Category: Home Improvements
March To-Do’s: Spring is in the Air
It may still be winter, but it’s time to think spring inside the house, and outside in the yard and garden. Here’s a handy to-do list to keep you busy and feeling accomplished. Pull out the refrigerator and large pieces of furniture for a good old-fashioned spring cleaning. Sweep, mop
When to Replace Your Water Heater
Taking a shower is soothing and comforting until the hot water suddenly isn’t. Prevent cold showers with our guide to preventing a crisis with your water heater. Water heater life span and maintenance With regular maintenance, a traditional tank water heater lasts 10 or more years and a tankless system
Which Material Is Best For Your Kitchen Sink?
When you are building out a new kitchen, you’ve got lots of great choices when it comes to your sink. The many materials from which kitchen sinks are made allow you to create just the right look and functionality. Here’s our guide to the pros, cons and pricing of seven
February to-do list: Show your home a little love
Stay warm and keep busy with February’s handy to-do list of in-door chores. It’s guaranteed to make you fall in love with your living space all over again. Inventory your cold-weather wardrobe, looking for things that you haven’t worn this winter. Donate them before the season is over so someone
Troubleshooting Garage Door Opener Problems
It only happens when you’re in a hurry: Your garage door opener malfunctions and you cannot get out of — or into — your house. Garage door openers are a tremendous convenience, but they can be temperamental. Let’s solve some of the most common frustrations. Anatomy of a garage door
Best Bathroom Lighting Ideas
Since your bathroom is where you prepare to meet the day, good bathroom lighting is essential to looking your best. Here’s how to illuminate this important part of your home. Areas to be lit Three areas in your bathroom need appropriate lighting. The most important is the vanity. Good lighting
Regular Plumbing Maintenance Minimizes Emergencies
No one likes emergency repairs, so ongoing home maintenance is important for preserving your property and keeping life peaceful. Water in the wrong places can be disastrous, so it’s vital to check on your plumbing regularly. Keep your pipes flowing — not flooding — with this guide to plumbing maintenance.
A Gift for January 2021: Ten Tips for a Healthy Home
We’re kicking 2020 to the curb and showing some love for 2021 with a January to-do list to help you launch a successful new year. Here are 10 tips to a healthy home and a healthy you. When packing up the holiday decor, resist the urge to quickly toss everything
Should You Remove Your In-Ground Pool?
Swimming pools can provide lots of relaxing family fun, but maintaining them requires time and money. Homeowners with children may find that when the kids grow up, interest in, and use of a backyard pool wanes. It’s possible to fill in or even remove an in-ground pool, and you may
Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: Home Trends That Create Space
Pocket walls and doors, floating plumbing fixtures, mirrors that talk to you — all of these trends and more are new and creative ways to live large in limited space. Let’s take a peek at some fashionable home design trends that create space. Space-enhancing doors and walls An alternative to
Know Your House: Roof Structure, Styles and Materials
If you’re a homeowner, the more you know about your house and its components, the better you can care for your investment. A roof provides one of humanity’s most basic needs: shelter. Here’s a quick primer on roof structure, styles, and materials. Basic roof structure The framing boards that form
Dormer Styles and Construction
Dormer windows are a ubiquitous feature of American homes. You have seen these windows set into sloping roofs many times, but perhaps haven’t known what they are called. If you are building a new home or want to add dormers as part of a renovation, here’s what you need to
Brass Returns With Class
In recent years, once-popular brass has taken a back seat to brushed nickel, stainless steel and oiled bronze when it comes to interior design. But brass is now shining once again. Read on to learn how brass is back! Home colors are getting warmer The return of brass comes on
Your Decluttering Bucket List
Books, podcasts and TV shows promote the liberating benefits of decluttering and minimizing your possessions. Swedish author Margareta Magnusson gives you a new reason to declutter in late middle age: to spare your heirs from having to face your mountain of stuff after you’re gone. Lighten the burden We accumulate
Residential Designer Versus Architect: Which is For You?
People often think of hiring an architect when designing a house or a big remodeling project, but a residential designer may be able to provide the help you need. What is a residential designer, and how can one help you with your project? Comparing a residential designer and an architect
Protecting Your Marvelous Marble
Marble is one of the most beautiful surfaces available for countertops, floors and other home uses. A type of limestone, marble’s stately lines and veins are the result of natural processes. But because this elegant substance is somewhat soft and porous, it requires special maintenance to preserve its classic beauty.
Avoiding Fabric-Munching Carpet Beetles
As if you didn’t have enough household pests to deal with, along comes a creepy-crawly that eats your carpet and other fabrics. Carpet beetles are just as unwanted as roaches, spiders and ants. Here’s what you need to know about these bugs. What to look for You are more likely
Choosing The Best Floors for Pets
Pets can bring lots of joy, but having one means making accommodations at home for both their needs and yours. Choosing appropriate flooring is a big consideration, especially for dogs. You want something durable, attractive and easy to maintain, but your fur baby is looking for comfort. What are the
How to Reduce Plastic Use at Home
The world is overflowing with plastic waste on land and in our water sources. What can you do in your household to help alleviate this problem? Here are some simple steps you can take immediately to reduce plastic use at home. Reduce plastic use at the grocery store Grocery shopping
Holiday Decorating and Pet Safety
Glittering Christmas decorations look festive to you. To your dog or cat, they look like a playground. Your pet can get hurt in a romp with the Christmas tree or holiday decorations. But it’s possible to keep the season bright for both you and your fur babies. Here are some
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