Pulling Nails
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: September 1, 2011
Choosing the proper hammer or pry bar will make removing any nail easier, but here's what to do if the nail won't come out.
You can try the fulcrum method -- place a wood block under the hammerhead for leverage -- but even that won't work on a stubborn nail, and it's easy to lose your balance and break the handle doing it.
Instead, try this:
First, slip the nailhead as far as it will go into the hammer claw. But, now, instead of pulling the handle straight back, roll it over to the side.
The hammerhead will act as a leverage block to help extract the nail. If the nail doesn't come all the way out at first, reposition the claw on the nail shaft close to the board and roll the handle over to the opposite side.
The windows in your home may be responsible for up to 25 percent of your heating and cooling bills. When it comes to energy conservation, most windows don't do a very good job. So, if you want to make your windows more efficient when it comes to saving energy and maintaining the temperature in your home, you might want to take a careful look at your choice of window coverings. Here are a few tips to help you shop smart as you try to save energy with your new window coverings.
- Consider Cellular Blinds- Cellular blinds are an excellent choice for energy saving window coverings. The honeycomb (or cell) that forms when the blinds are lowered traps air within it, providing an extra layer of insulation for your window. Of course the more layers in the blinds and the deeper they are, the better they insulate.
- Keep your colors light - Light colored window coverings help reflect the intense summer sun, keeping the hot air out and your cooler air in. When the weather gets cooler you can open them to let in the light and warmth of the winter sun.
- Keep window direction in mind - Do your windows face south or do you have a harsher western exposure? Consider the direction of your windows as you are looking for the best energy saving window coverings. Windows facing west receive the most intense sun, so as a result they would need greater insulation. Southern facing windows receive a gentler light and therefore need less protection.
- Leave less space when hanging drapes - If you chose to go with energy saving drapes or curtains, be sure to hang them as close to the window as possible. This prevents the air in your room from being affected by the heat or cold outside.
You can try the fulcrum method -- place a wood block under the hammerhead for leverage -- but even that won't work on a stubborn nail, and it's easy to lose your balance and break the handle doing it.
Instead, try this:
First, slip the nailhead as far as it will go into the hammer claw. But, now, instead of pulling the handle straight back, roll it over to the side.
The hammerhead will act as a leverage block to help extract the nail. If the nail doesn't come all the way out at first, reposition the claw on the nail shaft close to the board and roll the handle over to the opposite side.
The windows in your home may be responsible for up to 25 percent of your heating and cooling bills. When it comes to energy conservation, most windows don't do a very good job. So, if you want to make your windows more efficient when it comes to saving energy and maintaining the temperature in your home, you might want to take a careful look at your choice of window coverings. Here are a few tips to help you shop smart as you try to save energy with your new window coverings.
- Consider Cellular Blinds- Cellular blinds are an excellent choice for energy saving window coverings. The honeycomb (or cell) that forms when the blinds are lowered traps air within it, providing an extra layer of insulation for your window. Of course the more layers in the blinds and the deeper they are, the better they insulate.
- Keep your colors light - Light colored window coverings help reflect the intense summer sun, keeping the hot air out and your cooler air in. When the weather gets cooler you can open them to let in the light and warmth of the winter sun.
- Keep window direction in mind - Do your windows face south or do you have a harsher western exposure? Consider the direction of your windows as you are looking for the best energy saving window coverings. Windows facing west receive the most intense sun, so as a result they would need greater insulation. Southern facing windows receive a gentler light and therefore need less protection.
- Leave less space when hanging drapes - If you chose to go with energy saving drapes or curtains, be sure to hang them as close to the window as possible. This prevents the air in your room from being affected by the heat or cold outside.
