DIY Network

Lawn and Garden and Manufactured Homes From "Talk2DIY Home Improvement" episode TTD-436F

Hosts Brad Staggs and Lynda Lyday get right into the questions --

Stopping Soil Erosion

Problem: How can I prevent soil erosion?

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	Figure A
	Figure B

Solution:

• First, you need to put landscape fabric in the eroded area.

  
  

• Cover the area with river rocks, which will keep the water from rushing at such a fast pace.

  
  

• Another option is building a concrete drainage slope. Add rocks in the concrete to slow down the water.

Squirrel Detergent

Problem: Do you have any ideas on deterring squirrels from my yard?

Solution:

• Marigolds may help deter the squirrels because they don't like the smell. An even stronger determent would be to sprinkle ground up peppers around the area.

  
  

• A mixture of Tabasco and water would also be good to spray on the plants. Be sure to wear gloves when handling the hot sauce or peppers.

  
  

• You could also distract the squirrels from your plants by adding a feeder (figure A) a few feet away from your plants.

  
  

• Another idea is to try a harmless trap (figure B) to trap them -- then you can relocate the animals elsewhere.

DIY Tip:

• Squirrel proof any bird feeder by installing a baffle. Tube feeders can be protected with a wire cage type baffle. Pole feeders can benefit from the half circle type made from sturdy plastic or metal. Install it several feet off the ground with the half circle facing down. You can make your own baffle using metal roof flashing.

Figure C

Installing a French Drain

Problem: How do you install a French drain?

Solution:

• First, get a good trenching shovel and dig a 10-12" wide and deep trench.

• Fill the trench with gravel almost to the top and then add a 1/2" layer of sand and then cover with sod.

• Another option would be to fill the trench halfway with gravel, and then install a perforated PVC pipe (figure C) and cover with landscape fabric. The pipe should be slightly angled so that the water will flow properly from the problem area.

Raised Beds in Gardens

Problem: How do you make a raised flower bed?

Solution:

• There are different kinds of joint and platform options available. Railroad ties connected with rebar is a good option. If using pressure-treated wood, line the insides with 5-mil plastic to protect you from the chemicals in the pressure-treated wood. Punch holes along the bottom to allow soil drainage. You could also add some wire mesh netting to keep small animals from burrowing underneath.

• Blocks and stones are also available to make a bed -- the look you want and the amount of money you are willing to spend will dictate what you decide to use.

• No matter what is surrounding the bed, the key to a successful raised bed is good organic soil.

Figure D

DIY Outdoor Waterfall

Problem: Can you provide information on installing an outdoor waterfall?

Solution:

• Kits are available (figure D) that include everything needed to build a waterfall, or you can buy the rocks, liner and pump separately.

• Create levels with land or pressure treated wood. You want the water to puddle and then fall over.

• Cleaners are available to keep the water clean. Foam sealant is also available to keep the water moving over the rocks you want it to go over.

Water Coming Through Window

Problem: Water is coming through a window of our manufactured home. What could be causing this?

• Look on the top of your roof and see if the water is traveling down from the roof. It could be coming from the roof instead of the window.

• Your window may also need to be sealed. There is putty tape sealant that will fit between the window and wall.

• If you have an older manufactured home and the roof leaks, consider building a freestanding roof over the existing one. You can built it around the entire home, and be sure to secure the posts in concrete.

Painting Exterior

Problem: What is the best way to paint the exterior of a manufactured home?

Solution:

• The exterior could be metal, wood or vinyl siding.

• First, clean the siding really well with a pressure washer and let it dry.

• Next, prime the siding with a primer meant for siding, then paint with a high quality paint. Roll, brush or spray the paint onto the siding.

Changing out Walls

Problem: We need to change out a wall in our manufactured home. What is the best way to do that?

Solution:

• Affecting the exterior load bearing walls is not a good idea and not recommended by experts.

• If you wanted to add to the thickness of the wall for the sake of thickening the insulation -- you can do that with metal or wood frames; however, this would make the room smaller.

• Attach 2 x 2 studs to the existing studs to give you an inch and a half more room, 2 x 4 studs will give you 3-1/2".

• Once you do this, remember to frame around your doors and windows too.

Figure E

Replacing Gutters on Mobile Home

Problem: The gutters on our mobile home are sagging? What could be causing this?

Solution:

• If the gutters are sagging at the joints, that means there is too much water that is holding at the joints.

• Check your down spouts and gutters for debris that could be clogging the water and keeping it from draining through.

• Once cleaned, reinforce the joints with silicone or joint sealant.

• For a more expensive fix, there are roofing systems available for manufactured homes (figure E) that you can use to replace your existing roof.

Is Aluminum Wiring Safe?

Problem: How safe is aluminum wiring?

Solution:

• Aluminum wiring was outdated in the 70s because it easily oxidizes and creates a fire hazard.

• There is an oxidation inhibitor compound that you can add onto a pigtail and then attach the pigtail to the outlet. If you are dealing with any electrical problem, be sure to contact a professional.

  DIY Tip:

• The higher the number of electrical circuits you have in a manufactured home, the better. If there is more than one circuit serving the kitchen, for example, you are less likely to overload those circuits and trip the circuit breaker.

Utilizing Renewable Energy (Wind Power)

Problem: How do you utilize renewable energy?

Solution:

• The key is to have a wind turbine that operates on lower wind speeds, but still can withstand higher gusts. You can research Websites and information that pertains to your area to match your climate.

Extra DIY Tips:

• Keep your garden tools standing conveniently at attention by installing a pole in the garden bed. Attach cans with the tops and bottoms cut out using nails or screws, and slide your long-handled tools in place. Cans with the bottoms intact, make a great holder for small tools.

• Here is a nifty way to store your garden hose. Waterproof an old wooden toy chest, drill a hole in the back, and line the bottom with a scrap piece of vinyl flooring. Then, just run a garden hose through to your spigot. Now you have a decorative place to keep you garden hose and sprinklers out of the way.

RESOURCES :

Ultimate Pond Products Waterfall Kit
L & W Stone Corporation
Toll-free: 800-346-9739
Website: www.lwstone.com

Karcher Pressure Washer
Karcher, Inc. USA
2170 Satellite Blvd., Suite 350
Duluth, GA 30097
Toll-free: 800-537-4129
Website: www.karcher.com

Pro-Handle
Trentco Innovations
44 Hoffman Rd.
Toll-free: 800-461-6488
Fax: 516-355-0707
Website: www.fstrentco.com

GUESTS :

Jamie McMurray
Simply Green
Santa Monica, CA
Phone: 310-403-1925
E-mail: smplygrn@aol.com