Show Notes: Goodbye Roaches – On the House
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Show Notes: Goodbye Roaches

By on August 22, 2015

 

The lazy days of summer are almost over. Get rid of roaches before fall. Did you know timing is everything? And that includes getting all your summer projects finished before Labor Day. James and Morris have help to get your DIYs done before your last summer party!

 

Here’s Your Chance To own the ‘SILENCE OF THE LAMBS’ house

This is a real thriller.

If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a scary movie, consider this your golden opportunity.

The house from “The Silence of the Lambs” is for sale in Perryopolis, Pennsylvania, with an asking price of $300,000. While that’s more than what houses in the neighborhood typically run, this four-bedroom, Victorian-style home has more than enough creep-tastic history to make it a great deal.

The outside of the home today looks bright and cheery, indeed. But indoors, it’s just as quaintly spooky as it was in the film — with much of the original flooring, furniture and movie memorabilia to boot.

 

August Home Checklist 

Clean the bathroom fan. Summer humidity means the bathroom fan has to work even harder than usual to clear the air after showers, so be sure to leave it on for a full 30 minutes after each shower to prevent bathroom mildew from forming. To clean, take off the cover and use a vacuum attachment to clear out the dust and grime.

And don’t forget these maintenance jobs: 

Vacuum A/C returns and supply

Replace A/C Filter

Clean Dryer Vent

Clean Gutter and seal any leaks

Cut back trees and shrubs from the house walls, roof and air conditioning system

Check the bathtub and shower caulking

Inspect home for any signs of water intrusion or roof leaks

Check all faucets for dripping or leaky pipes

Check for any obvious issues with electrical sockets and receptacles

  

How to Dispose of Remodeling Waste

While certainly not the sexiest topic in home renovation, the issue of how to dispose of remodeling waste is becoming more important as it becomes harder to find places to take the stuff. Landfills and transfer stations are concerned about issues like hazardous waste, as well as separating metal, masonry, and other dissimilar materials.

But you just want to get rid of the stuff. How do you do it?

Haul It Yourself

As long as you’ve got something resembling a long-bed pickup truck or great, you can haul your own remodeling waste to the dump.

This is the cheapest option available, but it does come with a few bad points.

Pros:

Cheap. Your waste dump is based on weight.

Cons:

You really need that long-bed pickup truck. When remodeling, you’ll find that pickups fill up faster than you might expect (that’s why the hauling companies use larger trucks). Also, transfer stations are more highly regulated, so it’s not just a matter of pushing all the waste out; you’ll need to separate the materials. 

Hauling Company

You create a mess, throw it anywhere, and someone else comes to pick it up. Typically, you’ll want to move the remodeling waste as close to the curb as possible to facilitate pickup. Haulers can come farther into yards or into the house, but they will add a fee for this.

Pros:

Storage container rentals eliminate the need for having to find space or obtain permits for a roll off bin. Also, most of these hauling companies are independent and will negotiate with you.

Cons:

Difficult to predict costs. You’ve got that terrible mess cluttering your house or yard until pickup time (a tarp will help).

And it’s too easy to lose sight of the growing size of your remodeling waste. With a roll off, the available space is always apparent.

Roll Off Dumptser

Pros:

The trash is neatly sequestered in the rolloff. Rolloffs are, by far, the most professional way to dispose of your remodeling waste. Multiple sizes are available, from 10 cubic yards to 40 cubic yards. Even materials that are difficult to dispose of, such as masonry, are acceptable in rolloffs.

Cons: You will quickly find that your neighbors love your rolloff (usually surreptitiously, in the middle of the night). Permits needed if you park the rolloff on the street. Remember that you are renting the rolloff, so costs can mount even if you are not using it.

Bagster

An interesting hybrid between a hauling company and a rolloff.

Pros: Keeps your remodeling waste contained (but still visible). Reasonably predictable pickup costs.

Cons: Bagster still not available in many major areas. Limited size not appropriate for large remodeling projects such as an entire room demolition.

Household Pickup

As long as you’ve got the space, why not throw your remodeling junk in the residential trash? On the face of it, this sounds like a viable plan. In the end, this is hardly worth considering, due to the limited space.

Pros:

Free. Even though you do pay for your residential trash pickup, it can be considered as “free.”

Cons:

Space restrictions. Home remodeling waste is big; residential cans are little.

 

Say Goodbye to Roaches

Once cockroaches move into a home, it can be very difficult to kick them out. They can snack on your food, damage wallpaper, books, and electronics, and some species of cockroach also spread germs to humans. Serve these pests an eviction notice and keep them from coming back by choosing a bait, insecticide, trap or barrier approach that works best for you.

Deny them food and water

Cockroaches must have a source of water. Depending on the temperature and their size, they can live for a month without any food, but no more than a week without water. Find all the water leaks in your house, and fix them. Once their water source(s) have been eliminated, they will be much more interested in eating gel-based baits you set out.

Clean your house thoroughly

A clean house is key to keeping cockroaches away, and the first place to start is the kitchen. Wash your dishes and put food away promptly after meals. Clean up crumbs and spills right away, and generally keep the area clean. Pay special attention to range tops, as cockroaches love grease.

Keep food containers sealed, and don’t leave food out for extended periods

Don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight, and don’t leave fruit on the countertop.

Mop the floor routinely to clean up crumbs and sticky spots

Do not slop water against the walls; remember, they need water.

Take out the trash regularly

Have one trash can for food in your house. Don’t let it sit for too long. Use a trash can with a lid, rather than one that stays open. Keep it in sealed containers that aren’t sitting right next to your house.

Once the house is cleaned, set the bait, traps or spray the insecticide to finish the job.

 

Concrete Patio Maintenance is a Breeze  

Cleaning and sealing stamped and colored concrete should be done on a regular basis just like any other home maintenance. The frequency will depend on how high a traffic area to cars, foot traffic, water, and any chemicals the concrete is exposed to. 

Rinse dirt/debris off stamped concrete surface with a garden hose or pressure washer.

Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap to surface and scrub with a push broom.

Rinse well with a garden hose or pressure washer until there is no sign of soapsuds.

DRY surface completely by using a leaf blower or by waiting 24 hours to air dry.

Once the surface is completely dry, apply the sealer as follows:

Stir in one jar of Anti-Skid material to a 5-gallon pail of sealer.

APPLY SEALER USING A 1″ NAP ROLLER ONLY. ANTI SKID MATERIAL WILL NOT TRANSFER THROUGH A SPRAYER. Apply sealer in approximately 2′ x 4′ sections. This will ensure full coverage without missed spots. Keep stirring sealer while applying to keep the Anti-Skid suspended in the sealer

Sealer should be applied when air temperature is above 55 F. Best results will be obtained by applying sealer during cooler temperatures — fall and spring — or before 10 am and after 4 pm in summer months when surface temperatures should be under 90 F.

A second coat can be applied after the first coat is tack free (not sticky to your touch).

Your stamped concrete should be resealed every 2-3 years to protect your investment. One 5-gallon pail of sealer will cover approximately 1,000 sq.ft.

  

9 Deer-Resistant Flowering Shrubs to Plant This Fall

These exquisite shrubs will attract your attention but won’t tempt the deer that roam your neighborhood at night.

Mock Orange

Bottlebrush Buckeye

Lilac

Winter Daphne

Viburnum

Bluebeard

Butterfly Bush

Witch Hazel

Eastern Sweetshrub

 

Website Mentions:

Ozone Machines:

http://www.odorfreemachines.com/#howitworks-container

 

Beckart Odor Eliminator

http://www.beckart.com/wastewater_treatment/aqua-tab.php

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