, according to Remodeling magazine.

1. Home Office - 48.1% Return on investment (ROI). To a buyer who doesn't plan to work at home, the perceived cost and hassle of redecorating and reallocating the home office space you created will negate more than half your investment. 
2. Sunroom Addition - 50.7% ROI. Sunrooms provide great therapy for body and soul, but they may not appear very practical to prospective home buyers concerned about energy efficiency. You're probably better off preserving the space for outdoor use or incorporating it into a larger kitchen.  
3. Backup Power Generator - 58.9% ROI. Installing a permanent backup generator (not a portable gasoline-powered unit) seems like a shrewd move, especially in areas prone to storms and power outages. And though having a reliable secondary source of electricity creates peace of mind for you, it doesn't mean much to homebuyers who see it as expensive overkill.  
4. Bathroom Addition - 59.5% ROI. Though it's hard to argue with the value of additional bath space, the Remodeling study shows that the costs of such a project have gone up significantly over the past several years, while the resale value has stagnated, even declining some in the past couple of years. In the magazine's 2003 report, the average cost and recouped value of a bath addition were roughly equal, resulting in a near 100% or better return on investment. 
5. Garage Addition - 62.2% ROI. Adding a spacious, freestanding two-car garage isn't a bad investment, especially if you're replacing a smaller garage—or have no garage at all—but the project may not generate tremendous enthusiasm from future buyers. Many will expect a two-car garage and not want to pay extra for the space you added. 

To see what kind of return you can expect on other remodeling projects, check out the full report.

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All

Tree Trimming Tips

Can you see and feel the seasons changing? Fall is arriving, marking the start of the dormant season for most trees—and the perfect time to do some trimming. Pruning trees during colder weather keeps sap loss to a minimum, reduces the stress on the trees, and helps protect them against winter damage. 

Reasons to Trim

For safety: Low-hanging branches can interfere with a driver's line of sight while entering or leaving your driveway, they pose a hazard to people walking on or near your property, and they may break off and damage your home—or a neighbor's. 

For tree health: When weak branches are severed by storms or by snow and ice accumulations, the resulting ragged wounds don't typically seal. Trimming those branches yourself actually promotes wound closure. For fruit-bearing trees, pruning can stimulate an increase in fruit production and quality, while trimming insect-infested or diseased branches on any tree improves its overall health. 

For aesthetics: Trimming trees can certainly give your property a well-groomed appearance. Just remember that excess pruning can permanently damage or even kill a tree. 

How to Trim

Branches are separated from the trunk by a stem collar—a noticeable tissue growth that you can use as a reference point. Always trim to the branch-side of the stem collar. This will prevent lasting damage to the tree. As long as you are trimming during late fall or early winter, you shouldn't need any sealant for the exposed wound—bugs won't be a problem, and the tree should seal the wound itself. If you're wondering how much to prune, err on the side of 'less is more'—never prune more than 25% of a tree's branches. 

For more comprehensive information on trimming trees, visit the United States Department of Agriculture's website. 

Tools for Pruning

Tree pruning doesn't require a chainsaw. If you're uncomfortable using one, try these alternatives. As with all tools, exercise caution while using them. If at any point you feel unsafe, contact a professional to come finish the job. 

• Rope saws: You toss a weighted end over a high branch and safely cut from the ground.
• Pole pruners: A saw blade and/or pruner attached to an extension pole lets you reach high branches.
• Loppers: Giant scissors best used for trimming twigs and small branches.
• Portable bucksaw: A lightweight, versatile saw for even the thickest branches.

For more on pruning tools and maintaining them, visit the Gardener's Tool Shed. 

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All

Home Know-It-All Featured On National Radio Show

On Sunday, September 12, the Home Know-It-All gained national exposure when it was featured on the radio talk show Home Improvement USA. According to the show's website, the program "focuses on renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly products for powering the home," which corresponds closely with our message here at the Home Know-It-All. 

Give the podcast of the show a listen!

Maintaining Your Brick Building

 

When my wife and I were looking for an apartment, we were drawn to the building we eventually settled on because of its brick construction. However, after the initial excitement of moving to a new place had passed, we noticed the building's brick walls had actually been in a state of decline for many years. Though brick is typically characterized as one of the most enduring building materials, it does require occasional care to keep it strong and attractive. 

Remove Moss and Ivy.

Though the appearance of moss and ivy on a brick structure conjures images of a quiet cottage, both can be damaging to brickwork. Moss holds constant moisture against the brick, which can lead to rot and water leaks. Ivy forces mortar out from between bricks, creating leaks and passageways for pests and compromising the structural integrity of the entire building. One strategy for removing moss and algae from brick is to apply a solution of diluted chlorine bleach (one part bleach to ten parts water). Ivy is best removed by hand or with pruning shears, though the vines tend to leave behind 'feet' or anchors. To remove these remnants, try applying a laundry detergent solution and scrubbing with a wire brush. 

Repoint Your Mortar. 

The mortar between your bricks may have deteriorated to the point where repointing (adding new mortar to the joints) is needed. If your building was constructed before 1930, mortar between bricks was likely mixed from lime putty and sand. If you find it important that the repaired joint looks and behaves like the rest of your brick wall, you may need to mix your own mortar, using sand indigenous to your locale to match the original. One of the most common historic mixes was one part lime putty to three parts sand. For more on repairing a historic masonry building, take a look at this essay written by architectural conservator Gary Kleier. 

For all brick structures, regardless of age, the mortar must be softer than the brick to allow the bricks to expand and contract from changes in temperature or outside stress. Mortar found at "big box" stores is designed for use with contemporary brickwork and will harden too much for use in older applications. 

Repair Small Chips. 

Repairing a broken or damaged brick is more difficult than it sounds. Matching the color of the original brick is key to making the repair appear congruous. If the chip has broken cleanly from the brick, try gluing it back in place with clear construction adhesive. If the chip is too small to do this, or if the fragment has shattered into several pieces, try this handy trick: put the broken chips (or another broken brick of the same color/vintage) into a plastic freezer bag and smash them into powder with a hammer. Blend this powder with a small amount of mortar in a bowl until the mixture attains a stiff consistency—ideally the same color as the brick you're attempting to repair. Work the mixture into the chip until you get the desired appearance, then wait for it to dry.  

Until next time, 

The Home Know-It-All