BUILD
PAINT
CLEAN
MAINTAIN
USE
DESIGN
INSTALL
CHOOSE
GROW
Buyer's Guide: Air Mattresses
They inflate when you need them and deflate when you don't. In effect, air mattresses are beds on demand. Making them all the more convenient is that when deflated, air mattresses can be stored away. Some are eve...
Solved! What to Do About Water Hammer
Q: When the water reaches the fill level in my washing machine and the agitation cycle starts, I always hear a loud series of bangs in the pipes behind the wall. What’s causing this? Will it harm the pipes?A: The...
Solved! Can You Paint Over Wood Stain?
Q: My childhood dresser is beautiful but the wood stain looks faded. I’d love to update it with fresh paint and new hardware, but I’ve heard that you can’t get good results painting over stain. Is that true—and i...
The Best Portable Generators for Backup Power
Power grid failures are a real nuisance and in some cases, dangerous. If your area has been experiencing blackouts more frequently, or for more protracted periods of time, it may be well worth it for you to explo...
How To: Install Base Cabinets
One fundamental rule applies to the installation of just about anything: If you get the first piece right, the others fall into position. Misplace the first piece, however, and you're likely to experience a serie...
Buyer's Guide: The Best Air Purifiers
Nobody wants to breathe in dust, dander, pollen, and mold. Unfortunately, though, the air in our homes is loaded with these pollutants, thanks to poor ventilation and the use of household chemicals, gas-burning a...
How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last All Season
You found the perfect Christmas tree, now you just need to make sure it survives until December 25. Luckily, with these helpful tips keeping your fir fresh isn't too hard to manage.
Solved! What to Do About a Broken Window Seal
Q: Until last week, I could look out my kitchen window to watch the songbirds at my backyard feeder. But something must have happened to the window because now the inside of the double panes is foggy—like a steam...
The Right Way to Light a Fireplace
At first, it may seem like a foolproof undertaking: You put some wood in the fireplace, light a match, then sit back and watch it burn. Right? Well, yes and no. With seasoned firewood, a box of matches, and a han...
7 Easy Ways to Increase Your Garage Door Security
Your house is only as safe as its weakest entry point, and for many, that point is an overhead garage door. While homeowners typically install strong front entry doors, garage door security often takes a backseat...
