Check LED Bulb and Dimmer Compatibility Before Replacing a Roomful of Bulbs
To check LED bulb and dimmer compatibility, match the exact bulb model to the exact control model, then confirm how that combination behaves in…
THE NCFA JOURNAL · HOMES & HOW-TO
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Repairs done right, design that fits, and maintenance that pays off. Practical guides for Carolina homes and the people who look after them.
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Small fixes. Better homes.
Choose Window Screen Spline by the Groove, Profile, and Replacement Mesh
The right screen spline depends on the groove in your frame and the thickness of the replacement mesh. It is not determined by the…
How to Measure for a Storm Door: Opening Size, Trim Depth, and Handle Clearance
Measure for a storm door at the exterior trim where the new frame will mount, rather than measuring only the existing entry-door slab. Record…
Clean Gutters Before Winter: Clear the Leaves Before the First Hard Freeze
By late October, most deciduous trees in the United States have dropped their leaves, and a surprising share of them land in the gutter.…
Protect Shrubs From Winter Damage: Water Deep, Wrap Late, Mulch Before Freeze-Up
Late October is the quiet deadline of the gardening year in most of the United States: the window between leaf drop and hard freeze…
How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights: Plan the Circuit, Clips and Ladder Before You Climb
In most American neighborhoods the outdoor lights go up in the two weekends between Halloween and Thanksgiving, and the difference between a display that…
Ceiling Fan Direction for Winter: Set It Clockwise and Run It on Low
Most ceiling fans have a small switch on the motor housing that almost nobody flips: reverse. In summer the blades spin counterclockwise and push…
Seal Drafty Windows Before the Heating Season: Find the Leaks, Then Weatherstrip or Caulk
Heating season has a way of announcing drafty windows one cold evening at a time: the curtain moves, the plant by the glass shivers,…
Winterize a Deck Before the First Freeze: Clean, Inspect, Protect, Then Handle Snow Right
Across much of the United States, the first hard freeze of the season arrives sometime between October and November, and the dry weeks before…
Winterize Outdoor Faucets Before the First Freeze: Shut-Off Valves, Draining and Covers
Across most of the United States, the first hard freeze of the season arrives sometime between October and November, and the weeks before it…
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