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With 29 years as a journeyman carpenter and jack-of-all-trades, Kelly Smith is a big believer in DIY. He says, “As the owner of a small remodeling company, I also understand the contractor business aspect of home repair.” Whether you’re going to DIY or hire a contractor or handyman, get the information you need here. This column takes a look at drywall, seasonal maintenance, painting, green building, and more.
Owning and installing a home solar power grid system is becoming more affordable as new technologies come onto the market and materials are easier to come by and mass-produced. Before you begin, find out if local and state laws permit home solar panel installations, determine your power needs, get detailed information on local (city, [...]
Solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and riding a bike to work instead of driving are all pretty dramatic lifestyle changes for “going green.” Here are five simple ways to Go Green in 2013 that do not cost much extra money or time. If you are doing a few of these, maybe this is the time to [...]
My backyard is not the typical backyard of most suburbanites, I know. My backyard is productive. Active. Full of life in every sense of the word. It is my oasis away from an overly technical job at the computer. A backyard oasis must, for me, reconnect me with the earth in a hugely tangible way. Animals [...]
Let’s be honest: Vinyl siding often gets a bad rap. You’ve likely heard a few negative things about this versatile cladding material, but do you know what’s fact and what’s fiction? There are going to be pros and cons with any type of material, and vinyl siding is no exception. Let’s cut through the fluff [...]
The kitchen is often the beating heart of a home. Much more than a place where meals are prepared, the kitchen is often the gathering place for the family. It’s where the kids do their homework, where the adults create delicious dinners and riveting discussions take place around the wide countertops. If you’ve got a [...]
Fiber cement siding has become quite popular in recent years, and for good reason — it is a very attractive, highly durable siding that requires virtually no maintenance. In fact, it is so reliable that many companies offer 50-year warranties on the product. Fiber cement siding is definitely a long-term investment for your home. Should [...]
Your windows might seem like they are perfect right now. You can raise them easily, they have sturdy screens, they stay in place, and the look through them is as beautiful as always. Why would you want to replace windows that seem to work just fine? The hidden costs lurking behind that glass Those windows [...]
It’s time. We need a bigger house. We’ve officially filled this house to the max, although some might argue we’d done that when we moved in. We made it work through a mixture of knocking out walls and moving dressers into hallways and generally staying zen about the situation. We’ve been keeping our eye out [...]
You ordered the new vinyl siding, the installer did the work, and now it looks wonderful. But once the contractor leaves, that vinyl siding is in your hands. What happens if something goes wrong? It is important to fix vinyl siding problems quickly to prevent further damage. But that’s hard to do when you don’t [...]
If you are thinking about a kitchen remodel, the possibility of doing it yourself has likely crossed your mind. Unless you are very handy with tools and have some home improvement experience, the thought of replacing your kitchen cabinets on your own is probably out of the question. But what about refacing your kitchen cabinets? [...]
