As I followed Steve Wartman and his crew through the process of building a deck, many of you sharp-eyed readers noticed that the overhead power lines were very close to the new deck. When I asked Steve about it, he said the power lines were to be buried at a later date. Well that time arrived last week, and here’s how they did it. Burying power lines is not a very complicated task. However, it can be quite laborious without the right machinery, and a big part of today’s Pro-Follow involves the Ditch Witch. A Ditch Witch is... 

See more of this article >>

Hey everyone. Before we get rolling with today’s article, I wanted to share a quick Pro-Follow update. I’m spending the day at a new basement remodel project with general contractor Joe Bianco and his team. The framers have finished, and the plumbing is underway. I’m really excited for the articles that will come out of this, so stay tuned for the full details. Connect with me through Facebook or Twitter for all the latest updates. Today, we’re bringing you a guest post by JB Bartkowiak, Editor and MC @ BuildingMoxie.com. Here... 

See more of this article >>

Last time, we left off with Steve Wartman and his crew installing the double band-board foundation for increased structural support and an extra wide nailing surface. Today, we pickup with installing the subfloor, framing the walls, and stapling the plywood siding. Installing the Subfloor Steve is a big fan of Advantech subfloor for its superior weather-ability. He feels it results in less warping, twisting and delaminating. If you check the Advantech website, you’ll see that they claim the lowest water absorption rates in the industry.... 

See more of this article >>

We’re back with our next contractor-follow where we show you how professional contractors would tackle home improvement projects. Today we’re sharing how to build a shed with Steve Wartman, owner of Wartman Home Improvements. For more details and how to contact Steve, check out our Meet the Pros page. Building a Backyard Shed Most homeowners that want a shed will have one built off-site and delivered to their home. That’s exactly what Fred & Kim did, and you can see how pleased they are with the results. Unfortunately,... 

See more of this article >>

Keypad locks for homeowners are continuing to grow in popularity. Some of you may recall our first experience with the Kwikset SmartCode technology a few months back. If you read all the way through that post, you’ll see it didn’t all go according to plan. Well Schlage got in touch with me, and, after triple checking Kim and Fred’s door hole dimensions, I had them ship over a new keypad front entry set. Having installed and used both manufacturer’s keypads, I immediately noticed a few differences. Read on to learn... 

See more of this article >>

I’ve mentioned my friend Bj before. He’s the same guy that shared his experience with the Stōk Quattro grill, and about a week ago he told me that he discovered some lurker in his backyard with a ladder! Initially BJ was stunned by the stranger who obviously intending on climbing up to the second story balcony. After recovering, BJ phoned the police as the intruder ran off with the ladder. BJ later found footprints on his balcony. How scary is that?! It turns out the local police have had lots of call about this guy as he... 

See more of this article >>

Crabgrass is one of the most common annual grass weeds in North America–and one that is particularly common here in our little subdivision of Baltimore County, MD. Crabgrass grows from a single seed and shoots out wide blades of grass in the shape of a star. The plant grows very rapidly, moving from seedling to full plant in 14 days.  OK State University has a great picture of crabgrass here if you’re looking to identify it. « ads The term annual grass weeds refers to the whole set of weeds that occur... 

See more of this article >>

This is a guest post by a good friend, BJ, who makes a mean enchilada. I have been a huge fan of charcoal grills for quite some time. I just simply love the smoky flavor that only charcoal can provide. However, clean up has always been a pain. I was thus both eager and hesitant to try the new Quattro 4 Burner LP Gas Grill by Stōk. This is the first gas grill I have ever owned, and I really was not sure what to expect. I’ll discuss my thoughts on assembly, features, and basic grilling below, but in short, I love my new grill. Assembly I... 

See more of this article >>

If you enjoy watching The Office, I hope you got my “Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica” reference. A more accurate title would be something like “Holy Crap That Looks Like a Lot of Work” or “I Want To Trade Backyards.” Anywho, this week’s Before & After comes from Big Sky Country- Butte, Montana where David (author of The Quivering Pen) pulled off a very impressive backyard makeover. Just reading through all the heavy labor makes me feel exhausted. For all his back-breaking labor, David wins... 

See more of this article >>

Back in my prime (a whole six years ago at this point), I really enjoyed playing ultimate frisbee. I played the game as much as humanly possible. All through college I was the team’s co-captain, and I had a blast traveling to other universities and competing in tournaments. After college, I managed to find some pick-up games, but that didn’t last long. Life took over, and I didn’t have time to play. Remember the old saying, “If you can’t play, teach”? Well forget that. If you enjoy ultimate frisbee or... 

See more of this article >>