Plates look simple—whether dinner plates in your kitchen or base/top plates in your walls—but small mistakes can cause big headaches. Here are five rules most homeowners bend (or break), and the easy fixes to get it right.
The mistake: Putting the big, heavy ceramic plates on top of smaller ones in the cabinet.
Why it matters: It strains the bottom dishes and risks chips when you pull them out.
Fix: Always nest plates by size—largest on the bottom, lightest on top. Consider a plate rack or vertical divider for easy access.
The mistake: In walls, the bottom plate (sill plate) often goes unsealed against the foundation.
Why it matters: That gap can leak air, moisture, even pests.
Fix: Add a sill gasket or foam sealant between the plate and concrete. It’s cheap insurance against drafts and rot.
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