Bob Vila. Tried, True, Trustworthy Home Advice.
Hi, I'm Bob Vila
You probably know me from TV. For the better part of a half century, as the host of shows like This Old House and Home Again with Bob Vila, I’ve been teaching and inspiring people to upgrade their homes and improve their lives. I learned firsthand about home building from my father, and I’ve written more than a dozen books about remodeling, buying your dream home, and visiting historic homes across America. It’s fair to say that buildings, especially homes, are my life’s work.

Our Favorite Shade Sails for Beating the Heat in Style
Simple, elegant, and effective, shade sails offer an easy and affordable way to shade a deck or patio. We tested some of the best options on the market.
The Best Above-Ground Pools for Beating the Heat
Ready to swim, splash, and lounge poolside? This shopping guide helps you choose the best above-ground pool for your family, yard size, and maintenance needs to make water play fun for the family.
How we test and review products
The Bob Vila Product Reviews team tirelessly researches and tests products to ensure they live up to the hype.
- Our team scours the market for best-in-class products.
- We do our homework and thoroughly vet popular products.
- We’ll test as many as we can get our hands on.
- Our unfiltered, honest opinion is what you see on the page.
How to Paint a DeckÂ
Painting a deck doesn’t just make the space look sharp—doing so protects the wood from UV rays and moisture. Here’s what to know about choosing the right paint and preparing the wood for a professional finish.
Meet the Experts
We’re not just here to answer your questions and offer advice. BobVila.com seeks to educate and empower.
Our team of writers and editors are passionate about all things home. We are general contractors, master gardeners, real estate pros, historic preservationists, product testing specialists, and veteran journalists with expertise in everything from design to DIY. Our common bond is the mission of BobVila.com—to simplify, demystify, and chronicle the joys and challenges of homeownership through a commitment to accuracy, clarity, accessibility and good old-fashioned fun.
BobVila.com is the complete toolbox and ultimate resource for inspirational ideas and nitty-gritty know-how. It’s been that way since the site began in 2011. Our goal is to carry forward Bob Vila’s decades-long tradition of helping people maintain and upgrade their homes to live better each day.