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Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

Nest Home Improvement

Professional | Raleigh, NC
Services: Painting, Remodeling, Handyman
11 Followers 19Likes 4 Shares
  • Overview
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  • Q&A18
  • Comments36
  • Likes2
  • Following74
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Portfolio

Exterior photos
Nest
Article on saving energy during the winter at http://www.nesthomeimprovement.com/blog/ways-to-save-on-your-heating-bill/
Energy efficient home

Company Overview

Home improvement simplified! The new approach to caring for your house. Please learn more at http://www.nesthomeimprovement.com

Services

Garage Building / Remodelling, Major Home Repairs, Kitchen Remodeling, Home Additions, Closet & Wardrobe, Bathroom Remodeling, Basement Finishing / Remodelling, Attic Remodeling, Remodeling, All Services, Handyman, Interior Painting, Exterior Painting, Commercial Painting, Painting, Residential Painting

Areas of Expertise

Your one-stop shop for ALL home improvement needs, annual home check-ups, and keeping it organized with Nest Home Manager software!

Service Area

Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill

Contact Info

Raleigh, NC

(919) 451-9195

http://www.nesthomeimprovement....

BBB page

http://www.bbb.org/raleigh-durham/business-reviews/home-improvement-builders/nest-home-improvement-of-the-triangle-in-raleigh-nc-90230838

Insurance

General $2,013.00

In Business Since

2012

Professional Associations

ACHP, AL. BBB


Recent Activity


  • screen, spline and spline tool
  • remove your spline
  • remove old screen
  • clean your frames
  • put in new screen
  • Finished screen.  Enjoy those Spring breezes!
  • See 4 more photos

How to Re-screen your screens

Check out my blog for detailed instructions on how to re-screen your screens.
Kathleen Bell
Kathleen Bell Versailles, KY
3 Comments | Post Comment | 463 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Apr 27, 2013
    If you find that your screen frame is bent, you can also buy the parts to build a new frame to ...»
    fit your window opening. These frame parts can be found near where you find the replacement screen in your local hardware or big box store. It pretty easy to do, I just recommend building the frame on a flat surface such as a garage floor or large work bench.

    Happy Spring!

    Chuck

    http://www.nesthomeimprovement.com

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  • Helpfull tips
  • The last of our mushroom compost from last year...
  • "Beautiful! Glorious! Delicious!," say my plants.

Tips for Applying Mulch!

We will have 3 yards of mushroom compost delivered this week. When I begin filling my first wheelbarrow, I will think about the mulching techniques I have learned from many and various ...»
gardeners over the past 10 years...

What I have learned so far:

1. This is a lot of work! So make it count for double the time & money: add nutrients while you mulch.

2. Apply it 2-3 inches deep to suppress weeds for the growing season. You still may get some, but usually they are easier to pull out of the loose mulch than the firm soil.

3. Make sure to leave your plants some wiggle room. Apply the mulch deeply, but leave it at least one inch away from the crown of the plant. Leave 2-3 inches of space all around tree trunks.

4. Do not apply hot compost (meaning mushroom compost or other nutrient rich sources) to woodland (e.g. ferns) or silver-leaved plants (lavender).

5. For garden areas in which you want to encourage self-seeding plants, use a garden fork to "tickle in" some compost over those areas. Christopher Lloyd talks all about this in his book Succession Planting for Year-Round Pleasure. He also covers many other aspects of ornamental gardens. (It is my favorite garden book\!)

6. If you are mulching with well-rotted mushroom compost, be sure to save some extra for patching you lawn, topping off your vegetable beds (or containers), and even your ornamental containers.

7. You know you are a real gardener when just thinking of rotted plant and animal material gives you excited butterflies in your stomach... as opposed to the queasiness that most people feel in their stomachs.

Any more tips from my fellow gardeners?

80 Easy
Julie @ Wife, Mother, Gardener
Julie @ Wife, Mother, Gar... Pittsburgh, PA
46 Comments | Post Comment | 16698 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Apr 06, 2013
    Laying down landscaping fabric prior to mulching is another way to keep weeds at bay. Thanks ...»
    for your tips!

    Regards,

    Chuck

    http://www.NestHomeImprovement.com

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  • Outside
  • Excavation completed for new paver walkway.  All extra dirt was hauled off.
  • Building up and compacting the crusherun base.
  • Beginning to screed the sand bedding layer.
  • One person can screed the sand on a narrow walkway.
  • The pipes are moved and then fill in the gap with sand. 3
  • A finished look at the perfectly smooth layer of sand, ready to lay the pavers down.
  • Finished walkway after installing pavers, compacting and wetting down the polymeric sand. 3
  • I have added pics showing pavers being laid on the screeded sand bed. You can see the string line set up to keep things running straight. Don't try this without a string, it will become a nightmare to straighten later.
  • Here you can see where the sand was screeded and the pipes slid down. Since you can only fill what you can reach, it is easiest to fill as you lay pavers. You can see 2 strings set up as guides.
  • This was a different project. As we were finishing the grading around the patio, you can still see the heavy plastic edging with spikes. 2
  • See 7 more photos

Having read a recent post about dry laid flagstone versus pavers, I wanted to share a series of photos showing the

proper installation of pavers. I took these photos documenting each step of the process of installing a paver walkway. ...»

Pavers are actually quite easy to install and really only require one tool to be rented, a plate compactor. The heavy work is in excavating the area to about 6 and 1/2 inches below grade and moving the dirt. Then you build up the base with crusherun/crush&run which is a crushed stone. Build it up in 2 layers running the compactor over the area. A homeowner can use a 4 foot level and a 2x4 board to help get the crushed stone base to a proper pitch and close to even. Remember that the base should extend about 6" beyond the last paver.

The exact level surface is then done using 3/4" iron pipes. You will need at least 2 pipes. Lay the pipes across the base and check with a level to see if you have the proper grade. Use a little sand to adjust the pipes. With the pipes set, you begin shoveling the sand into the area and with a straight board, you screed (drag) the sand. You are left with a perfectly level surface of sand. As you move along, remove the pipes and fill the gaps with sand. Remember to not walk on the sand once it is screeded.

For a larger patio, we usually work in sections laying pavers as we go so that we can then work off of the already laid pavers. The chosen pattern will dictate any cutting. For a few cuts, a grinding wheel on a circular saw will suffice. For lots of cuts or cutting curves on a patio, a large gas powered cut-off saw with a grinding wheel or diamond wheel is necessary. We also use a large sliding table tile saw to custom cut some pavers.

Once the pavers are all laid, install the edging strips. Then, run the compactor over the pavers to bed the pavers in the sand. You will have a perfectly level and smooth paver patio/walk. It does not require setting each paver individually. While compacting, you will sweep regular sand or polymeric sand into the joints. If polymeric sand, follow the manufacturer instructions on sweeping, compacting, and wetting.

See the following photos for the process. As an example of how fast pavers can be installed, 3 of us installed the paver walkway seen in the photos in one day. We followed the same path of an existing paver walkway that was improperly installed. The one day included all excavation and all installation and clean-up.

Southern Trillium LLC
Southern Trillium LLC Stone Mountain, GA
30 Comments | Post Comment | 16213 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 29, 2013
    Proof that the prep work is key to the finished product.
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Pallet garden loungers

Garden furniture can be very expensive and here's a simple idea on how to make free or almost free garden loungers using simple pallets. ...»

I used 5 pallets and some wood scraps to make these two and that part was free. If you want to paint or add cushions (recommended!) that will be extra but all in all this cost me $10 for the red paint and that's it!

The basic idea of how to make these is to take two pallets of the same rectangular shape and stack them on top of each other, do the same with the second lounge chair. Then take the last pallet, divide it in half and add some wood scraps to construct two backrests that you attach to the stacked pallets with two screws. Minimal sanding and some paint and you're done.

I must warn you that the idea is simple but deconstructing the 5th pallet is pretty hard physical work but can be made easier if you have the proper tools and/or a muscular guy to help :)

Check out my blog for more photos and detailed instructions on how I went about it:

http://shoestringpavilion.blogspot.com/2010/...

Titti
Titti Dallas, TX
90 Comments | Post Comment | 45250 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 22, 2013
    There seems to be a lot on the Internet about re-purposing of pallets for use around the ...»
    house. While I like the upcylcling/recycling spirit, I am concerned about the potential hazards.

    Unless you are using a brand new pallet, do you really know where that pallet has been and what it has picked up along the way? Google 'pallet hazards' and learn more about the potential hazards you bring into your home or yard.

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  • Pallet Projects
  • 100% of our watering needs are met using collected rainwater 1
  • Our barn's metal roof is our supply of water for the entire farm
  • Through a simple in-line diverter – the rainwater is carried to our main capture tank
  • The water then empties into our main storage tank
  • We connect a standard garden hose to the tanks with a simple threaded adapter
  • We quickly filled almost 150 gallons from a single rain last week, the day after we hooked the totes back up.
  • A second tank sits above the garden for watering all of the plants with simple gravity and a hose
  • See 4 more photos

Creating A Simple And Inexpensive Rain Water Collection System

Visitors to the farm are usually surprised to learn that we water the entire garden and landscape with only reclaimed rain water. Our system, which collects and stores rainwater from our ...»
barn's metal roof, provides 100% of our annual watering needs. The best part, it was extremely easy to install, and can be inexpensively adapted to almost any home, shed or roof with a gutter.

We spent the past week hooking our tanks back up from winter storage - and within 24 hours - we had just over 150 gallons stored from a single rain. It's been over a year now since we first completed the rain collection system - and I honestly don't know how we survived without it.

It gives us access to free water, and with our two plastic tote tanks, can collect as much as 550 gallons from a single downpour. And that's only using rain from the back portion of the roof! This spring, we will add a third tank fed by the front gutter - increasing our storage to just shy of 900 total gallons - enough to handle our watering needs for nearly two months of complete drought.How it works:

The system collects rain water from a simple adapter made to fit our existing barn's gutter. The barn has a standard gabled metal roof measuring 13 wide' x 32' long on each side. A 32' section of guttering runs along the bottom of each side of the metal roof, slanted slightly to carry all of the water to the eastern side of the barn. From there, both sides empty into standard downspouts.The front downspout (not used currently), runs down and out to the field for normal drainage. On the back downspout however, we installed a simple 2-way in-line diverter (See Picture). When the metal lever is slid to the left, rain water is diverted into a 275 gallon storage tank located below the downspout. When all tanks are full, the switch can be slid back for normal drainage.From the main storage tank, we pump and fill a second 275 gallon tank installed above our garden. With that, we can water all of our plants quickly, using gravity and a standard garden hose connected to the tank.To increase capacity and mobility, we are adding a second diverter to the front gutter this year. That will fill a 3rd tank mounted on wheels - giving us the ability to pull water anywhere it's needed with our tractor. That will be a huge time saver when it comes time to water the newly planted grapevines and fruit trees on the hill this year.

Here is a look at the system's components and cost:

Totes: $40 each We found ours for $40 each after searching on Craigslist. You can also check with local food plants that may receive their raw materials in them. One word of caution - make sure you know what was originally in your tanks and that it is safe. Our tanks were used to hold maple syrup and molasses - simple food products that can be cleaned out and re-used. You will want to avoid using tanks that held harsh chemicals. Most tanks come with a 6" threaded cap on top, and a 2" threaded outlet valve at the bottom. You can convert the bottom 2" valve to accept a standard garden hose with a few adapters found at your local hardware store.

Diverter Switch : $15 You can find standard gutter diverters at your local home improvement store for about $15 - they install in minutes with rivets or screws.

Threaded Valve and Hose Adapter: $15 Your local plumbing or hardware store can hook you up with a simple threaded connection valve to convert the 2" drain at the bottom of your tank to handle a regular garden hose. We also installed a ball valve ($10) on our tank for an extra shut off point.

A couple of final notes on collecting and using rainwater:

Keep It Dark: You will want to keep the water from getting direct sunlight to keep algae from growing in the stagnant water. Algae can only grow if there is light. If your tank is translucent like ours, you will want to cover it. We use a black waterproof material (like grill cover material) to cover ours once the summer sun and heat become a problem. Not only does it dress it up, but it keeps the water and the flow line crystal clear.

Keep It Closed Off: No matter what system you use to store your water, you will want to keep it covered. Water that sits is an open invitation to mosquito larvae . Our totes came with 6" caps and lids on the top. We simply cut out the hole for the downspout, and then sealed the edge with some inexpensive foam.

Know What To Use The Water For: We only use our reclaimed water for watering plants or washing off equipment ,etc. Since we do not treat it in any way, we do not use it for drinking.Check to make sure your allowed to collect rain water. It sounds crazy, but in some states out west you are not allowed to collect rain water, as the water rights still belong to the state. So to be on the safe side, check with your local or state government to make sure it's legal where you live.

Happy Gardening!! - Jim and Mary.

If you would like to receive our Gardening / DIY and Farm Updates each week – be sure to sign up to follow the blog via email in the right had column, "like" us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

3 Hours 100 Easy
Old World Garden Farms
Old World Garden Farms Newark, OH
33 Comments | Post Comment | 15540 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 19, 2013
    I am curious as to what happens when the tanks get full? Does the excess rainwater get diverted?
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  • A close up of the finished floor, it almost looks like old leather. 15
  • I did the whole 10 X 12 room for about $80, but any future room will cost about $30. That's cheap flooring! 11
  • Gluing the paper down using a 50% Elmers glue %50 water mixture. This part took forever. 10
  • Here is the paper going on, this is about 10 hours in (spread over multiple days). 6
  • Mopping on the stain. 6
  • After 12 coats of poly! I know people say this all the time, but it honestly look much better in real life. It just looks shiny in the pictures. 8
  • See 3 more photos

Paper Bag Floors

If you are in need of new flooring but don't have much money to spend (or even if you do) then this fits the bill! I created this floor out of brown paper, Elmers glue, stain and ...»
polyurethane. It was easy to do (albeit time consuming) and is very durable. This room is 10 X 12 and cost about $80, but future rooms will cost about $30 since I have plenty of leftover supplies. Click through to read the tutorial....http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2013/03/paper-bag-floors-a-tutorial/

Ashley @ Domestic Imperfection
Ashley @ Domestic Imperfe... San Antonio, TX
245 Comments | Post Comment | 143576 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 15, 2013
    Great look!
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  • ideas
  • reclaimed wood top that we refinished and added to an old dresser base to make our kitchen island
to see our whole kitchen:
http://cynthiaweber.com/hoop-top-house/ 4
  • detail of our island top refinished and branded with kents "W" brand. That is also one of his sarved bowls To see more of his work:
http://cynthiaweber.com/rustic-bread-boards-so-wonderful/ 3
  • A great way to upgrade laminate is to use a flat edge... gives the look of granite. to see more of our home http://cynthiaweber.com/hoop-top-house/ 9
  • 12"x24" floor tiles used as countertop. Minimum grout lines and so pretty. Banded with maple. to see the before and after of this project:
http://cynthiaweber.com/the-big-reveal-my-parents-new-kitchen/ 1
  • floor tiles as countertop.banded in maple. http://cynthiaweber.com/the-big-reveal-my-parents-new-kitchen/ 2
  • See 2 more photos

Inexpensive options for beautiful Countertops!

It doesn't always need to be expensive!

I wanted to give a few examples of inexpensive options for beautiful countertops. ...»

Here are three that we have done recently.

The first is a reclaimed top that was on its way to the dump. We refinished it and added it to an antique dresser base to make an island in our kitchen.

The second option is high gloss Laminate... by using a squared off edge instead of the rounded edge we were able to get an appearance more like granite. The example I am showing is also from our kitchen.

Option three is porcelain floor tile.

I recently redid my parents kitchen and used 12"x24" floor tiles for countertop. The surface must be prepped properly and be level. It turned out beautifully. Using large tiles minimizes grout lines. I used a grout very close to the tile colour. We only needed 16 tiles for the whole project.

Link to our kitchen: http://cynthiaweber.com/hoop-top-house/

Link to parents kitchen project: http://cynthiaweber.com/the-big-reveal-my-pa...

#repurpose, #countertop, #renovate,#kitchenisland, #Wood, #Recycle

Cynthia Weber @ A Button Tufted Life...
Cynthia Weber @ A Button ... Canada
30 Comments | Post Comment | 26482 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 14, 2013
    They each look great. Thanks for sharing. Great photos!
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Painting: Has anyone tried this? Turn a painted wall into a dry erase board.

I am planning to try this myself but wanted to see if anyone has already done so to get their input. http://www.sherwin-williams.com/painting-con...
Nest Home Improvement
Nest Home Improvement Raleigh, NC
4 Comments | Post Comment | 320 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 12, 2013
    Frances have you used it yourself? Can you share pictures?
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  • want to make
  • I found her at the thrift store for $5.
  • Wow!!  Doesn't she look so happy??

A Thrifted Shutter Refresh

I found this shutter for $5. If you like chippy, worn, and a vintage look-you are gonna love this shutter. Please visit my blog for more details. meeganmakes.com
What Meegan Makes
What Meegan Makes Las Vegas, NV
4 Comments | Post Comment | 348 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 08, 2013
    Looks great! For those that refinish older painted or varnished items, beware of the lead ...»
    paint hazard. Tips to help safeguard yourself and family can be found here http://www.epa.gov/lead/ and here http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

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  • Great Ideas

Water Heater Maintenance

One of the easier DIY maintenance tasks is draining the sediment from a water heater and testing the Temperature Pressure Releif (TPR) valve. The TPR valve activates when pressure or ...»
temperature gets too high in the tank.

Draining the sediment gets rid of minerals and bits of debris that have gathered at the bottom of the tank. This will help to prevent corrosion, which could cause a leak, and get rid of any bacteria that may be growing.

Check out the video below for instructions.

HomeSpot HQ
HomeSpot HQ Durham, NC
6 Comments | Post Comment | 387 Views
  • Nest Home Improvement
    Commented on Mar 08, 2013
    Great tip! Thanks for sharing.
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