I became aware of Michelle through Flickr.com. She takes amazingly insightful pictures of our area and the small towns that dot the landscape. When she started including mention of a new home purchase in her photo stream I knew I wanted to get her impressions and experiences while it was still brand new. Once she started making it her own it would be more difficult for her to see it as she did the first time she walked through the door. That first impression can lead a person into a whole new creative realm so changes in the house start to happen quickly and weak points are viewed with much more lenience.

Why did you buy a house?
Why not? (She smiles slyly) Actually I've been renting apartments for years on end and
with no real rent prospects here in Small Town, I decided it was time to take it up a notch and settle in.

Did you have any fears?
Not particularly. I went into the decision knowing it was going to take some work and that it was work I wanted to do. I also had a lot of information available about the house so things like will this roof cave in on me never got a chance to cross my mind.

Do you have any specific questions about systems?
Electrical systems, for example? For the most part I know enough to be dangerous, that is to say, I have a cursory
knowledge of how things work. When it's time for me to tackle something specific and manageable, I will ask someone
with some experience and just give it a go. But say, if I decide I want a complete overhaul, I'll probably pay
someone who knows what they're doing (if and when I can afford to do so).

What do you know you can do alone?
I've never been a homeowner before, so I'm finding this out as I go along!

What do you need from a professional?
Mostly help with things that will cause irreparable damage if I attempt them myself...I'm thinking of extending a bit of the house over an existing carport and turning the carport into a full-fledge garage.
Something like that is a project that's probably a bit out of my scope of Things I Can Do and is an instance where I'd
seek some outside assistance.

What are your plans for the house?
To make it cozy and efficient. As it stands it's small but not in a cozy way. And there's space, but not an
efficient use of it, nor are many of the materials in it very energy efficient either.
So...some walls will be built and others just torn right down to make it all flow effortlessly from one room to the
next. I could tell when I walked through it that there was a lot of potential character that the house was hiding in its current condition (icky red shag peel-and-stick carpet hides a lot, I'm finding...).

Do you have a theme or feeling you’re going to highlight?

Just a general easy feeling, I guess would be the word I'd use. Something that feels calm...and not in that New Age way. Just somewhere I want to be at the end of the day and somewhere I won't feel guilty being. I really want
to try and get some Green in my house They have photovoltaic shingles now, fercryinoutloud!
I want it to be a place people walk into and say, oh yeah, this is totally Michelle.

What kinds of projects did you investigate?
I bought the house knowing that the roof is going to have to be redone in a few years, so along my Green theme I have
been investigating some materials to use for that which will help either actually light the house or just make it consume
less energy to keep it warm/cool.
Thus far that's about as long-range as I've gotten with my research.

What room is the most important to function well?
This may seem contrary to popular belief, but I'm actually big on bathrooms. Some people say the kitchen is the heart
of the home, but really....where would we be without a bathroom?

Which room has priority for renovation?
Oh definitely the bathroom. This is without a doubt going to be my biggest hurdle as the current bathroom is smaller
than a postage stamp and doesn't function well at all. Fortunately there is a spare non-bedroom room next door
that I have my eye on for expansion.

Are you going to paint with color?
Well the color I'm planning for my kitchen is called Quite Red so I know at least one room in that house is going to
give people a wee bit of a shock. (she jumps with a look surprise on her face)

Were there any suprises?
Oh yes, loads of little things that I'm still getting updated before I can even begin the actual updating.
I think the biggest one was the bypassing of the water softener system which was a direct result of the discovery of what a water softener system does to an empty hot water heater which namely is something really really gross (though if anyone wants a water softener system...).

Were there any disappointmets?
So far most of the little surprises have been good ones and are to be expected with a 70 year old house.

What discoveries did you find the most charming after moving into the house?
I think the last interior remodel was done some time in the 70's, because I am finding some wicked fun features of the
house which, while they will have to be replaced, have become a source of entertainment for me with each new
discovery. I totally love my retro thermometers, which are everywhere. Disco lives!

Is there any advise you could offer to a woman entertaining ideas of a future purchase?
Just be realistic with your expectations.
I know a lot of the changes I have planned aren't going to be happening for a long, long time. This means I will have
to endure my teeny tiny toilet enclosure for months (if not years) to come, but it's something I have chosen to deal
with.
When you're looking at a house, you need to ask yourself, is this something I can live with if it can't be addressed
immediately?

Do you have a wish list of services or goods?
Updating and relocating the wiring and tweaking the plumbing are probably the two things I think will help make
the rest of the work go more quickly, so they're two ever-present blips on my radar.
Mostly I just really really want to get the back yard fenced so I can let my wee puppy run and run and run and not have
to keep her on the leash when we go outside.

Are you glad you bought a house alone?
Absolutely! My parent's have a lot of knowledge that I plan to draw from, but I really want this to be something I
can say look, I did this!

What would you have done differently?
I haven't felt a twinge of regret yet, so I don't think have an answer to this one.

I love painting with color. The thrill of adding a delicious color to walls or floors in a room never ends. It's such a statement that can be used like a wonderful piece of furniture to bring the room alive. I've been blessed in finding a professional paint adviser in an Ace Hardware store. She's enthusiastic about her job and is good at what she does. I've never been disappointed with her advice or the products on the shelf. So it was Jackie I turned to for answers to some of the questions I had about getting good results with painting projects. The best part is she just returned from a trade show in Las Vegas and is excited about the new products.

1.What label do you give yourself as a paint professional. Is there a
term for what you do?
Paint Department Head, Paint Adviser, Faux Finish Adviser, Specialty Paint
Adviser

2. Do you have a favorite kind of customer?
Yes, a customer that is ready for change is always fun, especially if they
want to add color to their home, try a faux finish and they are not
chicken to be bold. After all, it's only paint, you can change it easily
enough.

3. What is your favorite type of paint project?
A project that starts from the beginning and goes to the end. I enjoy
helping customers that come in and want a complete change in a room.

4. What guidelines would you suggest for choosing a color or
shade of color.
The biggest thing about choosing a color is how it looks in the room's lighting.
Tape color swatches to walls, check to be sure you like the color in all
lighting, natural sun or overcast natural, with lamps on and off. Really
check the color out as color changes in different light. Make sure it is a
color you like in all types of lighting.

5. What can a customer do to help you in your job mixing colors so that
there will be a higher degree of customer satisfaction.
Bring with them props, say a pillow that will be an accent or a picture out of
a magazine with an idea they may want to copy.

6. What is the most common mistake customers make with painting
projects or wall treatments?
Preparation. People do not like to prep. If you want a professional looking
finish, preparation is most important.

7. When does a person paint with flat paint? Gloss? Semi-gloss?
It's up to the customer. There is no wrong way any more. Remember the flatter the paint the more flaws it will hide and imperfections disappear (well almost). The shinier the paint the more glare and imperfections stand out. My favorite sheen is flat, for that reason, plus it's a softer finish. My favorite paint is Ace Sensations flat. It's a great new paint with Scotchgard (TM) formulated in it. You can wash it repeatedly and it holds up great. I have a customer who operates a day care and she even used it in the bathroom. She told me that after a year of those kids brushing the wall as well as their teeth, the paint still looks like new. As a rule, and before Sensations, flat was used on ceilings, living rooms (with no children) or rooms that were most likely not to have the surface touched.

Eggshell is between flat & satin.

Satin is the most popular and has been used in all rooms of the house except kitchens & bathrooms (as I said, before Sensations).

Semi-gloss is usually used in kitchens & bathrooms. If you have a moisture
problem in the bathroom, fix the problem and stick to satin. Today's paint
is formulated so much better I would never use semi-gloss anywhere unless
doing some kind of faux finish or maybe on outside trim. Remember, I
said it's up to the customer as there is no wrong way.

8. When does a person use a primer?
New construction, if the surface has never been painted or if there is a need to hide what's
on the wall. If the wall has stripes on it, primer first.
Remember Ace has a tintable primer and it works great if you want to paint an
accent wall rather dark. Prime it first with the tintable primer and you'll
paint fewer coats.

9. Do you prefer the use of tape or a cutting-in brush?
Both.

10. What does a person do to get good results painting a floor?
Oh my gosh! I just got back from an Ace Hardware Convention in Las Vegas and
I purchased this cool new product for painting floors, counter tops, any
hard surface, indoors or out. I can't wait to try it on my deck around the
pool area. I'll have to let you know later after I try it. So for now,
once again preparation and a clean, dry and sound floor. First know what the floor is
made of (concrete, wood, or whatever) then choose the correct product.
Normally on a concrete floor I use an oil base product. Ace has a
product recommended for floors that is self priming. It is a great floor
paint. It is glossy so I would add grit to the paint if the environment is wet.

11. What is the most important point to know when choosing exterior
paint?
Make sure and choose a quality paint like Ace Royal.

12. What is the most important advice you could give a person before
applying any paint to an exterior wall.
Once again, PREPARATION. If your surface is clean, dry and sound your are in
business, if not, you're wasting your time and money.

13. What advice can you give someone wanting to paint with color
indoors?
Go for it, it's just paint. If you don’t like it, paint over it. Come and
see me at EPHRATA ACE HARDWARE and I'll be happy to give some hands on
training. I keep all the materials needed to do demos and I let customers try fun
finishes for themselves.

14. What is the one thing you wish every customer knew before coming to
the store to buy paint?

Nothing. It is so much easier when a customer comes in and doesn't think
he/she knows all about paint. I love it when a customer comes to me for
professional advice and actually listens to me. When customers get excited about their projects, can't wait to start but want to do it right, it's the greatest. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred the customer will come back for more help and almost always demand I help them. Now that's rewarding!

15. What’s the hottest coolest product that’s new on the market?

I will decide after I personally try the products but it's either the Rollable Stone that
I referred to earlier or the new Faux Finish product that only requires 2
steps, the appropriate paint and a roller.

I have the good fortune to know a professional electrician, Bud. He's been willing to answer more than one question about the electrical system of this ranch. His unassuming calm demeanor belies the vast range of experience and skill he possesses. I think what makes him good at his craft is that ability to quietly focus at the task at hand. He was generously willing to take the time to answer my questions.

What is the most common electrical problem in a house?
Over loaded circuits. Running more amps through a fuse or circuit than what it's rated to handle.

What is the most easily avoided problem?
Overloading circuits. Add a new circuit or more breakers.

What can a homeowner do to prevent an electrical fire?
Check the drier vent to be sure it's clear of lint buildup. Don't use a 30 amp fuse or breaker where there should only be a 15 amp one. Overloading a circuit causes wires in the wall or ceiling to heat up as it draws more electricity than it was designed to handle. Using appliances or lamps with worn cords causing shorts and fires. Always be sure to use the correct wattage bulb a light fixture is rated to handle. Some ceiling fixtures can trap a lot of heat especially when using a bulb that has high wattage.

What repairs can be safely done by the homeowner?
Checking the voltage of an outlet with a multimeter to make sure it's putting out the proper voltage. Replacing worn wall switches and recepticles. Installing ceiling fans.

What tools should every homeowner have on hand for electrical projects and repairs?
A multimeter or voltmeter. Electrical tape and wire nuts. Needle nosed pliers, wire stripper and diagonal wire cutter. Safety glasses.

What are the not so obvious signs of a future problem a potential buyer can look for?
Blackened recepticles or wall switches. An insufficent number of recepticles available in a room. Go into the attic or basement to see the wiring of the branch circuits. Make sure the electrical service entrance has the properly rated breakers or fuses for each branch circuit. Visual checks. Has the breaker box been added onto? Are there enough circuits for the number of devices or recepticles?

What makes a good electrician?
Knowing the electrical codes and then following them. Someone who is honest about the real need for repair or upgrade. An electrician who doesn't skimp on materials i.e. uses the proper sized wire and charges only for the materials used.

What specific terms can be used by the customer to help for clear communicaton when calling in an electrician?
Know the difference between a fuse block and a circuit breaker. Use the term recepticle when referring to that place you plug in a lamp or device and wall switch for that thing that turns on the lights.

Have you ever had a potentially fatal event on the job?
Several. Usually due to unforeseen circumstances. Once I had turned off a power switch not realizing that the handle moved to the off position but the switch inside had welded into the on position. This was for a pump shut off switch and the voltage was for a 500 horsepower motor. I didn't even get a chance to feed the wire into the box, just getting close caused it to arc in my face. Fortunately I had glasses on. The lens were embedded with copper filings.

Are there any safety issues to keep in mind when approaching a project?
Make sure you turn the power off to the circuit. Double check it with a voltmeter. Uses safety goggles, fiberglass or wooden ladders, and don't work in a wet environment.

What's the worst job you've ever had to face?
Anytime I've had to work in a tight space, with no room to move or good air to breath. Working in a tight, hot space like an attic during the summer.

Is there anything you would want customers to know about your profession?
Electricians are highly trained and have knowledge of codes that change approximately every two years. Just keeping up with those changes requires a lot of work. Also, there's a fine line between what a homeowner should do and what an electrician should be called in to do.