Weep holes are both positive and negative — they provide ventilation and a welcome mat to mice and more. While necessary for construction, they then become an open door to unwanted animals and pests.

During the construction phase of brick-veneer structures, gaps called weep holes are purposely built into the lower layer of bricks in order to allow the wall to drain and air out. Unfortunately, weep holes give pests free access to the interior of your walls.

Weep holes are the most common method for roaches, rodents, snakes, spiders, scorpions, lizards and others to enter your home. Once inside they can chew on wires, eat your food and spread disease.

Tamlyn Weep Hole Covers provide a solution. The covers can be custom-cut to height, and used with all brick sizes as well as stone and block. To really set them in place, put clear caulk on the top, bottom and sides of the bricks.

Yet, the covers are still easy to remove for cleaning and checking, both recommended every one to two years. The durable, nonreactive material is designed to last the lifetime of the structure.

Not only do Tamlyn Covers keep unwanted guests out, they also earn green points and improve your indoor air quality. Since they contain no pesticides, www.builditgreen.org awards points to Tamlyn for eliminating unwanted elements the natural way; periodic pesticide treatments can still pose hazards.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program accepted the covers, which should help to achieve better indoor air quality by keeping out pests and their allergens and odors.

A few more reasons to cover those weep holes:

— Open/unprotected weep holes are like having 300 open front doors to your home or building, depending on design.

— Mice can enter a structure through a hole as small as one-quarter of an inch.

For new construction, Tamlyn Weep Hole Covers retail for $68 for a box of 40. Retrofit covers range from $42 to $338.

For more information, call 800-334-1676 or visit www.tamlyn.com.

TOILET TATTOOS

Time to change your toilet paper? Why not change the toilet lid while you're at it?

With Toilet Tattoos, altering the look of your lid is as easy as changing the paper.

"I wanted to decorate my toilet in a creative, modern and clean way, but soon realized that toilet decor products had not changed for decades," said inventor Celeste Massullo.

Finding only two options — the dreaded, germ-harboring rug our grandmothers used or a costly, permanent lid — she came up with Toilet Tattoos to "give consumers a contemporary and simple choice to decorate their commode."

Toilet Tattoos are the only lid embellishment on the market that is removable, reusable and wipes clean. You simply peel the tattoo off its backing, place it on the lid and rub out the bubbles. When you are ready for a new one, peel it off, replace on the backing and store it away for next time.

Since they are made from electrostatic vinyl film, they will not harm the toilet lid.

For the holidays, think how fun it would be to have a turkey on your toilet at Thanksgiving and Santa Claus at Christmas. Designs include: classic patterns, wallpaper styles, whimsical themes, floral scenes, seasonal and holiday motifs. If you don't find a certain pattern, the company can produce original paintings or photographs for your lid-toppers.

Toilet Tattoos retail for $10; they are available in two styles to fit either a round or elongated toilet lid.

For more information, call 330-468-3226 or visit www.toilet-tattoos.com.

Maggie Reed may be reached at trocar2000@hotmail.com. To find out more about Maggie Reed, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.