Home Fixated

Alec

About Alec

Philsophser turned artist turned designer, Alec turns to home improvement as a stress-reducer. Now, he wonders why no one told him that it would be a stress-producer. Alec lives and rides his bike in beautiful Boulder, Colorado with his olympian wife Ann and his unimpressed cat Stella. He tries his best to do everything green and sustainably with varying success.

TimberPro UV Oil Deck Finish Review, Better Than 60s TV?

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deck-fence-bucket2I was sitting on my brains the other day watching my favorite 60s sitcoms (F-Troop anyone? ahem. anywho . . . ) when my better half suggested I sand and refinish the deck. Hmmmm, TV, or deck refinishing? I’m still not sure how refinishing won over sofa inertia.

Once I overpowered the strong pull of the sofa’s gravity, I jumped up and grabbed my sander with a twinkle in my eye like Ernest Borgnine in McHale’s Navy. After a few days of dust storms and exclamations that would have the Skipper hitting Gilligan furiously with his hat, I was ready to choose a finish. I wanted something like the penetrating oils I’ve used in other woodworking projects but more durable, and completely natural.Read More

Bug Off Already with Bug Off Screens

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bug_off Summer. Grilling steaks: $25,  Bottle of Gin: $29, Limes: $4, No flies in the house: Priceless.

Well, almost. The Bug-Off screen cost me $49 (incl shipping/handling) and my eyebrows went askew when a piece of screen showed up with some magnets sewn into it. But after installing it and noticing that there were no flies in the house (even when the cat was being schizophrenic about being in or out) I wasn’t unhappy with the purchase. 

As simple as it is, it does work. For that I’ll shut up about the cost. I guess I could have gone and got some screen for a few bucks, got the ol sewing machine out and started the curse-laden process of doing it myself but let’s face it, it wouldn’t really have happened, and, with my sewing skills, I might have sewn us permanently inside. Flies are out, cat is happily enabledRead More