Today’s Homeowner Radio Show | May 28, 2022

In this week’s radio display, we’re giving advice on how to eliminate a tripping hazard, offer with mason bees and deal with tree root troubles.

Eradicating a Tall Concrete Threshold

The attached garage in Thomas Boyd’s Dimond Bar, Calif., household was developed with a stem wall, which makes the threshold at the doorway way too tall. To enter, a particular person has to action up and more than the virtually 6-inch threshold. 

He wants to know the very best way to take away this tripping hazard.

I have seen scenarios like this in advance of created a large amount superior by developing a ramp. Pour concrete on the outside of the stem wall for a four or five-foot ramp. But that is not serving to if the inside of ways back again down.

The stem wall can be slash out. I would clear away the doorway and the body then use a aspect grinder to lower on every facet to extend the jamb down. Then, score the base of the stem wall to make it simpler to hammer out. 

Finally, just take a sledgehammer to split off the stem wall at the slab. As prolonged as there isn’t any rebar heading by way of that, it ought to be simple to eliminate.

If you use the similar door, there’ll be about a 6-inch void on the top of the doorway frame. To fill that place, place ornamental crown molding on top rated of the doorway, the two within and out. This will make it glance intentional. Or, you could get a tailor made door, but that will be a pricier possibility.

Skip to [21:25] for the complete phase on the Today’s Home-owner Radio Clearly show.

Dealing With Mason Bees

A caller suggests mason bees are consuming the brick mortar of her household and nesting within. She wishes to know how to evict them the moment and for all. 

To start with of all, the mason bees aren’t in fact feeding on the mortar. They are nesting within cracks and crevices that are now in the mortar. 

They are called mason bees because they’re cavity-nesting bees. They’ll make their properties in any small gap, crevice, crack, or tunnel.

For the bees to be nesting within her brick mortar, the cracks have been now there in the initially place. The long-term answer will be to fill any spots in the mortar that are open.

Really don’t use any pesticides to consider to do away with them. These bees are beneficial to your back garden because they are pollinators. 

Mason bees glimpse like honey bees but they really don’t create honey. And unlike honey bees, they never stay in colonies.

To maintain the bees from nesting in your brick mortar, you can develop a bamboo mason bee property. Glue parts of bamboo alongside one another in a body and cling them in a tree next to your house.

Skip to [44:05] for the full section on the Today’s House owner Radio Demonstrate.

Tackling Tree Root Troubles

Tree roots are interrupting a caller’s mowing program and pushing pavers out of position. Here’s what she wants to do.

If the grade of your property permits, put a few of inches of soil on prime of the roots and plant some grass seed so you can mow in excess of it.

If the roots are protruding also significant for grass to improve around it, plant some groundcover plants or spread mulch all-around them. That way, you will not will need to get worried about mowing that area.

For the roots in close proximity to the pavers, get in touch with an arborist in advance of you cut them. Some trees can tolerate their roots remaining slash, but it can kill other people. 

If the roots can be lower, pull up the pavers, slice the root out, then backfill it and substitute the pavers.

Skip to [1:07:04] for the comprehensive phase on the Today’s Home owner Radio Show.

Also on this episode:

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Other Solutions and Hyperlinks Outlined

Further Examining