Show Notes: Summer Maintenance and More – On the House
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Show Notes: Summer Maintenance and More

By on July 9, 2016
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Looking for something to do this summer? How about some roof maintenance. Need a new kitchen faucet, we have some “what to know” information before you shop. And, when you are finished, how about grilling up a great dinner. 

 

 

Kitchen And Bath Remodeling 2016

Kitchen And Bath Remodels Are A $31.2b Biz

Americans will spend $31.2 billion this year to remodel 1.8 million kitchens and 2.5 million bathrooms, new research conducted for the National Kitchen & Bath Association ( NKBA) estimated in a new report released today.

That $18.2 billion for kitchen remodels and $13.0 billion on bath jobs accounts for about a quarterly of the $121.7 billion expended on remodeling projects, NKBA said in its report, compiled by The Farnsworth Group.

http://www.prosalesmagazine.com/newsletter/nkba-kitchen-and-bath-remodels-are-a-312b-biz_s?utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=Brief&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PS_062916%20(1)&he=42e20f0c9743c70076f31b576d8d28f5924e8fa8

 

Summer Roof Maintenance

Check for ceiling spots, they are usually a sign that there is a leak originating from somewhere on your roof.

Ensure attic vents are clear from blockage to prevent excess build up of heat and moisture that could damage roof and support beams.

Where possible, install additional vents to prevent ice-damming. The recommended ventilation is one square foot each of intake and exhaust ventilation for each 300 sq. foot of attic space.

Check your gutters, during the winter when gutters are blocked, melting snow may have been forced into the shingles and caused a leak in your home. If your gutters were blocked, you may have a leak somewhere.

Check for fallen branches and limbs after a storm. Summer storms are inevitable, so after each storm make sure to remove any debris that has fallen on your roof that will put unnecessary stress on the structure and cause water blockage.

Trim tree branches. Branches that are close to a roof can scratch and damage roofing materials during storms or heavy wind. The leaves from these branches can also cause gutters to be clogged leading to leaks in your home. Avoid facing these problems all together by eliminating the cause beforehand.

Make sure roof shingles are still intact and undamaged. Any loose shingles need to be replaced immediately to prevent further damage. Shingles that appear to be buckling, curling or blistering means they are in need of repair or replacing entirely

Check roof flashing. The function of flashing is to provide a watertight seal at roof junctions, edges and corners. Flashing is installed anywhere there is a change of angle, as well as around chimneys, pipes and valleys. Flashings are one of the most common routes that water enters a house.

Look for staining. Dark stains may signify that fungus is growing. Remove moss by sweeping it off or applying a moss killer product.

http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/211754/docs/fideriosummerroofchecklist.pdf?t=0

 

Grilled Pork Chops With Spicy Balsamic Grilled Peaches

July has been deemed as National Grilling Month

Grilled Pork Chops with Spicy Balsamic Grilled Peaches. A long title for a relatively no fuss recipe that is totally divine thanks to a soak in a salty brine to assist in making an amazingly juicy chop.

Serves 2 

Ingredients

  • 2 thick cut, bone-in pork chops
  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup kosher salt
  • 2 sprigs rosemary
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • Olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

For the Grilled Peach Salsa

  • 2 peaches, pitted and halved
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 3 teaspoons granulated sugar, divided
  • ½ cup slivered red onion
  • 3 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1½ teaspoons Vietnamese chili garlic sauce
  • Kosher salt
  • fresh basil leaves

Instructions

Rinse the pork chops, pat dry and place in a freezer bag.

Bring the apple cider, water, ½ cup sugar and ⅓ cup kosher salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir until sugar and salt dissolves. Remove from heat and add a few ice cubes to cool the brine. Allow to cool completely then add to the freezer bags with the pork chops along with the rosemary sprigs, garlic cloves and black peppercorns. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours up to overnight.

Remove the pork chops from the brine and discard the brine. Pat the pork dry with a paper towel and lightly brush with olive oil and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Preheat one side of the grill to high and one side to low. Brown the chops for about 5 minutes or until nice grill marks develop and then turn to the other side and cook for another 5 minutes. Turn the chops over and move them to the low-heat part of the grill. Cook for another 10-12 minutes or until the pork reaches an internal temperature of 155 degrees in the thickest part of the chop. Transfer to a platter and tent with aluminum foil for about 5 minutes and chops reach 160 degrees.

While pork chops are cooking on the low temperature side of the grill, lightly coat the peach halves on the fleshy side of the fruit with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the sugar.

Grill the peaches flesh side down on the high temperature side of the grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a cutting board and cut into slices. Mix the red onions with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, chili garlic sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of kosher salt. Add the sliced peaches to the red onions and gently mix.

Top the pork chops with the peaches and onion mix and garnish with torn basil leaves.

http://www.foodiecrush.com/grilled-pork-chops-with-spicy-balsamic-grilled-peaches/

 

 

Before You Buy A Kitchen Faucet…… 

Buying a new kitchen faucet involves more than picking a look and sticking to a budget. Selecting a faucet is actually a series of decisions that can quickly get overwhelming.

Here is how to make sense out of all the kitchen faucet options.

Know your sink:

Each faucet tells you how many mounting holes it needs. They come in 1, 2, 3 & 4 hole versions. Look at your kitchen sink and count the holes. If your existing faucet has a mounting plate on it, check under the sink to see how many holes the mounting plate covers.

Know the finish:

Before you buy make a note of what finish you have, or want to have, for your kitchen hardware. The air gap, soap dispenser, and sink-hole cover finish should match the faucet finish.

Know your water lines: Before shopping for a new faucet make a note of the pipe size of the water lines under your sink. Many newer faucets come with 3/8″ flex lines attached that will need to connect to 3/8″ angle stops. If your existing angle stops are 1/2″ you will need to change out the angle stops before you can install your new faucet.

Having these three pieces of information before you face the daunting wall of faucets will narrow your choices and make the decision that much easier.

http://plumbing.about.com/b/2011/08/05/before-you-buy-a-kitchen-faucet.htm

 

5 Electrical Dangers

Loose ends on extension cords. If your extension cord has loose ends, or you’ve bandaged an extension cord with electrical tape, it’s time to replace it. Damaged cords may have exposed live wires that lead to shock and fire hazards.

Tripping GFI outlets. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFI) is an outlet typically located in kitchens and bathrooms – often within six feet of a water source – that prevents people from being electrocuted. These outlets immediately stop the flow of electricity (and “trip”) when they sense the slightest change in the current. If your GFI starts tripping repeatedly, you probably have an electrical problem or a worn-out GFI outlet receptacle. Contact an electrician to inspect the problem.

Wobbly ceiling fans. If your ceiling fan isn’t rotating evenly, your device either isn’t correctly mounted to the electrical box, your blades are unbalanced or your blades are warped. We recommend always calling an electrician to fix damaged wires and electrical boxes.

Inappropriate bulb wattage. Using a bulb that has a higher wattage than recommended is a fire hazard and may overheat the light fixture. If you’re dealing with a fixture with multiple bulbs or a strand of lights, check all of the bulbs individually and replace them as needed. Be consistent with the bulbs’ wattage in this situation.

Warm faceplates. If your faceplate is warm to the touch, you probably have an oversized electrical load operating on that unit. Monitor any warm faceplate you find. If the problem persists, or the faceplate becomes hot to the touch, call an electrician. Note: The exception to this rule is a dimmer switch. Unless it’s too hot to touch, it’s okay.

https://brightnest.com/todos/be-aware-of-these-5-electrical-dangers

 

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