<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Rick Kelley Builders]]></title><description><![CDATA[Family-owned, second-generation design + build remodeling serving Columbus and Central Ohio since 1980.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:36:41 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Smart Home Remodeling: Plan the Infrastructure Before the Gadgets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Smart-home technology changes fast. The wiring, power and network inside your walls do not. Here’s what to plan during a remodel so the house stays useful long after today’s gadgets are outdated.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/smart-home-remodeling-infrastructure</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a944a3a21ca4b8be9686f05</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:20:26 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Water Dripping From a Bathroom Exhaust Fan?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Water at a bathroom fan does not automatically mean the roof is leaking. In cold weather, condensation inside the exhaust duct can be the culprit.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/water-dripping-bathroom-exhaust-fan</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb711</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[GFCI Outlets: What the Heck Are They?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Those TEST and RESET buttons are there for a reason. Here’s what a GFCI does, where you commonly see one and why a failed test deserves attention.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/gfci-outlets-home-safety</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb70b</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bathroom Exhaust Fans: More Important Than You Think]]></title><description><![CDATA[A bathroom exhaust fan does much more than clear a foggy mirror. Proper ventilation helps manage moisture and protect the room around it.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/bathroom-exhaust-fans-ventilation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb70e</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Quartz, Quartzite or Granite? What’s the Difference?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Quartz, quartzite and granite can all make beautiful countertops, but they are very different materials. Here’s what homeowners should know before choosing one.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/quartz-quartzite-granite-countertops</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb710</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Water in the Basement? Start Outside.]]></title><description><![CDATA[When water shows up in a basement, the problem may begin outside. Grading, gutters and downspouts are often the first places worth looking.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/basement-water-grading-gutters-drainage</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb70f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Luxury Vinyl Flooring: Why Is It Everywhere?]]></title><description><![CDATA[LVP and LVT have become common in kitchens, basements and busy homes. Here’s why—and what to look at before assuming every vinyl floor is the same.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/luxury-vinyl-flooring-lvp-lvt</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb70c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Cold Weather Reminder: Disconnect the Garden Hose]]></title><description><![CDATA[A frost-free exterior faucet can still freeze if a hose prevents it from draining. One simple fall chore can prevent a surprisingly expensive problem.]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/winterize-frost-free-hose-bib</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a94450563729de8ec7cb70d</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:00:52 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Light a Kitchen Without Turning It Into an Operating Room]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kitchen lighting is one of those things homeowners notice most when it is wrong. Too dark and you are chopping onions in your own shadow. Too bright and the room starts to feel like somebody should be asking you to say ahhh. Start With Layers A good kitchen usually needs more than one kind of light. Ambient lighting handles the general room, task lighting helps you actually see what you are doing, and accent lighting adds depth and highlights the parts of the kitchen worth looking at. Task...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/kitchen-lighting-remodeling-guide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92f0749a9d52caa73ff211</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:57:10 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Small Bathroom, Big Ideas: Making Every Inch Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[Small bathrooms have a special talent for making perfectly normal people perform sideways gymnastics around towel bars, cabinet doors and each other. The good news is that a small footprint does not have to mean a frustrating bathroom. Use the Walls When floor space is limited, go vertical. Shallow floating shelves, wall-mounted cabinets and a well-planned medicine cabinet can add storage without making the room feel crowded. The key word is shallow: storage should help, not become another...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/small-bathroom-remodeling-ideas</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92f0749a9d52caa73ff210</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:57:05 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[As the Ceiling Fan Turns: Which Direction Should It Spin?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ceiling fans aren't just for summer, and they aren't only there to drown out a snoring spouse who sounds like a walrus with a head cold. Used correctly, they can make a room feel more comfortable in both heating and cooling seasons. Summer: Create a Breeze In warm weather, you generally want the fan blowing air downward so you can feel the breeze. Standing beneath the fan and looking up, that commonly means counterclockwise rotation. The moving air creates a wind-chill effect on your skin, so...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/ceiling-fan-direction-summer-winter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92f00e40e0fd5137c9b997</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:58 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Spring Home Maintenance Checks Worth Doing]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spring has a way of exposing everything winter did to your house while you were busy pretending not to notice. A little time walking around the house now can catch small problems before they become expensive ones. Start at the Top Take a look at the chimney, roof and gutters. Check the chimney cap, masonry joints and siding or trim around the chimney. From the ground, look for shingles that are cracked, buckled, loose or missing. Central Ohio wind is remarkably good at rearranging things that...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/spring-home-maintenance-checklist</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92f00e40e0fd5137c9b998</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:51 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[It's HOT Outside... Please Stop Torturing Your Air Conditioner!]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you've stepped outside this week, you've probably noticed it's hot. Not “grab another glass of lemonade” hot. More like “I walked to the mailbox and now I need a shower” hot. Homeowners remember all kinds of maintenance—lawns, cars, dogs, even houseplants—but the air conditioner often gets ignored until it quits. And on the hottest days of summer, that can get expensive fast. Your Outdoor Unit Needs to Breathe The outdoor condenser has thin aluminum fins designed to release heat from...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/summer-air-conditioner-maintenance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92ee8b4f7694ed1eda283e</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:45 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Do I Really Need a Permit for This?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Permits aren't usually the part of a remodeling project anyone gets excited about. Nobody has ever called us and said, “We can't wait to see the paperwork.” But permits, inspections and proper licensing matter. They're part of making sure the work in your home is done safely, legally and in a way that won't become somebody else's unpleasant surprise later. Why Permits Exist Building codes establish minimum standards for things like structure, electrical work, plumbing, mechanical systems and...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/do-i-need-a-remodeling-permit</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92e6c840e0fd5137c9a6a0</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:39 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[In the Dog House: Remodeling With Pets in Mind]]></title><description><![CDATA[We spend a lot of time thinking about how a remodeling project will work for the people who live in a house. But in plenty of homes, the people aren't the only ones with opinions. Pets have an impressive ability to turn ordinary design decisions into very practical questions. Where will the food bowls go? Can an older dog handle that flooring? Is there a good place for a pet gate that doesn't make the house look like a kennel? And is there somewhere a dog can watch the entire neighborhood...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/remodeling-with-pets-in-mind</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92e6c840e0fd5137c9a6a1</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:33 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Your House Is Thirsty: Whole-House Humidifiers, Healthier Humans (and Pets), and Happier Woodwork]]></title><description><![CDATA[After finishing a top-to-bottom remodel of our own house, winter provided a useful reminder that the things nobody photographs can matter just as much as the things everybody photographs. Our whole-house humidifier wasn't doing its job. Humidity Matters to the House, Too Very dry indoor air can be uncomfortable for people and pets, and seasonal moisture changes can also show up in wood floors, trim and other materials. A whole-house humidifier works with the home's heating system to add...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/whole-house-humidifiers-healthier-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92e62a40e0fd5137c9a53e</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:27 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[MERV Ratings Explained: Why the “Best” Furnace Filter Might Actually Be the Wrong One]]></title><description><![CDATA[Buying a furnace filter shouldn't feel like taking the SAT, but the wall of MERV ratings at the hardware store can make it seem that way. The important thing to know is that a higher number isn't automatically better for your house. What a MERV Rating Actually Means MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. Higher-rated filters can capture smaller airborne particles, but they also tend to make it harder for air to move through the filter. Your heating and cooling system was designed...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/merv-ratings-explained-furnace-filter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92e62a40e0fd5137c9a53f</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:19 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Remodeling Our Own Home: What Happens When the Contractor Becomes the Client]]></title><description><![CDATA[After more than two decades in the home building and remodeling business, I’ve helped a lot of families reimagine their homes. Then my wife and I bought a 1968 house and decided to remodel the entire thing ourselves. Apparently knowing exactly what a whole-house remodel involves does not prevent you from saying, “Sure, let’s do all of it.” A True Whole-House Transformation This was not a countertops-and-paint project. Our team rebuilt the house from top to bottom: a new kitchen, remodeled...]]></description><link>https://www.rickkelleybuilders.com/post/remodeling-our-own-home-contractor-becomes-client</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a92e5dd40e0fd5137c9a492</guid><pubDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:56:13 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Rick Kelley Builders</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>