Both interior and exterior architectural coatings fall into two general categories: latex or water-based paint or oil-or alkyd-based paint. Contractors and do-it-yourselfer’s select latex for its good performance and ease of use. Latex moved from 30% to 35% of paint sales in the 1970’s to over 80% of architectural coatings sold today. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Having a sturdy workbench can make projects easier and safer. below is a step-by-step pictorial to help you build this project. One can use this workbench for building all types of projects and can also be used as a planting bench. Store tools and supplies on the lower shelf. The overall dimensions of four feet by two feet will fit nicely in your garage or basement. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

More than likely you already have a pretty good idea of what you like about your existing kitchen, what you hate, and what you can’t afford to replace when you remodel. The first step is to create an overhead sketch of the room including all of the appliances you plan to keep, electrical outlets and switches, plumbing, windows and doors — be sure to indicate the direction of door swings. You can use these symbols to reference items in your drawing. (figure 1) This is just a preview...Read the... more

People most often judge the quality of water by its taste. The scary fact is that you cannot taste, see, or even smell most contaminants. Since Portland water is so soft, it does a great job of leaching lead and lead solder from pipes and fixtures in older homes, and even from the city’s distribution system. Even at low levels, contaminants in drinking water have an impact on your long-term health. This is just a preview...Read... more

For the true gourmet the kitchen’s plumbing fixtures are extremely important. Inadequate faucets and sinks can hinder the best kitchen layout. The best cooks have their sinks, appliances, and cabinets designed in a manner that is efficient and makes the hard tasks easier. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

PART TWO read part one This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Gourmet cooks are often frustrated with their “builder basic” kitchens, especially those who cook for a living and are used to professional kitchens and equipment. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

One option to consider when considering the purchase of a new kitchen is to contact a craftsman to have your cabinetry locally built. This offers a custom fit job, and can also make more options available to the homeowner. For example, Ron Ring of Cascadia Custom Cabinets offers not only the standard woods available but also a wide selection of other interesting choices. Cascadia promotes the use of local woods, ... more