Vicode Magazine
Your curiosity compass – Explore anything, anywhere.
-
Klahanie and Mirrormont Aren’t Technically Issaquah: What That Means for Your Remodel Permit
Here’s a thing that catches a surprising number of homeowners off guard: your mailing address and your city limits are not the same thing. You can get mail addressed to “Issaquah, WA,” send your kids to Issaquah schools, tell everyone you live in Issaquah, and still not be inside the City of Issaquah at all.…
-
How to Choose a Bathroom Remodeler in Issaquah: 8 Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Hiring the wrong bathroom remodeler is one of the more expensive mistakes a homeowner can make, and around Issaquah it’s an easy one to walk into. Demand on the Eastside is high, lead times are long, and when your only full bath has been torn down to the studs, the temptation to sign with whoever…
-
The Real Reason Hardwood Cups in Older North Carolina Homes (From Someone Who Fixes It)
The first time I saw a cupped floor up close, I thought the boards were swelling for no reason. They had that washboard look, every plank a little raised at the edges and dipped in the middle, so the light caught them wrong as you walked across the room. The homeowner, an older guy in…
-
Building to the 2021 IRC in Naperville: the code details most deck contractors skip
If you hired someone to build a deck in Naperville last year and they handed you a clean set of drawings, there’s a decent chance those drawings are already out of date. Not because anyone did anything wrong. The rules moved. I spend a lot of time writing about home projects in the western suburbs,…
-
Selling Your Durham Home? Why Laminate Is the Smart Pre-Sale Flooring Upgrade
I went into my conversation with Mario Vilchis assuming he’d tell me to put hardwood in before selling. He installs the stuff. It’s in his company’s name. So his first answer surprised me a little: “Depends what you’re trying to do. If you’re selling, sometimes the smart floor is the cheap one done well.” Mario…
-
Do You Need a Panel Upgrade Before Installing a Home EV Charger?
The car arrives in three weeks. The charger is already sitting in a box by the garage door. And somewhere on an owners’ forum, someone has assured the new EV buyer that none of it will work until they spend a few thousand dollars upgrading their electrical panel. Is that actually true? Sometimes. Often not.…
-
What Composite Decking Is Made Of
We are all talking about composite decking, how it’s better than wood, lasts longer, requires a lot less maintenance, it comes in multiple colors, and other benefits that come with it specifically for humid places like Washington State. This humid area that covers Tacoma, Puyallup and Seattle gets a lot of seasonal rain and like…
-
Why Electrical Grounding Is Important in Your Home in Lisle, Illinois
Electrical grounding is about keeping your home safe, and to be more specific it keeps all your appliances safe. It’s one of those components that don’t get much attention until something goes wrong. It gets even more important for people who live in Lisle, IL because of the seasonal storms and the old infrastructure in…
-
The Most Common Mistakes CDL Drivers Make Before Calling for Semi Truck Towing
Being a truck driver isn’t just about driving a semi truck. You will have moments when your truck will break down on in the worst moments and you should be prepared to handle the pressure of missing time and money. This is even more important for owner-operator where besides the time wasted they also have…
-
Top 5 Flooring Companies in Durham, NC
Let’s be honest: inviting a crew into your home to rip up your floors is a big deal. It’s loud, it’s dusty, and it’s a massive investment in the place where you live your life. You’re not just looking for someone who knows their way around a miter saw; you’re looking for a team that…