Repair Cracks in an Asphalt Driveway
Asphalt driveways are a great feature included in many homes today. But, just like everything else, they require regular maintenance. It’s important to find and repair cracks as soon as they appear. Fixing cracks ensures your driveway will keep it’s quality appearance and prevent larger problems in the future.
Cause of Driveway Cracks
Water is the most common cause of cracks in your driveway. Water can seep below the driveway surface and expand / contract with changing temperatures. Even moist soil can experience frost heaves resulting in significant damage. Additionally, your driveway is always exposed to the elements. Time will take its toll creating cracks and holes.
When to Fill Cracks
Asphalt driveways also expand and contract with changing temperatures. As the temperature gets colder, the asphalt contracts causing cracks to widen. This is the ideal time to address problem areas. Fill cracks in the early spring or late fall. Cracks filled in the heat of summer may result in gaps allowing water and debris to cause more problems.
Additionally, cracks should be patched while they are still small. This will prevent moisture entry and erosion of the sub-base and underlying ground from repeated freeze/thaw cycles.
How to Patch Cracks in an Asphalt Driveway
Clean the area: Begin by cleaning up the area. Sweep away as much dirt and debris as possible. A wire brush is very handy for this step. Remove any grass or weeds including the roots. Use a chisel to remove protruding chunks. Patching compound will adhere better to a smooth, clean surface. Finish up with a shop vac to further remove any dirt. I’ve also read about using compressed air or a garden hose to clean the crack. Whatever your preference, make sure the crack is completely clean and dry before starting the next step.
Fill with Asphalt Filler: Purchase a high quality asphalt filler that incorporates rubberized asphalt emulsion. Many come in caulk-like tubes but it’s also available in a standalone bottle. Take care to completely fill the crack. Use a trowel or putty knife to press the compound into all the nooks and crannies. Many manufacturers recommend that you slightly overfill the crack as the compound can shrink some while drying. Deep and wide cracks may require two applications.
Sealing the Patch: Allow the filler to completely dry. Finish the job by applying an asphalt sealer to create a waterproof barrier. Ideally, you’d seal the entire driveway for a nice uniform appearance. You can just seal the crack and surrounding area but it may result in a noticeably different color.
What do you think? Do you have any asphalt cracks that need fixing?
Image courtesy of Rutger Blom
Before and After: Stunning Black and White Bathroom by Kara @ Made 2 Create
June 28, 2009 by Fred
Filed under Online Community
Well, we’re a little late in running our second before and after article, which should have made it out last night. Unfortunately, a series of events (including a hard drive crash) conspired against us this last week to delay the post.
… Perhaps you can think of the delay as a really long drumroll, because this week’s before and after from Kara @ Made 2 Create is absolutely amazing. Take a look at her stunning bathroom makeover that turns a traditional mid-80s era bathroom into a black and white modern marvel.
Based on Kara’s submission, we’ll make a $35 donation to Habitat for Humanity in her honor. And, she’ll receive a $25 gift card to either Lowes, Home Depot, or Amazon. Congrats, Kara! Thanks for the submission!
There’s still plenty of time to enter our Before and After contest, just send your entries to beforeandafter@oneprojectcloser.com!
Black and White Bathroom Upgrade by Kara
My husband and I gutted everything and came up with a new layout. I chose a sophisticated color palette of black, white, chrome, and slate blue. I used brazilian black slate and white subway tiles to create a classy look. 2 shower heads and 2 sinks are sure to keep harmony between my husband and I while the stylish and functional floating shelves add to the spa like feel. Lastly the glass shower screen allows this somewhat small bathroom to appear much bigger!
The Before Pictures…
The (Amazing!) After Pictures
Details, details. details! I have to admit my husband is usually the one focused on fine tuning, I am more of a “big picture” kind of girl. However, there are times when I see the difference the slightest change can make and I remember that truly GREAT design is in the details!
After (the After) Picture
Thanks for One Project Closer
Kara, this is a truly inspiring transformation. We love the black and white modern touches, and the frosted glass really is the perfect finishing touch! Very nice indeed…
Habitat for Humanity Quick Fact
We’re making a $35 donation to habitat in Kara’s honor… want to join us? You can make your donation at Habitat’s online donation page. Here’s this week’s quick fact about Habitat, from their site:
Women Build is Habitat’s volunteer program for women who want to learn construction skills and make a difference by building homes and communities.
Women Build projects are regularly held by Habitat affiliates across the United States, and by Habitat organizations around the world. Women at these builds have furthered Habitat’s home-building mission by helping to construct more than 1,500 houses.
For more information, see Habitat’s Women Build Home Page…
Enter Your Project!
We’re just getting warmed up in our Before and After challenge… Send your submissions to beforeandafter@oneprojectcloser.com in any format. See our official Before and After page for details!
Different Ways to Clean a Coffee Maker
My amazing wife bought me a coffee maker for father’s day. This was very generous as she doesn’t drink coffee at all, while I’ve slowly become dependent on one cup a day. This is my first coffee maker and I hope to use it for a long time. In that effort, I’m investigating different ways to keep it clean. Here’s what I found. Let me know if I’ve missed anything and what you think is the best way to clean a coffee maker.
Vinegar Solution
The coffee maker came with instructions for running a vinegar solution through the maker. Here are the important details:
- 1 part vinegar to 2 parts cold water.
- Run half the solution through the maker and then stop. Let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- Finish the vinegar solution and then rinse with plain water until all the vinegar is gone.
It seems that stopping part way through allows the vinegar to better break down hard water mineral deposits, old oils from previously brewed pots and other impurities. I’ve also read you can substitute another acid, lemon juice, in place of the vinegar.
Baking Soda
The next option is using baking soda to clean a coffee maker. It’s very similar to the vinegar instructions with a few small differences:
- 1 cup lukewarm water to 1/4 cup baking soda.
- Dissolve the backing soda before pouring into the water reservoir.
- Cycle clean water as needed.
Bleach Solution
Does anyone use bleach?
- 1/2 Clorox bleach to a full reservoir of hot water.
- Allow the solution to sit 15 minutes before starting running the solution through.
- Rinse with hot water.
Cleaning the Coffee Carafe
You can also focus on just cleaning the coffee pot (carafe) by itself. This method calls for coarse salt, ice and vinegar.
- Combine 2 tablespoons of salt and several scoops of ice in the coffee pot.
- Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and swirl the contents.
- Keep swirling until all the stains are removed. Rinse as usual.
The ice and salt actually scrape away the coffee stains.
What do you think? Any suggestions to keep my coffee maker clean?
Image courtesy of Refracted Moments
Review: Skil Cordless 18V Li-Ion Reciprocating Saw and Flashlight
June 25, 2009 by Fred
Filed under Reviews, Tools & Toys
Skil recently released their new line of cordless, 18V Li-Ion-powered tools. Over the last two weeks, we reviewed their new drill/driver and the latest in their long line of SKILSAW circular saws. Today we’ll take a look at the last two tools that come standard in their 4-tool kit: the Skil 18V reciprocating saw, and the Skil 18V flashlight.
Where to Buy Skil 18V Cordless Tools
If you’re in the market for a four tool combo kit, the SKIL set makes a compelling case to be your tool set of choice. The SKIL combo kit costs only $244.00 for all four tools (drill driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, flashlight), plus two Li-ion batteries, and a carrying case (not shown above). This is about $100 cheaper than most competitors’ offerings.
SKIL products are available at a variety of home improvement stores and sites and are being featured at Lowes. Here’s the relevant links if you decide to buy online:
Skil 4-Piece Combo Kit
- SkillTools.com – > Skil 18V Li-Ion 4-Tool Combo Kit (official site)
- Lowes.com – > Skil 18V Li-Ion 4-Tool Combo Kit
Skil 18V Cordless Reciprocating Saw Review
Portability is still King
Just like its brethren in the 4-tool kit, the reciprocating saw really shines when you need to use it in a place where electricity is unavailable or would be hard to setup. Need to quickly take down a 2″ branch on a tree, cut through a thick metal pipe, or cut a hole out of the drywall? The Skil reciprocating saw makes easy work of all of these jobs. Of course, with convenience comes a price… If you’re going to take down a whole tree, you’ll have to recharge the batteries several times or get out a corded model.
Given the option, we’ve found that Skil’s cordless saw is lighter and easier to maneuver than our corded model, and so it has become our reciprocating saw of choice for all light to mid-duty jobs.
Adjustable Speed and Turbo Mode
Skil’s reciprocating saw features variable speed control, making it useful for cutting virtually every type of material. Tuning the speed is easy with a lever that sits on the left side of the saw.
Good Grip Feel and Relatively Low Vibration
The saw features a combination rubber and platic grip at both the trigger and the opposite-hand stabilizer position. The grip makes it easy to control while cutting. As with every reciprocating saw we’ve tried, vibration is still an issue, but with adjustable speed and good grip, vibration impact is reasonably minimized. (We noticed that it was much more controlled their our corded model).
Tool Free Blade Change & Two-blade Storage
The saw features a tool-free blade change that make changes very fast (think less than 10 seconds). What’s nice about Skil’s version of this feature is that once secured, the blade stays put. Up to two blades can be stored in an insert at the top of the handle. This seemed like a trivial feature, until we realized how easy it makes transporting the saw… everything can be safely carried in just the tool itself.
The Verdict
We really like Skil’s offering in this competitive class. They’ve created a great tool for light to medium duty work that’s tops in portability and convenience.
SKIL 18V Pivot-Head Flashlight Review
Rounding out Skil’s 4-tool kit is the 18V flashlight. While we don’t think anyone buys a kit like this for the light, it is a nice addition if you don’t already have a high power flash light. The light features a pivoting head that allows it to point straight or at 90 degrees. It’s bright enough to be used as an everyday flashlight and met all of our standard household needs.
What do you think? Do you own the Skil cordless reciprocating saw? Leave a comment and let us know about your experience.
Dig a Drainage Trench to Avoid Basement Flooding
Flooded basements are a very serious problem that can result in considerable damage to your property and possessions. It’s also a health concern as wet basements promote mold. It’s important to resolve poor drainage issues rather than clean up the aftermath year after year. Plus, flood insurance will only protect you for so long. French drains and drainage trenches are a great way to divert water away from your home. Best of all, it’s a project that most do-it-yourselfers can tackle in a couple days.
How a French Drain Works
Water will follow the path of least resistance. A French drain provides an easy alternate route for water, allowing you to direct it away from your home. You accomplish this by using perforated pipe and gravel. Water would much rather flow through open pipe or around small rocks than through compact soil but there are some important things to keep in mind to ensure your drain works properly. Read on as we cover how to install a drainage trench.
How to Install a Hidden Drainage Trench
The overall idea is to dig a trench that slopes away from your house. Next, embed perforated pipe within gravel for water to flow through, and protect the whole setup with landscape fabric.
Plotting your locations: First, you need to decide where to install your drain. Examine the grade of your yard and determine sloping areas that direct water toward your house. Even gradual slopes can enable water to collect at your foundation. Ideally, you’ll cut off these pathways and redirect the water somewhere harmless. Storm sewers are the best endpoint for runoff, but it may be difficult to achieve that connection. The next best solution is to expose the drain end to daylight. Here are some considerations for where you direct the runoff.
- Neighbors – Sending water toward the neighbors is not a good idea. It may result in flooding problems and ultimately a law suit.
- Sidewalks – Sidewalks can become icy in winter or slippery in summer.
- Play area – You want to be able to enjoy your yard. Don’t create a soggy marsh that you can’t use.
Mark off the locations for your drains. Before breaking ground, check local code for any guidelines and call “Call Before You Dig” at 811. Call Before You Dig will get a local utility to come out and mark the utility lines on your property.
Digging your Drainage Trench: Trench widths can vary. I’ve seen them as small as 6 inches or as wide as 24 inches. Often, trench width is dictated by the equipment you are using and how much you want to dig. A backhoe makes it easy to dig a wide trench while shoveling is a lot of work. Wide trenches do afford several important advantages.
- They can collect more water.
- Working in a wide trench is easier.
- Wide trenches last longer because they will not clog as easily.
Drains should be at about 2-3 feet deep. Deeper soil is more compact and will better funnel water to your perforated pipe. Whatever depth you choose, remember to account for the downward slope. Also, place your drain about 6 feet away from the foundation, else it will pull water toward your house.
Sloping the trench: Your trench should maintain a 1% grade. That means a 1 foot drop for every 100 feet of length. A steeper slope is not a bad thing but 1% is the minimum. Use the 1/100 ratio to determine how far your trench should drop. Here’s an easy way to measure the grade as you work.
- Grab two stakes and place them next to the trench, along it’s entire length.
- Run a string between the two stakes. Adjust the string height until it’s perfectly level (using a level of some kind).
- Measure from the bottom of the trench to your string to determine the change in depth.
Fill with gravel: After digging out your trench, it’s time to fill. Begin by lining the trench with permeable landscaping fabric. This fabric will allow water to pass through while keep dirt and debris from clogging your drain, making it less effective. Be sure to overlap any seams and to allow extra for wrapping over top. Next, put down two inches of washed gravel taking care to maintain your slope. Be sure to select a large gravel that it won’t clog your pipe.
Many people use corrugated, flexible pipe in their drains however a rigid plastic pipe has some additional benefits.
- It’s easier to maintain the proper slope with a rigid pipe.
- Rigid pipes can be cleaned with a sewer snake, while flexible pipes would tear.
Place your perforated pipe on the gravel, holes facing downward. It may seem counter intuitive, but remember, the water pools from the bottom up. Placing the holes on the underside allows water to enter much sooner. Slowly fill the trench with gravel, taking care that the pipe stays in place. Fill the trench with gravel until you are 2 inches below ground and cover with the landscaping fabric. Add dirt with grass seed, or lay sod to conceal your drain.
What do you think? Ever install a French drain before?
Image courtesy of Jeff Tidwell
$100 Father’s Day Home Depot Winner
Well, another giveaway has come and gone. It’s time to announce the winner of our $100 Father’s Day Home Depot Gift Card giveaway.
A big thanks to everyone who entered, but there can only be one winner. We used random.org to select the winner, and it chose Bridget from Kentucky! Bridget is an email subscriber and automatically gets 10 entries in just about every One Project Closer giveaway.
What the Winner Gets
Bridget gets a $100 Home Depot Gift Card mailed to her front door. This gift card can be used at any of their retail stores, or online. Hopefully, Bridget can use this card to help make somebodies Father’s Day that much better. Congratulations!
Entries Received
Here’s how the entries breakdown. Remember, blog entries must link back to One Project Closer to be counted.
- 7,687 Total contest entries
- 427 Comments x 1 = 427 entries
- 666 Email subscribers x 10 = 6,660
- 12 Blog posts x 50 = 600 entries
And here are the links. If you posted but don’t see your entry, email us.
- Extra Cash Opportunities
- Emily’s Latest
- Forest Hall
- Greg In The Desert
- Petworth Row House
- Chad Chandler
- Possibilities and Ponderings
- Exotic1
- Melinda Joy
- VickieB’s Ramblings
- Ardy22’s Blog
- Win With Jinxy
Kwikset Handleset Giveaway
Our next giveaway has already started. Check out the Kwikset Giveaway post and make sure you enter to win a beautiful handle set.
Review: Kwikset Smartkey Knob and Deadbolt
June 22, 2009 by Fred
Filed under Fixtures & Furnishings
Unless you’re a locksmith or a door installer, you probably don’t think much about new technologies in door locks. We certainly didn’t, until Kwikset gave us the opportunity to review their SmartKey Lock System, the latest in their SmartSeries Locks.
SmartKey System – Rekey Your Own Lock in 30 Seconds
The concept behind Kwikset’s SmartKey system is simple: you shouldn’t have to buy a new lock or pay a locksmith if you want to change a lock’s key.
This system is great for homeowners who want to identically key all their locks, or provide temporary access to contractors, family, or friends. Simply rekey the lock to a spare set of keys for a few days. Then, once access is no longer needed, rekey back to your primary set. If keys are lost, there’s no worries, just rekey each lock to a new permanent key set.
For landlords, the SmartKey system is a huge money saver. Instead of paying for a new lock or locksmith between each tenant, you only need to buy a new set of keys.
How the SmartKey System Works
The Kwikset SmartKey Lock looks just like a traditional door lock, save for a very small slot just to the left of the key slot. Just like regular locks, they are available in handlesets, levers, knobs, deadbolts, and a whole host of finishes and styles.
In terms of everyday use, the SmartKey system works just like a traditional lock system. The fancy bells and whistles come in when you need to rekey the lock. Kwikset says the lock can be rekeyed in 30 seconds. We were able to master the technique in under 10 seconds (yeah, we’re advanced…). It is really simple, and Kwikset provides a great easy-rekey animation on their site. Here’s the pictures from our installation test:
Steps to Rekey the Lock
- Insert the original key.
- Turn the key 90 degrees right.
- Insert the Smart Key rekey tool into the small slot to enter learn mode.
- Remove the original key.
- Insert the new key.
- Turn the new key left… and Voila! the lock is rekeyed.
How Well Does it Work?
Exceptionally well. We were skeptical when Kwikset first contacted us about this lock. Would rekeying really work? (it does) Would it be simple? (it is) Would new keys work as well as the original keys? (they do).
We tried three different sets of keys in these locks, including keys from Defiant brand locks. After each rekey operation, the new key (and copies of the new key) worked great. The old key instantly stopped working. Rekeying took less than 10 seconds each time, and is simple enough that anyone can perform it.
After just one use, we’re believers in the SmartKey system. We’ll be buying Smart Series locks for all our future locking needs.
Full disclosure: We encountered one issue during installation: the knob stuck a bit when the screws were tightened on the inside of the knob. We discovered this was because we hadn’t properly aligned the exterior and interior knobs on both sides of the door. Once aligned properly, we were able to tighten the screws and the knobs moved freely and easily. While this was probably our fault, a note in the installation instructions to be careful would have been helpful.
Additional Features of the SmartKey System
The SmartKey system features an ANSI Grade 1 Deadbolt, and is both pick and bump key resistant, a feature that we like since key bumping has become a very popular lock defeating technique.
For more information, check out Kwikset’s brochure on the Smartkey System, and their SmartSeries Lock site.
Where to Buy Kwikset SmartSeries Locks
Visit kwikset.com for retailer information. You can purchase many Kwikset locks on Amazon. Just click on that link and enter “smart key” in the search box.
Win a Kwikset SmartKey System!
Want to own your own SmartKey system for free? Sign up for our Kwikset SmartKey Handleset Giveaway.
What do you think? Do you own the SmartKey system? Are you looking for a new lock? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Before and After: Fireplace Facelift By Colleen
June 20, 2009 by Ethan
Filed under Online Community
This is the first Before and After of 2009 and it’s brought to you by Colleen! Colleen and her girlfriend just refaced their living room fireplace. It was an amazing transformation.
As a result of Colleen’s article, OPC will make a $35.00 donation to Habitat for Humanity. Colleen also gets a $25 gift card to her choice of Lowes, Home Depot, or Amazon. Lastly, Colleen is entered in our end-of-summer contest for a $150 gift card to the home improvement store of her choice! We’ll be voting on a winner at the end of September.
Check out this great Before and After and be sure to leave a comment.
Fireplace Reface by Colleen
This past winter, my girlfriend, Wendy, and I refaced our livingroom fireplace using red oak, travertine tile and marble accent tiles. In a few weekends the fireplace went from an ugly, dated red brick eyesore to a fabulous focal point. While we had tackled various other home improvement projects in the past, neither of us had really tried something like this before. Needless to say, it was a learning experience. But we took our time and worked deliberately, and we’re absolutely thrilled with the results. And the best part? I got to add a jigsaw and a hammer drill to my tool collection! Sweet!
Fireplace Before
The first thing we did was attach 2×4s to the existing brick to act as furring strips since the bricks were stepped out beneath the mantel. Looking back, I’d say this was the worst part of the project. I truly appreciate my tenant downstairs for tolerating the noise we made with the hammer drill that day. Once the furring strips were installed, we used 3/4 plywood to rough in the apron, pilasters, and return, thus ending day one.
Because the mortar joints between the bricks were fairly deep, we used a thinset mortar to level the surface of the surround, and gave it about a week to cure before starting the tile installation. During this week we must have went through a dozen different dry runs for the tile, trying different configurations before finally settling on a final design. But all that preparation paid off when the tiles went up without a hitch.
Fireplace After
The final stage of the project was to apply a red oak 1/4 inch ply veneer to the plywood box we’d built earlier. I was the most nervous about this part because of horror stories I’d read about sanding and staining plywood. I had spent 2 months refinishing all of the woodwork in the livingroom and diningroom, and really wanted the fireplace to blend in the with the old woodwork. No worries, though, in the end it matched perfectly.
All in all we learned a lot in the course of this project. Lessons we’ll apply the next time, when we reface the downstairs fireplace. 
Thanks from OPC!
Colleen, thanks so much for your article. The fireplace transformation is amazing! This is a great way to kick-off our Before and After 2009 series.
Habitat Challenge 09
Any 2009 Habitat Challenge gift will go twice as far to help provide safe, decent and affordable housing throughout our global community! A group of anonymous donors has stepped forward with an extraordinary pledge to match every dollar you send to our 2009 Habitat Challenge – up to a total of $1,100,000. So please be generous today!
We hope you’ll consider taking on the Habitat Challenge 09. Make a donation that goes twice as far.
Submit Your Own Entry
This is just the beginning of our series, so there’s still time to finish projects and submit articles. Even if your article isn’t selected this week, it may appear later in the summer. We will run one article each week through September 20, 2009.
E-mail submissions in just about any format to oneprojectcloser@gmail.com. Best of luck with your projects!
What do you think? Let Colleen know what you think of this great project.
Close in a Carport | Convert a Carport to a Garage
Carport Question: We live in a part of the country where most single family homes and even many townhomes have garages. In an old section of town, there are some old ranchers that were built with carports. I’m thinking about buying one of these with a carport and converting it. Is it worth it to convert a carport? Is it hard to make the conversion?
Converting a Carport
Great question! We too prefer garages over carports. While carports keep rain and snow off most of your car, they fail to completely protect it from the elements. Plus, you can’t safely store yard tools (and baby clothes) in a carport. For that, you’ll want a garage.
It seems simple enough – to convert a carport to a full out garage, you only need to add walls and doors, right? Well, basically yes. But, as with many projects, the devil’s in the details. Here’s a few things to consider before undertaking this project…
Was the Carport Permitted? Is it Structurally Sound?
The first thing you should do is have an inspector or structural engineer come out to the house and give you an opinion on the quality of the carport roof structure. While you won’t be relying on the walls to hold up the roof, you’ll want to make sure the roof is in good shape (especially the bottom of the roof that will be inside your garage).
Check to make sure that unatttended leaks in the roof haven’t led to wood rot, etc. When a leak occurs in a garage, it is usually quickly identified by an owner. In a carport, leaks are often unnoticed or left unrepaired.
Next, check the grading and quality of the slab. Does water pool anywhere? Would walls around the perimeter create a water pooling situation? If the carport is at ground level, it may need to be raised to be converted into a garage. In a carport, water can freely move from the front of the house to the rear (or vice-versa) right over the slab. When converted to a garage, you’ll want to make sure water makes its way around the slab.
Will You Have Enough Space?
Many of the carports in our area are a little smaller than the typical garage. Once you close in the carport, assuming you keep the same roof size, will you have enough space? Remember, depending on shape, you may want to install sofit vents in the roof for ventilation, so the walls won’t be able to come right to the edge of the roof on the sides parallel to the peak (this depends on the shape of the roof).
Is Converting a Carport to a Garage Worth it?
While we think it is absolutely worth it, the reality is that it won’t add any additional appraised value to most homes. Most appraisers will assume the same value for a carport and a garage, which will be based on square footage of the slab and roof area.
Is it Hard to Make the Conversion?
Assuming that everything checks out structurally, it isn’t that hard to make the conversion. Here’s the steps:
- Obtain appropriate permits.
- Address any structural / roof / slab issues.
- Frame out walls and rough-in doors.
- Install Advantech sheathing or another material, siding, and fascia boards.
- Install electric (lighting and receptacles) (will require separate permits & inspection).
- Install garage door tracks, install garage door opener(s), and install door(s).
- Add insulation and drywall on the interior (optional).
- Get final inspections.
Carport Conversion Resource
Of course, for each individual job there are too many variables present in making the conversion to give good tips on the project.
We recommend picking up a good tutorial like Quick Guide: Garages and Carports, available at that link from Amazon.com.
(Carport Photo Credit: Casey Serin)
Kwikset Ashfield Handleset Giveaway
There’s still time to enter the $100 Home Depot Father’s Day Giveaway, but we wanted to get out next prize out on the market.
Kwikset gets the credit for this next awesome giveaway. It’s a brand new, Ashfield signature series handleset.
Kwikset just introduced the “smart” deadbolt technology. This amazing breakthrough allows homeowners to re-key locks in under 30 seconds! That means homeowners have the added flexibility to quickly match all locks in the house for instant one key convenience without paying an outside contractor. Rental properties also benefit from easy key changes for new tenants.
But these locks are also very secure. SmartKey’s re-key technology protects against any unauthorized key changing, by requiring both the working key and the SmartKey Learn Tool to re-key the lock. This ensures that consumers are not at risk of losing control of property access.
Here’s some additional product information:
- Newly patented side-locking bar technology allows the lock to be rapidly and easily re-keyed
- A drill resistant and integrated BumpGuard protection offering consumers an affordable solution to the growing concern of lock-bumping intrusions
- ANSI Grade 1 certification that has passed the most stringent lock picking standards
What You Get in this Giveaway
The winner of this giveaway gets a Kwikset, Ashfield collection, handleset delivered to their front door. Here’s what’s included:
SmartKey technology- Ashfield, Rustic Bronze deadbolt
- ANSI/BHMA A156.5 Grade 1 Deadbolt Security
- Titanium alloy throw-bolt core
- Pick Resistant Solid Brass 6-Pin Key cylinder
- Ashfield, Rustic Bronze exterior handle
- Fashionable styling with concealed interior and exterior screws
- Solid forged brass
- Commonwealth, Rustic Bronze interior lever
How to Enter this Giveaway
Here’s how to enter. In fact, you might already be entered into the contest and not even know it! Here’s how to maximize your chances of winning:
- 1 entries: Leave a comment. Leave a comment on this article to get one entry into the contest.
- 10 entries: Subscribe via e-mail. Just follow this link to subscribe to receive e-mail updates every day. We’d love to be able to reward our RSS subscribers as well, but unfortunately RSS subscriptions don’t report any identifiable information for us to link you with the giveaway. If you’re already subscribed, you’re already entered!
- 50 Entries: Blog about the Giveaway – If you have a site of your own, pass the word on to your readers! Each blog entry MUST link back to this article (and should be no-followed since this isn’t about SEO tricks).
Details on all One Project Closer Giveaways
Giveaway Deadline
This giveaway ends at 11:59pm, EDT on July 31, 2009.
The Fine Print
Only residents of the U.S. and Canada are eligible. One entry per person. Spam entries will not be counted. Spam entries are determined at the sole discretion of One Project Closer. For blog-based entries, the blog must be a legitimate blog and not a “spam” blog, or a blog set up purely for the purpose of entering contests. All rules are subject to change without notice.
