Ask This Old House

Overseeding a lawn using a slice seeder

Roger and Kevin work on improving a lawn with several bare patches using a power "slice seeder." This machine has a "hopper" that holds grass seed. The seed drops down into the bottom of the machine where it’s buried just below the top of the soil. This gives the seed good contact with the soil without the need for hand raking or de-thatching.

Where to find it?

Slice-seeders are available at many rental centers. The one that Roger used is manufactured by:

Ryan (Mataway Overseeder model #544873B)
Commercial Grounds Care, Inc:
One Bob-Cat Lane
Johnson Creek, WI 53038
866-469-1242
www.ryanturf.com

Viewer tip

Richard demonstrated a tip on how to hammer nails in hard-to-reach places using a length of plumbing supply tubing and a carriage bolt.

Where to find it?

Carriage bolts and plumbing supply tubes are available at any hardware store or home center.

A similar tool, called a "Gutter Nail Driver," is manufactured by:

Malco Products, Inc.
PO Box 400
14080 State Highway 55 NW
Annandale, MN 55302-0400
800-328-3530
www.malcoproducts.com


Preparing a home for sale

Kevin and a real estate specialist discuss how to prepare a house for sale. They discuss inexpensive kitchen improvements like adding fresh paint and hardware to kitchen cabinets, a new sink faucet, and under-cabinet lighting. They also discuss how basic landscape improvements can dramatically improve the "curb appeal" of a home. Finally, they review why it may be a good idea for a home seller to have a professional home inspection done before putting the house on the market in order to avoid any last-minute surprises.

Where to find it?

Real estate specialist Robert Schwartz is from Century 21
wwww.century21.com

Finding and fixing a mysterious plumbing leak

Richard helped a homeowner with a mysterious leak that caused a water stain on the foyer ceiling. First, Richard went to the upstairs bathroom and inspected the bathtub and toilet. He also looked at the floor tile and shower door. He then decided to open up the ceiling below to help determine the source of the leak. Using a reciprocating saw, Richard cut out a large, square piece of drywall just below the bathtub and toilet. With the ceiling opened up, Richard determined that neither the toilet nor bathtub drains were leaking. Back upstairs, Richard discovered that water was leaking around the shower door and down through the floor. To fix the problem, Richard installed a "door sweep" on the shower door to prevent water from escaping. He then removed some old tile grout around the base of the tub and applied a bead of silicone caulking, making a watertight seal. Finally, Richard replaced the ceiling drywall below and the repair was complete.

Where to find it?

The new shower door sweep was provided by:

Banner Glass Shelmar
187 Water Street
Wakefield, MA 01880-2527
800-922-1759
www.bannerglassshelmar.com

To repair the ceiling, Richard used drywall and joint compound, which are available at any home center or lumberyard.