Do-it-yourself attic insulation is easy if you use these tips

Heating and cooling your home can be costly. That's why it makes sense to keep costs down by insulating those areas we heat and cool.

The fact is most of us don't have enough insulation in our attic, which is one of the most important and cost-effective areas where you can add insulation. But we are going to tell you how to improve that situation, and how to do it yourself.

First of all, you should determine just how much insulation you should have. A lot of factors go into that calculation, but the easiest way to find out is to call your utility company or county agent and get their recommendation for your area. They probably will tell you what R value you should have. This rating is given to different materials based on the resistance to heat transfer. The higher the R value, the greater the insulating quality.

Next, you need to determine what your current R value is. What type of insulation do you have, and how thick or deep is it? This will give you a current R value.

Now you will need to figure out how much more you need to add to come up to the prime R value recommended for your area.

You can mix some insulation. If you have batt insulation in place, you can easily add more batts on top or have more blown in. If your current insulation has a foil, paper or plastic covering over it, it should be slit every few inches with a utility knife to allow vapor to pass through. If you need to cut through batt insulation, it will be much easier if you compress it flat with a scrap of wood and then use a new utility-knife blade to cut through the thinner layer. If you are adding blown-in insulation to your existing insulation, check to see if your supplier will let you use a blower machine for free with the purchase of their product.

Make sure, as you are working in your attic, that you don't cover up soffit vents or anything else that isn't supposed to be covered. Some lamp housings also are supposed to remain exposed to allow excess heat to escape.

Also, take the time to seal up other leaks in your attic where outside air can come in or conditioned air from your home can escape. You will see good results from your hard work and will save money on your utility bills starting right away. You also will be much more comfortable in your home this winter, and next summer, too!

Remote vacuuming

Canister vacuum cleaners are handy, both in the home and in the shop. But you can make them even handier by extending their range. Add additional hose extensions to the existing hose, and you can reach just about anywhere without ever having to move the canister or plug. This is especially great if you are working under a house, upstairs or in some other spot that is remote. You usually can purchase extra hose lengths, or you might be able to borrow them from another vacuum you already have.

Tighter grip

Clamps are super for holding items together for glue-ups or for other project work. You want to get the clamps as tight as you can. Of course, you also have to be careful, since the clamps can slip if the surfaces being clamped are smooth or slippery. One way to hold on tighter is to place a small swatch of sandpaper between the clamp and the item you are holding. If you are afraid the sandpaper will leave a scratch mark, use a swatch of rubber. Either way, your clamps will fit just as tight as they need to, and won't slip when you need them to stay put!

Super hints

• Splinters are no fun. If you can't get one out, dab a little white glue over it and let it dry. Then you can peel the glue off, along with the splinter. It's actually fun, and works pretty well. Just don't let your kids see you doing it!

• Drilling a hole into leather has to be done with care, but there's a way to get a foolproof hole quickly. Just sandwich the leather between two pieces of wood, then use your drill. This also works with plastic, metal and other hard-to-drill materials.

• If you have boring stairs, why not add some pizazz to the risers with some stenciled designs? You can do the risers, and also the sides if you like. Just a simple pattern will give your stairs a whole new, customized look.

Q. My kitchen sink is older and has a dull look to it. I can remove the stains, but it seems like the protective finish is gone, and it stains easily. Do they make a clear epoxy paint that would give my sink a shine and some protection again?

A. Yes. You could just clean the surface really well and then apply the clear epoxy. Make sure to follow the directions perfectly to get long-lasting results. I might suggest that you at least consider using a white or almond-color epoxy and give your sink a really nice, clean look since you are going to do it anyway.

Q. I have wondered if those epoxy wood-hardeners that I see in woodworking magazines will work on particle board like they do on regular wood. What do you think?

A. It will work on particle board, but you will have a lot of finishing to do, and the results won't last as long. You would do well to replace the particle board with treated plywood or cement board, especially if this area is likely to have moisture damage again.

Q. Our older storm door needs some help. The screws that hold the frame to the jamb have loosened and keep coming out. What is the best way to secure them?

A. We suggest replacing the doorjamb. If you don't want to tackle that, you could remove the storm door, fill the holes with wood filler and let it dry. Then redrill the holes and install the screws again. Use longer screws this time, and see if that keeps them in place.

Reader tips

• My wife loves to work in her garden. She really works hard, and I wanted to do something nice for her, so I bought her an apron to wear. I sprayed the whole thing with a water repellent before giving it to her. I figured that it needed to be waterproofed to keep her and anything in the pockets dry. She loves it, especially the fact that it keeps her seeds, cell phone and clothes dry. I think I might waterproof my shop apron. I have some leftovers, and it sure worked great on her apron, so why not?

• The last time I bought paint for a project, I bought three small cans to paint a dresser for my daughter's room. The guy at the paint store gave me only one stir stick. I grabbed a plastic fork from a leftover packet of plastic ware from the drive-through to use as a stir stick for one of the other paints. It works great, and I felt better about throwing away the plastic ware since I had already opened it anyway. From now on, I plan to save leftover spoons and knives to use in my shop. I also can use them in the garden when I have to mix compost tea and other things.

• I saw a lawn vacuum and was shocked at how much it was. I guess it must grind up the leaves as it works, but still, it seems pretty costly to me. I blow the leaves sometimes but have even used my shop vacuum to clean them up. It works pretty well, and the leaves get broken up just going through the hose. I put the canister in my garden cart to make it easy to pull around with me, and I can get my front yard cleaned up pretty quickly. It's also a little quieter!

• I remember reading in your column a couple of years ago about using ashes mixed with vinegar to clean off a dirty glass fireplace door. I tried a glass cleaner, and it didn't do a very good job, so I tried your recipe. It worked great! I had to use a plastic scrubber on a couple of spots, but the mixture really cleaned the door up nicely. Wear gloves. I didn't at first but figured out that was a mistake and put some on.

• We finally took the plunge and installed hardwood floors. I wanted to save some money, so I tried to do some of the prep work myself. To remove the carpet, I used a carpet knife to cut it into smaller sections, which were much easier to pull up and carry outside to the curb. The rest was fairly easy, and we probably saved quite a bit by removing the carpet ourselves. The floors look fantastic!

Shop talk

• Quixx High Performance Acrylic Scratch Remover is a restorative product that can remove scratches from just about any acrylic surface. It's easy to use and gives great results. Originally designed for cars, boats and motorcycles, it's also great for storm windows and doors and other acrylic surfaces in the home. Quixx contains no VOCs, so it's safe to use both indoors and out, and won't harm the environment or you. Look for Quixx at auto-parts stores, discount stores and many other places. For additional information, visit the company's Web site, quixx.com.

• The new M12 Hackzall Reciprocating Saw is a compact, lightweight saw designed to work in tight spaces and still tackle tough jobs. It features a 12-volt lithium-ion battery that can cut more than 80 pieces of 1.5-inch PVC pipe on a single charge. The 2420-22 delivers a 1/2-inch stroke 3,000 times a minute for smooth, aggressive cuts. The blade changes are super fast because of the Quik-Lok chuckless system, and the built-in LED light, battery fuel gauge, 30-minute charger and variable-speed trigger make it an all-around great addition to your workshop. It's made by Milwaukee and carries a five-year warranty. Check it out at your Milwaukee Tool dealer or visit milwaukeetool.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells' Web site at thesuperhandyman.com.