Closet Factory Review
January 31, 2010 – 7:59 pm | One Comment

Custom Storage Solutions from Closet Factory
In some previous articles we mentioned that were hired Closet Factory to design and install some storage solutions for a kids play room makeover that we’ve been working on. We …

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Zar Ultra Polyurethane Review
February 7, 2010 – 1:51 pm | No Comment

Zar Ultra Polyurethane – Fast Drying

Zar Fast Drying PolyurethaneSeveral years ago when we built our new home we ordered custom Brazilian Cherry stair treads to match the houses Brazilian Cherry floors. We needed to apply our own polyurethane after the stairs were built so we chose Zar Ultra Polyurethane based on a recommendation at the local lumber yard. I remember the guy at the lumber yard bragging about this product saying that he’s never found a better polyurethane.

This week I finally got around to sealing the newel post cap (someone forgot to seal it almost 4 years ago when the rest of the stairs were sealed!) and realized that our stairs, hand rails and newel were all sealed using the Zar Ultra Polyurethane. It quickly dawned on me that the stair treads still look new which is a true testament to the quality of this product.

Our Thoughts on Zar

Zar Ultra Polyurethane works great! First of all this polyurethane dries very quickly in as little time as 1 hour up to 2 hours on subsequent coats. It’s very easy to work with  because of it’s self leveling formula which helps reduce brush marks. More importantly we are very impressed with it’s ability to hold up under tough conditions like stairs. Our stairs are almost 4 years old and they still look new, no visible scratches or blemishes in the urethane.

We’ve used lots of different polyurethanes over the years and this one tops our list of most recommended. The best part is you can buy a gallon of this stuff for under $20! It’s available at most hardware stores or you can buy it online here.

The Company Store Down Comforter Review
February 6, 2010 – 1:35 pm | No Comment
The Company Store Down Comforter Review

La Crosse Down Comforter Review
The Company Store recently sent us one of their La Crosse Down Comforters to review. The Company Store sells Designer Quality Bed and Bath Linens. They sent us the La Crosse …

Craftsman Auto Hammer Winner!
February 6, 2010 – 11:07 am | One Comment
Craftsman Auto Hammer Winner!

Craftsman Auto Hammer Giveaway Results
The Craftsman Auto Hammer Giveaway was a huge success with almost 300 entries! Frankly we’re not surprised at the interest this giveaway had based on the popularity of the Auto Hammer …

Pump Jacks Are Better Than Ladders
February 5, 2010 – 7:33 am | One Comment
Pump Jacks Are Better Than Ladders

Pump Jack Scaffolding
Pump Jacks are better than ladders for many reasons. If you’ve ever painted a two story home or installed siding high up on a ladder than you know safety is surely a top …

Basement Ceilings
February 2, 2010 – 8:28 pm | 6 Comments
Basement Ceilings

Recommended Basement Ceiling Types
Basement remodeling / finishing seems to be one of the hottest DIY projects right now. We get tons of emails about how to insulate  basement walls, how to insulate basement floors and …

Construction Loans
February 1, 2010 – 8:55 pm | 5 Comments
Construction Loans

How Construction Loans Work
If you’re planning on building a new home then chances are you’ll need a construction loan. Understanding how construction loans work is one of the first steps in building your new home. …

Hiring Contractors
January 31, 2010 – 6:05 am | 2 Comments

Advice On Hiring Contractors
Recently I read an interesting post by a home owner that does quite a bit of home improvement to her home. She also happens to be the wife of a contractor and …