Time to check weather-stripping, caulk

Have you had your first cool snap yet? By now, many of you have, and although it's nice, it's a sign that much colder weather is on the way. You really should make sure your weather-stripping and caulking is sufficient. Here are a few places to check and reinforce.

The first places to check are your doors and windows. They add up to be your biggest areas of heating and cooling loss. Areas that move -- open and close -- should be weather-stripped. Metal weather-stripping is the most permanent solution, but the peel-and-stick foam works just as well if you replace it when it goes bad. If you don't have double-pane glass, consider adding a layer of plastic over your windows and adding a storm door for entry doors.

Also plug up leaks around vents and in wiring and plumbing entry areas. Expanding-foam insulation works well in these areas and is easy to apply.

If you have a fireplace chimney, make sure the damper closes tightly when it is not in use. Special seals can be added if you need them.

Caulk around the outside of your home where different materials meet, like brick and siding, or foundation and siding. Caulk around window frames, too.

Add foam inserts to switches and receptacles that are on outside walls in order to stop drafts.

Check flue and vent stacks in your attic to make sure they are caulked or filled with insulation to prevent heated air from your home coming up through them and into your attic. Also check can lights for the same problem. Don't cover them, as they need to exhaust heat, but make sure they are sealed between the living space and the attic.

If your attached garage or basement is not heated, make sure the doors entering your home are weather-stripped properly.

You can seal around your garage door to cut down on outside air coming in, too.

Most of these weather-stripping, insulation and caulking supplies are easy to install, don't cost much and would probably pay for themselves in just one winter. Hey, they also help keep your home cool in the summer!

Recycled storage

Does anybody have enough storage space in their shop? Well, most of us would say "no." But many times, you can add storage by recycling containers and placing them in unused spaces. For example, the plastic spindle containers that blank CDs and DVDs come in offer quite a bit of storage space for hardware items. These round storage cases can be glued or attached to the bottom of a shelf so that the plastic top portion can be filled with hardware and attached to the bases. You can even store string inside. Just drill a hole in the plastic lid for the string to come out of. Place the ball of string inside and thread the end through the hole. These containers come in a couple of different sizes and can hold quite a bit of your stuff.

Joint repair

Dowel rods are one of the best ways to reinforce a wooden joint, especially one that has been repaired. The combination of wood and wood glue and the way they are installed in a joint make it one of the best repairs you can make. Some wooden dowels come with a fluted side, which gives the glue more surface area to hold on to, but these fluted dowels are few and far between. But by grabbing a standard wooden dowel with your pliers, you can drag the teeth of the pliers down the sides to create your own fluted edge. It might not be pretty, but it will do the same job.

Super hints

• If you are mixing your own drywall compound and are hoping to get a second coat on quickly, use hot water. The hotter the water, the faster it will set up on your walls, making your job go much more quickly.

• If you are missing some "feet" on your toaster, coffeemaker, etc., try using a rubber washer. Just glue a rubber washer to the base in place of the missing piece to keep appliances steady on your countertops.

Q. My glass shower door is leaking. It looks like the door is crooked on the hinges. Is there a way to adjust or tighten them?

V.G.

A. It depends on how the door was made. If you can see a screw that is easily accessed, you might be able to loosen the screw and then move the door into alignment and tighten it back. Also make sure the rubber gasket around the door is still in good shape. Replace it if it is worn or damaged.

Q. I believe that a spot on my bar countertop was caused by grease or oil. I've tried cleaning it but have been unable to get the stain off the surface, which is wood. Can you suggest something that I can try?

V.P.

A. Try wiping the stain off with a soft rag and some paint thinner. The paint thinner will break up the oil or grease so you can wipe it away. It may take some rubbing and some time, but it should work. You can also try using an absorbent, like cornmeal. Soak the spot with the thinner and cover that with the cornmeal.

Q. Can you please give me your window-cleaning formula again? I have lost the recipe, and I used it for years with great success. It's inexpensive and works so well.

J.N.

A. Thanks. I'm glad it worked so well for you. It really is simple and inexpensive to use. Start with two quarts of warm water. Add a quarter-cup of ammonia, a half-cup of white vinegar and a tablespoon of cornstarch. It's best to transfer this to a spray bottle for applying it. Tape the formula to the bottle so you won't lose it again. It's also a way to note the contents of the bottle so it won't be confused with something else, and you'll know not to use it with bleach products.

Reader tips

• Hey, I tried using a couple of things I had on hand to remove some rust from a bolt on my edger. I needed to take it apart for repairs, but I couldn't get the bolt loose. I found that soaking the area with hydrogen peroxide worked pretty well. I soaked a rag in the liquid, placed it over the bolt and let it sit and work for a while. It did the job. Now I keep a bottle in my shop. It can be used for several things.

W.L.

• We moved this past summer, but this time, we did it right. One little thing we did that helped us keep hardware with the item it was used with was simple enough. We put the hardware, mounting brackets, screws and other parts into plastic bags that can be sealed. Then we taped the bags right to the curtain rods, bookshelves, etc. When we got to the new house, the hardware was obvious and right where it needed to be, and nothing got lost for a change.

M.R.

• Every year, we use to have to store our patio furniture away in a storage facility. It was a hassle, so I have tried another method. I sprayed it very heavily with furniture wax. My theory is that the wax will protect it from the weather and keep it from rusting. My neighbor did this last year and left it all outside. Her furniture seems to have survived just fine, so I'm giving it a shot. It's got to be easier than loading it up and trucking it over to the storage building.

T.S.

• We found a super gadget called a "graining tool," which is used to apply paint in a wood-grain pattern. It's really fun to use and looks just like real wood when you move and drag it across a surface. We used it to make our plain gray, metal door a beautiful "wooden" door. We applied a dark-brown base coat and then applied a lighter brown wood grain and topped it with clear varnish. It looks amazing! Check this tool out at your paint store.

R.C.

• I found a great way to move my paint pan around easier. I set it on a plant caddy with wheels on the bottom. It's low to the ground so it's easy to work with, and the extra height is actually helpful. The fact that it's easy to move around is super helpful. I don't have to pick up the tray and try to carry it without spilling it.

M.K.

Shop talk

• Husky has come out with a super two-in-one Ultra-Thin Combination Knife. It's thin, lightweight and features a folding drop-point knife blade and a utility blade. Both lock securely in place when in use, and fold or retract when stored. The fiberglass-reinforced body is super-tough to last a long time, and blade replacement is very quick and easy. It comes with a lifetime warranty and is available at The Home Depot. For more information, visit www.homedepot.com.

• If you've considered laying a brick-paver patio or walkway but were challenged by the degree of difficulty, check out the Patio Pal Brick Laying Guide. It's an easy-to-use template system that goes down first. The bricks are placed right on top, where they will be evenly spaced, properly positioned and secure. It even allows for a variety of patterns and types of brick. The material is also good at blocking out weeds, so no additional barrier needs to be added -- yet it still allows for drainage. The Patio Pals is packaged in sets of 10 for about $10, and this is enough to cover 20 square feet. If you want to learn more, visit online at www.argeecorp.com or call (800) 449-3030.

© 2007, Cowles Syndicate Inc.