====== 2013 Project Ideas ====== Put down here things you would like done this year (or in the near term) * Replace the roof (Solar Sandwich!?) * GO SOLAR! Hot water heater / tank too? Or just PV electric (grid tied) * Remove remaining wallpaper in the house and paint. * Fix the pipe in the foyer and fix the drywall covering that pipe area * Replace the front door (or at the very least re-hang and beautify the front door) * Replace the screen doors (or should we just remove them?) * Home energy audit * Do what they say! * Wall insulation will likely be something they suggest, that I think would help a great deal * Backyard landscaping * Brick oven / fireplace in the back yard (-8 * Make a garden on the east side of the house. * Fence out the critters * Tier the land so it is flat * Plant what you'll eat! ====== Project Details ====== ===== Insulation Improvements ===== * Get a home audit of the house to identify improvements and areas you could save energy. * The mud room addition (I think particularly over by the washer and dryer) have dreadful air leaks * The basement wood door by the fire place needs to be sealed * Area around the stove feels drafty * Attic door should have an energy hood over it (or just back it with the stuff you used on the fireplace access) * Is there something better to be done about the bathroom fans? (should we remove them and then could insulate better?) * Probably fill the outer walls with filler insulation would be of great help ===== Stone Patio ===== * Bryan said [[http://www.thestonestore.com/]] had as good a prices as they found in MD. * [[http://www.vincistone.com/]] is local, I might give them some business. * Christine posted an image to Google+ I think that has her ideal back yard (maybe facebook) ====== Tasks ToDo ====== * Get a home energy survey: (which should focus on) * Seal and clean up fan / attic interface * Insulate the basement around the fire place * Insulate behind the washer / dryer better * Insulate the kitchen behind the stove and the outer walls? Maybe we just need that fill in insulation everywhere. * Get a hood for over the attic door ($50 from Home Depot) * Install heat/UV lamp in guest bathroom * Finish sanding and paint guest bathroom (thanks mom!!) * Termite and ant inspection (our small coconut smelling guys) * Spring cleaning of unfinished basement (make excercise area, airplane area, computer area and install shelves) * Buy and mount and wire an external WiFi antenna for access to the LAN * Mount Square Shooter HDTV antenna in a good place * Fully insulate the attic * Seal and paint the replacement shelf above the television (and the entire TV area while you're at it... need a fresh coat) * Get chimney cleaned * Get air ducts cleaned * Clean walls of utility room, then coat with mold deterrent * Mold remediation in attic ====== Things to Buy ====== * Shutters for the front of the house that are not wood (no painting!) * New door for the porch (measure it and get the right size!) Thanks again mom, the door is lovely! * Maryland flag for the front * Buy/Install a new chimney flue * Dividers for garden on East end of house * Shelving for basement * Elliptical trainer * Get a new garage door and garage door opener that is kid friendly * Rocking chair for front and back porch (those wooden swinging chairs) * Water heater... our current one bubbles and churns a lot, how about one with no tank? Thank you for the 2009 tax credit! * Outdoor wireless antenna & mounting & cables * A HDTV television of some kind, it doesn't have to be huge, just a good viewing angle (darn the luck) * Cleaning service for chimney and air ducts ====== House Cleaning ====== I found this online and it looks like a good place to start: Everyone has his or her own idea of what clean is. If you take a look in a number of different homes around the country, you will probably see different degrees of clean. A person’s house that does not seem to be as clean to you, may seem to be spotless to them or to someone else. Different people tolerate dirt and mess differently. Once you have an idea of how clean you actually want your home to be, you can determine just how often each task will need to be done. Set realistic goals. If you work forty hours a week and take care of a family, you may not be able to wash your floors two or three times a week. Although, the more family members that can contribute to the household chores, the better your chances of having the clean home you desire. But, having more family members also means having more cleaning to do. To decide how often you will need to clean, you need to decide how clean you want your home. Do you want it to be tidy, clean or absolutely spotless? Tidy: things are picked up and look neat Clean: everything is clean and ready for unexpected guests Spotless: you could eat off of the floor TO HAVE A TIDY HOME: BASIC CLEANING Straightening up- 2x every week Garbage- 2x every week Dusting- 1x every other week Dusting out of reach- 1x every month Spot-cleaning walls etc.- 1x every other week Washing walls- 1x every year Vacuuming- 2-3x every month Carpet spots- 1x every week Shampooing carpets- 1-3x every year Dusting blinds- quarterly Washing blinds- 1x every year CLEANING THE BATHROOM Sinks- every day Mirrors- 1x every week Toilet- 1x every week Wipe shower- 2x every week Clean shower- 1x every week KITCHEN CLEANING Sink- 1x every week Sweep floors- 1x every week Mop floors- 1x every week Wax floors- 1x every month Clean stove/oven- as needed TO HAVE A CLEAN HOME: Straightening up- 4x every week Garbage- 3x every week Dusting- 1x every week Dusting out of reach- 2x every month Spot-cleaning walls etc.- 1x every week Washing walls- 1x every year Vacuuming- 1x every week Carpet spots- 2x every week Shampooing carpets- 2-4x every year Dusting blinds- 6x every year Washing blinds- 1x every year CLEANING THE BATHROOM Sinks- every day Mirrors- 2x every week Toilet- 1x every week Wipe shower- 4x every week Clean shower- 1x every week KITCHEN CLEANING Sink- 3x every week Sweep floors- 2x every week Mop floors- 1x every week Wax floors- 1x every month Clean stove/oven- as needed TO HAVE A SPOTLESS HOME: Straightening up- 7x every week Garbage- 3x every week Dusting- 3x every week Dusting out of reach- 1x every week Spot-cleaning walls etc.- 3x every week Washing walls- 2x every year Vacuuming- 4x every week Carpet spots- 7x every week Shampooing carpets- 1x every month Dusting blinds- 1x every month Washing blinds- 2x every year CLEANING THE BATHROOM Sinks- every day Mirrors- every day Toilet- 2x every week Wipe shower- every day Clean shower- 2x every week KITCHEN CLEANING Sink- every day Sweep floors- 5x every week Mop floors- 2x every week Wax floors- 1x every month Clean stove/oven- as needed