Kathy's Remodeling Blog

What is home performance? Check this out

Dogs of the jobsite

I'm so happy to see that the editors of Fine Homebuilding are fun, lively and enlightened enough to not only admit that workers bring their dogs to the jobsite, but to have a whole photo gallery of these furry workplace companions.

I suggested such a feature to some other editors in the past and they reacted like I was some kind of miscreant for even suggesting that dogs belong on a jobsite.

And yes, I know, I know, dogs on a jobsite are a dangerous element in an already dangerous setting. But think of the therapeutic value! Dogs make us happy and calm. At least that's how I feel when I'm around them. Perhaps there's a study showing the benefits of dogs on a jobsite?

Here is a worker taking a lunchtime rest with his furry partner. How awesome is this?

The secrets of the spider webs

Here we have two identical windows on the same wall in a bathroom. A spider has built a web on one window (top), but not the other (bottom). Do you wonder why?

It's all about air leaks and food. Spiders don't choose their home sites like we do. They don't check Zillow for nearby home prices, or get school ratings, or wonder what the zip code will do for their social standing.

What spiders want is a cozy, protected spot with a steady food supply, which means little insects. What spiders know is that insects enter a house where there are air leaks. If there are no air leaks, there will be fewer insects.

Why do you care? If you want to control the temperature and humidity and comfort levels inside your home, and most of us do, sealing up air leaks is critical.

The scientific way to determine air leaks involves a home energy audit with a blower door test, infrared camera and other scientific means.

But spider webs also have a tale to tell. If you spot spider webs in your home, they did not end up there accidentally. They were placed there by a genius spider bent on survival. And thus you have evidence of a leak. Your move.

For women only: 5-day home analysis class

Something amazing happens when women learn together. There is a whole different chemistry than with a mixed group.

In this video, you'll see women learning how to be certified home analysts, which means they are able to determine scientifically if a home is safe, healthy, comfortable, durable and energy efficient. It's like getting a checkup from a doctor. Blood pressure is a fact, not an opinion. Same with this process.

And here's a fun fact: it's all based on the laws of nature!

The last image is one of the students taking her certification test through the highly regarded Building Performance Institute. And she passed!

To learn more about the women-only class, go to Pure Energy Coach.

(Thanks to k.d. lang for the music, which we used in accordance with YouTube policies)

Women's Work — Making homes healthy, safe, durable, comfortable and energy efficient

Above: A. Tamasin Sterner, of Pure Energy Coach, teaches women in her class about safety issues with a wood-burning stove.

Having just returned from a five-day course for women on "home performance," I am inspired to let more women know about this field. I mean, who better to help make homes safe and comfortable than women? We're all over this goal, why not be the ones who actually make it happen?

The whole process starts with a scientific analysis of the house. Are there poisonous exhaust gasses in the air? Too much moisture that can lead to mold? Insufficient fresh air? Leaks in the attic?

Not only are your utility bills too high when your house is a bad performer, but you and your family can get sick and stay sick from the rotten air. How many people remain poor and unproductive because they are being sickened by their unhealthy home? Way too many, in my opinion.

Happily, a poorly functioning house is not an opinion, but can be verified with data and science. For instance, toxic carbon monoxide levels cannot be higher than 35 parts per million for the house to be considered safe. That level can be measured so it's scientific, not opinion.

Plus, a house should have a certain number of air changes per hour, or ACH, in order to be a safe place in which to breathe. That number can be scientifically verified.

You'll read more about home analysis on Kathy's Remodeling Blog in the months and years to come. But I want to state emphatically right now that making sure homes are healthy, safe, durable, comfortable and energy efficient is a natural career for women to consider. We've been tasked with creating "home" for our entire time on the planet. Now, let's do it right.

Podcast — Strangers in Your House

What could be more disturbing than having strangers in our house?

Even if they are there to help us, to build our remodel, to offer their talents and labor, it can still feel like an invasion of our sanctuary, of the one place we feel safe.

Do we fall apart over this? Or strike out in anger? Or do we plan our strategy with understanding and savvy?

Click below to hear some wisdom and tips.

Podcast — Strangers in Your House

Photo: Door Security Pro

Massive blackout leaves 1.4 million in the dark; why we all need rooftop solar NOW

I was sitting out on my porch the other day just before dawn and I saw sparks coming off the power pole. I called the energy company to report it. In the light of the morning, I took a good look at the rickety mess you see here and I thought: My wellbeing depends on this?

Out west, 1.4 million folks are in the dark after the power grid went down this evening.

How ironic: here in the south, and out there in the west, all the sun does is beat down on us and make us miserable while we suck black gunk out of the ground and burn it to destroy our air. And for what?

What madness is this?

Our only real security will come when we all have solar panels on our homes, or geothermal pumps, and can generate our own power no matter what any for-profit energy company has to say about it.

In Africa, even remote villages have solar panels and thus energy security. And I wonder: Will we every catch up with them?

A hot new career for women — home energy auditor

First, what are home energy auditors?

These are professionals (accredited through BPI or certified through RESNET) who go into homes and measure or assess how much energy is being used and wasted through leaks and lack of insulation and bad HVAC systems and watt-sucking appliances. The idea is to figure out ways to make that home more energy efficient.

Why are women good for this job?

Auditing a house is more than just saving energy. It's also about proper fresh air infiltration, which is critical for the health and comfort of the inhabitants and the durability of the home. And women, I think, are particularly interested in a house that is healthy for them and their families, and comfortable and that will last a long time.

We come to the table with all these cares and concerns built into our DNA. As I like to say, "Home Is Everything."

Energy auditing is a growing field (see job offerings here) and A. Tamasin Sterner (pictured here), a well-respected energy expert and teacher, is offering a five-day energy audting course Oct. 10 to 14, 2011, FOR WOMEN ONLY at her center in Montana.

This is a step toward becoming a BPI-accredited auditor, or a way to get CEU credits if you're already accredited.

And in order to understand this field better, I will be attending the course and reporting on it for one or more energy-oriented publications.

To find out more about this opportunity, and the chance to spend five days with like-minded women on a ranch in Montana, check out Pure Energy.

Want more?

See more health and safety
See more green remodeling
See more energy savings 

Coming soon to a house near yours: climate change distasters

Who could have predicted this? I'm not referring to radical climate change exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels. Scientists have been telling us about this for decades. There is no real question about this. If you're not into science, however, then the research and conclusions of the vast majority of scientists won't mean much.

What I couldn't have predicted is the number of my fellow citizens actively campaigning for an end to environmental rules, guidelines and laws that keep the giant oil, gas and coal corporations from killing us all.

We expected it from them. That's their job. Their moral obligation is to make money. Our moral obligation is to save ourselves from destruction. There are more of us than there are of them. But . . . they brilliantly used their billions of dollars to influence good people into denial of the reality of climate change. As I heard recently, "It takes an optimist to say our future is uncertain." In fact, we are allowing our environment to be absolutely smashed, destroyed, obliterated.

The problem is with your house, which is what I'm concerned about here on Kathy's Remodeling Blog. In my own life, my home is everything. It's my safety, my refugue, my solace, my serenity, my privacy, the place where I build up my strength. And I've seen firsthand what happens when people lose their homes to weather-related events and their lives devolve into turmoil and rootlessness and hopelessness. I don't want that to happen to me because I'm not sure I could survive it.

So when extreme weather events -- fires, floods, drought, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes -- made worse by human-exacerbated climate change threatens my place of safety, then you've really ticked me off, oil barons. Your oil profits should not trump my right to live peacefully in my house. Period.

I'll be attending this event on Sept. 14, and I welcome you to join in.

During a hurricane, wishing for another chance

With a hurricane on the way, you have a long list of things you wish you'd done earlier. They include:

• Installed some kind of shutters or hurricane-resistant windows

• Bought a generator to avoid the long lines at Home Depot or Lowe's

• Bought a small air conditioner and small refrigerator to run off that generator

• Bought gas for the generator

• Had flashlights in good working order

• Had the car filled up with gas, again to avoid the long lines in case of evacuation

• Had a good supply of drinking water (1 gallon per person per day)

* Put your important papers and photos in one place in case of evacuation

• Had set up direct deposit for your income, in case of long evacuation

• Had your prescriptions filled up and handy

• For renters, you wish you had bought renter's insurance

• What else?

See more on Disasters

Macy's recalls nearly 1 million Martha Stewart enamel cast iron casserole dishes

If Macy's and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are recalling 1 million Martha Stewart enamel cast iron casserole dishes, and you are an avid cook, it's possible you have one of these. They are kind of cute.

Should you care about the recall? You decide. Here are the details:

Hazard: The enamel coating on the cast iron casseroles can crack or break during use. This can cause the enamel to crack and fly off as a projectile, posing a risk of laceration or burn hazard to the user or bystanders.

Incidents/Injuries: Macy's has received two reports of the enamel cracking and flying off of the casseroles during use. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall involves Martha Stewart Collection Enamel Cast Iron Casseroles in 7 quart, 5.5 quart and 2.75 quart sizes, with exterior enamel finishes in red, cobalt blue, sand, green, blue, white, mustard, brown and teal, with cream colored interior finishes. The casseroles are embossed with Martha Stewart Collection on the bottom and lid handle.

Sold at: Macy's stores and AAFES, MCX and NEX locations nationwide, and on macys.com between June 2007 and June 2011 for between about $25 and $170.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the casseroles and return them to any Macy's store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Macy's toll-free at (888) 257-5949 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET or visit the Macy's website at www.macys.com.

Why should buildings cause 39% of greenhouse gases? That just ain't right

What is the most critical, dangerous, life-threatening problem of our time? Carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.

Everything else — political discord, economic downturns, loss of freedoms — can be changed fairly quickly. But once those greenhouse gases become trapped in the atmosphere, they will be there for a long, long, long time. And they will contribute to the droughts, floods and other weather anomalies that cause me and you and our fellow humans so much misery.

But what can we do? Isn't that someone else's fault? Someone else's responsibility?

Truth be told, if each of us took some action on this front, the cumulative effects would be astronomical.

And it must begin at home. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the energy used in buildings accounts for 39 percent of all greenhouse gases.

To cut down on energy use in our own homes, we can:

• Switch to efficient lighting
• Replace broken appliances with energy efficient models
• Switch to solar hot water heating
• Seal leaky ducts in the attic
• Seal leaks in old window assemblies
• Unplug electronics that are not being used
• Put in extra insulation when remodeling 

And so on. Surprisingly, the energy upgrades that seem the most exciting — solar panels and new windows — give you the least bang for your buck.

In my own home, the things I do to cut down on energy use also cut down on that hopeless feeling. While it might be self-righteously pleasurable for a moment to blame everyone else for the world's problems, it ultimately feels much better when my action is part of the solution. How about you?

P.S. Click here for a fun music video on air sealing

A deep energy retrofit — coming soon to a very HOT climate

In case you're not familiar with central Florida, let me break it down for you: it's HOT, HOT, HOT. And humid. Think sunshine, thunder and flash rain storms in the summer.

So what does this mean? Houses in hot and humid climates need to be built differently from those in, say, cool and dry climates. You can see the map of climate zones here:

The house I'm talking about is in that orange section at the bottom right. I visited the house not too long ago and I can tell you that I was uncomfortable standing near the single-pane French doors in the family room. Even though there was no direct sun on the East-facing glass, as there was an overhang outside, I could still feel the heat from outside radiating through the glass and I had to get up and move.

In a well-functioning house, you should be equally comfortable no matter where you are. In a house that has energy disfunction, however, you'll be cool on the ground floor, hot on the second floor, feeling stuffy in one room, chilly in another, etc. 

In this house, a team will be coming next week to do an energy audit. That is to determine how much energy the house is using before the remodel. I know that the energy bills are $450 a month when the house is vacant. Imagine how much that would cost with a family living in it?

When the remodel and energy retrofit are done, the team will come back and do another audit and note the differences.

Like I said, getting a house to be "energy smart" is not just about saving energy, saving money and saving the planet, though those are good goals. It's also about being comfortable. It's about you and your family being healthy. And it's about a long-lasting home that is not degraded by mold and rot.

Stay tuned.

4.8 million box fans recalled

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Box fans

Units: About 4.8 million units

Manufacturer: Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa.

Hazard: An electrical failure in the fan's motor poses a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Lasko has received seven reports of fires associated with motor failures, including two house fires and one barn fire, resulting in extensive property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Lasko box fans with model numbers 3720, 3723, and 3733 and Galaxy box fans with model number 4733 that have date "2002-03" or "2003-04" stamped on the bottom of the metal frame. "Lasko" or "Galaxy" is printed on the front of the fan. The model number is either stamped or printed on the bottom of the fans.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers nationwide from July 2002 through December 2005 for between $12 and $25.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled fans and contact Lasko to receive a free fused plug safety adapter.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lasko toll free at (877) 445-1314 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.laskoproducts.com

 

Protecting your kids from lead poisoning — tips from the NAHB

• 
  How do you protect your kids from lead poisoning during a remodel? Here are tips for homeowners from the National Association of Home Builders: 
• Professional remodelers who have achieved EPA Lead-Safe Certification are trained and prepared to work in pre-1978 homes for minimizing dust and potential lead paint exposures. These workers also have certified their firms and will carry an EPA seal verifying their qualifications to follow lead-safe work practices. Certified Renovators have the knowledge and tools to contain dust and keep your family safe. Do not attempt remodeling work yourself or hire an uncertified remodeler as this puts you at risk of lead poisoning. Use the search tool on the EPA website to find a Lead-Safe Certified Renovator near you or call your local home builders' association for a list of certified remodelers.
• 
  
• Read Renovate Right. 
• Your Certified Renovator will provide you a copy of the Renovate Right brochure produced by the EPA. This brochure describes the dangers of lead poisoning and how the practices of the remodeler will be employed to contain dust, clean, and minimize the dangers of lead paint exposure.
• 
  
• Pay attention to warning signs and do not enter containment areas.
• The Certified Renovator will post warning signs and set up areas of containment using plastic to keep dust under control. Pay attention to these notices and stay away from these areas. The remodeler uses these techniques and lead-safe work practices to minimize lead dust exposure. 
• 
  
• Consider testing for lead.
• You may ask the Certified Renovator to use LeadCheck or D-Lead test kits for testing certain surfaces for lead. If the test comes back negative, the remodeler will not need to use lead safe work practices because the component has tested lead-free. Alternatively, a home owner may choose to hire a certified risk assessor or lead inspector to conduct testing in the home for lead. Any pre-1978 home can be tested for lead and if the results are negative, the EPA lead rule does not apply. 
• 
  
• After the remodeling job is complete the EPA Certified Renovator will share records with you, such as a checklist describing the work practices used and any results from lead testing. Be sure to keep these records and share them with the next home owner if you should sell your home.
• Learn more about EPA's lead paint rule by visiting http://www.leadfreekids.org/ or by downloading the pamphlet, Renovate Right.

Is there toxic lead in everything?

Just for fun here at Kathy's Remodeling Blog, we decided to check how many products have been recalled lately for dangerously high levels of lead. As you know, lead is very dangerous when inhaled or ingested and causes brain damage and learning disabilities in children. As if life wasn't hard enough. In adults, it can cause fatigue and high blood pressure.

This list is astounding. If you have small kids and want to check toys and others things for lead, we recommend LeadCheck swabs, which you can get at Home Depot.

(By the way, the holiday figurines shown here were sold at Home Depot and recalled for high lead content. Small world, huh?)

Here's the list of recalls we came up with:

"S T U F F" and Paw Wall Hooks Recalled By Midwest-CBK Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Cost Plus Inc. Recalls Tea Glasses Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

Basketball-Shaped Chair and Ottoman Sets Recalled by Colleen Karis Designs Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard; Sold at HomeGoods Stores

Hammary Furniture Recalls Chests and Tables Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Golfer’s Billiard Games Recalled by Dick's Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Skull-And-Crossbones Necklaces Recalled By Spencer Gifts Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

Lip Gloss Keychains Recalled By Markwins Beauty Products Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

Pendants and Candle Charms Recalled Due to Risk of Lead Exposure

Pacific Science Supplies Recalls Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Horseshoe Magnets Recalled by Dowling Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

American Scientific Recalls Magnets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Michaels Stores Recalls Seasonal Writing Pens Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Master Lock Recalls Lock and Leash™ Locks Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Galison/Mudpuppy Recalls Wire Bound Journals and Calendars Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Photo Frames Recalled by The Gift Wrap Company Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Kash N’ Gold Recalls Tinker Bell Novelty Lamps Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

The Home Depot Recalls Holiday Figurines Due to Lead Paint Hazard

American Greetings Corp. Recalls Confetti Bursts Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Reeves International Inc. Recalls Holiday Ornaments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

DecoPac Inc. Recalls Football Bobble Head Cake Decorations Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

J.C. Penney Recalls Breyer Stirrup Ornaments Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Riddell Recalls Collectible Mini Racing Helmets Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Fire Hazard with Thermador® Built-In Ovens Leads to Recall by BSH Home Appliances Corp. 

Silver Stud Earrings Sold Exclusively at Kmart Recalled by Crimzon Rose Accessories Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

Lifetime Brands Inc. Recalls Lemonade Jars For Lead Exposure Hazard

There's way more, but I got tired and ran out of time. See for yourself.

Report: 'Green' product claims are often misleading — USA Today

More than 95% of consumer products marketed as "green," including all toys surveyed, make misleading or inaccurate claims, says a report today.

The number of products claiming to be green increased 73% since 2009, according to a survey by TerraChoice,an Ottawa-based marketing firm owned mostly by Underwriters Laboratory of Canada. The UL network does independent product testing and certification.

"The biggest sin is making claims without any proof," says Scot Case of UL Environment, adding that companies want consumers to "just trust them." The report finds "vagueness" is the second-leading problem (a shampoo claimed it was "mother-earth approved") in "greenwashing" -- a term that refers to misleading, false or unproven green claims.

 

Read the whole story at: content.usatoday.com

Ryobi recalls 455,000 cordless drills for fire hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Ryobi Model HP 1802M Cordless Power Drills

Units: About 455,000

Importer: Ryobi Technologies Inc., of Anderson, S.C.

Hazard: The switch on the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. 

Incidents/Injuries: Ryobi has received 47 reports of the drills overheating, smoking, melting or catching fire, including 12 reports of property damage to homes or vehicles. Two of the incidents involved minor burns from touching an overheated switch.

Description: The Ryobi Model HP 1802M cordless drill is powered by an 18 volt rechargeable NiCad battery. The drills are blue and black in color with "Ryobi" appearing in red and white on the left side. The model number can be found on a white label on the right side of the drill.

Sold at: Home Depot from January 2001 to July 2003 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled drill, remove the rechargeable battery and contact Ryobi to receive a free replacement drill.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ryobi Customer Service at (800) 597-9624 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.ryobitools.com.

Protect your family from lead-dust poisoning during remodeling

If you live in a house older than 1978, there's a chance it contains paint with lead in it. Now don't freak out. Even though lead when ingested or inhaled can cause brain damage, the paint itself is not dangerous unless it's chipping off or is turned into dust by sanding and cutting.

In a home remodel, old paint that contains lead could well get turned into dust and will potentially harm your family and pets. Do not let this happen.

If professionals are working on your home, and disturbing more than 6 square feet of surface, they are required by EPA to get certified in how to handle lead paint. The newly enacted rule is referred to as RRP and a firm operating under the law will be referred to as a Certified Firm or Certified Renovator (logo above).

If you're doing your own work, you don't need to get certified. That means you must take your own precautions when working on your house. If you poison your family with lead-tainted dust, you have only yourself to blame.

To check for lead, go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy some LeadCheck swabs. They cost $25 for 8 of them. To find out how to deal with and control lead dust, do a Google search and you'll turn up all kinds of resources.

Or, if you want to see how the pros do it, you can purchase a new DVD training program that teaches on-the-job workers how to protect themselves, the homeowners and their own families from lead poisoning during renovations.

To purchase this training video, go to Train2Rebuild

To see a movie trailer of the DVD, watch the 2-minute clip below:

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton's wife has a whole lotta shoes . . . and a great closet for storing them

If it wasn't for the poisonous Chinese drywall used in the house owned by New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton and his lovely wife Beth, there may not have been a massive remodel to get rid of that drywall.

And if there hadn't been a massive remodel, she may not have gotten these awesome shelves on which to store her shoes. So you see? All's well that ends well.

See more pictures of the couple's house in Mandeville, La., and a story of the remodel.

(Photo: Ellis Lucia / Times-Picayune)

The carpenter's daughter with elevated blood-lead levels

The other day, a little girl's doctor told her parents their child's blood-lead level was elevated. It wasn't yet at the 10 micrograms per deciliter that is considered dangerous. But at 6 micrograms per deciliter, it was moving in that direction. And her dad freaked out. Why?

See how lead blood levels are tested

The little girl's dad, who I won't name so I don't embarrass and humiliate him, is a carpenter who has been working with salvaged wood on a really cool reconstruction project. And I mean a really cool project. For a environmentally sensitive carpenter, using century-old reclaimed wood to include in a LEED building is as hip as it gets.

However, this dad, who loves his daughter more than life itself, was not using proper lead-safe practices. Suggestions had been made to him and his crew that they take special precautions to avoid spreading toxic lead dust, but nothing was really done about it.

The problem with lead dust is that when ingested, through simple breathing, lead in the blood causes all kinds of problems. For kids, it leads to attention deficit disorder, behavior problems, learning difficulties and, in the most extreme cases, death. In adults it causes high blood pressure, fatigue and loss of sexual drive.

So how did lead get into this old wood? Prior to 1978, lead was added to paint to make it more durable, more colorfast and resistant to rot and pests. What's not to like? Well, we've known for a long, long time that lead causes neurological damage to kids and adults. And so in 1978, it was outlawed in paint for residential construction. But guess what? The old paint in older homes didn't go away. In some cases it has been covered up non-leaded paint. And that's fine. But when you go cutting into that wood, sanding it, and otherwise disturbing it, then that lead becomes airborne dust, and becomes a current problem.

And so it came to pass that the carpenter's daughter had lead in her blood that was likely a result of her dad coming home covered in lead-tainted dust.

From this day forward, the carpenter will take this issue seriously. And the EPA is going to force professional remodelers to likewise take this seriously and it has recently enacted the RRP (Renovation, Repair and Painting) Rule for lead-safe practices on the jobsite. Read about the rule here.

A lot of professional remodelers don't like this rule because they have to become certified to work on homes where lead is present, and they have to train their crews, and they have to spend a few bucks on protective coveralls, gloves, plastic sheeting, painters tape, and a few other items. And their workers must be trained and must wear all this gear. And that's certainly a bother.

But at the end of day, when these workers are operating according to the law, none of this lead-tainted paint dust will go home with them to poison their own children. And none of the lead-tainted paint dust will remain to poison the people in the house.

And no one will have to feel the guilt the carpenter must be feeling right now.

To see a training program for workers dealing with lead-tainted paint, click here.

1.5 million dishwashers recalled

Name of Product: Maytag Dishwashers

Units: About 1.7 million in the United States

Manufacturer: Maytag Corp. of Newton, Iowa or Maytag Corp. of Benton Harbor, Mich.

Hazard: An electrical failure in the dishwasher’s heating element can pose a serious fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Maytag has received 12 reports of dishwasher heating element failures that resulted in fires and dishwasher damage, including one report of extensive kitchen damage from a fire. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall includes Maytag®, Amana®, Jenn-Air®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand dishwashers with plastic tubs and certain serial numbers. The affected dishwashers were manufactured with black, bisque, white, silver and stainless steel front panels. The brand name is printed on the front of the dishwasher. The model and serial numbers are printed on a label located inside the plastic tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening. Serial numbers will start or end with one of the following sequences.

SERIAL number STARTING with	OR	SERIAL number ENDING with
NW39, NW40, NW41, NW42, NW43, NW44, NW45, NW46, NW47, NW48, NW49, NW50, NW51, NW52, NY01, NY02, NY03, NY04, NY05, NY06, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY16, NY17, NY18, NY19		JC, JE, JG, JJ, JL, JN, JP, JR, JT, JV, JX, LA, LC, LE, LG, LJ, LL, LN, LP, LR, LT, LV, LX, NA, NC, NE, NG, NJ, NL, NN, NP, NR

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from February 2006 through April 2010 for between $250 and $900.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it, inform all users of the dishwasher about the risk of fire and contact Maytag to verify if their dishwasher is included in the recall. If the dishwasher is included in the recall, consumers can either schedule a free in-home repair or receive a rebate following the purchase of certain new Maytag brand stainless-steel tub dishwashers. The rebate is $150 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB7759, MDB7609 or MDBH979; or $250 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB8959, MDB8859, MDB7809 or MDB7709. Consumers should not return the recalled dishwashers to the retailer where purchased as retailers are not prepared to take the units back.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maytag at (800) 544-5513 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.repair.maytag.com

New: A non-toxic primer from Kilz

 Q: What's even better than blocking stains with KILZ primer-sealer?

A: Doing so without poisoning yourself.

I've been a fan of KILZ stain-blocking primer for years. It's one of those rare products that lives up to its hype. And now it come in a formulation with no volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. That word "organic" really throws people. Organic is good, right? In this case, it means that there is off-gassing from the paint. And where does that gaseous material go? Right into your body. You could rephrase VOC to VCC, or volatile chemical compounds. Does that get our attention better?

So I've got a gallon of KILZ Clean Start (which can be used indoor or outdoor) and I've got a stained front porch that needs some attention. Check back in a few weeks and I'll show you my results.

Aerial hedge trimming

Here's a photo from the quirky website Burbia.com. This fellow found a unique solution to that pesky hedge-trimming job.

This beats the heck out of standing on a tall ladder and leaning over with a hedge trimmer in your hands. Hey, if this is safe and you've got the right equipment, why not?

Owners of pre-1978 homes may soon have a better pool of contractors to choose from

Own an older home? Beginning April 22, only contractors who have been trained in safe handling of lead-contaminated paint dust can legally work on your home. And that's a good thing for you.

If you've been keeping up with contractor-type news, you know that contractors are not happy at all with a soon-to-be enforced EPA law that requires extra precautions when dealing with lead contamination in homes. 

Lead was routinely added to paint prior to 1978. When that lead-infused paint is sanded or cut into, dust is created that can be ingested. Lead poisoning has been proved conclusively to cause brain and neurological damage to children. That's what this law is all about, to protect the health of children. And I can tell you from personal experience, life is hard enough without the added burden of brain damage. Congress directed the EPA to enact these safety requirements nearly 20 years ago, and it's only now being done.

Some contractors say the financial burden of these safety precautions is too great. Some have turned it into a political issue and another reason to dislike President Obama and his administration.

The law requires that in order to work on houses built prior to 1978 (the year paint with lead in it was banned for residential construction), each contractor must take an 8-hour class that costs about $250 and pass a 25-question multiple-choice test. Then, the workers in the company must be trained on how to protect themselves from lead-contaminated paint dust, and how to protect the jobsite. This often requires plastic gloves, masks, plastic bags to collect the contaminated material, a HEPA vacuum, etc.

Times are tough right now for businesses and so many contractors are rebelling by saying they won't get certified and they simply won't take any remodeling jobs on houses built prior to 1978. Some companies report they will go out of business because of this new requirement.

What this means is more work for the companies who are certified to work with lead-contaminated paint dust. The EPA estimates some 125,000 certified contractors by the April 22 deadline, with companies continuing to be certified after that.

If you own a home built prior to 1978, the pool of contractors that you can choose from to do remodeling will not be bigger, but it will be better. 

Certain companies have a special affinity for older homes and you will be more likely to choose such a company when others with less of a commitment to older homes drop out of the business. Plus, the companies who have taken the time and effort to become certified in the handling of lead-contaminated dust are the companies who have a demonstrated affinity for safety, both for their own workers and for the home's occupants.

There have always been people who resent the government stepping in to protect the safety of consumers. Drug companies really hate it. So do polluting industries. Yes, protecting consumers and workers does cost money. However, if a company is so close to financial ruin that a commitment of $1,000 for new safety training and equipment puts them over the edge, you have to assume that if it wasn't this new safety requirement then it would be something else that caused them to shut their doors, like a late-paying client or being turned down for a business loan from the bank.

I'm certainly sad when good contracting companies go out of business. These are really tough times for everyone. I'm even more sad about contaminants we expose young children to in this modern world. 

Bottom line: When you as a homeowner of a house built prior to 1978 seek remodeling services in the future, the contractors who can legally work on your house, meaning they are certified to handle lead-polluted paint dust, will have demonstrated a level of solvency and commitment to safety that should give you some comfort.

Is climate change threatening home foundations?

From the New York Times:

Steven Derse, the owner of a corporate travel business in Nashville, cannot feel his house move, but he can hear it. “It’s an eerie creaking sound,” he said, and it echoes throughout his two-story Georgian-style house.

It started two years ago when a severe drought contracted the soil beneath the foundation, which caused it to crack and sink, pulling the house down with it. The noise has continued intermittently, becoming more insistent last year when flooding pushed the already compromised foundation and house back upward.

This seesawing effect was noisy and expensive. Mr. Derse has spent more than $10,000 to install subterranean piers to stabilize his foundation, and he expects he will have to install more to prevent further cracking and crumbling. “You lose your sense of security,” he said. “You love your home and then it literally turns on you.” 

Photo Caption: The soil under the home of Psonya Wilson has required some major work and repairs. The two-story garden style house in Brandon, Miss., has required the installation of stabilization piers to shore up the foundation.

Photo Credit: James Patterson for The New York Times

See the whole story at www.nytimes.com

Such a cute lamp from Discovery Kids; too bad it might catch fire

The latest recall from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Name of Product: Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine and Safari Lamps

Units: About 360,000

Importer: Innovage LLC, of Foothill Ranch, Calif.

Hazard: A defect in the lamp’s printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Innovage has received nine reports of incidents, including seven reports of lamps catching fire, one involving smoke inhalation injury to a child and three involving minor property damage.

Description: This recall involves the Discovery Kids™ Animated Marine Lamp with model number 1627121 or 1628626 and the Animated Safari Lamp with model number 1627124 or 1628626.All models have batch numbers beginning with “2”. The decorative lamps are silver in color and feature rotating films with marine or safari scenes. “Discovery Kids” is printed on the front top left corner. The batch number is an 11 digit number located on the bottom of each unit. The model number can be found on the bottom of the packaging.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers, department, drug and hardware stores nationwide, online and through direct sales from July 2009 through January 2010 for about $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the lamps, and contact Innovage for information on returning the product for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Innovage toll-free at (888) 232-1535 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s Web site at www.lamprecall.org or email info@lamprecall.org

10 ways to love your Valentine during a home remodel

In the middle of a home remodel this Valentine's Day? No doubt it can be stressful. But instead of bickering and lashing out at the one you love, how about making this a time of sweetness? Here are some ideas to ensure a romantic weekend, despite all the dust and rubble:

1. If the kitchen is out of use, buy a wine fridge and stock it with a few bottles of white wine and champagne to enjoy while watching movies (or home improvement TV shows!). It can be your gift to yourselves for working so hard on your new kitchen.

2. Splurge on designer-looking work gloves for you and your squeeze.

See the whole list at www.diylife.com

Ask an Expert: How can pregnant homeowner avoid remodeling hazards?

From the Contra Costa Times:

Q I'm pregnant and will be remodeling my home soon. Is there anything I should be aware of (off-gassing, asbestos, glues, etc.) that could hurt my unborn baby or me?

A There are two points during a remodeling project that are critical times at which to consider the impact of potentially hazardous materials.

The first is during demolition, when materials are removed or disturbed, as some of the materials may have been manufactured with known toxins such as asbestos and lead.

The second is during the construction phase, when you should be aware of potentially harmful products used to manufacture building materials that will go in your home.

See the whole story at www.contracostatimes.com

(Photo: Brigham Young University)

Tired of heating and air conditioning your attic space?

The video below shows the hands-on basics of sealing your ducts. I like the part where this HVAC expert uses toilet paper to find leaks in the system. Then, he shows you how to seal them up. This is not just theory or book learning, folks. This is the real thing.

So will you spend a few moments of your time on this? The investment could be great. Getting your ducts sealed sure beats losing your money to needlessly high heating and air conditioning costs. And you know that condensation that forms when air leaks out of the system? That's not a good thing.

 

 Video from Train2Rebuild.