CasaSugar

How-To: Stay Safe During a Wildfire

CasaSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:24 -0700

Since the breakout of the August wildfires north of Los Angeles, at least 53 buildings have been destroyed, and 4,300 people have been evacuated. As of this writing, more than 12,000 homes are under threat.

While some families have been reluctant to leave their homes, in the end, your home is just a house. It's the nonmaterial things you fill it with - namely your family, pets, and memories - that make it truly a home. This is why I urge readers to listen to firefighters' warnings, and to leave their homes if a mandatory evacuation is issued. Your life is much more important than any piece of property, no matter how much you love it.

Want to know how to protect your family and your home from a wildfire? Check out these smart pointers from the City of Napa, CA's fire safety page:

Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around all structures.
Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees.
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, rain gutters, and yard.
Trim tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
Cover your chimney outlet or flue with a spark arresting half-inch mesh screen.

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Make sure your address is clearly visible for easy identification in an emergency.
Check to see if a fire hydrant is located near your home. If not, you should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons for use in an emergency situation.
Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from buildings, fences, and other combustible materials.
Clear all vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath your deck. Enclose undersides of elevated decks with fire-resistive materials.
Remove "ladder fuels." They link the grasses and the tree tops.
Create "fuel breaks" - these can be driveways, gravel walkways, or well-maintained lawns.
Maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Prune tree limbs so the lowest is between 6-10 feet from the ground.
Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door or window) in each room.
Mark your driveway and access roads clearly.
Keep ample turnaround space near your house for fire equipment.
Prevent sparks from entering your house by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch.
When possible, use construction materials that are fire resistant or noncombustible.

Do You Leave the Lights on When You Leave?

CasaSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:00:21 -0700

When I know that I'll be returning home from work after dark, I always make sure to leave at least the entryway and porch light on. I hate to fumble with keys in the dark! I'm sure that if I didn't have a big dog inside the house, I'd leave even more lights on. How about you?

Do You Hide an Extra Set of Keys?

CasaSugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:00:20 -0800

While it's not recommended to hide an extra set of keys around your house, it seems as if most of us do. Do you or don't you?

Source

Primer: All About Carbon Monoxide

CasaSugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:30:31 -0700

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, which is present in low levels in the air and produced when fossil fuels are burned. When inhaled, high levels of carbon monoxide can cause "dizziness, mental confusion, severe headaches, nausea, and fainting on mild exertion," but it can ultimately result in unconsciousness, permanent brain damage, and death. It may enter your home through fireplaces, heaters, hot water heaters, gas stoves and ovens, cars running in attached garages, grills (propane, gas or charcoal), kerosene heaters, and dryers with clogged ductwork. It's known as the silent killer because about 200 people die each year from it, not knowing that they're inhaling it. So it is important to install carbon monoxide detectors in your home, which sound an alarm if elevated levels are found, allowing you a chance to properly ventilate the area or safely leave your house. I've outlined several things you should know about carbon monoxide and detectors, so you can comfortably choose one for your home, read more.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends that you purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors labeled UL 2034, which means they've met the requirements of the new Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. standard, which has a greater safety margin.
Although they work similarly to smoke detectors, by monitoring CO levels in your home and sounding an alarm when detected, they do not function as smoke detectors, and vice versa. So to be safe, you must have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors or a combo smoke/CO detector.
There are three basic sensor types on a carbon monoxide detector; electrolytic, colorimetric and metal oxide semiconductor sensors, but they all have the same results.
If an alarm sounds, you should immediately evacuate everyone from your home, leaving a door or two open to ventilate, and then call a professional or 911. Don't try to determine the source of the CO yourself.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions when installing your detector. Test the alarm once a month and replace batteries according to instructions. Some will work for 2 years, others 5, so replace them accordingly, by reading product details.
If you know you won't remember to replace the batteries of your detector, get one that plugs into an outlet, but do not plug it into an outlet that's controlled by a switch.
Place your detector about five feet off the floor on a wall away from any heat generators and near your sleeping space, with at least one on each floor.
While a carbon monoxide detector is an important protection against CO poisoning, it's also important to make sure that all of your fuel-burning appliances work properly so they don't leak CO to begin with. So, have them inspected annually, or when any problems arise.

Source

How-To: Protect Your Family and Home From a Wildfire

CasaSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 05:30:12 -0700

As most of you probably know, California has been ravaged by fires this Summer. As I write this, one of my friends awaits evacuation notice at her Southern California home, and several others are keeping a close watch on fire patterns in their area. Fire scares me - it is erratic and unpredictable and frighteningly fast. And while I can understand why some homeowners are reluctant to leave their homes, in the end, your home is just a house. It's the nonmaterial things you fill it with - namely your family, pets, and memories - that make it truly a home. This is why I urge readers to listen to firefighters' warnings, and to leave their homes if a mandatory evacuation is issued. Your life is much more important than any piece of property, no matter how much you love it.

Here are some smart pointers from the City of Napa, California's fire safety page:

Maintain a "defensible" space around your home by clearing all flammable vegetation a minimum of 30 feet around all structures.
Clear dead leaves and branches to leave widely spaced ornamental shrubbery and trees.
Clean all needles and leaves from the roof, eaves, rain gutters, and yard.
Trim tree limbs within 10 feet of your chimney and trim all dead limbs hanging over your house or garage.
Cover your chimney outlet or flue with a spark arresting half-inch mesh screen.

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Make sure your address is clearly visible for easy identification in an emergency.
Check to see if a fire hydrant is located near your home. If not, you should have a water storage supply of at least 2,500 gallons for use in an emergency situation.
Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from buildings, fences, and other combustible materials.
Clear all vegetation and other flammable materials from beneath your deck. Enclose undersides of elevated decks with fire-resistive materials.
Remove "ladder fuels." They link the grasses and the tree tops.
Create "fuel breaks - these can be driveways, gravel walkways, or well-maintained lawns.
Maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Prune tree limbs so the lowest is between 6-10 feet from the ground.
Dispose of cuttings and debris promptly, according to local regulations.
Keep at least two means of escape (either a door or window) in each room.
Mark your driveway and access roads clearly.
Keep ample turnaround space near your house for fire equipment.
Prevent sparks from entering your house by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 inch.
When possible, use construction materials that are fire resistant or noncombustible.

Source

Casa Verde: Keeping Safe With CFLs

CasaSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:00:46 -0700

The Sierra Club recently updated its website with some very helpful green tips, and there are some fantastic suggestions for going green at home. One tip that caught my eye was the safety considerations when disposing of CFLs. Since switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFLs is a great way to save energy and money, I heartily recommend making the switch (as does the Sierra Club). However, since CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, it's important to dispose of them properly.

Here are the Sierra Club's tips for dealing with CFLs:

Don't throw CFLs in the trash; recycle them instead. Some manufacturers, like Osram Sylvania, accept CFLs for recycling. Retailers like Ikea and Home Depot also have take-back programs. Find your nearest CFL recycling center at RecycleABulb.com or consult the EPA's directory of recycling facilities.
If a bulb breaks, open a window and leave the room for at least 15 minutes. Keep children and pets away from the broken bulb.

Want to learn more? Check out this post to get additional CFL information.

Source

How-To: Install a Peephole

CasaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:00:21 -0700

This month, I've been home schooling you in all sorts of household tasks. And, now I'd like to teach you how to be a Peeping Tom without landing yourself in the slammer. It's okay to do some espionage from the comfort of your own home, if you're trying to figure out whose on the other side of your door. And, in fact, to be safe, you should always use a peephole to ensure you're not opening the door to strangers. To install a peephole in your door, you'll need a drill, a 10- or 25-foot tape measure, a peephole, a slotted screwdriver, safety goggles, and a dust mask. To learn the steps, read more.

Here are the steps, from Barbara K!:

First, put on your safety goggles and mask.
Mark where you want the peephole to go.
Make a pilot hole all the way through the door using a small drill bit.
Read the instructions on the peephole packaging, and switch to the drill bit size recommended.
Drill halfway through the door.
Switch to the other side of the door, and repeat so there's a hole all the way through.
Make sure the right side is facing out, and put the two sides of the peephole in the door. Then, tighten.
Finish tightening the peephole by putting your screwdriver in the slots of the interior bezel.
Fini! Peep away.

Source

DIY: Canopy Headboard

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:30:15 -0700

You needn't buy a $19,000 four-poster to get the look of a romantic canopy bed. A few supplies and a spare afternoon and your bedroom will be fit for a queen, without the stuffy price tag. And, if that's not good enough for you, I'll show you how to live like a modern Marie Antoinette. This canopy headboard DIY, from Point Click Home, is easy enough for a neophyte crafter, but chic enough for the DIY maestro. Also, check out this post for another DIY headboard.

Supplies:

10" faux willow leaf wreath (or a tool wreath for the dudes)
Spray paint (white, gold, or silver)
2 yards 1" wide ribbon
Scissors
2 safety pins
2 sheer curtain panels
1 large nail
Hammer

To learn how to make this headboard, read more.

Here are the steps, from Point Click Home:

Lay the wreath down on newspaper outside.
Spray paint the wreath for an antiqued or frosted look, and let it dry.
Cut the ribbon into two separate one yard lengths (in half).
Pin a safety pin to the end of one length of ribbon, and slide it through the rod pocket of one of the curtain panel, gathering as you go.
Repeat using the other safety pin, ribbon length, and curtain panel.
Hide the ribbon from one panel between the leaves, tying it around the lower edge of the wreath.
Repeat with the other panel.
Trim off any excess ribbon.
Find the center of the wall, about four to six feet above your bed, and pencil it.
Hammer the nail into the wall.
Hang the wreath on the wall, and arrange the panels so that they wrap around the sides of your bed. Fini!

Source

Before and After: A Salvaged Stairway

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:15:27 -0700

Kara, an Atlanta homeowner whose 1911 Arts and Crafts home was recently featured on This Old House, knew that her home's sad, leaning staircase was in need of a renovation, for appearances and for safety's sake.

Here's how it looked prior to renovation.

To see its updated appearance, read more.

To fix the sagging staircase, Kara reinforced it, and then decided to use vintage pine for the wainscoting and handrail. Kara planed, sanded, and shellacked the pine herself. From start to finish, Kara only paid $750 for this renovation. Nicely done!

For more details, check out This Old House.
Source

Cool Idea: Instant Photo Frame

CasaSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:00:51 -0700

Sherwood Forlee is the New York-based design engineer who created the HomeHero Fire Extinguisher, the winner of the 2007 IDSA Gold Award and a much blogged about home-safety item. But, Forlee's forté isn't only in saving lives, he also rescues photos. With framing costs high and limited space in our homes, many of our photos get thrown by the way side, never seeing the light of frame. With his Instant Photo Frame though, Forlee has made it possible to frame every photograph we take. By downloading this frame for free, cutting out its interior, and placing it in front of your camera before you take your photo, you'll have an instant (and free) frame for every photo you snap. To see how it works, read more.

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