S.E. Smith

S.E. Smith

S.E. Smith is a writer, agitator, and commentator based in Northern California, with a journalistic focus on social issues, particularly gender, prison reform, disability rights, environmental justice, queerness, class, and the intersections thereof, with a special interest in rural subjects. International publication credits include work for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, and AlterNet, among many other news outlets and magazines. Assisted by cats Loki and Leila, smith lives in Fort Bragg, California.

Building a Tall Fence to Block Noise

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

There’s nothing quite as lovely as relaxing in the backyard on a nice summer day, drinking lemonade and watching the bees buzz among your flowers. Oh, except for the horrendous...

Options When There Are Splinters in Your Wood Floor

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

With the test of age, every wood floor can start to develop splinters, especially in high-traffic areas like that spot under your desk you’re abusing with a rolling chair. Splinters...

Replacing Gutters and Fascia

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

All that water on your roof has to end up somewhere, which is where your pals the gutters come in. Collecting and diverting rainwater ensures it won’t end up soaking into the...

What to Think About Before Starting a Home Addition Project

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

Your kids want their own rooms, you need a home office, or you’re finally thinking about bumping out the kitchen to make some more room for entertaining. Welcome to the wild...

Help! I Need a Handyman!

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

Find yourself thinking “I need a handyman” when you’re facing down a household task? Handypeople can be fantastic for helping you out with projects large and small,...

A propane tank attached to a gas line in the Canadian Rockies. Photo:  Angelique Eeek/Flickr.

Estimating the Cost of Installing a Gas Line

Posted by S.E. Smith | May 17, 2013

The cost of installing a gas line can run from a few hundred dollars to into the thousands, depending on the type of job involved. And this is the type of job you want done correctly...

EHStock/istockphoto.com

How to Replace a Dead Electrical Switch

Posted by S.E. Smith | Jan 10, 2013

Replacing a light switch is a very easy do it yourself task, whether you need to replace a dead switch or you want to upgrade a switch to add a dimmer or other features. As with any...

You can keep your style while eliminating clutter. (Photo: istockphoto.com)

Staging Your Home While You Live There

Posted by S.E. Smith | Dec 24, 2012

Staging a home to sell while living in it can feel exhausting; you want it to look nice for buyers who might pop by any time, but you also don’t want to feel like you live in...

Do you need a range like this to sell your house? Maybe not. (Photo: Sisoje/istockphoto.com)

Evaluating the Resale Value of a New Stove

Posted by S.E. Smith | Dec 16, 2012

Whether you’re replacing a stove that has given up the ghost or updating an existing model, there are a lot of considerations that should factor into your purchase decision. As...

An Italian Greyound enjoys the great outdoors. (Photo: sushitsavo/flickr)

How to Be an Eco-Friendly Pet Owner

Posted by S.E. Smith | Dec 15, 2012

Those of us who are fond of the environment and our pets sometimes feel like eco-traitors, thanks to the periodic stories about how pets are ecologically unsound and we’re singlehandedly...