CasaSugar

Are You Over Winter?

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:00:28 -0800

While Spring is officially only a few weeks away, Winter snowstorms are still pelting the East Coast. I'm sure that many of you feel like this robin does: Come on already, let's get to the Spring!
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Rain, Sleet, or Snow?

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:15:32 -0800

In the San Francisco Bay Area, November means a return to rain. I've been enjoying the weekend showers, myself, as they give me an excuse to stay inside and complete half-finished DIY projects. I also have friends in the Northeast and Midwest who've already experienced some early snow showers. How's the sky look in your neck of the woods, and are you happy about the change in weather?

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Have You Been Through a Hurricane?

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:00:36 -0700

As Tropical Storm Gustav makes its way toward the Gulf Coast, practically three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina hit (which I myself experienced firsthand), I'm feeling pretty uneasy. The storm has already killed 11 people in the Caribbean and is projected to hit Louisiana and the Gulf Coast on Monday. Yikes. I'm sure plenty of you have been through one hurricane, if not several. Have you? How do you prepare your home for an impending storm? Do you pack up and leave, or do you stick it out? Has anyone been affected by a storm this year?
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Do You Use Storm Windows?

CasaSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:15:20 -0800

Storm windows were once a common weatherization measure in older homes, but since new windows have super-efficient glass, it's less common. However, older homes that still use single-pane glass can benefit from the use of storm windows. Do you use them in your home?

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How-To: Get Your House Ready For Cold Weather

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:53 -0700

As we head into Fall, it's time to prepare your home for cold weather. In its Fall Home Maintenance To-Do List, Kiplinger.com names nine things-at least some of which most homeowners can do themselves-to lower your utility bills and protect your investment. Check out some of the easiest, most effective ways to get your home in cold weather fighting shape.
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Ask an Expert: Cheap and Easy Home Winterizing (Part One)

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:45:56 -0700

Recently, I asked Lou Manfredini (better known as "Ace Hardware’s Helpful Hardware Man") for some tips on keeping your homes cozy and efficient during the Winter months. Check out his answers!

CasaSugar: If a homeowner has the money to make a major change in their home, what change would make the most sense, in an energy efficiency sense?

Lou: If you have money to invest in your home, upgrading your HVAC system to a high efficiency unit and installing a tankless water heater will give you a great bang for the buck - they can help reduce your total energy consumption by up to 30 percent combined. Purchasing and installing a new furnace will cost you between $6,000 and $8,000, while purchasing and installing a tankless unit will cost around $3,500.

To find out another of Lou's tips for heating your home, read more.

CasaSugar: By contrast, what is the cheapest, most effective change homeowners can make to cut energy costs?

Lou: The cheapest and most effective way to cut energy costs is to install weather-stripping around your doors and windows. Weather-stripping can cost as little as $25 and can boost the energy efficiency of those drafty openings by up to 70 percent. It can be completed in a short amount of time and is as easy as applying tape to the frame of the window or door.

Check back tomorrow for the rest of Lou's tips!

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Ask an Expert: Cheap, Easy Ideas For Winterizing Homes (Part Two)

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:30:43 -0700

Recently, I asked Lou Manfredini (better known as "Ace Hardware’s Helpful Hardware Man") for some tips on keeping your homes cozy and efficient during the Winter months. You can read the first two tips here. For more advice, check out these tips.

CasaSugar: Are there any tools that homeowners should have on hand to help with home heating fixes?

Lou: Every homeowner should have a tool box full of these essentials:

Screwdrivers
Hammer
Tape measure
Sharp utility knife
Pliers

These tools will help not only with home heating fixes, but many other household projects as well.

To find out what you should do to your exterior doors, read more.

CasaSugar: What type of fixes should homeowners make on exterior doors?

Lou: First close the door and make sure that no daylight or air is coming through. If there is, you might want to consider purchasing a new door as this is an easy way to boost your energy savings. Also, apply some powdered graphite lubricant in the locks to ensure easy operation in the winter months. If your door is structurally sound, but looking a little shabby, consider sanding it down, priming it and applying a new coat of exterior acrylic paint to the door. Consider using a bright color paint to change the look.

CasaSugar: What parts of the home are most susceptible to heating losses? Is there anything relatively easy homeowners can do to prevent these heating losses?

Lou: Windows and doors, even if they are brand new, are the greatest areas of energy loss in the home. In addition to weather stripping these areas, you can let your window treatments help a bit. In the daytime, leave the drapes and window treatments open to allow the sun to help heat your home. When it gets dark, close the drapes to add a layer of protection and assist in keeping the warm air in your home longer.

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Casa Quickie: Locate Leaks With a Candle

CasaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:30:17 -0700

If you live in an old house, chances are that you might have some drafts coming in through window and door frames. To find out for sure, light a candle, and hold it along the frames (just don't get too close to any curtains). If the candle flame flickers or smokes, there's a leak. To fix, use caulking or weather stripping in that area.

Have you tried this technique before to locate leaks?

Casa Capsule: The Week That was

CasaSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:30:00 -0700

Check out scenes from the 20th Century Modernism Show.
Discover my October must haves.
I love this Where the Wild Things Are-inspired decor!
Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch is in Architectural Digest.
Get some great products for your Fall garden.
Get your house ready for cold weather.

Love It or Hate It? Palmetto Honey All-Weather Wicker Egg Chair

CasaSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 07:00:13 -0700

I'm on the fence on this one, readers. It's kind of cool, but it's also bizarrely spacepod-like, down to the porthole "windows" on the sides. The Palmetto Honey All-Weather Wicker Egg Chair ($1,299) is water-repellent, weather-resistant, and made from a durable-aluminum frame covered in wicker. Can you see its charm, or is it just too odd for you?