Parrish Construction

Archive for the ‘Handyman/Small Jobs’ Category

Your “Winter’s Coming” Checklist

Thursday, September 15th, 2011 Posted in Advice to Clients, Disaster-Fire, DIY Home Improvements, Freezing Temp. Problems, Frozen Pipes, Handyman/Small Jobs, Heating/Cooling, Home maintenance, Insulation, Money-Saving Tips, Plumbing, Safety Hazards, Seasonal Considerations, Timely Home Upgrades, Waterproofing, Windows & Doors, Winter | No Comments »

Conserve and Protect: that’s what winterizing is about.  Homes can take a beating in our cold Colorado winters, and so can your heating bill. After some education and practice, winterizing will become as natural a rhythm to a homeowner as is flying south ...

Spice up Your Life: Tips and Recipe

Friday, March 25th, 2011 Posted in Advice to Clients, Custom Cabinets, Handyman/Small Jobs, Kitchens, Money-Saving Tips, Seasonal Considerations, Spring | No Comments »

How many bottles of rosemary would you find in your spice cabinet or drawer if you looked right now? If you’ve ever purchased an herb or spice you thought you were out of, only to find that you already had ...

Q: Last spring I had a flood in my basement from a broken water pipe. The plumber said it was caused by a frozen yard faucet. Why did it wait until spring to leak?

Thursday, March 17th, 2011 Posted in Advice to Clients, Basements, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Flood, Flooding, Handyman/Small Jobs, Insurance- Home, Money-Saving Tips, Safety Hazards, Spring, Timely Home Upgrades, Winter | No Comments »

A: “Frost proof” sillcocks are designed with a long extension tube to allow the water valve to shut off deep inside the wall where the heat of the house will keep the water from freezing. If the garden hose is ...

Q– Is there anything I should be doing in the fall to maintain the exterior of my home to prepare?

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 Posted in DIY Home Improvements, Fall, FAQ, Flooding, Handyman/Small Jobs, Safety Hazards, Seasonal Considerations | No Comments »

A—Public Service Bulletin—if you haven’t already done so, remember to clean your gutters and downspouts now that the leaves have fallen. This can prevent damage to siding and foundations caused by overflowing gutters dumping water next to the house. And ...

Need a good bath?

Saturday, August 28th, 2010 Posted in Aging-in-Place & Handicap Mobility, Bathrooms, Design Tips, Handyman/Small Jobs, Heating/Cooling, Home Luxury, Home Technology, Lighting, Remodels/Additions, Space-Saving/Organization | No Comments »

  By Larry Parrish, CR, CGR, CAPS, GACP   Few rooms in the American home have changed as much in recent years as the master bathroom. Thirty years ago, if a house even had a master bathroom, it was too small to brush ...

Q—Every Spring, we get water in our basement. Is there anything we can do to prevent this from happening again this year?

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 Posted in Basements, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Flood, Flooding, Handyman/Small Jobs, Historic Homes, Landscaping, Spring, Structural Issues, Timely Home Upgrades, Waterproofing | No Comments »

A—In my experience, most water problems in basements are caused by improper channeling of surface water away from the foundation. If water from downspouts, roof runoff, or adjacent landscaping is allowed to pond near the foundation, it can saturate the ...

Q—We’re going to build a new house this year, and would like to supply some of the materials in the house to save money. Will contractors let us do this?

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 Posted in Construction Contract, Construction Costs, Costs, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Handyman/Small Jobs, Insurance- Home, Materials- Construction, Money-Saving Tips, New Construction | No Comments »

A—Many contractors are willing to negotiate such an arrangement within reason—if you accept responsibility for the installation of the items you supply, and the project schedule is not impacted by late arrival or installation problems. Builders and subcontractors are naturally reluctant ...

Q—I saw a hot water dispenser at a friend’s house recently, and would like one in my kitchen. How do they work? Are they difficult to install?

Saturday, January 16th, 2010 Posted in Design Tips, Electrical, FAQ, Handyman/Small Jobs, Interior Design, Kitchens, Plumbing, Remodels/Additions, Winter | No Comments »

A—These dispensers are miniature water heaters with their own electric heating element and storage reservoirs of 1/3 or ½ gallon, capable of delivering approximately 60 cups of near-boiling water per hour. They are usually installed in the cabinet under the ...

Q—What can I do to improve my kitchen on a tight budget?

Friday, January 15th, 2010 Posted in Construction Costs, Costs, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Handyman/Small Jobs, Kitchens, Lighting, Money-Saving Tips | No Comments »

A—Here are several ideas for sprucing up a kitchen without busting the bank: Paint or re-finish the existing cabinets, and replace the hardware. For a slightly higher budget, replace the doors ...

Q: Will I need a building permit for this project?

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 Posted in Advice to Clients, Boulder contractor, Construction Process, DIY Home Improvements, FAQ, Getting Started, Handyman/Small Jobs, Money-Saving Tips, Remodeling Concerns, Safety Hazards | No Comments »

A: Virtually every construction project other than minor cosmetic work (such as replacing cabinets) requires a building permit in both the city of Boulder and Boulder County. This includes many projects normally considered landscaping, such as decks and fences. Permits ...
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