MAINTENANCE
Browse By Tag
To safely and productively operate a chain saw, you must commit to maintaining it. Keep your chain saw in tip-top sha...
Image Credit: 100abandonedhouses.com Maintaining an old house can seem like a full-time job at times. Old homes were b...
Remember our medicine cabinet that wouldn't close? And it still wouldn't close even after we put those little magnets i...
As a new weekend dawns, so does the need for more destruction. Since the HOA told us to tear down our front overhang, we...
A wooden fence is a beautiful accent on any home, but it takes some maintenance to keep it looking neat and trim. Spr...
Outdoors and in, take care of a few simple tasks now to bring your house out of winter hibernation!
The advent of spring is generally welcome, but warmer temperatures also bring out unwanted pests, namely termites. Of...
This month, get a jump on spring cleaning, start planning your garden, perfect your home office, and paint something—anything!
To celebrate Cupid's holiday this year, we count off ten ways to show your house that you care.
If your house has drafty windows, your heating and cooling systems may be working harder than they need to. Taking a ...
Dust bunnies are multiplying, dog hair is piling up, and bird feathers are flying—oh my, it must be the furnace filte...
It's not so much that your under-sink workhorse needs strict maintenance, only sensible care. You probably already kn...
Reviving rusty metal tools or furniture is a great indoor winter project, and there are three ways to remove rust. Li...
I remember waking up as a kid on wintry mornings to find frost on my bedroom window obscuring the trees and yard. Tho...
There is a definite chill in the air, and the first snow flurries are flying… that means it’s time to get our snow bl...
Wrinkles in wall-to-wall carpet don't just look bad, they can be a tripping hazard. They'll also wear out first, so t...
When I lived in a New York City apartment building, I never thought about shoveling snow. We had a wonderful superint...
As days get shorter and weather gets colder, we retreat indoors to the warmth of our homes and hearths. If you have a...
As the weather gets colder, it’s a good idea to do some fall maintenance on your outdoor equipment and put it to bed ...
Keep the cold out, the heat in, and your energy bill down with these cost-effective tips.
As you ready your house for the colder months ahead, don’t forget about your water system. When water freezes, it exp...
Home improvement projects are messy business: Whether you’re painting, re-tiling, or just moving furniture, you want ...
Now that the summer scorchers are over, it’s time to bring in your window air conditioning units. Listen to BOB VILA ...
While you were having fun in the sun this summer, it was no vacation for your house. A fall checklist will tip you of...
If you hear banging or knocking when you turn the tap on and off in your home, you could be straining pipes and coppe...
Even tiny gaps between your tub and the wall tiles can let enough water in to damage your walls and host mold. Since ...
While they’ll grind and send most kitchen scraps down the drain in small batches with a good strong flow of cold wate...
Recycling is more than sorting out plastic bottles and composting leftovers. Proper disposal of household objects is ...
Your dishwasher does a lot to make your life easier; here are a couple things you can do to make its life longer!CM_B...
Late summer’s when you see ‘em, but now’s not actually the best time to mess with a bee or wasp nest. The queen esta...
Everyone agrees that you should change your HVAC filter on a regular basis, but not everyone agrees on the type of fi...
Maintaining your countertops may require more than a simple cleaning. Here are top tips for maintaining every material.
When general clean-up fails to keep your countertop shipshape, consider these material-specific solutions.
Lawn mower maintenance is simple enough to perform, with immediate and lasting effects on your machine's performance.
There's more to gardening than tending to weeds and plants. It also requires proper tool maintenance and care.
Uncover any home repair issues and insulate your house before winter settles in.
Whether you do it yourself or hire a pro, prevent future water damage with this critical task.
This winter, keep water at bay and home repairs away by following this guide.
Follow these simple steps to keep your grill in tip-top performance shape for the summer.
An imperative “rite of spring” in our house is checking our two central air conditioning systems to make sure they ar...
Prep your windows and add exterior or interior window coverings to cool your house.
While paint is always an option, consider the benefits of wood refinishing.
Protect your driveway with a sealer this weekend and enhance the curb appeal of your home in the bargain.
Before you pull your window air conditioner out of storage, consider its age. Efficiencies have improved so much that...
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
Preserve live Christmas trees from early December into the new year.
Here are 10 tips to prevent, or get rid of, a bee infestation in your house.
A square is worthless if it isn't actually square. Learn this quick, simple way to make sure your square is just that.
Molds can grow on virtually anything around the house — from wood, carpet and food to insulation systems in your walls. Follow these guidelines to rid your home o...
Well-maintained patio and deck furniture is an essential for truly enjoyable outdoor living.
Few do-it-yourself projects deliver the "wow" factor as potently as refinishing hardwood floors.
For best results in DIY pest control, stop critters while they're still in the yard.
Know the signs of carpenter ants and prevent an infestation.
Floor sanding and refinishing is unforgiving work. Make a mistake and it will show. However, a refinished floor can b...
A little TLC is all you need to keep brick walls in top shape.
At one time or another most of us have considered remodeling the kitchen. It’s the one room in the house that sees th...
Regular maintenance ensures smooth and safe operation of garage doors.
To do a thorough job of spring home maintenance and cleaning, follow these easy and smart routines.
As winter ends, give your home a complete physical—inside and out—to ready it for those warm-weather months ahead.
Our laminate countertop looked fine, but the protective coating was pretty much gone. Coffee, tea, wine, juice, sauce...
Living in the northeast and being a "pool-free" homeowner, I rarely think about the luxury enjoyed by countless homeo...
Proper tool maintenance depends on keeping your tools clean and storing them safely.
Follow the three steps necessary to sharpen a chisel or similar tool with a grinding wheel.
Use this handy home maintenance checklist to keep your house—and property—in peak condition this winter.
No amount of candy corn can make up for the moment you realize that your carefully carved pumpkin’s smile has turned ...
It’s not mold. It’s probably not soot. The black spots discoloring your asphalt roof are more than likely the pervasi...
10 easy fall maintenance projects to keep your home in peak condition the whole winter long.
Maximize energy savings at minimal cost. Here are a variety of affordable ways to protect your home investment.
Summer folks on the New England shore have a long-standing tradition of flying the flag from Memorial Day to Labor Da...
This year the deck on our summer place turns 11. The deck isn’t vast, maybe 10' x 30'—just the right size for evening...
Interior beams, walls, and ceilings have been sandblasted, exposing raw surfaces that will become an integral part of the interior design. Reggie Ray of Georgia-P...
Bob reviews some of the new steel framing that's gone up and has a look at the newly sandblasted beams. Bob also summarizes the brickwork that needs to be done on...
Bob and Professor Tom Visser (UVM) visit the Burtch-Udall house in Quechee, VT, and the nearby Sumner Mansion-- suitable locales for a running discussion on prope...
Bob and roofer Paul Morris demonstrate gutter installation techniques, including the on-site assembly of special features, such as corners and trim.
Painter Kip Wanamaker power-washes the exterior of the Naples project house.
Brick worker Dan Webb explains how the brick façade is power-washed to remove several layers of ugly paint.
