Peter A. Klein's Blog, page 16

Semi-Annual Time Change Tasks to Improve Home Energy Efficiency

Benjamin Franklin is credited by most people as the person who originated the idea of Daylight-Saving Time. It was first used in the United States during World War I. It has been praised and panned since then. Arizona appears to be the only state that does not observe Daylight Saving Time. However you feel about it, Daylight Saving Time can be a useful trigger.

Each year I use the start and end of Daylight-Saving Time to remind myself to do a handful of chores around the house that are easily forgotten. With one exception, I do them in the Spring and again in the Fall. They are

Ideas on Adding a Place to Reflect to Your Remodel

My favorite business author/columnist is Neil Senturia. The first book of his I read was I’m There for You, Baby, a compendium of business rules. He also has a weekly column in the business section of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

This morning, his article was about reflection, thinking, not an image in a mirror. Senturia emphasized the importance of reflecting. “Like many of you, I have a dog in the fight (he is married to a mayoral candidate), and emotions across the country are running at peak RPMs. So, I thought this would be an ideal time to pause - to reflect.”

The Impact Colors Have on Your Remodel

Many years ago, I bought a house that need painting on the inside. The master bedroom had some ugly, flocked wallpaper that we had to remove, prep the walls and paint. The bedroom that would become my daughter’s room had wood paneling that had been painted black, or at least a very dark color as I remember it. The room seemed small. We repainted the room white and the size seemed to increase dramatically.

Color can have many effects on your home. You should think about and plan the colors that you want to use in your remodel. The use of colors does not just apply to the walls but also to the ceilings, flooring, cabinetry, counter tops, tile, plumbing fixtures and simple things like light switches.

Thoughts for Halloween Preparation in the Time of Corona Virus

October is Halloween month. If you have been in Costco or almost nay grocery store recently, you have seen the displays of candy, decorations, and costumes. How and what should you do to prepare your home for Halloween this year, so you protect you and your family from the corona virus?

The first thing to decide is if you will celebrate Halloween at all? If you opt not to celebrate, you will save a bunch of money. You will probably, also make your children mad. I am not even going to try to answer that conundrum for you.

Celebrating the United States Navy’s Birthday

October 13 is the official birthday of the United States Navy. Let us salute all sailors, past and present, and thank them for their service.

The United States Navy officially became a part of the government of the fledgling country in 1795. Soon thereafter, the Navy was dealing with the Barbary pirates and showing the world that the United states was not to be doubted.

This week's blog has nothing to do with remodeling. Having served four years in the Navy, I think that we should recognize the birthday of the Navy. In my time in the Navy, I served on three different ships. The first one was older than I was, the USS Sperry AS-12. The second was the USS Mahan DLG-11, shown here. It was the best duty station for my time in the Navy. The last ship was the USS Robinson DDG-12.

How Smart Is Your Smart Home and Do Your Devices Talk to Each Other?

When I go for a walk, I exit the house via the garage. I keep my walking shoes there. After I put them on, I get my sunglasses, COVID mask, and garage door remote from my car. I also make sure I have my cell phone so I can track the time and distance I walk. One thing I do not take with me is house keys.

I lock the house before I put on my shoes. So how do I unlock the house on my return? Easy, I just enter the code into my Nest door lock. That is one of the conveniences to a smart home. What are other conveniences and devices that make up a smart home.

What Tools Should a Homeowner Own?

The first home you own can be a bit of a challenge. For many tasks, there is no one to call to handle them. That leaves the new homeowner. For many of these tasks there are YouTube videos to show the homeowner how to do things. That is helpful. The downside is that the homeowner may not have the tools needed to do the small jobs that pop up from time to time.

What tools should a homeowner have? Different tasks take different tools. And no, you can’t fix everything with duct tape. Let’s start with a basic tool kit.

National Clean Up Day: Tips from a Professional Organizer

This year, National Clean Up Day is September 19th. It’s a day to help promote organized and individual cleanup events to respect our planet and keep the outdoors clean. September is a great month to be extra mindful of our impact on the environment and act to clean-up waste from our greenspaces, beaches, and communities.

As a Professional Home Organizer, I want to share with you how my business has made me more aware how each and every one of us has a direct impact on our planet. This year in particular, due to COVID-19, many of us are spending more time at home and choosing to take on new construction and remodeling -- both of which are great opportunities for cleaning and decluttering.

Thank Tradespeople on National Tradesman Day

National Tradesmen Day honors the men and women whose skills and hard work build America. These men and women build your homes, repair your car, and keep so many things that we so take for granted functioning, day in and day out.

Many years ago, I was a tradesman. I worked construction in the desert community of Palm Springs, California. My trades were carpentry and form setting as well as concrete finishing. While there were aggravations, such as not having one of your concrete finishers show up to pour and finish a patio when it is over 110 degrees or not getting home until midnight because the concrete didn’t arrive until after lunch, it is cold, and once you start you have to stick around until it is finished, you get a sense of satisfaction when a job is successfully completed.

What Reasons Are There to Read a Book

September 6 is National Read a Book Day. There are a great many reasons to read books. Let’s look at some of those reasons and see what resonates for you.

Learning

Learning or gaining knowledge is a great reason to read a book. Sometimes you may be surprised when knowing something comes in handy. Years ago, I was part of a crew that framed houses, set the form boards for concrete slabs for houses and finished the concrete. One day we were setting the forms for a new custom home.