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Westinghouse iGen4500 Peak Watt Portable Generator: A Hands-On Review
Generators offer a portable power source that can run everything from appliances to power tools when plug-ins aren’t ...
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We Tested This Fireproof Document Bag to See if It Can Take the Heat
Keeping your documents and belongings safe in the event of a fire may seem unnecessary, particularly if you already t...
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11 Ways That Sugar Can Help Your Home—and Your Health
Sugar is more than just a sweetener; it’s a versatile household product in your kitchen. Beyond sugar’s typical role ...
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Our Hands-On Review of The Craftsman Performance 6,000-Watt Generator
When it comes to midrange power, 6,000-watt portable generators are right in the sweet spot. They have enough power t...
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Snowstorm vs. Ice Storm vs. Freezing Rain: Key Differences and How to Prepare at Home
Winter storms impact most parts of the country, and present a wide spectrum of challenges across various regions of t...
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The $20 Car Tool Every Driver Needs This Winter
Driving a vehicle with icy windows and snow on the hood and roof is dangerous, and safe drivers will want to clear th...
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Deal Alert: This Snow Joe Snow Blower Is On Sale for Under $200
As winter storms continue to impact much of the United States, it's important to be prepared. Ensuring you're equippe...
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Last-Minute Winter Storm Preparation: Buy These Snow Essentials Online and Pick Up Today
 With severe winter weather threatening many parts of the United States, it’s important to be prepared. January 2024 ...
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Winter Storm Alert: Flood Preparation Essentials to Buy Online and Pick Up Today
With severe weather threatening many parts of the United States, it’s important to be prepared. So far in January 202...
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15 Things You Can Do to Prepare for a Winter Power Outage
Power outages can be difficult to weather any time of year, but frigid temperatures without a working heater can be h...
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The 30 Smartest Things You Can Do to Prepare for a Frigid Winter
What do frozen pipes, skidding tires, and high heating bills have in common? They’re all winter-weather nuisances tha...
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New Fire Safety Standards: What You Need to Know and Which Fire Alarms Can Meet Them
We’ve all heard that we should change the batteries in our smoke detectors every time we change our clocks with dayli...
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The Most Extreme Weather Events in U.S. History
We know Mother Nature is fickle, but occasionally she goes on a veritable rampage, dealing out hurricanes, floods, an...
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Solved! What Is a Power Surge?
Q: I’m always reading scary stories about how sudden power surges can be strong enough to fry all the electrical devi...
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10 Ways to Illuminate Your Home's Interior When There's a Power Outage
It's a stormy night, the wind howling outside, and suddenly, your home plunges into darkness. You find yourself fumbl...
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Plan B: 10 Home Safety Devices That Don't Run on Electricity Alone
You're a cautious, conscientious homeowner. You have carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms, motion-detecting camera...
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Cost of Hurricane Windows vs. Regular Windows: 9 Factors That Affect How Much You'll Pay
When it comes to new window installation or window replacement, one important factor to consider is the cost, especia...
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Important Things to Know About Food Safety Before, During, and After a Power Outage
Power outages affect a home on multiple fronts: HVAC systems stop cooling or heating, evening and night hours grow un...
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The Ultimate Bug-Out Bag List: 30 Emergency Essentials for When Disaster Strikes
When disaster strikes, will you be ready? Experts in disaster relief and fire prevention and management recommend hav...
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5 Unexpected Benefits of a Standby Generator
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. When the power goes...
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Adaptability: The Best Thing About the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max Solar Generator
When the power goes out, we have options. Prior generations weren't just inconvenienced; they also had to deal with t...
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How Does a Generator Work?
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. The hands-off natur...
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The Best Cheap Home Generators of 2023
Buying a cheap home generator doesn’t have to require making compromises. In fact, there are surprisingly powerful mo...
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Can a Metal Roof Save Your Home From a Wildfire?
During recent wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, a single home stood intact amidst widespread ruin, becoming known as the ...
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How to Choose a Generator for Your Home
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Investing in a gene...
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15 Things You Should Never Do During a Thunderstorm
Each year, about 300 people in the U. S. are struck by lightning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric A...
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4 Ways Wildfire Smoke Can Affect Your Plants and Homegrown Food Supply
Millions of Americans all over the country, from the East Coast and Midwest to the mountain states and even the Pacif...
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Now Is the Best Time to Buy a Home Generator—Here’s Why
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. When it comes to st...
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The 18 Worst Storms in History to Hit the United States
Hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 to November 30, is reaching its peak along the southern and easte...
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So, You Want to... Install a Whole-House Generator
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. One of the best saf...
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My Basement Flooded…What I Wish We’d Have Known to Better Prepare, and What We Learned
The area of Colorado where I live tends to be in a perpetual state of drought, and flooding isn’t typically something...
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11 Ways to Stay Safe During a Heat Wave
Warm weather feels great after a long, cold winter. But the hot, lazy days of summer also bring heat exhaustion, heat...
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Preparing Your Home for Natural Disasters Can Pay Off—Here’s How
This is the fourth installment of Bob Vila’s Most Valuable Projects of 2023, a month-long series featuring high-ROI h...
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Tornado Before and After: How to Stay Safe and What to Do in the Aftermath
Tornados are among the most terrifying natural disasters. While they’re more localized than a hurricane or earthquake...
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Home Generator Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Backup Power Shipshape
Home generators come in several sizes with a range of power outputs. Having one when the power goes out can ensure fa...
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Take Charge: The Bluetti EP900 Home Power System Protects You From Outages and Rising Energy Costs
Summertime is fun time, but it also comes with bouts of extreme heat in many areas. That often leads to increased dem...
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14 Wise Ways to Weatherproof Your Garden
Can your garden handle Mother Nature’s ever-changing weather systems? Between the seasonal shifts and abnormal weathe...
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8 Things You Can Do Now to Be Ready for Flash Flooding
What is a flash flood? Imagine tens of thousands of gallons of fast-moving water arriving with little or no warning. ...
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Evacuation Order: Do's and Don'ts for Getting Out Safely
An evacuation order can happen when we least expect it. Being told to leave your home—sometimes immediately—can be sc...
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5 Places in the U.S. Where Homes Are Almost Uninsurable Because of Hurricanes and Flooding
Hurricanes and flooding cause significant damage to several regions of the United States each year. The National Cent...
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DaringSnail MD090P Emergency Radio Review: Is it Worth It?
When the power goes out, staying informed is a matter of safety. Most of us carry a cell phone wherever we go, but wi...
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6 Places in the U.S. Where Homes Are Almost Uninsurable Because of Wildfires
Climate change is a reality—and a sad one at that for many. Wildfires and other natural disasters have led some insur...
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9 Reasons Every Household Should Have a Portable Generator
Power outages are usually the result of extreme weather events such as high winds, lightning strikes, or ice buildup ...
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How Much Does A Wind Mitigation Inspection Cost?
National Average: $100Homeowners in coastal, hilly, or exposed areas of the country know their homes could be at ri...
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How to Protect Your Windows From Hurricane Damage
Those who live in coastal regions in the Southern U. S. know all too well about the damage and destruction a hurrican...
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How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?
Highlights Water damage restoration typically costs between $1,305 and $5,707, with customers paying a national aver...
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How Much Do Hurricane Windows Cost?
Highlights The typical range for hurricane window costs is $3,083 to $15,721, with a national average of $10,005. H...
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The Farmers’ Almanac Predicts Loads of Snow After an Exceptionally Dry Summer
Shake, shiver, and shovel. According to the Farmers' Almanac winter forecast, that’s what many of us will be doing du...
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10 Ways to Prepare for a Summer Power Outage
Hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and excessive demands on the electrical grid can lead to power outages in the s...
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Bob Vila’s “Must Do” Projects for July
July’s longer days and warmer weather mean there's plenty of good reason to be outside, and no shortage of tasks to t...
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How to Keep Wildfire Smoke Out of Your Home: 9 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Wildfire smoke can lead to dangerous air quality both outdoors and indoors, as millions of Americans are learning thi...
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6 Ways The Home Depot Can Help You Prepare for Natural Disasters
Tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and other types of natural disasters can be terrifying. Fearing for the safety of y...
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Why You Should Care About Extreme Drought in the Southwest, Even if You Don’t Live There
You may recall learning about the 1930s Dust Bowl in history class. Droughts come and go, but the extreme drought cur...
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Can You Run a Generator in the Rain?
Q: Recent power outages prompted me to buy a portable generator, but it operates on gas, so I need to set it up outsi...
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How Much Does a Storm Shelter Cost to Build?
Highlights The typical range for storm shelter costs is $2,604 to $11,475, with homeowners nationwide paying an aver...
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6 Ways to Melt Ice Without Salt or Ice Melt
When strong winter storms hit, many people stay safe and warm indoors until the poor weather has cleared up. However,...
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These 5 Home Inventory Apps Can Help You Streamline Home Insurance Claims
Given that the average American home contains some 300,000 individual items, it is no wonder that most people have a ...
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Whose Responsibility Is It: Homeowner, Town, or Utility Company?
First-time homeowners might be surprised at some of the things that they are responsible for maintaining, such as hav...
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Plan for the Unexpected: What You Need at Home for an Emergency
This article is sponsored by Harbor Freight. In the past few years, we’ve seen the increased devastation that weather...
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10 Essential Products for Cleaning Your Home After a Flood
Whether the home takes on just a few inches of water or the entire basement is full, floods aren’t fun to deal with a...
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5 Ways Shoveling Snow Can Be Detrimental to Your Health
Those who live in areas where snow falls throughout the winter may marvel at its beauty, but dread the work it brings...
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14 Things You Absolutely Must Get Rid of if Your Home Floods
Some flood damage is immediately visible—cars, trash cans, and even trees swept away by strong currents. When the wat...
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11 Winter Supplies to Stock Up on Now, Before They Sell Out
These products are at risk of selling out this winter, so get them while you still can.
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7 Smartphone Apps for Emergencies That You Need to Download Right Now
Want to be notified if there's a tornado coming your way, or need a way to communicate with others if cell phone towers are down? These emergency and weather apps...
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When Is Hurricane Season? Now, Actually
The 2022 hurricane season began a little late, but wrapped up the third year of highly active seasons, partly thanks ...
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When Is Tornado Season? What to Know and How to Prepare
Tornado season is when the U. S. sees the most tornado watches, warnings, and touchdowns, but precisely when is torna...
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How Much Do Hurricane Shutters Cost?
Typical Range: $1,950 to $6,094 National Average: $4,022Hurricane season is a yearly concern for many people livin...
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10 Rain Garden Plants That Can Help Reduce Runoff
Does excess rainwater cause problems for your landscape? Corral it to make a right-as-rain garden for pollinators.
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Keep the Power Going: 8 Types of Generators All Homeowners Should Know
Generators use fuel sources like gasoline, natural gas, or solar energy to produce electricity, so that you can power...
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15 Things You Should Have at the Ready in Case the Power Goes Out
Prepare for an outage with these essential devices.
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The Best Whole-House Surge Protectors of 2023
Extreme weather conditions like hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and thunderstorms pose obvious power-outage threats...
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The Best Hand-Crank Radios Tested in 2023
Weather-related emergencies are often unpredictable, which means keeping informed about the latest developments can m...
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The Best Emergency Radios Tested in 2023
Unlike standard radios, emergency radios can receive warnings and notifications from very high-frequency (VHF) public...
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The Best Hurricane Shutters for Protecting Your Home
If you live in an area susceptible to tropical storms and hurricanes, you may want to consider installing hurricane s...
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How to Hire the Best Snow Removal Service After Searching ‘Snow Removal Near Me’
When the weather turns chilly and heavy snow blankets a home’s driveway, shoveling snow becomes a routine task. Altho...
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The Best Portable Power Stations Tested in 2023
A portable power station stores an electrical charge in an internal battery to charge various devices, such as a tabl...
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40 Tasks All Homeowners Should Finish Before the First Frost
From closing down the deck and garden to making sure your heating system is working, there’s plenty to be done in the autumn months. Which tasks will you take on ...
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11 Things You Should Never Do During a Hurricane
Hurricanes strike with deadly power. Use these tips to ride out the next storm in safety!
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How to Survive a Hurricane: 21 Smart Preps You Can Make Now
During the calm before the storm, learn how you can stay safe and protect your family and home from potential disaster.
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10 Ways You Can Help Your Community During a Pandemic
Strengthen community spirit during the time of Covid-19 by following expert advice and pooling talents and resources to keep everyone safe.
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15 Safety Essentials That Most Homes Are Missing
Take preventative measures and be prepared for worst-case scenarios with these home safety essentials.
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Solved! What Causes Power Outages
Q: Last night, the power went out and, luckily, came back on only an hour later—soon enough for the food in the fridg...
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The Best Storm Doors
When summer gives way to autumn, it’s time to open the doors and welcome natural light and fresh air into the house. ...
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A "Charged" Debate: Portable vs. Standby Generators
Major storms in recent years have spurred many homeowners to consider whether it might be wise to purchase a generato...
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Tackle this Task Right After the New Year to Protect Your Property
No one likes to think about the possibility of fire, flood, storm damage, or theft. But should such a disaster occur,...
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The Best Surge Protectors for the Home or Office
If you’ve spotted flickering lights, tripped circuits, or prolonged overheating of any of the electronic devices in y...
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Hurricane Season: 10 Myths Not to Believe
Terrifying storms that can level houses and rip large trees from the ground, hurricanes are among the most powerful forces of nature. The <a href="https://www.nhc...
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How to Use a Generator When the Power Goes Out
This content has been brought to you by Kohler. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila. com. Home generators are...
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How to Prevent and Remove Ice Dams
Q: After a recent snowstorm, a large band of ice formed above the edge of my roof and created some heavy icicles as w...
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Expecting Snow? Do These 7 Things ASAP
Follow these tips to ensure your home and family are ready for the snowy conditions.
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Solved! What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your House
Q: A big thunderstorm just came through our area and a tree fell on our house. My wife and I are kind of panicking be...
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How To: Prepare for a Hurricane
Summer is upon us, and with it come visions of long lazy days relaxing in the sunshine. This summer weather, however,...
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Prep for Disaster: 10 Things You'll Need in a Home Emergency
When disaster strikes, how prepared are you to handle the fallout? It pays to prep for all manner of calamity—from power outages and house fires to extreme weathe...
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All You Need to Know About Dry Wells
If storm water races from your yard and across the next lawn over after every heavy rain—washing out a flowerbed and ...
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10 Essentials for Any Survival Kit
Whether it’s a Category 5 hurricane or the coming of the zombie apocalypse, you never know exactly when a disaster might strike. Whatever the coming calamity may ...
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Bob Vila Radio: Protect Trees from Lightning
Beautiful trees enhance the look and value of residential properties, so no wonder people spend so much time trying t...
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11 Home Hazards to Know and Avoid
If you ask most people where they feel the safest, chances are the answer will be in their own home. But home safety depends on a variety of factors, and potentia...
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How to Install a Sump Pump
In an ideal world, there’d be no basement flooding. But in reality, despite our best efforts to address the underlyin...
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Storm-Proof Your Garage Doors
In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew’s devastation in 1992, the building codes in many coastal counties and storm-thr...
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Hurricane-Proof Your House with Impact-Resistant Windows
Impact-resistant windows consist of impact-resistant glass surrounded by a heavy-duty frame that is securely fastened...
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Impact-Resistant Windows Installation
Hurricane winds deliver force to building exteriors and elements. It is by far the debris these winds carry that most...
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7 Steps to Avoid a Flooded Basement
There are certain signs of spring we all welcome: cheery daffodils, increased daylight, and the chirping of birds returning from their winter vacations. Along wit...
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How to Install a Storm Door
Installing a storm door might seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but advances in manufacturing and design hav...
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Checklist: A Safe and Insurable Yard
To be sure that the outside of your home is safe and insurable, review the exterior for overall safety. Aside from al...
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A New Generation of Fabric Storm Shutters
Lightweight, strong, and easy-to-install, today's fabric storm “shutters” are manufactured to withstand the force of ...
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Tour a Salvaged Home with the Latest Green Technologies
Architect Mary Kennedy and Bob tour her Georgian Colonial family home in Westchester County, NY. After a flood ruined the house, the challenge was to salvage and ...
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Installing and Explaining a Basement HVAC System
Bob meets with the installer of the new HVAC system to discuss how it filters air and reduces energy costs.
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Keep Water Out of the Basement
Basement drainage systems are installed to control moisture and humidity and to eliminate rot and mildew.
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Touring a Neighborhood in Melrose
Bob meets with a local real estate broker and with homeowner Sarah Monzon, whose basement will be finished to create additional family space.
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Basement Remodeling Update and Installing Subfloor to Prevent Water Damage
Bob discusses the installation of a plastic subfloor to prevent water damage and the selection of a basement dehumidifier.
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Builder-Grade Cabinets in the Kitchen
Bob meets with Jack Ballantine to discuss and install Maple kitchen cabinets.
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Storm-Ready Vinyl Roof Soffits
Leslie Chapman-Henderson from the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing (FLASH) discusses storm-resistant soffit details with Bob. Todd Davison from FEMA is with Bob ...
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Applying Durable Exterior Paint Formulated for a Subtropical Climate
Jim McLaughlin and Bob spray a finish coat of Flex Lox Masonry coating on the exterior.
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Building a Gunite Cement Swimming Pool
Bob joins Tom McNealy to excavate and pour a gunite cement swimming pool.
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Wiring an Electrical Box to Support a Backup Generator
Bob meets with Electrician Harry Cunningham to install a backup generator.
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Installing an Impact-Resistant Front Door, Electric Wiring with Metal Studs, Plumbing with Metal Studs and a Concrete Slab
Bob meets with Jesse Gonzales to install an impact-resistant front door, electrician Jose Rodriguez to install wiring and plumber Dan Gerry to learn how to work w...
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Building Reinforced Concrete Storm-Ready Homes in Florida
Bob works with Scott and Aaron Renfroe to install impact-resistant windows and sliding doors.
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Finishing the Impact-Resistant Windows
Bob works with Dave Olmstead on final stages of creating an impact-resistant window.
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Impact-Resistant Windows and PGT Factory Tour
Bob visits PGT Industries to learn what it takes to make impact-resistant windows.
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Hurricane-Resistant Roof Tiles
Bob meets with Bart Cox and Dave Peck to explain how to create a storm-ready roofing system.
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Inspecting the Steel Reinforcements Before the Concrete Pour
Bob meets with Jesse Gonzales to learn more about steel reinforcements and storm-resistant roofing.
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Reviewing the Work Involved in Building a Hurricane-Resistant Home
Bob meets with Leslie Chapman-Henderson from the Federal Alliance for Safe Housing (FLASH) and Randy Shackelford to discuss an assortment of storm-resistant roof ...
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Removing the Concrete Wall Forms and Planning the Plaster Finish
Mark Newton and Jesse Gonzales explain what happens when the metal frames are removed from the poured walls, then they apply a three-coat plaster.
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Building a Reinforced, Solid-Pour Concrete Wall
Bob is joined by Jim Crain who will take him through the process of pouring cement walls. Mark Newton joins Bob as the pour begins.
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Setting Aluminum Forms for Concrete Walls and Foundation
Cameron Parker shows Bob the Solid Wall System and explains how it works. Bob recaps the foundation process.
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Pouring Reinforced, Solid-Pour Concrete Walls
Bob meets Mark Newton of Solid Wall Systems to learn about the solid-pour walls that will frame a storm-resistant home.
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Homes That Can Survive Hurricanes
Bob joins Leslie Chapman-Henderson from FLASH -- Federal Alliance for Safe Housing -- to look at two homes on the same street. One was completely destroyed the o...
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Discussing Hurricane Resistant Building and Stem Wall Construction
Bob meets with FLASH—Federal Alliance for Safe Housing and FEMA—Federal Emergency Management Agency, to learn how homeowners can protect their homes from damaging...
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Kitchenware for Easy Living and Stylish Outdoor Furniture and Grill
Bob tours the open-plan family room and meets with Cecile to discuss cookware and accessories. Then he meets Meg Tarvin they move to the poolside lanai and the f...
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A Sustainable Yard and Landscape
Bob does a walkthrough of the finished Punta Gorda home. He discusses sustainable gardening, water conservation and low-maintenance plants. Then he joins Leslie...
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Hurricane Protection for Porches, Windows, and Doors
Ted Gower shows Bob how to install a screen that can make the lanai a hurricane shelter.
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Installing a Home Back-Up Generator
Ron Ford from Kohler Power Systems joins Bob to talk about the 22-kilowatt backup generator that has been installed.
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Hurricane-, Flood-, and Earthquake-Resistant Building
Bob meets with Beth Judge (of Clemson University) to review hazard-resistant building techniques at a demonstration house used to teach builders and architects in...
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Roof Sheathing
Bob discusses the advantages of hazard-resistant building techniques, specifically sheathing the roof, with Bryan Readling (from the APA).
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Roof Framing for Hurricane Safety and Energy Savings
Bob meets with Brian Redding (from the APA) to learn more about roof framing techniques for resisting hurricanes and high winds.
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Securing Load-Bearing Columns
Installers tie steel straps down to the band joists in order to secure the load-bearing columns newly installed on the porch.
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Final Tour of the Restored "Bench" Porch House
Bob tours the finished house, the fifth in the Elmwood neighborhood project. Better grading and gutters have been added to prevent future water damage.
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Building for Hurricane Safety
Bob and contractor Ed Weller tour of another work in progress, a home being built using construction techniques unique to tropical climates.
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Tour of the Biltmore Hotel
Bob tours a remarkable concrete building that's survived some of Miami's worst hurricanes: the majestic Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
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Plaster Cornice Reconstruction
Bob surveys the plaster cornice in the project home. Water damage has ruined a large section and much of the remaining plaster needs repair. Bob and restoration c...
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Adding Detail to the Plaster Cornice
Bob observers the expert plasterer add detail to the cornice, which is under reconstruction due to water damage.
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Installing a Grade Beam
Bob oversees the installation of a grade beam in the garage, which is in compliance with California seismic code.
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Incorporating California Building Code
Bob and contractor Joe Fitzgerald discuss the structural work taking place at the Malibu beach house, as well as California's tough building codes for earthquake ...
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Installing a Lightning Rod
J & G Lightning Protection, Inc. installs a lightning rod system that will draw lightning toward the two copper rods, which perch on the garage roof. The copper p...
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Constructing the Stem-Wall Foundation
Bob meets with Askia Aquil of the St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services to talk about the upcoming project, taking place in a revitalizing area. Next, Bob ...
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Securing the Roof Truss System
Bob talks with Bill York and Rob Davis of FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes) about the storm-resistant roof truss system. Bob explains how the roof is constr...
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Installing Impact-Resistant Windows
Window installation is underway. Bob talks with Stephen Hugh of Clearwater Window to learn more about the installation process, and Dave Olmstead of PGT Industrie...
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Building a Hurricane-Resistant Home
Bob talks with Leslie Chapman-Henderson from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) about the technologies involved in securing a roof. Chapman-Henderson exp...
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Finished Exterior of the Container-Built Home
The front of the home is complete and looks like the exterior of any home in the American suburbs. Bob talks with Ray Price, the project manager for the St. Peter...
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Installing Non-Slip Exterior Tiles and Impact-Resistant Windows
Bob discusses finishing touches with general contractor Buba Barrow. On the front porch, a non-slip, mildew-resistant tile is being installed. The installation of...
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Touring the Interior of the Container-Built Home
General contractor Buba Barrow joins Bob for a tour of the finish work and interior layout, starting on the tiled front porch, moving through the open-plan family...
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The Future of Building with Steel Shipping Containers
Bob talks with David Cross (formerly of Tampa Armature Works) about the future of home construction with steel shipping containers.
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