I am developing a new model to better help homeowners care for their home and am seeking input.  The survey takes about five minutes to complete and can be found at this link.

The purpose of the survey is to help me research a new business model I am developing.  This model is specific to those that own their own homes and how they handle their maintenance and repair needs.  The  survey is a beginning step in helping me prove (or not) my theory.

Please follow this link to take survey.

If you use social media, please click on the buttons below to share this survey with your networks.

Watch the transformation of this North Carolina home as it goes through a whole house remodel.   I have had the pleasure of documenting the progress of this total house renovation and turned it into a brief video you can watch below.  To start, the house was stripped down to the bare studs, some work was needed to sure up the foundation and flooring system.  It was re-roofed with metal roofing, and re insulated with a ‘green’ foam insulation. The house is nearing completion and I hope to add some updates when it is 100% complete.  The remaining work includes redoing the wood floors, completing the bathroom remodel and installing the new kitchen cabinets and counters.

I was interviewed and quoted in the August issue of Remodeling Magazine, an industry leading journal published by Hanley Wood.  The article highlights pro’s and con’s of accepting credit cards as a form of payment for remodelers and home improvement contractors.

Read the full article .  My quote is below.

Chuck Solomon, president of Remodel & Repair Solutions, in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., gives his customers the option to use credit cards but only via PayPal.com or Google Checkout. “I let the customer know that I add the 2.9% processing fee that I have to pay onto their bill for that convenience,” he says. “These are both very easy to set up and there is no monthly fee involved.”

Solomon points out that he only offers this as a convenience for the relatively few customers who ask to pay by credit card.

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Past tips on how to fix a loose door hinge are often cumbersome and time consuming.These tips often include gluing things like match sticks, golf tees or even tooth picks to tighten a loose hinge. A new solution now exists with the Fringe Screw by Fritan Technology.I recently tried out this product and am pleased with the results.

The Fringe Screw is designed to fix loose interior door hinges caused by stripped screw holes. It features a standard size #9 countersunk head but with oversized threads.Allowing the screw threads to embed in the enlarged or stripped screw hole while the head sits flush in the hinge. The Fringe Screw has the same finished look as a typical hinge screw when installed.It provides a simple, sturdy, quick, and attractive solution to loose door hinges caused by stripped door hinge screw holes and no glue or tooth picks are required.

I spoke with the inventor of this product, Frederick “Fritz” Krach, Engineering Manager with Fritan Technology, the maker of the Fringe Screw. Here is a recap of our conversation.

CHUCK: Tell me a little about your background and training.

FRITZ: I have a Master’s degree in electrical engineering and worked for eight years in the aerospace industry before founding Fritan Technology in 2009.I also have a background in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor.Early in my career I worked for several years as an auto mechanic and was ASE certified.   I became familiar with home maintenance and repairs at a young age by taking care of my parent’s home.I continue to learn more about this everyday as I am in the middle of my own home renovation project.

CHUCK: How did you come up with the idea for the Fringe Screw?

FRITZ: I first became aware of the problem with loose door hinges and stripped screw holes at a job I held when I was a teenager.The front door to the shop was loose and I would see one of the employees taking the loose screws out and stuffing the screw holes with wood shavings.Within a couple months of doing this, the door would be loose again.  Years later, when I had my own house, I had the same problem.I looked for a better solution than the “toothpicks and glue” approach.I tried long screws, but rarely did they seem to find the wood of a wall framing stud.There are two reasons for this: in older homes, such as my own, doors were often installed in large openings and shimmed in place with thick wood planks, resulting in a large distance between the door jamb and the nearest wall stud.Another reason is that door hinge screws do not align well with wall studs.The screw holes on a hinge sit close to the edge of the door jamb near where the casing trim is located.A long screw driven straight through a hinge hole will most likely extend into the wallboard or plaster, not the wall stud.  I needed a better solution, so Fringe Screw was really born out of necessity.After giving the problem some thought, the design just occurred to me: start with a basic hinge screw and make the thread diameter larger, but not so large that it would not fit through the hole in the hinge.

CHUCK: Explain how long it took you to get from initial prototype to a product available for purchase?Any notable hurdles along the way?

FRITZ: The design cycle was around one year for Fringe Screw.The first step was identifying the dimensions for the new screw.This involved a combination of common sense and testing.The design was then turned into a set of manufacturing prints.A physical prototype was difficult to achieve because of cost.We were very careful with the design specifications because of this.The first product run was a success and sold well, but was only produced in a brass finish.Since then, the biggest change we have made is offering Fringe Screw in three finishes, namely, antique brass, bright brass, and satin nickel. The biggest hurdle encountered was finding the right manufacturer for Fringe Screw.It is important to perform due diligence when looking for manufacturers.The success of a product depends on their ability to deliver what has been specified.

CHUCK: Did you do any special product testing for the Fringe Screw?Explain how you tested the product.

FRITZ: We performed two types of testing on Fringe Screw: performance testing and quality assurance testing.Performance testing was carried out to determine how well Fringe Screw would work in its intended application.Examples of what was tested or measured include strength, area of surface contact between screw and hinge, and pull out resistance. Quality assurance testing was performed to ensure that Fringe Screw met its design specifications and was uniformly produced.These tests inspected the dimensions of the screws and the quality of the finish.The objective of quality testing is to make sure that our customers never receive a defective product.

CHUCK: What types of people purchase the Fringe Screw?

FRITZ: Fringe Screw is purchased by both professionals and home/business owners.Professionals that use Fringe Screw include handymen and handywomen, building renovation and remodeling contractors, building maintenance technicians, and locksmiths.Since Fringe Screw does not require special skills or tools to install, home and business owners also purchase it.Men and women alike use Fringe Screw to secure loose doors in their homes and offices.

CHUCK: Where is this product made?

FRITZ: Fringe Screw is made in the USA.It is actually made by two US-owned and operated companies: one that manufactures the screws and another that plates them.Additionally, Fritan Technology is owned and operated in the USA.A purchase of Fringe Screws therefore supports three US companies, in addition to the shipping companies we use.

CHUCK: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

FRITZ: We are pursuing many projects.Our approach is to leverage the visibility our company has received from Fringe Screw and produce other products related to home maintenance and repair.One product we are working on is a picture frame hanger that we call “Framan Hanger.”I do not want to reveal too many details yet, but our goal is to produce a product that is easier to install than existing frame hangers. We are also looking at other fasteners for older homes.One is a wall-mounted hook for hanging pictures that is specially designed for plaster and lath walls.Another product is a ceiling-mounted hook that is designed to be used with really thick ceilings like you would find in an older home where drywall has been installed over an existing plaster and lath ceiling. We also are developing an electronic system that will aid in inventorying items.

CHUCK: Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ product inventor?

FRITZ: My best advice would be to do your homework before investing a lot of money or time.One can do this by first determining how original the idea is.Look through patent applications, store shelves, internet searches, etc. to see if someone else has already invented it.  If the idea is indeed original, then come up with a rough plan as to how it can be achieved.Make sure that the technology needed either exists or is worth the risk of trying to develop.Also make sure it can be manufactured at a cost that would make it profitable. Finally, if your idea is unique and feasible, find out if anyone will buy it.Perform a market analysis and determine who your customers will be.Then reach some of those customers and find out how much they would be willing to pay for the product.If the product is unique, feasible, and capable of generating demand, then it is a winner and should be pursued.If not, then invest time in changing the idea to meet these three requirements or come up with a brand new product idea.

CHUCK:  Thank you for your time!

For additional information and to purchase the Fringe Screw, please go to www.FritanTechnology.com.

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Q: Tell me a little about your background and training.

A: I have a master’s degree in electrical engineering and worked for eight years in the aerospace industry before founding Fritan Technology in 2009.I also have a background in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor.Early in my career I worked for several years as an auto mechanic and was ASE certified.

I became familiar with home maintenance and repairs at a young age by taking care of my parent’s home.I continue to learn more about this everyday as I am in the middle of my own home renovation project.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the Fringe Screw?

A: I first became aware of the problem with loose door hinges and stripped screw holes at a job I held when I was a teenager.The front door to this shop was loose and I would see one of the employees taking the loose screws out and stuffing the screw holes with wood shavings.Within a couple months of doing this, the door would be loose again.

Years later, when I had my own house, I had the same problem.I looked for a better solution than the “toothpicks and glue” approach.I tried long screws, but rarely did they seem to find the wood of a wall framing stud.There are two reasons for this: in older homes, such as my own, doors were often installed in large openings and shimmed in place with thick wood planks, resulting in a large distance between the door jamb and the nearest wall stud.Another reason is that door hinge screws do not align well with wall studs.The screw holes on a hinge sit close to the edge of the door jamb near where the casing trim is.A long screw driven straight through a hinge hole will most likely extend into the wallboard or plaster, not the wall stud.

I needed a better solution, so Fringe Screw was really born out of necessity.After giving the problem some thought, the design just occurred to me: start with a basic hinge screw and make the thread diameter larger, but not so large that it would not fit through the hole in the hinge.

Q: Explain how long it took you to get from initial prototype to a product available for purchase?(Were there) any notable hurdles along the way?

A: The design cycle was around one year for Fringe Screw.The first step was identifying the dimensions for the new screw.This involved a combination of common sense and testing.The design was then turned into a set of manufacturing prints.A physical prototype was difficult to achieve because of cost.We were very careful with the design specifications because of this.The first product run was a success and sold well, but was only produced in a brass finish.Since then, the biggest change we have made is offering Fringe Screw in three finishes, namely, antique brass, bright brass, and satin nickel.

The biggest hurdle encountered was finding the right manufacturer for Fringe Screw.It is important to perform due diligence when looking for manufacturers.The success of a product depends on their ability to deliver what has been specified.

Q: Did you do any special product testing for the Fringe Screw?Explain how or who you tested the product.

A: We performed two types of testing on Fringe Screw: performance testing and quality assurance testing.Performance testing was carried out to determine how well Fringe Screw would work in its intended application.Examples of what was tested or measured include strength, area of surface contact between screw and hinge, and pull out resistance.

Quality assurance testing was performed to ensure that Fringe Screw meet its design specifications and was uniformly produced.These tests inspected the dimensions of the screws and the quality of the finish.The objective of quality testing is to make sure that our customers never receive a defective product.

Q: What types of people purchase the Fringe Screw?

A: Fringe Screw is purchased by both professionals and home/business owners.Professionals that use Fringe Screw include handymen and handywomen, building renovation and remodeling contractors, building maintenance technicians, and locksmiths.Since Fringe Screw does not require special skills or tools to install, home and business owners also purchase it.Men and women alike use Fringe Screw to secure loose doors in their homes and offices.

Q: Where is this product made?

A: Fringe Screw is made in the USA.It is actually made by two US-owned and operated companies: one that manufactures the screws and another that plates them.Additionally, Fritan Technology is owned and operated in the USA.A purchase of Fringe Screws therefore supports three US companies, in addition to the shipping companies we use.

Q: Any plans on the drawing table for new products?

A: We are pursuing many projects.Our approach is to leverage the visibility our company has received from Fringe Screw and produce other products related to home maintenance and repair.One product we are working on is a picture frame hanger that we call “Framan Hanger.”I do not want to reveal too many details yet, but our goal is to produce a product that is easier to install than existing frame hangers.

We are also looking at other fasteners for older homes.One is a wall-mounted hook for hanging pictures that is specially designed for plaster and lath walls.Another product is a ceiling-mounted hook that is designed to be used with really thick ceilings like you would find in an older home where drywall has been installed over an existing plaster and lath ceiling.

We also are developing an electronic system that will aid in inventorying items.

Q: Any advice you can offer a ‘wanna be’ product inventor?

A: My best advice would be to do your homework before investing a lot of money or time.One can do this by first determining how original the idea is.Look through patent applications, store shelves, internet searches, etc. to see if someone else has already invented it.

If the idea is indeed original, then come up with a rough plan as to how it can be achieved.Make sure that the technology needed either exists or is worth the risk of trying to develop.Also make sure it can be manufactured at a cost that would make it profitable.

Finally, if your idea is unique and feasible, find out if anyone will buy it.Perform a market analysis and determine who your customers will be.Then reach some of those customers and find out how much they would be willing to pay for the product.If the product is unique, feasible, and capable of generating demand, then it is a winner and should be pursued.If not, then invest time in changing the idea to meet these three requirements or come up with a brand new product idea.

Shop for home furnishings and Eat for FREE this weekend! April 8 – 10, 2011

Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10, 2011, dine in the restaurant at your local IKEA store and deduct your restaurant receipt total from any home furnishings purchase over $100!

Offer valid Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 11, 2011. Home furnishing purchase amount must be $100 before tax. Restaurant food purchase must be consumed on the premises. Limit one restaurant receipt per store discount. Home furnishing purchase must be made the same day as the restaurant purchase. Offer not valid for Bistro or Swedish food Market purchase. Not valid on IKEA Gift Card purchase. Offer not valid at IKEA Home Shopping.

For further details, please visit Ikea.com.

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I recently authored an article for the website eHow.com.  The article covers the steps on how to hire a home improvement handyman to work on projects on your house.  This article covers seven steps to help make the right decision and hire the best person for your home improvement project.  Only hire those with the proper skills for a particular project.  Remember that hiring an unskilled individual will end up costing more to redo or correct things done improperly.   Read the entire article at eHow.com.

I recently authored an article for eHow.com.  The article covers steps to save on home utility expenses such as electricity, water, natural gas and home heating oil.   Making these improvements will  save money  and help you feel good about being eco-friendly.  The key is to reduce usage of all your utilities.  Many of conservation tips can be done by a handyman or a handy DIYer.

Read the full article at eHow.com.

Tool Box

What is it used for? Hold all of your hand tools, spare parts and other household repair items.  You could also simply use an old duffle bag or other sturdy container.

Price range? $20-50

Hammer

What is it used for? Driving and removing nails.  Demolition work.  Comes in many various types.  Choice an all-purpose claw type hammer.

Price range? $15-35

Screw Driver (flat head style)

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening wood and metal screws.  Are often available in a small set.

Price range? $5-20

Screw Driver (Phillips head style, looks like an “+” sign)

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening wood and metal screws.  Are often available in a small set.

Price range? $5-20

Pliers

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening bolts and other threaded fasteners and cutting and holding wire.  There are several different types of pliers including needle nose, channel lock, locking, electricians, vise-grip and slip-joint.  If you needed to choice one all-purpose one, then select the slip-joint.

Price range? $5-15

Adjustable Wrench (Crescent wrench)

What is it used for? Tightening and loosening nuts, bolts and other threaded fasteners of varying sizes and provides more leverage and griping power than pliers.

Price range? $5-15

Drywall Patch

What is it used for? Applied with the putty knife (see below) to fill holes and

cracks in your   walls.

Price range? $2-3

Putty Knife

What is it used for? Applying putty, drywall patch, filling drywall holes, scraping loose paint from the wall.

Price range? $3-7

Tape Measure

What is it used for? Taking accurate measurements before you cut wood or other items.  Allows for accurate hanging of items on your walls.

Price range? $5-25

Wood Saw

What is it used for? Trimming and cutting wood.  Use with caution.

Price range? $10-25

Utility Knife

What is it used for? Cutting and trimming many items from wood, vinyl, paper etc.  Be sure to get extra blades as they dull with use.  Use with caution.

Price range? $5-10

Level

What is it used for? Ensuring the level of items you may construct or pictures you hang on the wall.

Price range? $10-25

Work Gloves

What is it used for? Keeping your hands protected from cuts and scrapes.

Price range? $5-10

Safety Glasses

What is it used for? Keeping your eyes protected.

Price range? $10-20

Paint Brush

What is it used for? Often times you can touch-up blemishes on your walls

without having to paint the whole room.

Price range? $1-12

Electronic Stud Finder

What is it used for? Finding wall studs for mounting heavy items on your walls.

Price range? $20-$50

Paint Can Lid Opener

What is it used for? Easily opening paint cans.

Price range? Usually free from the place you purchase paint.

I recently contributed a home improvement ‘how-to’ article to ehow.com on how-to replace washing machine hoses.

This is a home maintenance tip that may save your house from getting flooded and all the damage that can cause. Every few years, replace the water supply lines on your washing machine. It will cost about $6 per hose and take a few minutes of your time and may save you thousands of dollars should your water supply break or leak.

Why should I bother? The fact is these hoses are under pressure all the time, even when the washer is not being used. Plus if you are on a city water supply like most of us, the chlorinated water helps to degrade the rubber material the hose is made from overtime.

Learn how to replace washing machine hoses at eHow.com.

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Here is new service that helps organize your business receipts and other paperwork. It’s called ShoeBoxed and it is about getting all your receipts out of the proverbially shoe box and into a usable format. You can even upload your information into QuickBooks!

It is rather simple. You mail your receipts in a postage paid envelop and they scan everything for you. You can view your receipts online and import the data into QuickBooks. It takes the headache out of entering the data yourself or having to pay someone to do data entry. Click the ad below to try it FREE for 30 days.

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