Nifty Gadgets

    We used a few neat items this week that I thought you might like.  We needed to mask off the walls in a hall as we were going to scrape, re-texture and paint the ceiling.  This hand masker has tape attached to the device, so when you unroll the plastic, tape is adhered to one side.  You pull out the desired length of plastic and it is ready to hang.  The next great feature is that the plastic unfolds to a width of about 6 feet, so you are covering a lot of square footage very quickly.  The picture below is the hall with the plastic rolled out.



















     Yes, this gorilla is cute, but there is nothing funny about this tape's adhesion.  A great application for this product is shown in the next picture.  We had masked a doorway, but by the next day some of the blue tape had already started to peel off.  The gorilla tape stuck to the blue tape as well as to the masking paper with paint over-spray on it.  It sticks great to brick as well.  If you will be using this tape very much, it's a good idea to wear gloves--you can literally see the skin on your fingers being pulled up with the tape as you try to un-stick yourself from it.  Need help with your painting project?  Give us a call/text (214-302-9693) or check out our website at http://alsfairandsquare.com.

Masking

     If you have done painting, chances are you have done masking.  The picture depicts a wood floor that was masked with paper, plastic and masonite. The ceiling in this room was to be scraped, re-textured and painted; new lights were to be installed in the ceiling; and the wood paneling was to be painted.  With all the activity planned for the room, the masonite layer would keep the inevitable dropped tools from damaging the floor underneath.  Though masking is dull and tedious,  in can really pay off in fewer headaches later.  For help with your projects, feel free to call/ text (214) 302-9693, email us at alsfairandsquare@gmail.com or visit our website at  http://alsfairandsquare.com.

Lighting

Lighting can make a big difference in the look of a room, and your kitchen is the perfect example of this.  Your requirements for lighting in the kitchen range from strictly utilitarian to aesthetic.  The top picture is a typical outdated box light, serving a utilitarian purpose.

In the bottom picture, the box light has been replaced by can lights.  While the lights are installed in a pattern for the most part, "task lighting" can be placed strategically above your stove, sink, etc., providing extra light in your work areas.  Under cabinet lights are aesthetically pleasing, and also serve a practical purpose.  Leaving these lights on after dark gives you enough light to navigate safely through the space when raiding the refrigerator.  Pendant lighting over the counter is beautiful, but practical as well.  For help with lighting or other home projects, please email (alsfairandsquare@gmail.com), text or call (214) 302-9693.  Be sure to visit our website at http://alsfairandsquare.com for more info.

Deck Staining

        Do you have a wood deck that is looking pretty worn?  Would like to liven it up again?  Consider a relatively new product called Restore.  Restore deck stain can be used on decks that have cracks, nail holes and other signs of aging.  This product is different from other stains as it contains sand and provides heavy coverage, masking a multitude of sins.  While this stain is more difficult to work with than a typical stain, great results can be achieved with some patience and effort.  For help with your wood deck or other home projects, feel free to contact us at (214) 302-9693 or alsfairandsquare@gmail.com.  You can learn more about us by visiting our website at http://alsfairandsquare.com.  Check us out on Facebook, too :)

Exterior Window Repairs

  Do you have an exterior window frame that looks like this?  Repairing it involves several steps, the first of which is to remove all of the rotted wood.  You may remove the top layer, only to discover, as in this photo above, the wood below is rotted as well.  Wood lumber can be used as a replacement, but a longer term (though more expensive) fix is to use plastic lumber.

While cutting and installing all of the new lumber, make sure you take the time to fill in any cracks with insulation, such as spray foam, and caulk everything well.

Above is the corner after the first layer of plastic lumber.  And below is the finished window after the second layer of lumber and painting.  To match your paint color, you can simply take a piece of the lumber you removed to your home improvement store for color matching.

Painting Base Molding

    Painting your base molding can give a fresh, clean look to your room.  In this situation, drop cloths are not the best choice to protect the floor, as you want to be able to paint all the way to the floor with nothing in your way.  One choice is a hand masker--the masker holds a roll of blue tape as well as a roll of paper about 2' wide.  As you pull the paper off the roll, the blue tape attaches itself to your masking paper, then the paper can be cut off against a set of teeth similar to cutting a piece from a roll of plastic wrap.  If space allows, you can also slide something like a manila folder underneath the base, allowing you to paint all the way to the floor without accidentally touching the floor with your brush.  If you need help with painting moldings or other home repairs, please feel free to call/text to (214) 302-9693 or email to alsfairandsquare@gmail.com.  To learn more about us, check out our website at http://alsfairandsquare.com.   

Changing Lock Sets

      Would you like all of your locks on your house changed to work with the same key?  Do  you own rental, or other, property that requires changing the locks on a regular basis?  If so, then we have a suggestion for you:  Smart Key from Kwikset.  These lock sets come with a tool that allows you to change the lock to a different key.  Be careful when starting the re-keying process, and be sure to follow the more detailed instructions on the paper inside the box, rather than the simplified steps on the back of the box.  If you need help with lock sets or other home repairs, feel free to contact us at alsfairandsquare@gmail.com or (214) 302-9693.  For more information on our company, you can visit our website at http://alsfairandsquare.com.