By Mark J. Donovan
With gorgeous fall weather in place I went out today and pressure washed my house siding in preparation for painting it in the next couple of weeks. It is amazing all of the dirt and grime, as well as mold and mildew, that collect on house siding. The house already looks 100% better by simply pressure washing it.
Dragging a pressure washer around the house, however, with all of the connecting hoses is a bit of a hassle, and suffice it to say I was pretty much drenched by the end of the project. That said, I can't imagine not using a pressure washer. It would have taken forever using a broom or mop and a bucket of water.
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Saturday, October 23, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
New Home Construction Continues to Limp Along in September
By Mark J. Donovan
The Commerce Department recently reported that U.S. home construction for September increased an overall mere 0.3% over the previous month, though up 4.1% from September 2009. Single family home construction drove the overall increase, with an increase of 4.4% in September 2010. New construction permits, however, dropped 5.6% during the same timeframe. The National Association of Home Builders remains negative on the home construction market due to lack of buyers, depressed or still falling house prices, and tight mortgage lending practices.
None of this news should be surprising with 10% unemployment, impending higher income taxes for all, and lack of clarity on health insurance costs in the coming year. Until unemployment starts to drop, and there is clarity on tax and health insurance costs, buyers are likely to stay where they are; on the sidelines waiting and watching the U.S. economy for signs of improvement.
Even when there is clarity and positive signs in the U.S. economy it still may be years before the housing market fully recovers. The bottom line, there is simply years of excess housing inventory on the market or abandon. Until this excess inventory is either consumed or destroyed, home construction will most likely continue to limp along. Readmore »»
The Commerce Department recently reported that U.S. home construction for September increased an overall mere 0.3% over the previous month, though up 4.1% from September 2009. Single family home construction drove the overall increase, with an increase of 4.4% in September 2010. New construction permits, however, dropped 5.6% during the same timeframe. The National Association of Home Builders remains negative on the home construction market due to lack of buyers, depressed or still falling house prices, and tight mortgage lending practices.
None of this news should be surprising with 10% unemployment, impending higher income taxes for all, and lack of clarity on health insurance costs in the coming year. Until unemployment starts to drop, and there is clarity on tax and health insurance costs, buyers are likely to stay where they are; on the sidelines waiting and watching the U.S. economy for signs of improvement.
Even when there is clarity and positive signs in the U.S. economy it still may be years before the housing market fully recovers. The bottom line, there is simply years of excess housing inventory on the market or abandon. Until this excess inventory is either consumed or destroyed, home construction will most likely continue to limp along. Readmore »»
Monday, October 11, 2010
Prevent Bat Home Invasions with Foam Insulation
By Mark J. Donovan
Today I installed foam insulation along my home’s roof line, between the rake trim boards and clapboard siding. There is about a ½ to ¾ inch air gap between the two. I installed the foam insulation to prevent bats from congregating in my roof eaves and working their way into my attic.
Over the years I would occasionally find the random bat in my home’s attic, however this year while looking up at my home’s roof during dusk, I saw about a dozen bats exit from under the rake trim boards into the night air. The following afternoon I took a garden hose and sprayed water up into the area where I saw the bats exit the home. Sure enough, about a dozen bats flew out from underneath the rake boards.
By installing the foam insulation, the same foam insulation that is used to wrap plumbing pipes, I hope to prevent the bats from setting up home in my house. I simply used a metal claw to push the insulation up in between the rake boards and the clapboard siding. It wedged in nice and tightly so I am not concerned about it working its way out.
So if you see signs of bats in your attic, e.g. actual bats or bat guano, or observe them exiting the rake boards on your home, consider installing foam insulation tubes in any potential openings along your home’s roof line. It’s inexpensive and easy to do. Just be careful on the ladders. Also, you may want to install the foam insulation tubes shortly after sunset when the bats have exited your home. This way you want trap or squish any when installing the insulation. Readmore »»
Today I installed foam insulation along my home’s roof line, between the rake trim boards and clapboard siding. There is about a ½ to ¾ inch air gap between the two. I installed the foam insulation to prevent bats from congregating in my roof eaves and working their way into my attic.
Over the years I would occasionally find the random bat in my home’s attic, however this year while looking up at my home’s roof during dusk, I saw about a dozen bats exit from under the rake trim boards into the night air. The following afternoon I took a garden hose and sprayed water up into the area where I saw the bats exit the home. Sure enough, about a dozen bats flew out from underneath the rake boards.
By installing the foam insulation, the same foam insulation that is used to wrap plumbing pipes, I hope to prevent the bats from setting up home in my house. I simply used a metal claw to push the insulation up in between the rake boards and the clapboard siding. It wedged in nice and tightly so I am not concerned about it working its way out.
So if you see signs of bats in your attic, e.g. actual bats or bat guano, or observe them exiting the rake boards on your home, consider installing foam insulation tubes in any potential openings along your home’s roof line. It’s inexpensive and easy to do. Just be careful on the ladders. Also, you may want to install the foam insulation tubes shortly after sunset when the bats have exited your home. This way you want trap or squish any when installing the insulation. Readmore »»
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
My Recovering Lawn
By Mark J. Donovan
Between this past summer’s heat, lack of rain and grubs my lawn was virtually destroyed this summer. At first I thought it was just the lack of rain and the heat that was killing my lawn. However after observing the crows pecking at my lawn in the early morning in August, I quickly realized it was more than just the drought and heat conditions that were killing the lawn.
Due to the fact that I have a private well with only moderate capacity, watering the lawn was not an option to address the drought issue. Resolving the grub issue, however, was something that I could address. Initially I applied Spectracide to my lawn and noticed moderate success with killing the grubs. A month later I dethatched the lawn and then applied Grubex and fertilizer. The following week I over-seeded the lawn with grass seed after confirming rain was finally on the way. A week or so later, with a couple of days of rain during that time, I began to see some sprigs of new grass. Unfortunately a week later I realized there were still quite a few bare patches, where the new grass seed did not germinate. Consequently I went out again and over-seeded the lawn once more. At this time I am happy to report that all of the new grass seed has germinated and the lawn is now in full recovery.
Though I still won’t be able to do much during the next hot and dry summer, I will inspect my lawn periodically for signs of grubs and apply a grub killer as necessary. Readmore »»
Between this past summer’s heat, lack of rain and grubs my lawn was virtually destroyed this summer. At first I thought it was just the lack of rain and the heat that was killing my lawn. However after observing the crows pecking at my lawn in the early morning in August, I quickly realized it was more than just the drought and heat conditions that were killing the lawn.
Due to the fact that I have a private well with only moderate capacity, watering the lawn was not an option to address the drought issue. Resolving the grub issue, however, was something that I could address. Initially I applied Spectracide to my lawn and noticed moderate success with killing the grubs. A month later I dethatched the lawn and then applied Grubex and fertilizer. The following week I over-seeded the lawn with grass seed after confirming rain was finally on the way. A week or so later, with a couple of days of rain during that time, I began to see some sprigs of new grass. Unfortunately a week later I realized there were still quite a few bare patches, where the new grass seed did not germinate. Consequently I went out again and over-seeded the lawn once more. At this time I am happy to report that all of the new grass seed has germinated and the lawn is now in full recovery.
Though I still won’t be able to do much during the next hot and dry summer, I will inspect my lawn periodically for signs of grubs and apply a grub killer as necessary. Readmore »»
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
KILZ Launches Pro Painter Sweepstakes Contest
By Mark J. DonovanKILZ, the paint and primer company, announced last week their first ever National Pro Promotion contest. It is a contest targeted only to professional painters and offers them a chance to win a new Ford F-150 truck as the grand prize. There are also other prizes to win including BRAVIA 46” LCD HDTV and Sony Home Theater Systems, and Coleman Tailgate Packages. To learn more and to participate in this contest see: http://www.kilzpropainter.com/. Hurry as the sweepstakes contest ends this week!! Readmore »»
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Home Construction up 4% in August, But Stormy Skies Still Ahead
By Mark J. Donovan
Though not a grand slam, seeing single family home construction increase 4% in August over the previous month was a welcome sign. Apartments and condominiums also shot up a whopping 32% during the same timeframe. This said new home construction starts are still down 78% from their peak in January of 2006.
Though this news was encouraging I am still not optimistic that the housing market is on a clear path to prosperous times again. With unemployment ticking up to 9.6% officially and slated to go even higher before year end, its unimaginable that sustained improvement in home construction starts will continue unabated. In addition, with so much uncertainty in the national politics, massive tax increases kicking in January for everyone, and expected large health insurance premium increases starting soon, it’s hard to believe that there is smooth sailing ahead in the home construction industry. On top of these harsh realities there are still many prospective home buyers waiting and hoping on the sidelines for even lower house prices. Couple all of these facts with a high inventory of existing homes on the market and increasing foreclosures and the prospects of a sustained improvement in the home construction business seems highly unlikely.
It appears builders feel the same way about the home construction market prospects. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) also reported its monthly index of builders’ sentiment in September, and it remained unchanged at 13. This is the second month that it has been at this level, the lowest since March of 2009.
Until there is a change in the national politics, less uncertainty with out-of-pocket expenses, and more income into the savings accounts of the average homebuyer, the home construction business is likely to stay in the doldrums for the foreseeable future, regardless of this positive blip of news. Readmore »»
Though not a grand slam, seeing single family home construction increase 4% in August over the previous month was a welcome sign. Apartments and condominiums also shot up a whopping 32% during the same timeframe. This said new home construction starts are still down 78% from their peak in January of 2006.
Though this news was encouraging I am still not optimistic that the housing market is on a clear path to prosperous times again. With unemployment ticking up to 9.6% officially and slated to go even higher before year end, its unimaginable that sustained improvement in home construction starts will continue unabated. In addition, with so much uncertainty in the national politics, massive tax increases kicking in January for everyone, and expected large health insurance premium increases starting soon, it’s hard to believe that there is smooth sailing ahead in the home construction industry. On top of these harsh realities there are still many prospective home buyers waiting and hoping on the sidelines for even lower house prices. Couple all of these facts with a high inventory of existing homes on the market and increasing foreclosures and the prospects of a sustained improvement in the home construction business seems highly unlikely.
It appears builders feel the same way about the home construction market prospects. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) also reported its monthly index of builders’ sentiment in September, and it remained unchanged at 13. This is the second month that it has been at this level, the lowest since March of 2009.
Until there is a change in the national politics, less uncertainty with out-of-pocket expenses, and more income into the savings accounts of the average homebuyer, the home construction business is likely to stay in the doldrums for the foreseeable future, regardless of this positive blip of news. Readmore »»
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Trip to Annecy, France and Classic Stone House
Spent the Week on the Shores of Annecy Lake in a Classic Chateau Style HotelBy Mark J. Donovan
Last week I was in Annecy, France and had a chance to climb a mountain in the foothills of the French Alps. Along the way to the mountain I was able to snap some gorgeous photos. Shown in the adjacent picture is a classic stone house on the outskirts of Annecy, France.
The views at the top of the mountain were absolutely spectacular. I also had a chance to observe up close and in person paragliding. I watched probably a hundred people take off from the edge of the mountain (around 1300 meters) into the skies over the Annecy Lake valley area. Though I didn’t attempt to paraglide this time, it’s on my list of things to do on my next trip to Annecy, France.
While in Annecy, I stayed at the Palace de Menthon, a classic chateau style hotel sitting on the shores of Annecy Lake. Annecy Lake was absolutely gorgeous with emerald water. It sits at the foothills of the French Alps, near the Swiss border and is absolutely crystal clear. It is considered the cleanest lake in all of Europe, and I have to agree. It was simply spectacular.
Besides the gorgeous views and climate, the wine and food were also phenomenal. Suffice it to say, I am looking forward to visiting Annecy, France again and connecting up with my European colleagues.
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