When working on an outdoor project in the heat or cold, make sure you're properly dressed.  Have lots of water handy when working in the heat and don't forget your suntan lotion and hat.  I keep my face and shoulders covered to protect against sun damage.  And when you just can't take the heat anymore, go inside to cool off.  Over the years of working in the hot summer heat, I've learned to break between noon and 4 pm to avoid the hottest part of the day.  Of course, when working for clients, this isn't possible.  A hose will cool you off quickly so that you can keep plugging away.

When choosing ladders to purchase and to work with, make sure they are light-weight enough for you to handle without having to wrestle with them.  Wrestling with ladders wears you out and you will lose steam and interest to perform the job.  I prefer the light-weight aluminum ladders because other ladders can be quite heavy.

Safety, safety, safety, Ladies! 

First rule of thumb for any home-improvement project is to keep yourselves safe, intact, and without any resulting injuries.  When working with ladders, or any project for that matter, always make sure you have slip-resistant and well cushioned shoes on.  A friend of mine called me up not too long ago moaning in pain.  When I asked what was wrong, he replied that he slid all the way down an 18-foot ladder and injured his tail bone.  How in the world did that happen?  He was painting in his socks with no slip-resistant shoes on!  So, let's not go there.  Also, when steadying the ladder, make sure the hinges are all the way out and locked.  If not, the ladder could close up on you while you're on it.

When working with any kind of tool, make sure to read all instructions on safety and how to use your tool properly.  When working with any kind of saw, make sure to keep a firm grip on the handle, and keep your fingers and body out of the way of the blade.  This should be in the forefront of your mind each time you use a saw.  And wear safety goggles to keep dust from getting into your eyes.

Safety goggles are good for when using a saw, but also for whenever using toxic products that you do not want splashed in your eyes.  I wear goggles and a baseball cap whenever I paint ceilings to keep the paint out of my eyes and my hair.

Hello and welcome!

Thanks for stopping in to Frenchie's home-improvement consulting for women blog!  The purpose of this blog is to get dialog going on helping women plan, budget, and execute your own home-improvement projects.  With the economy in a slump, it's become necessary for the majority of us to cut down on spending.  You can save a good chunk of monies by doing it yourself.

After years of experience in this field, I've learned that the biggest fear hindering women from undertaking their own home-improvement projects is that they don't believe they can do it.  But, I'm here to tell you that you can!  All you need to do is follow proper safety precautions, have the desire to do it, gain step-by-step knowledge of how to do it , and have the right tools to do it!  Sometimes an extra pair of hands in the form of a spouse or friend can help immensely, but not all projects require an extra set of hands.

So, ladies, feel free to post your questions here, and I'll answer them within 24 hours.