DIY Life

All homes have exterior surfaces that are designed to protect the home from the elements. There are many different types, but the two general ones are brick and siding. Some homes have a combination of the two.

If you're giving your home a face lift, you have choices. Let's talk about the many types of siding.

Cedar Siding for the Home

Western Red Cedar siding is the type most commonly used. It's a natural product, known for its beauty and durability. For energy efficiency, rigid foam sheathing may be applied prior to installing the siding. If this option is taken, kiln-dried cedar siding should be used, because of its stability.

Sunday is Father's Day and, yes, despite what your dad (or spouse) says, he probably does want a gift. Time to shop!

First piece of advice: skip the big box stores unless you're utterly desperate. Check out their websites and you'll see what I mean. Lowes has a pretty good Father's Day gift-finder page. You can search products based on the type of dad you have. (Lawn dads, wood-working dads, etc.) However, it's hardly inspiring stuff. Example: their suggestion for the dad who has everything? A gift card.

The Home Depot does a little better with its online gift center, but the suggestions are uniformly dull... or just plain stupid. I mean, do you know anyone who would buy dad a $699 pressure washer for Father's Day? Oh, but it's not just Home Depot and Lowes pitching dumb Father's Day gift ideas. Amazon: come on!

In cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fingerhut Direct Marketing has issued a voluntary recall of about 1,900 Master Craft pressure washers. The motor on the pressure washer can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Although no injuries have been reported, Fingerhut has received four reports of smoke coming from the unit, and one report of fire.

Manufactured in China and sold exclusively through Fingerhut catalogs and Fingerhut.com from July 2007 through March 2008 for about $100, this recall involves Master Craft pressure washers with a yellow housing and the Master Craft name printed on the side of the unit. Please see the CPSC press release for more information.

Consumers are advised to stop using the pressure washer, unplug it and return the product to Fingerhut for a refund or replacement product. Fingerhut is directly contacting owners of the pressure washer and providing a pre-paid shipping label for the consumer to return the recalled product.

For more information, contact Fingerhut Direct Marketing at (866) 931-5417 or visit their website at www.fingerhut.com.