Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 139)

Concrete Repair - New Look
Repair & Maintenance

Give Your Worn-Out Concrete a Brand-New Look

Concrete doesn't really need ongoing maintenance. But occasionally it needs repair, particularly after years of hard use or weather exposure. Fortunately, now the average handy homeowner can handle those fixes himself, saving the cost of a contractor, thanks to advanced concrete repair products. Here's how it all works.

cleaning - replacing grout
Flooring

When in Doubt, Revive Your Grout! Top Tips for Regrouting Tile

If your floor, backsplash, or tub surround is looking a little tired and outdated, the solution may be as simple as cleaning, reviving, or replacing the grout.

Laundry Chute
Interior

So, You Want to… Install a Laundry Chute

Installing a laundry chute requires planning, never more than when retrofitting a chute into an existing house. So before getting your heart set on one, review these project pointers on siting, design, and safety.

Here's How a Home Inventory Can Protect All of Your Possessions
Home Insurance

Tackle this Task Right After the New Year to Protect Your Property

Create a home inventory now to protect your personal belongings and ensure you’ll receive proper reimbursement should your valuables be lost or stolen.

Woman wearing dust mask uses a sander to sand a wood drawer.
Skills & Techniques

How to Sand Wood

Whether you plan to update wood furniture with a new coat of paint or just need to smooth a freshly cut edge, this guide will help you select the best sandpaper, tools, and technique for the job.

The Best Composite Decking Brand Options
Exterior

The 5 Best Composite Decking Brands

Tired of that annual chore of painting or staining your wood deck to prepare for the summer season? Consider a long-lasting alternative with less maintenance—and no splinters!

A person planting in a raised bed using the Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Raised Bed Mix.
Lawn Care & Gardening

The Best Bagged Compost for Garden Soil

Compost can enrich garden soil naturally and add much-needed nutrients to grow healthier plants.

A person using the TopCon’s RL-H5A Laser Level for surveying during testing.
Building & Installing

TopCon’s RL-H5A Laser Level: A Tested Review

Rotary laser levels are game changers for establishing a perfectly level plane over a 360-degree area. Find out what happened when I tested one of the best-selling models on the market.

An exterior shot of a brick sunroom with a skylight.
Interior

Building a Sunroom: Costs and Key Considerations for Today

Building a sunroom is a complex project with awesome benefits like extra entertaining space and a healthier lifestyle. An average sunroom cost is $47,000, but it ranges between $20,800 and $72,600.

A flat-screen TV sits stop a TV stand against a white wall with a couch in the foreground.
Interior

Here’s How Much TV Screen Repair Costs in 2025

TV screen repair costs between $200 and $1,000—but is it worth it? Find out how repairs are priced, and when replacement is a better option.

The Ryobi RY40710 Cordless Earth Auger partially embedded in a field during testing.
Tools

Is the Ryobi Auger a Must-Have for Digging Holes? Find Out in This Tested Review

Handheld power augers reduce the time and labor it takes to dig holes. Find out what happened when I tested a best-selling cordless model.

A person kneeling next to a garden bed planting flowers and vegetables in May.
Gardening

What to Plant in May for a Thriving Spring, Summer, and Even Fall Garden

May is the month when many gardeners can finally begin to plant species that won’t tolerate frost, as well as those that require heat.

The Oregon 410-120 Bench Grinder Chain Sharpener mounted to a board during testing.
Tools

Precise, Fast, Adjustable: Oregon Chainsaw Sharpener Review

If you’re looking for a way to keep your saw chains in top condition, here’s why the Oregon 410-120 could be the best choice.

Woman pours a cup of water into a large bucket, a can of white paint next to the bucket.
Painting & Finishing

How to Thin Latex Paint

Don’t throw away latex paint that has thickened in the can! Follow this 10-minute process to thin it out to the proper consistency, and save yourself the cost of buying new paint.

Man's hand holding a hand full of grass seed near a patch of green grass.
Lawn Care & Gardening

When to Plant Grass Seed to Get the Lushest, Greenest Lawn

Dreaming of a lush lawn? Successful sowing depends partly on proper soil preparation, an understanding of your climate, and having a good understanding of the best time to plant grass seed for your area.

A person holding an edamame plant in a home garden with a graphic overlay that says Plant Care 101.
Gardening

How to Grow Edamame in Your Home Garden

We’ll spill the beans on what it takes to grow this nutritious Japanese vegetable.

Woman slides neodymium magnet along the shaft of a screwdriver to magnetize it.
Tools

How to Magnetize a Screwdriver

Try this simple trick and you’ll never drop a screw again!

The Lettuce Grow Farmstand full of growing plants in a home during testing.
House Plants

A Review of the Lettuce Grow Farmstand: Is It Worth the Price?

This innovative system grows 36 full-size plants in just 4 square feet with no app access required.

A group of the best self-watering planters outside before testing.
Lawn, Garden & Pool

The Best Self-Watering Planters for Low-Maintenance Gardens, Tested

A self-watering planter will let you enjoy houseplants, herbs, and even vegetable plants without worrying about how much water to give them.

Ingredients to make DIY Dawn Powerwash, including dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and essential oils.
DIY

Dawn Powerwash Recipe: How to DIY the Ultimate Dish Soap

Love Dawn Powerwash? See how easy it is to make a DIY version of it at home for a fraction of the price.