Tag Archives: house

Home Repairs

Posted on by
2

This morning I figured out why the shower door in my son’s bathroom was always difficult to slide open. The one door was off the track so I managed to lift it up and put it back where it belonged. This was not difficult at all but I was pretty pleased with myself for seeing what the problem was and fixing it.

This past weekend, I realized that an earring had been laundered and was stuck down in the dryer’s filter trap. I tried and tried to get it out but could not lift it out. I remembered that Dave had a magnetized screw driver but didn’t know for sure what it looked like and if it was still around. I was feeling very frustrated when all of a sudden I thought of chewing gum. I ended up not using gum but put a big wad of scotch tape on a stick and used that to retrieve the earring. I was pleased with myself over that too.

Earlier, I replaced the screens on my back porch with the glass windows for the colder months. The windows are heavy and bulky but I managed to do it on my own. That too made me happy.

So, hooray for me for fixing some things. Unfortunately, my garage door suddenly is malfunctioning, my outside light has quit working, and my kitchen faucet has developed a leak. I already know I can’t fix those things so it’s time to make some calls.

I dislike having to take care of everything. It’s tiring and I always end up feeling inadequate.

 

Tools

Foundations

Posted on by
Reply

It’s great how many meanings there are to the word foundations. I’ve been fixated on the foundation that holds up my house.

I’ve been working on getting someone in to repair the foundation in my house. Oh, what a mess. I have cracks in the foundation walls. I gather that they need to be repaired but according to the various men who have come out to look at it, they have all seen worse. Apparently this town is full of houses with cracking foundations because the place is full of clay. I, however, lie in bed at night worrying that my house is going to collapse.

Plus, while worrying about my house, at the same time at work, I was writing a class on structural damages in houses. Sometimes the world just hits you over the head. Repeatedly

Five estimates from five different companies. Prices ranged from $5250 to over $30,000 and everyone had different ideas as to what to do. I chose one of the lesser priced solutions. I think it will work. The guy I went with was a name I got from a friend. Then the woman who does my taxes gave me the same name and then last night I met some friends at the local wine bar and one of the women also knew the guy and was very positive on him. So, three personal references work for me.

Now he just has to get me on the schedule I guess. Contractors do not have the finely honed communication skills I would like.

 

Squirrels in the Attic

Posted on by
Reply

Last year we dealt with a raccoon trying to get into our house. The noise a raccoon makes while tearing at the siding on a house is quite loud. It sounds like someone is taking a baseball bat to the house.

This year I’ve been lucky so far with that. Keep your fingers crossed because I really don’t want to deal with that again.

I did have to call the wildlife removal people though because some animal was caught in my chimney. I woke up on Sunday morning thinking my dog was in the living room scratching and then realized that the dog was in my room. I could hear something trying to claw its way out of the chimney.

I debated on calling the wildlife removal company. After I called the company, I debated if I cancel it. I really struggle lately with these ordinary daily decisions.

When Joe the wildlife guy arrived, he checked out my roof. There is a cap on the chimney but apparently an opening had appeared in the screening. He discovered a bird trapped in the chimney, right where I said it was. Joe dropped a rope into the chimney. The  bird grabbed onto the rope and Joe pulled it out. The bird, rather sooty and dusty, immediately flew away.

The good news is that I didn’t feel compelled to tell Joe that my husband has died. I told some repair man earlier that my husband had died and then realized I told a complete stranger who was at my house that I live here alone. Not so bright so I’m glad I’m learning restraint.

The other good news is that the bird is out of the chimney and the rest of my roof and soffits look fine. We won’t discuss what it cost to save the bird’s life.