5.Landowners whose property has been logged will welcome you if you ask permission to salvage firewood. Loggers leave behind about 50% of each tree, cluttering landscape but providing you with free firewood. With a chain saw and a wood splitter, you can tailor your firewood to dimensions of your fireplace. There’s considerably less competition for this free firewood in early spring than there is during cooler seasons.

So go ahead and let your thoughts turn to springtime, but get a jump on next fall now, too. When cool weather returns, you’ll be glad to have your seasoned firewood waiting for you.

Susan Penney appreciates simple ways to make our homes renewing spaces for our families. She invites you to visit http://www.FireplaceMall.com for fireplace accessories to serve your fire-less or your fire-filled fireplace.

Holes larger than 2 inches.

With large holes, I recommend cutting out an area such that a new small piece of sheetrock can be applied to 2”x4” studs. For example, I would consider putting in a new 16”x16” piece of sheetrock for a hole that is greater than 2” in diameter and less than 16” in diameter.

The best method to remove piece of damage sheetrock is to use a Carpenters knife (razor blade) and score area where you want to cut out. Repeatedly apply knife until you have worked your way through sheetrock. When complete, you should have about ½” to ¾” of 2”x4” stud showing on each of two exposed studs.

Note: Care should be taken to ensure no wires are cut behind sheetrock when cutting out damaged piece.

Next, cut a piece of new sheetrock to size of hole, and secure with sheetrock screws or ringed sheetrock nails.

Next, tape cracks with mesh tape material mentioned above. Then as described earlier, apply three skim coats of Joint Compound, with each successive coat getting flared out further. Make sure you wait for Joint Compound to dry before applying next coat. Perform a final light sand after final coat has been applied and has had time to dry, and then paint.

Me_Donovan@comcast.net http://www.homeadditionplus.com http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com