So your remodeling your home and painting yourself, huh?  You don’t need to wash out your paint roller if you are going to use it again tomorrow.  This is assuming you are going to continue painting the walls or ceiling the same color. with the same paint roller Simply spread out about 18″ of plastic … Read more

When it comes to choosing the right kind of paint finish you should first educate yourself on the many different types of sheens.  I remodel homes in San Antonio, Texas and most of my clients don’t know what kinds of painting finishes to use and where.  Flat and matte paint finishes have no real sheen … Read more

Well, it’s raining here in San Antonio and some of you are bound to have a leak in your roof. And unfortunately, some of you may even need a roof replacement.   Roof leaks are a gradual occurrence, for the most part. Unless heavy winds or hail storms have occurred, it generally takes a while … Read more

A big source of problems and complaints for all wood finishes is over-application of the coating. Many do-it-yourselfers and even some painting contractors believe that when it comes to coating, more is better. This is simply not the case and is particularly a problem for decks. Most deck finishes are designed to penetrate the surface … Read more

Radiant Barrier is material that is installed in attics to reduce summer heat gain and winter heat loss. This reduces building heating and cooling energy usage, saving money on monthly energy bills.  The potential benefit of attic radiant barrier is primarily in reducing air-conditioning cooling loads in warm or hot climates.like we have here in … Read more

The Following information is directly from the Texas Residential Real Estate Construction Commission website: For more information, visit: http://www.texasrcc.org/Publications/NewsReleases/09_20_09_Sunset_FAQs.asp What does it mean that the agency has “sunsetted?” The Sunset Act, which is chapter 325 of the Government Code, requires that the legislature review each state agency periodically to determine whether the functions of that … Read more

A quick and easy way to see if you need more Attic Insulation is to look across your attic. If your insulation is level with or below the joists, you probably need to add more insulation(but remember to seal the air leaks before you insulate). If you don’t know what a joist is, get a … Read more

Checklist Some tips: Complete activities requiring a ladder all at once on a day when the weather is nice and the ground is dry. If you have a technician out to check your heating system, have him check related equipment like air cleaners, humidifiers, and heat exchanging ventilators. If you have a professional out to … Read more

Sheltering outdoor plants from severe winter weather can prevent a wealth of problems, ranging from broken branches and damaged roots to certain plant death. Use simple materials–some of them already in your yard–to strengthen plants to endure the elements of winter. Follow these simple steps to ensure you keep your plants safe during winter: Step … Read more

To lower your electric bill you basically need to do one thing—use less electricity. There are many ways to do this. Get a Smart Programmable Thermostat. Program it to heat or cool less when your not at home. Use your cloths dryer less. Hang your clothes to dry. Wash and Dry only full loads. Unplug … Read more

The following information is recommended by Rhino Design Build for San Antonio and surrounding areas. * Do an energy audit of your house, identifying areas where heated air is leaking out. Check around doors, windows, fireplaces, and other areas that may feel drafty. Caulk around doors and windows, weather stripping, door sweeps, plastic, and other … Read more