Moving from Blogger to WordPress :: Thanks for Memories . . . Blogger
Dec 19th
. . . But it feels like I never left
As you may have guessed from the sidebar over here (–>), I have decided to take this show over to the Wordpress platform. There are several reasons I have decided to make this move.
While developing the web component of my venture at http://www.buildingmoxie.com/, a Blogger blog presented a quick and easy way to manage the content I hoped to generate for/through the site. At the time, I had a few ideas about what I might cover using my blog. Unfortunately — I found quickly that the variety of topics I ended up writing about spilled out beyond one simple, and centralized, location. So . . . as need arose, I created the additional extensions for Home (work around my house), for Jobs (work on other people’s houses), and for the ‘Hood (stories about houses and people near me).
For the last year, I posted on average one article a week to one of these places. But while traffic to the landing location AOM grew, my numbers in the auxiliary buckets remained somewhat flat. My assumption . . . perhaps you and others simply may not have known those other destinations also existed.
So with the long and the short, I am moving to Wordpress for their tabbed scalability (through both pages and categories) and for the ability to unify all of my content under one harmonious domain.
. . . What’s in a name?
During this process, I am taking the opportunity to rename and re-brand the blog. While I, of course, love both the phrase “agents of moxie” and further the way the word “agents” plays several meanings, it has in some regard failed to accomplish one primary goal. That is — unless you found me through my website, you and others may not have noticed that this blog is in fact attached, and is meant to support, my budding home improvement business.
While fun and flirty at first – “agents” had to go (at least as the domain name); enter, now, Building Moxie :: the Blog. The word “Building” hints that my business and my blog may have something to do with . . . well, construction, and it helps reinforce my brand as a whole.
. . . And what will you find at http://blog.buildingmoxie.com/
In re-designing, I hope to come up with a snappy tag phrase that tells every visitor what they might find there (here). Something that says, “You are visiting the site of an aspiring entrepreneur.” In visiting, you’ll find content written by an analyst turned week long warrior — who with some formal training has made his way through many, many home improvement projects using information collected not only from magazine articles, books and online resources, but also through the everyman’s weapon of choice — trial and error.
I mean — I am actually to the point where I am considering a professional career with it! Am I crazy? A do-it-yourselver gone mad, and it, I feel, offers a unique, from-the-ground-up perspective of the industry.
And there you are – the theme, at least the one I am toying with — “An end user’s view to home (no, strikethru) life improvement.” You’ll find material on and from the agents of moxie, still, the full array: a person or business authorized to act on another’s behalf; a natural force or object producing or used for obtaining specific results; Grammar. a form or construction; and so on.
I welcome you to come visit now, as I rework the blog in broad daylight. I will be noodling new sections and hopefully testing a new “thing” in the coming months. In the future, and when the re-design is complete, I hope you will return to read and leave comment.
I am always available at jb@buildingmoxie.com. Thank you all for your support and BMoxie BMore!
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
* Want to give a quick shout to twitter friends @KatrinaSOS and @abledragon who helped get me on the right track with this process. Thank you both.
ps — Oi! This time of year is really slowing this process down. Happy Holidays all! And If you are so inclined, feel free to contact me about becoming a sponsor and/or an advertiser; just sayin’. Thanks. jb
so what I am trying to say is . . . heavy on the one
Dec 8th
. . . My first guest post
Let me be honest, I obsess (usually afterwards) about almost everything that I write, and post. Yes, I am still in that phase. But . . . this post — and how, and/or if, it fits — has really troubled me.
There's Saint Pete Paul Anater (good man -- great blogger)
I do revel in the opportunity to write from the hip; I find that it is often a great way to explore. But sometimes though — like in life, walkabouts lead only to places that you know.
Thanks to Paul Anater at Kitchen and Residential Design for having me. I am one of eleven guest posters who are holding the fort while Paul gets some time away. Please check in throughout the week to see what is up!
Without further build-up, here is my first guest post: . . . heavy on the one
If only you could drive your house up to the home center
Dec 1st
. . . Car guys vs. House guys (and yes girls and women can be guys too)
I have mentioned it previously; I am not really a car guy. Sure, I know a few things. I know how to operate a vehicle, and I know where the gasoline goes. I know that they ride on tires, which, in turn, must be rotated every so often.
A transcript (roughly) of the conversation that then followed:
I started with, “Jen, calm down.” Then, I proceeded to give her a brief outline of what I know. “It could mean anything . . . . It could mean it is time for regularly scheduled maintenance. Or, it could mean, well, that there is something seriously wrong.” I thought for a second, then I finished the first wave with, “How is the car running?”
She replied, “Well, it does feel a little sluggish – what should I do; should I not drive it?”
“We are going to have to have someone do a diagnostic on it.” But who, I thought.
Jen then said, “I guess I’ll have to go up to my parents and have Roy look at it.” (Roy is a “guy” in the classic sense of the word. For a loose definition, see the Moxie Mouth side bar here). “But that means driving up on a weekend – (paraphrased) and we are so busy.”
I said, “OK, let me call some places around here. We’ll get this checked out.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” But I continued, “Don’t worry about it – I think you are OK driving it for a little bit.”
. . . Kinda like shopping bids for a home project
Moving Houses -- There are actually complete shows dedicated to this (image by b)
I proceeded, as promised, to call a couple of the places near us. Two, to be exact. Both regionally recognizable chains; we have visited both previously. $89.99 per hour for a diagnostic – “But it usually doesn’t take more than an hour,” the service tech said. My reply, “OK, thanks.”
So . . . I called the next place. “Whew,” I thought, “Only $89.99 for the test, and just the test, no by the hour included here.” And I reported back quickly. My wife’s reply sharp and clear, “I guess I am going to have to take it up to Roy.” The plan of action decided.
Now . . . my wife is a smart lady. She knows, like I do, that there are always options. So, she called her brother. Her brother, my brother-in-law, Darin is a smart guy, too, an engineer; he knows some things. And he is certainly more of a car guy than me.
Two days after that initial call, I picked up another call in my office. The excitement in her voice was pretty plain, “Darin says Auto Zone does free diagnostics.” I said, “Hmmm, wow, cool.” And a few days later my wife went to Auto Zone.
As with most events in life, this got me thinking. How does this translate to the home?
In a lot of ways, maintaining a home and maintaining an automobile are quite similar. Each has systems that effect overall performance, each is fairly expensive, and each requires routine maintenance, and regular care, to perform at its best.
These conditions are due, in part, to the temporal and fading nature of things. Much as a car’s odometer rolls with every tenth of a mile accumulated – your home loads on mileage, too, with each passing year. Short of noting proactive discretionary improvements, and extending beyond the mechanical equipment found in your home, all parts in, on, or of your home will wear, and ultimately fail (if left unchecked).
The timeline of failure, of course, can be accelerated by poor maintenance within interconnected systems. This has never been clearer than today, as many of us focus our attention on energy usage.
Enter the home energy audit, a diagnostic of home energy performance. These check-ups look at such things as the air-tightness of your home’s shell (the skin) and the health of its working parts (organs as such). It’s kinda like a doctor’s visit, a house call.
Some of today’s home automation systems allow for in-line diagnostics of power-based components. But . . . still these controls are evolving and I can think that one day maybe homes, too, will fitted with a “Check Engine” light. Think about it – a LED blinking on at a centralized location to not only notify you at certain intervals, but also to highlight the detection of specific negative events.
. . . Auto Zone is the sh*t (stand back now he’s really rambling)
As my wife, her check engine light still lit, was finalizing plans to have Roy change the thermostat on her car, it happened, as if a cruel joke. My check engine light, with no regret or remorse, popped on. “Damn!” But I tried not to panic; I mean – after all, from recent experience I knew what I needed to do first. Head to Auto Zone. I just had to work it into my schedule.
It was a rainy Saturday, and early, when I walking in. There were two employees on duty, and one person in the store. I did my usual, with the body language, and not impatiently mind you. More in stance that says – “Yes, I am looking at these displays, but not because I intend to purchase anything off of them; instead, I am just killing time here until you ask me if I need assistance.”
When the staffer came over, and I didn’t have to wait long, he was pleasant enough. “Can I help you?” he asked.
I said, “I hear you are doing free diagnostics; and my check engine light is on.”
He said, “Sure. We are.” And he reached his hand back behind the island that holds the store’s computer monitors, he grabbed a handheld device, and we walked out to my truck, together.
Below the truck’s steering wheel and on the side of the console that houses my radio, there is a port. And he took this device (it wasn’t too far off of some the electrical testers I have seen), and he plugged it in. With a turn of the key, and shutting my wipers off, he captured an error code in a matter of seconds. He then said, “Let’s see what the computer says your problem might be.”
A minute later, and more time actually spent walking and chatting, I had a list of four possible issues (ad libbing a little here): the catalytic converter, a leak at the exhaust manifold, a dirty air flow sensor, or a blocked fuel injector. My problem to be found at one of these four points.
The first thing out of my mouth of course was – “Well, what do you think?” And we fired questions and answers back and forth for a few minutes. I finally, then, made the resolution to start the troubleshooting dance with the more inexpensive options.
Knowing full well that Auto Zone stocks injector cleaner, I asked, “How do I clean the air flow sensor?”
“I’ll show you . . . . Here,” he said, as he handed me a can that looked quite similar to spray paint. And I walked out of there that morning with cleaner for my air flow sensor, fuel injector cleaner, and a thermostat for a 2000 Volvo.
What a brilliant organizational decision!
The Auto Zone associate, very knowledgable, may I dare say a car guy, provided tips for troubleshooting, laid down the truth of things if my troubleshooting were to fail, and he assured me that I could confidently perform some of these steps myself. Then, he rang me up for the supplies that I would need. And we went about our days.
. . . Systems normal
I find that when troubleshooting it is often best to get the easiest and least expensive possibilities out of the way first. And in my case, this time, those basic measures performed that Saturday worked. I was able to shut that sucka light off.
I also find that these aren’t the kind of things you usually want to let go for too long. As with our house above, causes and effects are all too often interrelated. In my case, and with my vehicle, data pointed to either the air intake or the fuel system, each potentially having compounding effects on the other.
Left unchecked, who knows, the issue could have effectively manifested into a larger (and more expensive) problem.
Plus, you have to admit, it sure is unsightly. The check engine light — starting your car, and there in the dashboard, it stares back at you, telling you something isn’t quite right.
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
As I was noodling this idea, I stumbled upon this outstanding article on “Your House as a System”. Link courtesy of Extremehowto.com: http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60917
A top publication on home controls and other electronics: http://www.electronichouse.com/eh/magazine/
Get in the Zone! Auto Zone: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/
Bill O’Connor’s Solar Thermal Set-up :: Inside the Pro’s Home
Nov 25th
. . . BMore apparently a suburb of DC
I am fortunate really that around me here in Lauraville there are many forward-thinking, creative, and community-oriented people. Revitalization, as you might have read, is abounding; new shops and reclamation are the norm. Mixing new with old, the locals here are creating a kinda 21st century stew.
And when I am not off in some distant land fantasizing about my own remodeling biz super-success, I may catch a glimpse of the solar panels sitting on Bill O’Connor’s roof. Sure, I noticed when they first went on, but I did not actually stop until recently to think — Hey, what might it take to integrate this newish technology with an old house?
Then, one Saturday afternoon, the girls and I stumbled upon our new local street market. And there, below them, as if they were almost powering the activity, those solar panels came up. In the course of chatting at the Baltimore Main Street table, Bill’s wife, Sue, asked, “Are you going to the solar tour today?”
The plates on Bill's Lauraville home
I said, “Well, I don’t know; what is that?”
The 19th Annual Washington Metro (b-more apparently a suburb of DC) Solar Home Tour was stopping at Bill’s house, and I did ultimately pop in. It was that day when I first pitched Bill on the idea for this article. I said to him, “I see it growing every day, interest in solar; and I am sure my readers (as if you number in the many) would love to know what it takes to implement this technology in an old house.”
. . . A few weeks later feeling a little bit like Kevin O’Connor (no relation)
There have only been a handful of times when this job has made me feel a little bit like Kevin O’Connor. But this is one of them. There, as I sat sipping pear cider with Bill and his buddy, Roger Perry, we discussed the process of installing a solar hot water, aka thermal, system for Bill’s house.
Roger's ride -- Solar Energy Services
Close friends – you could tell. Motorcycling buddies, they have both been in their respective lines of work for 30 plus years. Roger, the owner of Solar Energy Services, survived the “dark days of solar” (my words), and Bill, the House Mechanic (as his business is called), now collaborate frequently on each other’s projects.
Bill admits when he initially contacted Roger regarding solar, he was interested more in solar’s ability to provide power for his home. Roger, and probably working more together, quickly steered Bill away from this as his starting point.
Known as photovoltaic (PV), installations that convert sun power into electrical voltage are pricey, almost three times pricier than the other solar set-up, thermal. So they agreed, instead, to start there – with a thermal system used for domestic potable hot water and radiant hot water space heating.
These systems are, as Roger tells me, more efficient; they offer “more bang for the buck,” he says.
. . . Solar misconceptions
While I certainly have a little experience with plumbing and heating, the concept of integrating solar into a water set up is still totally new to me.
The chase in Bill's sitting room constructed to conceal lines
So that day, as we sat on the front porch, I started with questions like: “Did you have to add structural support to the roof to handle the weight of those things (as I pointed upwards towards the panels)?”
And — “Did you have to crane them up there (again referring to the panels)?”
As I was quickly set straight, I learned that these are not big concerns when working with a solar configuration. In turns out, too, that this line of questioning may actually be even a little further from some of the most common misconceptions about solar.
Bill, that day, told me of some of his early encounters with passers-by. On spotting the panels, some would ask, “What’s it like to live without BG&E (local energy supplier — Baltimore Gas & Electric)?”
. . . Sizing things up
While there are certainly systems that can get you off of the grid, Bill’s isn’t one of them. Virtually all thermal/hot water systems are supplemental only, and they work in tandem with gas, propane, or oil-fired equipment to do what they do.
A slightly closer look at the black boxes
Bill’s specifically is known as a closed-loop glycol (that’s anti-freeze) system with flat plate collectors. It is not an uncommon set-up (more on this in a minute). The collectors as I learned are actually only big aluminum boxes — black of course, that contain copper tubing, paired with a copper-coated plating. (Copper has good heat transfer properties.)
The ones on Bill’s roof weigh only about 150 lbs each. They were hoisted (hand & rope) up onto the roof and were shimmied into place — where they were then attached. Bill’s roof, and there are reasons for this, holds five four by ten plates. These then service a 120 gallon water tank, which is found in his basement.
This set-up is a little larger than most solar thermal set-ups. Roger, whose company recently did an install at the Governor’s mansion (MD), says his most common job is a family of four moving off of an electric hot water heater. In that configuration, we are talking typically about two four by eight panels servicing an eighty gallon tank.
. . . Interfacing
“So why go larger with Bill’s set-up?” I ask.
Bill's cork kitchen floor and baseboard radiant
Roger’s initial response came back as one word, “Load.” But he continued, “Well, we had to look at what we needed to do. For Bill, we were not only going to support the potable hot water and the space heating, but we also had to think about his hot tub out back.”
“Still . . . why five panels?” I asked.
“Well, we simply had the room.” Roger answered. “Plus, Bill’s roof is a little east-facing.”
In terms of solar collection, you can actually think of the sun as a limited resource. Here in the northern hemisphere, plates are ideally set to face due south. But thanks to the siting of houses, and multiple roof forms, that may not always be possible.
Add to this clouds and occasional rainy periods, and there is sometimes a need, as in Bill’s instance, to go with slightly larger, and more, plates. The additional plates, however, do nothing but make the collection of solar rays a little easier. As you can see with the built chase shown above, the intrusion into and through the house remains relatively insignificant.
. . . Hot water is easier to heat
Recently updated kitchen
Through Bill’s expertly remodeled kitchen, passed his world class bumper sticker collection (which lines the walls), and through his workshop (where he happens to be working on a “picklewood” countertop for Roger), he lead me to the real goodies. And there, in his mechanical room, that’s where it really happens – the “interfacing” — to use Roger’s words.
As you can see in the picture, the tank is actually quiet impressive. The closed loop continues via 1″ copper pipe through this point.
You could think of this tank as something of a hub. The boiler and the hot water heater, upgraded too for this project, access pre-heated water in this tank.
120-gallon solar tank
By claiming already heated water, the boiler and the hot water heater (still dependent on fuel) have far less work to do. They fire only when the temperature of the water needs to be elevated. Now . . . they often have to work only long enough to bring temps up a few degrees. And . . . equipment that works less, firing for shorter periods, burns less fuel and saves money.
While there is no special requirement on equipment per se – Bill’s home is fitted with a super high efficiency condensing boiler (enough to make this housephile drool). The decision to upgrade this appliance was suggested, too, by Roger very early in the design process.
Think about it – As Roger puts it, “You don’t want to plug a system like this into house that has a boiler or a hot water heater going on 20-25 years old.” And I see what he meant — kinda like putting high octane gas into poorly maintained 1984 Chevette. You would never realize the full benefit of the upgrade.
. . . Million dollar questions (aka so how much did it cost and how much will it save?)
A new hot water heater made sense for this project
It is tough to say exactly how much a system like Bill’s would cost in your house. A project similar to Bill’s would price out right around $25k; I know that. In Bill’s house, he and Roger not only upgraded both water service appliances, but they also reconfigured some of the existing baseboard heating to create four “more logical” zones.
While Bill certainly receives Energy Star tax credits on his new appliances, he also received both a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) as well as a federal tax credit for renewable energy. As I understand it, in total, he got a few thousand back once the installation was complete. (And, every little bit helps.)
Bill, the House Mechanic, shows off wood salvaged from the bottom of a pickle barrel
For that family of four that I mentioned above, their cost would run somewhere in the range of $8-$10,000 for install. They could expect a four for five year payback on their investment by saving between $600 and $800 in annual energy costs.
Bill currently is saving about a 1/3 on his gas bill, and should expect to see a full return on his investment in six to eight years.
. . . One last thing
These systems are in my opinion very intelligent – using (or should I say harnessing) natural elements to run efficiently. And this article only roughly outlines the set up, so you may want to explore more deeply with your local solar expert.
The technology has evolved as such that maintenance on these systems is almost negligible. The glycol (remember anti-freeze) in Bill’s system will require a flush and change every five years at a cost between $200 and $400. But Roger tells me, this is really the only major maintenance consideration. Cool, huh?
Thank You both, Bill for opening your home, and Roger for taking the time to drive up for the meet.
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
Solar Energy Services: http://www.solarsaves.net/
Very good overview on thermal solar systems courtesy of RemodelCrazy.com and written by Solar Energy Service’s Senior Residential Solar Consultant, Rich Schroeher. This article outlines several options in solar thermal and provides a great graphic showing such things as the sensors found on both the exterior and interior portions of the set-up: http://www.remodelcrazy.com/2009/green/solar-collectors-part-2.html
19th Annual Washington DC Solar Tour: http://www.solartour.org/
This Old House host Kevin O’Connor: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/biography/0,,441624,00.html
Energy Star Appliances (Boilers): http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=boilers.pr_boilers
Maryland Energy Administration :: Solar, Geothermal and Wind Grants: http://www.energy.state.md.us/incentives/residential/index.asp
IRS Form 5695 :: Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf
“Where do you get all of these great gifts?”
Nov 23rd
. . . She said (a review of sorts)
Not long after my wife and I started discussing potential birthday gifts for my nephew, my godson, Jackson, we came up with a target. Having now shepherded two children of our own through the face-smearing of a first-birthday cake, we had a little inkling of what would make a decent gift.
Surely to be overloaded with puzzles, trucks, and the now obligatory “Yo Gabba Gabba” doll, we were going to go in a slightly different direction. We knew; so we focused in on something a little more practical.
Toddlers, we thought, just learning the basics of standing, walking, and hygiene need just a little assistance when getting into position for a hand or face washing. Enter the step stool; the only questions – in what style and where to find it?
. . . Shopping for the perfect gift
When I say step stool, and if you have kids — you know the ones. I mean — you’ve noticed them, at Sears, at Target, and in the handful of homes that you may sometimes visit.
Jackson
The wife attempted first by grabbing one at Wal-Mart. In basis colors, she was planning to add some stenciling detail to it. Not super sturdy, though, so we discussed. “What is his room theme again?” My wife providing the answer – Animals.
I searched and quickly found this: http://www.allchildrensfurniture.com/Guidecraft-G83206-EZ1201.html — the Guidecraft Safari Storage Stool. A cool step stool — with storage no less — Bonus! It would work perfectly.
OK, and after further chatting, we figured we could do better. So we, as we often do, turned to the internet. My wife first — she was going to do some exploration. After about a half an hour, me watching the girls – she called me in. As we started making our way through the ten or so windows that she had open, we came to it: http://www.allchildrensfurniture.com/, a CSN Store.
CSN had contacted me a short bit ago about potentially doing a review for another of their 200 or so home-related sites. And I remembered it; so I said, “Hey, let’s look here. . . . Animals, right.
. . . Assembly required
When I finished unpacking things from the weighty box, I was quick to notice the embossed features on the piece; elephants and zebras – nicely made, again, perfect. Sitting there in my office not far from the computer that I write at – I made this thing happen.
I really liked the way everything was labeled very clearly. I was even more surprised that the hex-screws included for the fastening of the structural elements were long, possibly up to four inches long.
It took me only about 15 minutes to assemble the piece; 10 minutes more, and I took some pictures. For grins – and since this stool was actually much nicer than the hand-me-downs we have, I sat it in our 1/2 bath. Wow, it looks great; what do you think? And there one last picture — the beautiful bronze plate, the stamp – Guidecraft, Made in the USA.
. . . The big day
A proven track record (The print not the doll)
It was huge turn out, especially on a Ravens’ gameday. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends – all there to celebrate a big day. My girls were excited themselves; they love hanging with Jackson.
We ate, we drank, and we watched football. I took some time to sneak into his room and grab some shots of where our gift will live.
The assembled stool looks pretty good in my powder room
When gift-opening time came, my sister, this, her first child, may not have expected just how many gifts she would get for Jackson’s first b-day. The flood of learning toys, clothes, dolls, and books was, in fact, pretty prolonged. Ours, wrapped in its no-wrapping-paper-goes-to-waste craft project, was grouped at the tail end with other big ticket items.
Opting to take in the feeling of my success over taking pictures, I reveled in the moment she opened our gift. Finally, third from the end, this is what came out of my sister’s mouth as she unwrapped, “Where do you get all of these great gifts?” (We do have a decent track record.) All eyes in the room turned to me, and I heard – “Did you make it?”
I said, “Cha (or something like that) . . . I wish.” And I deferred answering, not divulging my secrets. But you’ll know — I found this great piece at http://www.allchildrensfurniture.com/.
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
Yo Gabba Gabba :: the official site: http://yogabbagabba.com/
Sharp Edges :: Installing Window & Door Cap
Nov 11th
Clearly labeled :: Caution Sharp Edges
. . . Setting up
One of the biggest challenges with saving the original siding on an 1889 farmhouse (well, other than dealing with 13 decades of paint) is ensuring against water entry at the windows and doors.
Our clapboard, where it was protected, has held up nicely to the elements through the years. I would suggest that in some places the old-growth, heartwood fir looks as good as the day it was installed.
When it was installed, however, I must assume easily workable sheet metal was not widely in use. Building today, we “flash” above and/or around all window and door openings, usually with aluminum sheet goods.
Aluminum, in coil stock or other form, is highly workable, completely resistant to water, and more often than not comes from recycled material. You can feel comfortable that it is a great choice for flashing applications.
. . . Back in the day
Trim pitched to shed water
Back in the day, and on my house, the builder, a “self-builder” as they might call it in England, topped all window trim with a cap. This cap, similar to what you would see in an Arts and Crafts-style interior trim build-up, was purposefully sloped away from the house as to shed water. (Hopefully, the picture shows this.)
Today, windows installed with new construction (aptly called new construction windows) receive a z-flashing (named for its shape) prior to the application of the structure’s finished cladding (or siding). On my house, at some point in its life, coil stock had been bent (or broke) on-site and was applied to this window cap. (Again, hopefully, the pictures will show.)
Site broke and retrofitted z-flashing
While this type of application was certainly practical, aesthetically I had issues with it. Especially given what you know about me (and my distaste for poorly painted metal), it had to go. As I have been working my way around the house, addressing paint issues, I have also been working to implement a more modern flashing solution.
. . . Retro-fitting flashing
While I have been around houses, and am sometimes known to do “restoration” work, I do not own a brake (see the Moxie Mouth at right for a definition). This device, and you have likely seen one, is used to brake or bend sheet metal for flashing, and other exterior, installations. While I would love to one day own one, for this project – I wanted to avoid having to purchase, rent, or borrow one. So I looked elsewhere.
Improvised cap flashing using eave edge
Most home centers and lumber yards stock a select set of aluminum edging profiles. I will admit again, I don’t always have time to do as much legwork as I would like. For example, when I did work around the windows in the back ell of the house last summer – I had difficulty finding a profile that would work with my trim set-up. In that case, and at the time I thought rather ingeniously, I grabbed a roofing eave edge (for the raking ends of a shingling installation), flipped it over, and made it work.
I wish I would have spotted Amerimax’s Window and Door cap back then. As the pics will hopefully show, it seems that this stuff was designed with my house in mind, and it worked excellently for the windows on the front of house.
. . . Installing
Again, I never claim to be a craftsman or a home improvement expert, but I would like to provide the procedure I used for installing . . . .
Getting There
One of my biggest priorities was trying to get lap (that is, coverage) at the ends of the window cap – and this proves to be the most difficult part of this installation. (I did take pics at each step of the work, but . . . truthfully they did not turn out great. I will not post them here, but I will email them to anyone who asks.)
Oh yeah — when working with sheet metal, watch out for sharp edges!
* The procedure –
1. I measured the length of the first window cap. Warning: I learned long ago, and especially with old houses, not to gang cut any elements intended for the windows. Usually, there are a few factions of an inch of difference one to the next. I added one inch to the measurement here, to allow for a ½ inch fold at each end.
Downstairs windows done
2. I cut the cap to length using my miter saw. I almost always do this. Loaded with a good carbide blade, cuts on sheet metal work out well (though a slight rough edge is sometimes left).
3. Work on the flashing itself started by marking for the set- back. To do this, I used the combination of a speed and a small carpenter’s square. (For marking the opposite end, I held it in place on the cap later — marking it there.)
4. I then made two short cuts, using aviator snips, first at the rear where the flashing begins its slope upwards, and at the front where the cascade begins its fold over. I then made another short cut at the “lip” in line with my marking. I finished this with a notch cut where the slope intersects the flashing’s “deck.
Hand seamers are available in many different sizes
5. I worked my “flap” upwards slightly with my fingers, I trimmed the “ear”, and then took the lip that was now free and folded it almost a full 180 degrees back on itself. This allowed me to then fit my hand brake in.
6. Enter the hand seamer – a great tool made by Wiss/Cooper Tools! I started shifted forward – and on the working line, I bent my flap upwards to 90 degrees. Then I “broke” the flap downwards. I had to reset the tool by shifting it to the back of the profile midway through the bend. (This was a simple matter of physics – the hand seamer I was working with was a little too large for the profile, but it worked nonetheless.)
Rough edge and unfinished caulk at completed cap
7. Now with a fully shaped flashing in hand – I placed it into a bead of caulk at the top of the window cap. Using stainless steel trim nails from Maze Nails, I fastened the flashing at five points from above. (Obviously – I don’t love creating the additional penetrations on a horizontal surface, and it is debatable if I could have just “glued” the piece into place – for me, though, I later dabbed all nail heads with a glob of silicone caulk. And I was happy.)
8. While I used an “elastamastic” on the rear, here, I chose instead a 100% clear window/door silicone to seal the flashing at the point where it meets the house. In these applications, I choose not to finish, or swipe, the bead as I feel it allows the bead to hold up longer under the stresses of expansion and contraction.
Anyway – this is how I did it. I would love to hear what you might have done differently.
* Lessons Learned – Rusty tools are the devil & never snap your pictures on the first item you do in a set. Work only gets better as you get into a rhythm.
Thanks for reading and BMoxie BMore!
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
Amerimax aluminum products (I believe): http://www.amerimax.com/default.asp
Wiss metal working hand tools: http://www.cooperhandtools.com/brands/wiss/index.cfm
ain’t ain’t a word (some freewriting)
Nov 5th
. . . On language and writing
I walked into it, as my wife was putting the girls down for the night. The first thing that I heard was, “No, dear. Ain’t isn’t a word.” The wife then turns to me, and she says, “Isn’t that right?”
Well, you know me. And I am not sure why this time, I unexpectedly answered, “Well, Evyn . . . it really depends how and when you use it.”
See, it's in the dictionary! (image by b)
I guess it was the mood I was in – and after about 30 seconds of my wife’s ranting – I was ready for the debate. She ends by saying, “And You . . . You were an English major! Hrrrmmmph! — (or some other equivalently weighted monosyllabic grunt).”
My response – “That’s right.”
. . . Briefly on Dogmatism – where good thought goes bad
You know it starts in grade school as the preceding back and forth portrays. Your teachers say – it’s a rule, “Ain’t isn’t a word.” And that’s what we are taught. I might even suggest that, here, on that night, I probably should have landed on that side of the argument (you know, because we are trying to teach a six year old how to effectively use the language). But I didn’t, less to advocate the devil and more because I really feel that “ain’t is a word”.
In my eyes, “ain’t” is simply a synonym for the word “isn’t”. I mean – you understand what is meant when I say, “Dogmatism ain’t cool.” Right?
Or how about this – “pool tables ain’t the only type of game tables.” Here, that means — games tables come in all shapes and all sizes, on which many different games are played.
My point is – and I won’t digress too deeply into my catholic school upbringing, nor will I address the actions of some of our supposed leaders. The point, though — we as communicating creatures, smart enough to develop language, must realize that it is just a language – used, at times inadequately, to communicate true feelings, intentions and/or philosophical thought.
I mean — why be so critical?
. . . Means to the end
In a recent “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (one of my favs), Larry criticized his father for skimping by a few letter on his mother’s tomb stone. At the bottom, it read, “past in 2001” (or something in that line). OK, while probably not that respectful, it certainly was creative, and well, didn’t it still communicate the information it needed to?
Let’s put it this way. Likely, you use Twitter or you have turned to texting from your cell phone. Written communication, it seems, is being clipped at times to a set of commonly accepted acronyms and abbreviations.
That said — I am almost certain that you know what these three-letter combinations mean — LOL, IMO, WT*. And they work, they do a great job of saving valuable (cyber) space, and they do a pretty decent job at communicating . . . as long as everyone is on the same page, and speaking the same language.
. . . And of course I see the irony of it all
I swing to both ends of this. The rules debate. I will admit it – I am a notoriously bad speller, famous for dropping words, and even more guilty of not proofing what I spit out.
I, at times, justify this for myself by saying, well as long as I communicate what I am trying to communicate. And, yes, I know others say — typos, mispellings, and dropped words are just plain unprofessional, and further — they distract from the points you are trying to make. Those folks are probably right, and I work at improving my own shortcomings every day.
For me, and I want to give a big shout to all of the professional editors of the world, self-editing is hard! I mean this both from a proofreading level, as well as, and all the way up to content management. I am frequently amazed at what these people pull off on a repeatable basis.
. . . Words are cheap, they say
And the question, again: There sure are a lot of expert writers providing outstanding content for a myriad of outlets. And I ask myself, why jump in?
Well, simply to try to communicate and connect with the people of the world. I hope I am doing a decent job.
Thanks for reading & BMoxie BMore!
> > More Moxie (Related Links):
Curb Your Enthusiasm — A genius of flow: http://www.hbo.com/larrydavid/
1 yr anniversary post :: thank you all for reading
Oct 31st
Since November marks the one year anniversary of the Agents of Moxie — I wanted to re-post my first few lines, well, mainly because you might have missed them.
But before I do — I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has visited. I do my best to post something of interest to one of the four buckets at least once weekly.
I will probably be working at the beginning of 2010 to redesign the four into one. But until then, and I don’t know about you, I want to say — I have learned a lot. Thank You and BMoxie BMore! jb
. . . Agents of Moxie
I know. It sounds like that indy rock band I never formed. I mean, “The Agents of Moxie.” And I began thinking about prototypical pieces for this portion of my undertaking. I already knew that this section should be dedicated to stories of persons, places and things that inspire us to expand ourselves. I knew it is about paying homage and giving back.
And there they were, after a few scattered hours of thought, ideas. And while there is no question that some of these topics will eventually appear in these pages, as the first article, they came and they went. Except this idea, this one idea came and it stuck. I said to myself, “I will lead with a piece about my grandfather.” And in that, I realized the point. The “Agents of Moxie” is for me (or anyone else that writes here). It is in all ways self-serving, and maybe a little bit vain.
********
* Once I saw my grandfather tune an engine with a box wrench: Part 1
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
Replacement Window Options :: aka Window Shopping
Oct 28th
. . . Building Moxie style
Imagine this scene: When Susan K. approached me, I couldn’t help but make note of the parallels. She says (paraphrased), “Word on the street is (looking around) that you might know where to find windows.”
I, in a hushed tone, responded “Step over here.” And we made our way a few steps to a nearby dumpster. Around the other side, I handed her a card and said, “I might be able to help.”
Susan is a first time homeowner, still settling into her new digs. But based on some of the stuff I have overheard, it seems that she has been making her way just fine. Until now. You see, having closed only a few months ago, she is still addressing some of the loose items from her home inspection report. One item, in particular, a racked and now drafty double casement in a second-floor secondary bedroom.
A wood framed stained glass octagon from a powder room update
As is the norm with many real estate deals these days, instead of requiring the sellers to fix the offending issue, she took, in turn, a buyer’s credit at closing. As a sometimes buyer of real estate, myself, I happen to like this type of set-up. You have control over the fix, and you have the opportunity to get it done your way.
You still have to get it done, though, and unfortunately, many new homeowners choose to put open items off far too long. But not in this case; not with Susan K.
. . . Step 1: Get bids (aka set a baseline)
She started with the phone book, as many still do, and she made a few calls. Of the guys she could get out, all were on time, knowledgeable, and clean cut, or at least that’s what I heard. She had every intention of getting the job done; and in a matter of days, she had her bids back, and in hand.
One came in at around $1300, the other at $1600, both installed. While Susan didn’t have a ton of experience with windows, these prices just didn’t seem right to her. It seemed like too much money for one window. And that’s how she decided to approach me near the dumpster.
. . . Step 2: Do your due diligence (aka ask Building Moxie)
Where my work usually begins: So these were the facts, as she reported them to me over the course of that day. And . . . she finished, “Do you think that seems right?”
Then I start: I say something like this — “I don’t know. I really don’t know what kind of situation you are dealing with. How big is the window? What is the interior finish at the window? What is the exterior finish at the window? (And, of course, the million-dollar question) What kind of window? What are the other windows in your house like? What are you trying to accomplish? (I didn’t know about the draftiness at that point.) Can you email me a picture?
Susan K's double casement
I probably threw a few other questions in there, like this one, “Would you need someone to put it in?” . . . I finished. She said, “No, . . . if you could just help me find a window, I would really appreciate it.” And, of course, I said, “OK.”
And how I usually go: I really do not have any dead set formula for approaching these things. In this case, this time, I started by shouting out on Twitter to some of the window manufacturers I am following. And . . . several of my friends up there got right back.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I mean – I have a, well, you know. I have spent much of the last few years studying “where to find things” here locally. From my catalogue of local contacts, I selected, too, a few close to home. Then, I sent some emails and made some calls.
From that, now with a solid spec in hand, you know — what the need is, I narrowed things down to two local suppliers (one of which came through my contact on Twitter).
. . . Step 3: Review the facts, Make a smart decision & Save some money
It really isn’t magic – there were definitely a few back and forths with my contacts. And I can’t thank them enough for taking the time to work with me on this ONE window. But they did; both top notch pros. Together, we honed, and I was squared to present two separate yet comparable mid-grade vinyl windows – Energy Star rated and tax-credit eligible.
With a little bit of work, and I won’t divulge price, I can say pretty plainly that even with an overpriced installation, Susan will save at least a hundred bucks. More, of course, off of that $1600 bid.
At the moment, do I know if she will use one of these two suppliers? No, I don’t; there always seems, with everything, to be more viable options.
. . . The point of this post really
And it was dropped, most expertly, by one of my contacts. My guy, he says, in maybe trying to define what I do, “I had a contractor come in the other day, and he said to me: When is it all going to stop?!”
But the point being: If it’s too much for a professional, someone who supposedly sells and installs windows, and they have difficulty navigating the maze of decisions, imagine how hard it must be for a first time homeowner like Susan K.
My contact and I talked some more. What he meant was . . . that by this point, and with twenty plus years of the “replacement window,” there are many, many options, and many features to consider with each purchase, and for each need.
Fusion-welded miters, wood, Fiberglas, aluminum, vinyl, low-e, argon-injected, simulated divided light, true divided light, heat loss, solar gain, incentives from the government, and . . . I could go on.
I say, window companies, continue to do what you do. Options are good. Technological improvements are good. Improved energy efficiency is good. But there seems, too, that there may even be a point where some professionals may need some, well, Building Moxie. Just Sayin’.
Thank you for reading and thank you to new client Susan K.
> > More Moxie (Related Links):
– Baltimore Window: http://www.baltimorewindow.com/
Alycia Wicker :: The Moxie of Interior Design (aka Legos and White Zombie)
Oct 24th
A Note from your host: I can always count on @ajwdesignco for daily tidbits of design advice. But when Alycia dropped a comment onto a recent post here, I just had to ask. You see, Alycia Wicker blogs at http://www.casamoxie.com. I mean — how much do you love the word “Casa?” (smile) So I said, “Sister Moxie, do you want to do a guess post?” And well, here it is. Alycia’s take on moxie in interior design. jb
A Post by Alycia Wicker
As a certified interior designer, I like many other designers, have had to forge my own path. Finding my place in the world of design wasn’t an easy thing. The one thing that I have always had, though, was my determination to be the best person I could be, and a desire to do the best at whatever I attempted.
I grew up playing with Legos and consuming home floor plan magazines with a vengeance. I dreamed what it would be like to be in the spaces I was building, while visually devouring the rooms from the magazines. My mind was wrapped up early on in these thoughts; what was it like to be in these spaces, how did they function, and how did they affect the people who would be in them.
When I started out in design school, all I had was a dream. I wanted to design, but I had yet to discover what my design philosophy was. Looking around, though, I still thought I was way behind the others in my class, those who knew what their “style” was.
Of course, looking back, it didn’t really matter what my style was. I just knew I had to design things that reflected my personality and that stayed true to my sensibilities. This turned out to be my design philosophy:
Do right by design, do right by people, and all is good.
*********
While in college, we had a project to redesign a firehouse into a bed and breakfast. Well, while my classmates went into their predictable designs, I went off the beaten path. I designed something that I thought only those interested in the macabre would enjoy. I called my bed and breakfast the “Devil’s Den”.
A part of this project also included building a model. So within the Devil’s Den, I created a glass coffin reception desk and added a chalk outline of a dead body in the reception area. The door to the elevator was a bookcase facade as a hat tip to the hidden passageways of old movies. The stair railing support was to be created with wrought iron in the design of a spider web, a spider on it. The wallpaper was black and white stripes reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland.
When I presented this project, I played White Zombie’s “Super Charger Heaven”. I was so excited to present this idea that really interested me, yet was totally different than anything anyone else would have thought of. When I finished my presentation, the teacher asked, “Do you really think anyone would want to stay here? Class?”
My heart stopped. I could only wonder what my peers would think. I was pleasantly surprised when the entire class said they would love to stay in this place. Then they started discussing all the fun events that could be held at my fictitious bed and breakfast.
That’s when I realized the power of design and the power of moxie. I went my own way. I never knew if my design would be a hit, but going boldly into a different design path, one that hasn’t been seen a thousand times over I found what true interior design moxie is. By thinking outside of the box, getting excited about the design, and inspiring people to dream what is possible — I found me.
Since then, I haven’t designed any more macabre designs, but I still think of that project from time to time. It reminds me to design in a way that makes people think. It reminds me to design for people. People who would rather keep it real and not just go with what hoity-toity designers say is good.
And good interior design with moxie keeps it real for real people at all times.
– Alycia Wicker is the Certified Interior Designer behind AJW Design Co and Casa Moxie, on twitter @ajwdesignco. She is based out of Corona, CA. As a former band geek, grave hunter, Elvis Presley fanatic, and Nascar fan, you’ll find that she is not your average interior designer. She designs for Mr. and Mrs. America by creating rooms that can be implemented by the homeowner with no designer mark up.
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
Inland Empire AJW Design Co Creates Happiness: http://ajwdesignco.com/
The Home of e-Decorating: http://casamoxie.com
Fundamental building blocks: http://www.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx
Ten Hammers :: aka deconstructing the hammer
Oct 23rd
. . . A saying
I have only spoken briefly about my last house – a 1920s cedar-shaked Colonial. It was a large hulking structure on a street filled with duplexes, I-houses, and bungalows. And that’s what my neighbor Thomas had . . . a bungalow.
Thomas and I are actually quite different. He is a smart, gritty, street-savvy entrepreneur, the owner of a local coffee establishment. He is in all ways representative of the diy super-culture that exists here in Baltimore. He is a friend.
As neighbors, we did share a couple common interests; for one, our love of beer. While he is strictly a micro-brew guy, for me, it’s always the mass-produced Miller Lite. For two, and another odd thing we had in common, we both lived in houses partially renovated by the same man, a carpenter.
Scott did a great job with both of these houses; there is no question. Yet, there was much work that remained. And when Thomas asked me up one Saturday, I knew I was going to be giving him help with an item on his to-do list.
. . . Preparing the opening
Thomas didn’t call me over for my expertise; he had the matter well in hand. But this day, he needed, well, another hand.
Thomas had been working on installing pull down attic stairs. Like many bungalow owners with growing families, he was concerned about, and trying to access an underutilized portion of his house. With stairs, he’d be able to use a small bit of the “third floor” for storage.
The ceiling on his second floor was finished with plaster and lath. He had a very solid plan of attack for it. (More on this in the More Moxie section below.) I would be his spotter, or was that his “catcher;” he needed to protect his refinished floors from falling debris.
That day, he made some cuts and a smallish section of the ceiling was removed almost perfectly to plan. I did my part; I eased the cutout, extending from the existing attic access, down to the covered floor.
It’s heavy, hoppy micro-brew Time!
. . . The origin of the Ten Hammers
So as Thomas and I hung for a bit, talking over a beer, it came up. I am not sure how. I don’t remember if it was before I told him about my time working for a general contractor, or after he had told me that his dad was a sheet metal contractor.
Not sure if it was before we laughed about my first experience with demoing plaster, or after he had told me he worked for a bit in set construction on stage crews.
But he said it. “You know the saying . . .” he paused, “You give ten carpenters a hammer. . . .”
And that was it, or at least what I remember him actually saying. And to be honest, I did not know the saying.
. . . The hammer is a tool used in construction, or . . . is that . . . “de”construction
So I left, and went about my business that Saturday. But here we are, and for some reason, those few little words, like a riddle, left me thinking.
Let’s be fair, too, and I will show my age, and expertise, I probably have as much experience with pneumatic tools as I do with a hammer. But . . . I still know what one is. It was the first known iteration of an impact tool; it is used to drive things, like nails.
It is a symbol of the worker, of the god, of the warrior, of the carpenter. Does it take skill and focus to wield a hammer? Yes, absolutely. I find that you (general) must focus dead set on your target, an extension of your hand, and becoming one with it, you deliver a blow.
So I try to finish the phrase. And I haven’t spoken with Thomas about this since. I think what he was trying to get across was . . . “You (can) give ten carpenters a (the same) hammer, and they will all swing it in 10 different ways.” One hammer becomes ten.
. . . The final blows and setting the nail
World's first fiber to hammer device
There are many different kinds of hammers, each with a design for its specific purpose. And you may have a favorite one for each of the myriad of construction-type tasks you must perform. (I always hear about Tom Silva’s series of 20 ouncers, you know, with the wooden handle shopped to look like Swiss cheese.)
Picking and using a hammer, for me, is all about feel. Sure, it’s OK to look for features, and to take your time when selecting.
Question: Why don’t hardware stores or home centers give you a place for a good test drive. A table where you could, I don’t know, bang some nails? Liability?)
But . . . it should all come down to how that hammer feels in your hand. And remember, they are different one to the next.
So I think, in the end, what my neighbor Thomas was really trying to say that day, and I am not sure what sparked it, was — Everyone is different, and that the hammer is really only as good as the person who wields it.
ps: If anyone would like to contribute a hammer story of any kind, please feel free. The photo above is courtesy of Mike Hines at HomePath Products (@eXapath). It is the world’s first (his words) Fiber-To-The-Hammer device.
>> More Moxie (Related Links):
Because he was working from an existing attic access, which measured roughly 30×30, he needed only to extend the opening, making a cut-out long ways above the hallway. To do this, and since he was removing plaster and lath, he came up with this procedure. In his situation, the opening was to run with his framing. It requires two people, and the resulting waste will be heavy! So . . . SAFETY FIRST!
1. Take two or three 2×4s (preferably scrap) and cut two pieces just short of the length of the desired cut-out. Then cut four pieces just short of the width of the cut-out.
2. With two people, one working above, hold the longer 2×4s just slightly inside the perimeter of the planned opening.
3. With some sort of squared up working lines, and with a solid point of reference (gained maybe from several pilot holes), hold the shorter 2×4s at regular intervals across the proposed opening. Working together, screw two 3 1/2 inch screws into each board. These screws go up through the bottom cleat, through the plaster and lath, and into the cleat above. (Trust me – this will not be easy.)
4. Now, take a sturdy rope, approximately a 16 foot length, and attach it the top side of the assembly in some manner. Attach it at, at least, two points in a widespread manner.
5. Then, take the free end of the rope and tie it off somewhere. In our situation, a sturdy collar tie above our heads worked very nicely.
6. Drill a large starter hole, approximately 1 ¼”, just inside each corner of the proposed cut-out.
7. Note: We were going for a rough cut that day, but with a little more precision and accuracy, we could have made a full-blown jig for the cut-out we were creating. In other words, we could have made a full “ladder,” offsetting it on the underside, and using it as a guide for the fence on our sawzall.
8. On the cut link – make your cut with a reciprocating, or a mess-making circular saw (using a disguardable blade). At this point, it is not a bad idea to have one person above holding the rope.
9. When the cut is complete, pry the lath away from the framing, untie the rope and lower the slab of now free plaster and lath to the ground. One person spots from below.
In doing this, and while you do need to be conscious of existing framing members, you will keep the plaster and lath coupled – greatly minimizing dust and debris. Later, Thomas came back — to frame the opening, and finished with a standard set of pull down stairs.
