Category: Home Project

We’re having our roof redone. The existing roof dates back to the construction of the home (1988) and was only a contractor’s roof to begin. It’s time for it to go.

This is a good shot of the existing roof. What I can’t show you, and is another good reason to get the roof replaced, is the Grand Hyatt Inn we have constructed for our local squirrels! Back behind the house is a spot where the squirrels get under the shingles and have a grand ‘ol time in the attic. I hate these squirrels. We’re having this little problem corrected along with the roof.¹

When they pulled off the existing shingles and tar paper, they found some damage that needed to be fixed, but this was expected. They’re replacing the plywood that needs to be replaced, before putting down new tar paper.

Unfortunately, I can’t show you any pictures of the new shingles (Barkwood, Architectural) because they all just took off and left us with a tarp over the house. I guess they’ll finish up tomorrow and I can put up some after pictures.

¹: A consequence of this action, though, is for me to need to place the havahart trap up in the attic after the roof is complete to trap any poor critters who get stuck inside.

Nine days ago we finally had a large dead tree removed from our front yard area. This had been hanging over the house (literally) since summer. My dad had come to visit and we were sitting on the front porch when he said, “I think that tree is dead.” I looked up at this large tree (kind of hidden in the forest a bit) and realized that yes, this large hickory tree was indeed deceased and prepared to split our house in twain at the next wind storm.

The dudes who showed up to do the work were fast and professional. The only words I needed to know were “Esta bien!” They were also cheap, at least compared to the other quotes I’d received. I think the tree service industry has a bit of a lull in the winter.

You can see the flickr set here.

It’s never good when the arborist that you invite to your house to look at the trees takes one look at the single most house-dangerous tree on the property and says, “Oh, that’s gotta go.” Apparently that tree is in piss-poor condition with all sorts of things wrong. Now, I get to see how much it will cost to get rid of it.

Thanks to dad for noticing this tree. I was blissfully unaware.

Via Lifehacker I saw this video about how to build a soda-bottle safe. A method for stashing small valuables in plain sight where no one would think to look.

Of course, I don’t have any valuables that require safe keeping in this fashion. I don’t retain rolls of $100 bills around the house “just in case”.

Several years ago I was bored and purchased a set of lockpicks for my own amusement. I was quickly horrified by just how easy it was for me, with no skill, to go through the locks on my apartment, my former dorm room, my office, etc. It was simple, with no mechanical aptitude required for the majority of locks. Ironically, the most trouble I’ve ever had was with crappy filing cabinet locks.

Now, I’ve learned another way to get through a lock. I haven’t tried it, but I don’t need to to know that it works. It’s so simple, i’m depressed. It’s called Lock Bumping, and you can read about it here.

Simply enough, you file an existing key, or key blank, so the pins in the tumbler are sitting at their lowest setting, then you bump the angles on the key against the pins which sends the topmost portion up into the lock just like a set of billiard balls. If you’re putting the right force on the key, an dyou’re turning it correctly, Voila!, the lock is open.

It’s too easy. I’m going to go buy myself a rabid dog.

We’ve been having regular morning internet outages for the past few weeks. Not every day, but often enought to make it seem regular. Our internet provider is Comcast and we’re pretty much stuck with them, alas.

This is genuinely odd. Given the regular nature, I’m not at all tempted to blame the modem, especially because it comes back without any reset. I may look into some sort of internet monitoring program that I can run in the background of one of the PC’s, just to have some data.

What’s more inconvenient: Bringing the appropriate cord, or wearing a breathing-powered USB charger?

Yes, yes, I know that perfect utility is not the point behind the MAKE movement or Instructables, but this still struck me as a silly, yet cool device.