BobVila.com

Before starting your next paint job, have your tools ready. For the prep, you'll need putty, a putty knife, sandpaper, masking tape, drop cloths, wash buckets, rags and liners. You may also need a step ladder for those hard to reach areas. Of course, you will also need the right brushes and rollers for the job.

Steve Forman from Redi-Exit joins Bob to talk about the extruded-aluminum escape ladder from Redi-Exit that is installed at the Rowley home. Forman stresses that secondary exits from bedrooms would greatly reduce fire deaths in this country. Smoke detectors can alert the residents, but only a means of escape can save them. For around $1100 this latching, fully mounted ladder can carry up to 800 pounds in case of emergency.

The huge space that is the kitchen of the Manhattan Brownstone has received its finishing details. Basaltina stone covers the counters, island, desk area, and built-in bar. There is a large double-door utility closet that houses the washer and dryer, as well as brooms and cleaning supplies. The custom cabinetry has a classic wainscoting profile and an off-white catalyzed finish. There is floor-to-ceiling storage that will need to be accessed, perhaps with a library ladder to traverse the space. Project manager Chris Vila shows Bob the built-in bar space that is designed to look like a butler's pantry, complete with glass-front cupboards and restoration-glass inserts from Bendheim. The Sub Zero 42-bottle capacity wine fridge is compatible with the home's security system to safeguard precious wine collections and block access.

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. While it s a job many of us would love to ignore, gutter cleaning is an important twice-a-year ritual all homeowners need to adopt. When clogged gutters overflow, they can cause ice dams on the roof that force water inside your house. They can also get so heavy that they ll pull the gutters loose and rot the trim and siding. Even if your gutter doesn t fill to overflowing each season, leaving any decaying debris in there is an invitation to carpenter ants and mosquitoes. If you have a lot of trees around your house, you might want to clean your gutters even more frequently. There are lots of ways to do the cleaning. You can find inventions like tongs on an extension pole, shop vacuums with gutter nozzles or even a remote-controlled gutter-running robot. But most methods eventually involve getting on a ladder. If you have gutters above the first story or aren t comfortable on a ladder, you re better off hiring a pro. To clean your gutters yourself, wear gloves, a dust mask and safety goggles. Make sure your ladder is well-footed at all times and use a ladder stabilizer, or stand-off, to keep from denting and damaging your gutters. Scoop the debris into a garbage bag with a garden trowel, then rinse toward the downspout with a high-pressure nozzle on your hose and scrub it clean. Try to avoid spattering the siding in the process. Next, clear the downspouts with a hose or auger. Installing leaf strainers at the drain tops will cut down on the large clogs. When it rains, check for leaks and mark them with a china marker so you can patch holes or correct pitch problems when it s dry. There s debate about whether gutter caps or screens are worth the investment of up to $7 a running foot. Because nothing keeps all debris out, you still have to have your gutter cleaned every couple of years at least, and screens and caps make it much more difficult and expensive to do it. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. If you re looking for ways to personalize your space and you re ready to go a step further than a simple coat of paint, try faux finishing. Faux, French for false, finishing techniques were developed centuries ago to evoke the feeling of expensive, elegant finishes without the extravagant expense. With just paint, glaze and a few simple tools, you can create the look of marble, leather, malachite, parchment, silk, even gold leaf on walls or furniture. You could even wood-grain a plain white door to look like mahogany. The possibilities are endless, but you ll want to develop your technique on practice boards first. Also, it helps to have a sample or a close-up photograph of the actual material you re imitating to use as a guide. The best tools are the simplest. Start with everyday paint supplies. You ll need an angled 2 nylon brush for cutting in, cotton rags, painter s tape and a good multi-purpose ladder. The tools for faux finishing are often things you already have at home such as a natural sea sponge, cheesecloth, combs, rags and feathers. Your biggest investment will probably be a variety of artist s brushes for veining, stippling, color washing and a badger brush for softening. Most techniques are variations on the same process. First, carefully clean, prep and prime your surface. Then, apply the base color using good-quality latex paint and let it dry completely. Apply a coat of untinted, faux technique glaze mixed with water and latex paint in the color you want. Then, tool it, sponge it, rag it, drag it or blend several colors according to the technique you re going for. Blend with a badger brush to soften any hard lines. Add veins, details or stippling last, and seal with a coat of polyurethane to protect your hard work. There are lots of great faux finishing books and web sites where you can find instructions for painting just about any finish you can think of. Or, try making one up yourself! Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Our lives are increasingly busier these days, and it s hard to find spare time. Unless you have a home project that you d get a lot of enjoyment out of doing, it s worth considering calling on a professional for some of the routine tasks, like housecleaning and lawn care. There are some very good maid services out there, but be sure you check references and the company or individual s insurance before you hire. A visit just every two weeks could save your sanity and a lot of your time. A small landscaping crew can make light work of the jobs that usually take you all weekend. You can hire them weekly or just seasonally, and your plants will thank you. Why not stay off the ladder and hire someone to clean out the gutters and wash the windows? Keep the names and numbers handy of a good small jobs contractor and appliance service provider for those last-minute repairs. Establish a regular appointment schedule for HVAC tune-ups, gutter cleaning and other household services. Important maintenance will get done on time automatically, and you ll have a better chance of catching problems early. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008