2017 was a tumultuous year in so many ways. The country is reeling from so many unpopular changes and some are directed at homeowners. My family has been dealing with numerous problems involving health and legal issues. It's a time to remember I'm part of the sandwich generation and so reviewing the list of visitor top picks of the year is a nice counterbalance.
It's wonderful to see that some of the favorites written years ago, continue to top the list. It's also rewarding to see new articles jump to the top of the list among 1,400 published blog posts.
From Top Down, the Top Picks of the Year 2017
Here they are, the 10 top picks of the year here at HomeTipsforWomen.com.
#1 – Paint Finishes: Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Gloss? shows that homeowners still find painting a room among the easiest ways to give their homes a fresh look.
#2 – Is Building a Garage Addition a Smart Investment? continues to amaze me as most new houses have a garage. That means most of these readers live in older homes and/or we're Is Building a Garage Addition a Smart Investment?
#3 – Installing Curtains: Where Do I Hang Them? is one of my favorite articles because of the story behind why I wrote it. When I owned my handyman business, I started selling my newsletter articles to other handyman owners across the country. One of my subscribers called asking for help. One of her handymen was trying to install curtain rods … and didn't know where to place them.
No I didn't have this article written, so I started looking for the information I wanted. It wasn't easy to find because most websites focus on selling window treatments and curtain rods. It probably took more than 20 articles to collect what I needed and while this post hasn't gone viral, it certainly is worth the time I invested in writing it.
PS When I discovered a frozen kitchen sink water pipe, I first opened the cabinet doors underneath. I was thankful to find pex tubing, yeah! First I emptied the cabinet so warm air could reach the pipe running along an outside wall. Next I turned the faucet on so I'd know when the ice had melted. After eight hours the faucet started dripping so I knew we had avoided a burst pipe and water damage. Pex is more flexible than copper pipe so if you're having any plumbing work done at your house, ask about switching to pex.
#5 – Rotted Window Sill & Estimating Repair Costs is a huge problem for many homeowners. Having learned so much when I ran my handyman business, I'm grateful that so many readers have found this article and others helpful.
#6 – Window Sizes: How Big? How Tall? is a new article that's become very popular. It was written to help homeowners understand that when you're replacing your windows, you have the opportunity to change the size of the windows. There are also new window ideas gleaned from visiting model homes across the US.
#7 – Shower Door Leaks remains on top so I guess it's a bigger problem than I ever realized. It covers common shower problems with some tips on how to caulk a shower to solve a problem without creating any new problems.
#8 – Caulking Windows Inside & Outside is another relatively new article. I'm thrilled that more homeowners are looking for this information as caulking helps reduce water damage and lower energy costs.
#9 – Blending Traditions from Christmas Around the World is a total surprise. This article is one of 24 interviews I did a few years ago, inviting women business owners to share their favorite traditions … so now I have to see why this more popular than all the others (leave a comment with your ideas).
#10 – Roofing Layers: What's Underneath Your Shingles provides an easy to understand explanation of the layers that sit between the roofing shingles you see, and the framing that supports and holds up your roof.
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