My first intro to the world of video surveillance came when, in a flurry of poor economic decision-making, I purchased a Toshiba network surveillance camera which I installed as part of my mission to keep dogs from pooping on our lawn (daily). Although that camera turned out to be problematic, it got my feet wet in video surveillance. After limping along a few years with a single camera that crashed seemingly more than it ran, I decided it was time to upgrade the surveillance system to multiple cameras, and document that process for HomeFixated readers. In the content below, you’ll find essential tips and suggestions on everything from network switches to budget-conscious network video cameras that perform well. [click to continue…]
Smart Home
Sometimes life gets away from us. I know it does for me, what with a couple of kids, work, school, and so on and so forth. Often some ‘lesser’ things get put on the back burner. Most of those lesser things include my household chores and our plants (both indoors and outdoors). I often don’t even think about plants until the leaves are drooped or falling off. It’s always been the best indicator for me. Apparently, it has also been an indicator for other people too, because a handful of students from NYU have created and are now marketing a way for your plants to let you know exactly how they feel about you and the quality of care you’re giving them. Their product, computer-age plant sensors called Botanicalls, can call you and now tweet you if it needs something. Sure, it’s not the same as “Feed Me, Maurice” but it’s still pretty creepy.
No baseboards - nice. The cobwebs are almost thick enough to fill the gaps themselves.
Okay, so some of you may be aware we have a sheetrock repair/faux beam bedroom remodel in the works, which is bad enough. Closet interiors were the last thing on my mind though, until we got further into this job. As I was sanding the sheetrock next to one of the rarely used crawl space closets, I noticed a hearty gust of cold air. Upon closer inspection, I determined it was coming from the closet door, which naturally I opened… into what I can only describe as a wind tunnel. It’s no wonder our monthly utility bill causes us to break out in hives. [click to continue…]
SureSill is an easy to use flashing system designed for installation on both windows and doors. It protects against moisture, rot and mold resulting from water seepage through jambs and around doors and windows. The “Sloped Sill Pan” offers structural support along with a positive slope to the exterior, so water drains away from your window or door. The pan accommodates any door or window up to 12 1/2 feet wide, although custom sizes are available on request. Sills and pans can be cut to the desired length and installed easily using PVC cement. Additional flashing products include the Sloped HeadFlash and SureCorner. So why use SureSill? [click to continue…]
Exterior Portfolio's "French Country" materials package
Exterior Portfolio by Crane contacted us here at HF to let us know about their revamped online visualizer and see what we thought. They’ve introduced the complete “Dream Designer Program” including the Dream Designer Visualizer, Smart Styles Color Selector, Dream Designer Board, and Exterior Portfolio material samples. As many of you may already know, Exterior Portfolio is known for its maintenance-free building products; everything is made of plastic and plastic composites so it’s not only environmentally friendly, but endures far longer than wood and other traditional building materials. [click to continue…]
