Photo: prestigeflower.uk.com

One of the pleasures of spring is taking stock in your garden: Which perennials are ready to be doubled (or even tripled)? To address your spring bloomers, you must wait until fall. But now is the time to divide fall bloomers so that before summer arrives, they will have ample recovery time.

Dividing plants not only benefits your garden, it also gives older perennials a chance to rejuvenate and thrive once again. Doing this chore isn’t necessary every year; depending on the species, every two to five years is sufficient.

Related: 5 Spring Garden Favorites to Plant Right Now

In picking candidates for division, focus on perennial clumps that have been producing fewer flowers, or flowers with hollow, dead centers. Chrysanthemums, asters, cannas, ornamental grasses, coneflowers and astilbe will all appreciate the extra attention.

A few days before you divide them, give your plants extra water, and make sure to prepare the bed, so you can pop the new divisions into the ground right away. If possible, pick an overcast day for the task. Dig around the plant, giving it a four- to six-inch berth. Remove the root ball of the entire clump and separate out sections as gently as possible.

Dividing Perennials with a Knife. Photo: Lowes.com

To separate very tangled roots, greater force might be needed. Pry the roots apart with two garden forks placed back to back. Try to wriggle rather than tear. Use a kitchen knife judiciously to pull apart the toughest clumps. Finally, make sure you get your new divisions into the ground that day, and provide plenty of mulch and water to help them settle into their new location.

Dividing Perennials in the Spring Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: wildaboutbritain.co.uk

Every creature has its place in nature—I firmly believe that. But if that creature is a rodent, I want its place to be nowhere near my home.

We live in an area surrounded by farmland, so mice, voles, gophers and other critters come with the territory. Recently, I’ve been researching ways to curb the rodent population in our immediate environs, and one solution keeps on popping up in my search: barn owls.

Barn owls have an insatiable appetite for rodents. A pair of barn owls and their brood can eat as many as 3,000 rodents in a single nesting season. That’s a LOT of mice! Farmers, especially those who practice organic farming, have been using barn owls as part of an integrated pest management system for years.

Barn owls are cavity dwellers and are happy to nest in almost any snug and quiet spot, be it the crook of a tree, the rafter of a barn, or a manmade box on a pole. So long as the food supply is ample, barn owls are not too territorial and may even nest in colonies.

Photo: barnowlbox.com

You can buy a barn owl nesting box or build one of your own. Here are some things to remember if are interested in attracting barn owls to your property:

• To be attractive to the birds, owl boxes should be placed at least ten feet off the ground. But don’t place the boxes so high that they become difficult to maintain.

• Be careful not to startle parent owls during the incubation period. If a mother owl is frightened away from her nest before the eggs hatch, she may not return. Once the baby owls hatch, however, parent owls will return to feed their young, regardless.

• Barn owls are wild animals and a protected species. Although providing nesting sites for them is perfectly legal, you must be licensed if you want to handle or keep them. Contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for information and restrictions.

• Debris in owl nest boxes can be infected with hantavirus, a potentially deadly rodent-borne disease. Take precautions such as using rubber gloves and dust masks when performing maintenance or cleanup.

Barn owls that come to roost on your property bring benefits other than rodent control. For one thing, barn owls are fascinating creatures to watch. Of course, they are nocturnal, so observing their habits requires some late evenings and night-vision goggles.

As an alternative, you can buy a nesting box with a closed-circuit camera. Then you can just turn on the webcam, sit back, and enjoy the show!

Attract Owls for Rodent Control Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: certainteed.com

While it’s been around for years, fiber cement siding currently enjoys popularity with homeowners for a number of reasons. Some appreciate the sustainable aspects of its manufacture. Others favor the material for its architectural appeal. Although professional installation is recommended, ongoing maintenance costs are low. Once installed, fiber cement siding lasts a lifetime, and that more than anything may explain the high demand for it.

Maintenance and Longevity
Each of the major manufacturers offers a line of fiber cement siding that meets or exceeds standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials. The siding stands up, not only to the elements, but also to hazards like insects and noise pollution. After 15 years, refinishing becomes necessary, but maintenance duties are light otherwise. Indeed, manufacturers’ warranties attest to the product’s durability. 30- to 50-year warranties are the norm.

Sustainability
CertainTeed, one of the leading manufacturers of fiber cement siding, says it only sources wood fiber harvested from managed forests. Another maker of fiber cement siding, Nichiha, joins CertainTeed in using fly ash—a waste residue of coal combustion—rather than silica. Nichiha also boasts of observing a host of best practices in their production process, sourcing material locally, recapturing 95% of the water used in its facilities, and recycling 100% of the scrap material it creates.

James Hardie, the founder of fiber cement in the 1970s and world leader in the category, is equally committed to sustainability—sourcing 90% of their materials from regional suppliers, and employing waste minimization and solid waste recycling technologies to support Zero to Landfill initiatives.  While cement, water, sand and cellulose fibers are used for Hardie siding products, fly ash is not: the company believes that it adversely impacts the durability of fiber cement.

Related: Composite Shakes and Slates: The Great Pretenders

HardiePlank Lap Siding from James Hardie

Architectural Appeal
Fiber cement siding comes in a variety of designs: Lap, plank, vertical, shake, curved-shake and geometric patterns are all available. A host of textures can be found as well, and the siding may be colored to virtually any hue the homeowner desires. Some fiber cement siding products are made to resemble wood, while others imitate the look of natural fieldstone, stacked flagstone, or brick.

Affordability
The upfront expenses associated with fiber cement siding are not inconsiderable, being that professional installation is a must. However, the ongoing maintenance costs are minimal. You can expect to pay out for refinishing work about every 15 years or so, but the lion’s share of the overall cost will come at the beginning of the product’s 50-plus-year lifespan.

Versus Wood or Vinyl Siding
Wood siding boasts a timeless beauty, and many homeowners value the way its appearance gradually changes in subtle ways. You can save on installation by doing the work yourself, but wood siding products are often expensive to buy, and over time, the material demands a high level of maintenance.

Though colorfast and resistant to insects and rot, vinyl siding is not maintenance free: It’s vulnerability to weather damage makes occasional repairs necessary. The price tag is low enough to have enticed many, and another big selling point is its relative ease of installation.

If your priority is good looks, then you can’t go wrong with wood. If budget is your main concern, look no further than vinyl. Consider fiber cement siding if you are looking for a long-lasting, low-maintenance material that performs well and doesn’t look half bad, either.

Fiber Cement Siding 101 Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: askousa.com

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Listen to BOB VILA ON BUILT-IN MISTAKES or read the text below:

Built-in electronics, for example, can become outdated very quickly. And built-in custom cabinets to hold televisions and sound equipment will become outdated right along with them. After all, 20 years ago, who could have imagined that TV screens would become so big, and music players so small?

Likewise, a basic patio can appeal to anyone, but if you build in a barbecue or other amenities, you make the outdoor space less flexible. So a future owner who wants a place to play ping-pong won’t be as charmed as you are by the built-in wet bar.

So by all means remodel your home the way you want it, but keep your future buyers in mind when you install anything permanent.

Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 75 stations around the country (and growing). You can get your daily dose here, by listening to—or reading—Bob’s 60-second home improvement radio tip of the day.

For more on buying and selling homes, consider:

7 Renovation Tips to Boost Resale Value
10 Simple Home Staging Tips Every Seller Should Know
Bob Vila Radio: Sale Ready Homes

Bob Vila Radio: Built-In Mistakes Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: CGardner

When you first start tackling home projects, it’s no problem to hit the hardware store for one of those sandpaper multipacks. But the more you get into building and repair—or any work involving wood or metal—the more sandpaper becomes an item that you’ll want to keep readily accessible and in plentiful supply.

If that sounds like a hassle or an expensive proposition, don’t worry; it’s neither. Buying sandpaper in bulk actually saves money in the long run. At my local home improvement center, a pack of five 100-grit 5″ sanding disks costs $8, while a pack of 50 costs only $18.99. You do the math!

Of course, if you’re stocking up on sandpaper, you need a place to store it in an organized way. Here are some inexpensive solutions that have worked for me and other DIYers:

Storing Sheets of Sandpaper

Photo: CGardner

I think the key to storing sandpaper is remembering that it’s paper. Basically, the goal should be to keep sandpaper sheets flat, crease free, and well organized.

In my own shop, I store sandpaper sheets in hanging file folders, different folders for different grits. It’s a perfect solution in my case, since the worktable housing my router and miter saw is built from two large filing cabinets, which I salvaged from a junior high school.

Filing cabinets may not work for everybody, but I love them. My benchtop drill press sits on one with casters, and I also have one dedicated to magazines, paper plans, and so on. Used filing cabinets are inexpensive and commonly available at thrift stores and on Craigslist.

An alternative idea: Use a hanging file box from the office supply store; add wheels to it, if you want. Other easy, customizable solutions include vertical file boxes or magazine holders with cardboard dividers.

Photo: hertzfurniture.com

If the office supply store doesn’t have what you’re looking for, try the places where scrapbookers shop. After all, these people are masters of organizing all kinds of paper. Follow their lead and seek out options like cube shelving or flexible poly envelopes. Artists, too, know their way around paper, so check out vendors of art supplies, whether in person or online.

Storing Sanding Disks and Belts

Photo: CGardner

Sandpaper doesn’t always come in sheets. It just as often appears in specialized cuts to fit powered sanders. When purchasing sandpaper of this type, don’t throw away the packaging in which it is sold. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Specifically designed to store sandpaper, these molded plastic containers work well for the task. Label each one clearly, and if there have holes punched in their plastic (for retail display), hang them up on a pegboard.

Photo: Wood Magazine

Prefer to make your own? The diagram above, from Wood magazine, illustrates how you can build dedicated storage for sandpaper disks. Here, simple dowels protrude through the large holes in five- or eight-hole disks. Note that this only works with specific disks; it would not fit the pattern of holes in the sandpaper shown in the photo I’ve included.

A parting note on sanding belts: Due to their shape, they can be hung on anything you please. Just make sure to keep the belts loose and non-compressed. That way, you won’t crease the paper and create a sharp edge that could cut the wood while the belt spins.

What are your favorite solutions for sandpaper storage? Post your ideas in the comments below.

For more on workshop storage, consider:

Tool Storage
How To: Keep Your Tools Accessible
Smart Storage for Small Workshops

Inexpensive Ideas and DIY Tips for Storing Sandpaper Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: jbroofingcompany.com

Re-roofing our 1908 American Foursquare-style house reminded me of a Frank Capra movie. For once, things actually went as planned.

35 years ago, I installed a new roof on a different house, a modest ranch with a low-pitched roof. But at that point, I had the support of two helpers, and the work was hard enough. Now I’m a lot older, and the Foursqure roof is steeper and higher. So doing the job myself was out of the question.

Related: Should You Replace or Repair Your Roof?

In other words, I needed to find a qualified roofing contractor. Impressed by the performance of some roofers I’d observed in my neighborhood—these guys were like a choreographed dance troupe—I searched around on the internet and before long, found the right company.

I called and talked to the owner. He said he’d get back to me with a proposal after sending his foreman over for a look. After making several additional calls, I had two other companies to consider.

Now the challenge was to choose the best one of the bunch. How did I do it? By following three golden rules of hiring contractors:

1. Look for longevity and professionalism
Surfing a contractor’s website, I like to see signs of professionalism, such as Better Business Bureau accreditation, trade magazine rankings, or industry awards. Likewise, elite or master certification from a leading manufacturer demonstrates a commitment to training. If you really want to avoid all surprises, then pay close attention to those companies whose work has been officially recognized by the institutions that matter in the construction field.

2. Get references (and check them)
Go with a well-established company that can support its claims to quality with checkable references. Online testimonials are nice, but they’re not as trustworthy as speaking directly to another human being. Positive reports on a site like Angie’s List should not be ignored; simply remember that not every contractor worth considering has been reviewed online. When possible, go out and visit roofing jobs completed by the companies on your short list.

GAF's Timberline HD Asphalt Shingles in Shakewood

3. All quotes are not created equal
A contractor must see the roof in question before he can submit a bid. Expect each candidate in the running for your business to offer insights on the work involved, including your best options and the estimated time required. Should you meet a contractor who is not willing to explain his estimate in depth, move on to the next candidate.

Here’s how the meeting went with the company that my wife and I ultimately chose to hire: The contractor showed us several samples of the shingle product we were interested in. Then he told us about his company, started by his father-in-law, and about the eight-man crew, which had been together for eight years. And he went through his typed proposal with us, line by line. The proposal included everything from ice-and-water shield to site cleanup and warranty details. I knew he was the right contractor for the job.

A week later, a crew and dumpster showed up at the house. In a few hours, the old roofing had been removed, and new plywood sheathing had gone up. By the end of that first day, in fact, half the installation was complete. Within another 24 hours, the job was completely done. And when I inspected under shrubs in the garden, I did not find a single nail.

As I looked up at the new roof, sunlight danced on the shingles, birds chirped, and the sky filled with music. Frank Capra came to mind, and I thought: It’s a Wonderful Roof!

For more on managing construction, consider:

Bob Vila Radio: Hire a Pro
What Your Contractor Won’t Tell You
Quick Tip: Hiring a General Contractor

In Quest of the Best Roofing Contractor Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: motherearthnews.com

To safely and productively operate a chain saw, you must commit to maintaining it. Keep your chain saw in tip-top shape, not only to protect yourself but also to promote the tool’s longevity. Follow these guidelines:

• First things first, read the owner’s manual; it’s the only way to be certain you’re establishing the right maintenance routine. Though most are very similar, some important differences exist between machines. Learn the best practices recommended by the manufacturer of your specific make and model.

Photo: lowes.com

• Problems with chain saws are usually caused by a chain that has become either dull or improperly tensioned. If it seems like your chain saw is laboring, switch to a new chain. (Meanwhile, sharpen the old chain with a chain saw file or a rotary grinder; alternatively, hire a pro.) Before each use of your chain saw, check the tension on the chain. If it’s correctly adjusted, the chain will fit snugly against the bar—but not so tightly that a gloved hand would be unable to move it around.

• The chain should be clean and lubricated. Before each use, make sure the oil reservoir is full. And if wood chips and sawdust accumulate, stop and clean the chain before continuing.

• Before each use, check and tighten all screws, bolts, and nuts. These components have a tendency to loosen on account of the tool’s vibration.

• Inspect the chain brake mechanism for tightness and positioning in order to protect yourself from kickback during operation.

• Clean or replace the air filter whenever it becomes clogged. Likewise, optimal performance depends on the air intake and cooling fins being free of dirt and debris.

• Use the correct blend of oil and gas to power the engine. When fueling, make sure the fuel filler cap fits tightly and is neither cracked nor worn-down.

• Clean or replace the fuel filter and spark plugs regularly, and whenever the engine is running roughly or misfiring, clean and adjust the carburetor.

• If heavily worn, replace the hoses and/or the pull-start rope.

• Remove the clutch cover and clean the chain brake band.

• Check the idle speed and if necessary, make an adjustment. When a chain saw is idling, the chain should not move. If you notice it moving, turn down the idle speed so that the chain remains stationary.

• If you are not going to be using the chain saw for several months, drain all fuel from the tank and exhaust that which remains in the lines or carburetor by running the saw until it stops. Remove the chain and store it in oil within a tightly covered container.

A chain saw is a valuable investment that can withstand years of punishing service. Following a set of simple maintenance steps will ensure that your tool continues to work properly and most importantly, safely.

For more on outdoor tools, consider:

How To: Use a Leaf Blower
Should You Buy a Used Riding Mower?
Mower Maintenance: 5 Ways to Keep Your Machine Up and Running

Regular Maintenance Is Critical to Chain Saw Operation Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: modern50.com

For the most part, free-standing coat racks are a thing of the past. They belong to a time when closets were only deep enough to hold a couple of suits or a few dresses. As the American home began to include closets of ever-increasing size, the coat rack went the way of the lunchtime martini.

Of course, it’s still possible to buy a new coat rack, but modern versions can be a bit bland. Hunting thrift stores and antique shops, however, you will find no shortage of architecturally interesting coat racks, often with attractive patinas.

In fact, some vintage coat racks are so eye-catching, the last thing you’ll want to do is hide their beauty under layers of clothing. If you are lucky enough to have a coat rack on hand, here are five unexpected ways you can use it:

1. In the Kitchen
It’s an all-too-common dance: the pot-and-pan shuffle. Limited cabinet space often prompts people to nest smaller cookware items within larger ones, making it more difficult to retrieve what you need later on. A good, sturdy cast-iron coat rack eliminates this difficulty, because you can hang your most frequently used skillets, woks, and steamers from the rack’s multiple arms. S-hooks facilitate hanging, and rubberized coating (like this from The Home Depot) protects both your coat rack and your kitchen equipment.

2. In the Kids’ Rooms
When your child has his heart set on playing with that one action figure, it’s always lost in the toy chest beneath a landslide of LEGOs, Hot Wheels, and Tonka trucks. Meanwhile, the closet floor is a colorful quicksand: Things disappear down there, never to be seen again. Here’s an idea: Keep your kids’ necessities neatly organized and easily accessible within heavy-duty mesh bags hung from the arms of a coat rack. Use bags of different colors to create a whimsical look or to establish a color-coded organizational scheme.

Related: 13 Easy Ways to Repurpose Antique Armoires

Photo: craftgossip.com

3. In the Bathroom
Instead of installing towel hooks or bars in the bathroom, simply stand a coat rack in the corner. Use one side for towels, the other for robes, and presto—you’ve engineered a distinctive alternative to wall storage. Because the coat rack will come into contact with moisture, consider painting or sealing the surface with a clear or colored enamel spray paint. For this purpose, try LeakSeal from Rust-Oleum. It produces a water-resistant rubberized coating that not only protects your coat rack from damage, but can also keep your towels from slipping.

4. In the Bedroom
After putting a coat rack in the bedroom, you might wonder how you ever managed to live without one. This is a great way to keep your comfy around-the-house clothes off the floor and close at hand. Perhaps the most visually appealing items to hang are men’s ties and women’s scarves. A coat rack lets you enjoy (and show off) these accessories’ rich patterns, colors, and textures, even as they’re tidily stored and kept wrinkle-free.

5. Outdoors
If properly sealed, a wooden or metal coat rack can be placed out in the garden, where a new world of possibilities opens up for it. Hang birdhouses from the rack’s various arms to create a mini condo development for your winged friends. Or string a series of solar lights for a unique outdoor floor lamp sure to make your visitors light up. 

For more on repurposing, consider:

10 Ingenious IKEA Hacks
5 Things to Do with… Vintage Ladders
10 Inspired DIY Planters to Dress Up Your Garden

5 Unexpected Ways to Use a Vintage Coat Rack Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

1. MAKE PLANTERS

Photo: designmisc.blogspot.com

Transform yesterday’s can of diced tomatoes into a colorful planter or vase—all you need to get the job done is spray paint. Use your creation to brighten a windowsill or to delight a friend, neighbor, or hostess with a gift from your garden. Really want to perk things up? Add stripes, polka dots, or stars!

2. CREATE LANTERNS

Photo: thegrnblog.wordpress.com

Add some evening ambiance to your outdoor living area. These lanterns come together in no time: Just use a hammer and nail to punch holes in the cans, then paint their outsides in a pleasing pastel. (Or skip the paint; it’s your choice.) Once you’ve added wire handles and tea lights, get ready to light up the night.

3. ORGANIZE CRAFTS SUPPLIES 

Photo: bhg.com

You can easily convert tin cans into charming storage containers by wrapping the cylinders with pretty paper. Punch a hole in the back of each decorated can, making it so they can all be hung via S-hooks onto pegboard. It’s a stylish and practical way to organize nuts and bolts, paintbrushes and colored pencils.

4. CONSTRUCT A BIRD FEEDER

Photo: plumadorable.com

Your kids would have a great time making this simple bird feeder. All you need is a dowel, a glue gun, some colorful paint, and a ribbon or string for hanging—oh, and birdseed! Hang the feeder in your favorite tree and sit back to watch the show.

5. BUILD A WINE RACK

Photo: recyclart.org

Tin cans and glue: It doesn’t get much more basic. Combine those two ingredients with spray paint, and you’ve suddenly got a DIY wine rack, plus another reason to buy wine!

For more on repurposing, consider:

5 Things to Do with… Old Tires
13 Easy Ways to Repurpose Antique Armoires
5 Upcycled Pot Racks & Cookware Storage Ideas

5 Things to Do with… Tin Cans Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com

Photo: shutterstock.com

Let’s face it: Many homes today feature inadequate, poorly positioned, and sometimes plain-old ugly light fixtures. But you don’t have to live with anything you don’t love, especially when so many ceiling-mounted and hanging fixtures can be found on the market. Since new ceiling light fixtures come with mounting hardware, replacing an existing unit is easy—even for the novice do-it-yourselfer.

Step 1. Remove the old fixture
Turn off electricity to the room at the main circuit breaker panel. Double-check that power has been cut by locating and testing the light switch that controls your ceiling fixture. Next, carefully unscrew and remove the canopy of the old fixture. With the junction box visible, remove the wire nuts and separate the supply wiring from the old fixture. Carefully examine the wires for damage, and if none are frayed or broken, leave the wires exposed for the new fixture.

Step 2. Examine the junction box
Having confirmed that your existing junction box is securely fastened to the ceiling joist, make sure it will be sturdy enough to handle the weight of your replacement fixture. If the new fixture weighs substantially more than the old one, it may be necessary to install an accessory mounting strap or support rod. (Either can be installed next to the junction box so that, once installed, the fixture hides the hardware.)

Related: Trending Now: Pendant Lighting

Step 3. If installing a hanging fixture
Most hanging lights have a supporting chain or cable, through which (or next to) the wires should be threaded (or hung). I recommend using the paint tray of your stepladder to prop up the fixture, while you feed its wires up to the junction box. Carefully guide the fixture wires through the canopy, ceiling plate, and hanging bracket of your new fixture. Strip about a half-inch off of the fixture wires and about a half-inch off of the supply wires.

Photo: goodceilinglight.com

Step 4. Connecting the wires
Most new fixtures are color-coded with black and white wire. Twist together the stripped, bare end of the fixture’s black wire with the stripped, bare end of the supply line’s black wire. Secure the connection with a wire nut, then repeat the process with the white wire. Many fixtures also have a bare copper or green-sheathed ground wire, which should be twisted onto the mounting bracket’s copper or green grounding screw. Now carefully tuck the wires into the junction box, put a bulb in the fixture, and turn the circuit breaker on. If the light works, that means your wiring connections have been successful. Before continuing, turn the circuit breaker off again.

Related: 16 Spectacular Light Fixtures to Improve Your Space

Step 5. Securing the fixture
Screw the ceiling plate to the mounting strap or support rod, then put the mounting stem onto the ceiling plate. At this point, make sure that the installation is secure and that the fixture is hanging at the proper height. (If the chain is too long, you can remove links or loop the extra chain around the mounting stem.) Slide the canopy into place so that it covers the mounting hardware; tighten the locknut to hold the canopy in place. Finally, install the correct bulbs, turn the electricity back on, and admire the radiance of your new ceiling light fixture!

For more on lighting, consider:

How To: Devise a Lighting Plan
Bob Vila Radio: Types of Lighting
Choosing the Right Energy-Saving Bulb and Fixture

How To: Replace a Ceiling Light Fixture Home Improvement, Home Remodeling & Home Repair - BobVila.com