Home Repair Headaches

Home Depot Trip #23

You probably know if you're cut out to be a handyman -- and if you're not.

While I consider myself to be a smart individual, that doesn't seem to be particularly helpful when it comes to replacing a broken storm window that's been on my to-do list for the last few weeks.

I took the measurements over the weekend, and finally had a chance to stop at Home Depot yesterday.

After flagging a salesperson -- no small accomplishment -- I told told him what I was looking for: "a combination, exterior storm window to go with a 1937 double-hung, Denison window," I announced, and proceeded to give him the measurements.

"Opening size, or unit size?," the salesperson asked.

"Umm, uh . . I can't remember," I admitted with a trace of defeat.

Trip #2

A round-trip home and a half-hour later, I had the answer: "unit size!," I announced, definitively.

"Flange to flange?," the salesperson asked.

I suppose if I knew what a flange was, I could have fielded the question correctly.

Instead, I got a brief demonstration, and set out to really get it right this time, absolutely no more screwing around.

Trip #3

Another 30 minutes later, I was back with the answer.

So, what could I have possibly left out now?

"Vinyl or aluminum?," the salesman asked helpfully. "And was it 2-track or 3-track?"

At this point, I either started crying or breaking things -- I don't recall which -- and ultimately left the store.

Three trips down, twenty-three more to go??

Organic Gardening Tip

Weeding Secret

This may very well be the first, last, and only gardening tip on this blog -- my thing is more the business end of real estate, with the occasional economics riff. However, this one's too good to not pass along (or, it may just be that I'm a gardening idiot and have never heard of it).

I'm trying to get rid of some weeds popping up through the flagstone in our patio, and wanted something that would be effective, but not so toxic that it would pose a threat to our little kids (and new puppy).

I was literally trying to choose amongst half a dozen or so similar-looking products, when a Home Depot floor rep asked if I needed help. Her suggestion: pour hot water on the weeds!

P.S.: I'm sure this post will provoke some skepticism -- not about the advice, but the fact that a Home Depot floor rep asked if I needed help (true) . . .