Pulling Up the Upstairs Carpet to Find 1952 Oak
Under beige carpet and a pad that had turned to dust: original oak, a mountain of staples and one surprise along the closet wall.
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A Year of Buying Tools: What Got Used and What Collected Dust
Twelve months of receipts from Menards, Harbor Freight and Marketplace, sorted into tools I grab every week and the ones still in the box.
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Our Homeowners Insurance Went Up 18 Percent at Renewal
Our premium went from $1,284 to $1,512 with no claims and no changes. What the renewal letter said, what the agent said and what we did next.
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Downspout Extensions and Regrading the Low Spot by the Back Door
Our sump pump ran every few minutes in April. Two extensions and a yard and a half of topsoil later, water drains away from the back corner.
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Swapping a Split Hose Bib for a Frost-Free Sillcock
A January freeze split our front spigot. Swapping in a 12-inch frost-free sillcock took $62 and one cramped afternoon in the basement.
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Letting the Home Warranty Lapse After Year One, and the Math Behind It
The seller paid for year one. Renewing meant $612 plus $100 a call, so we priced out our appliances and started a house fund instead.
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