Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 349)

Keep your cuts neat and your lines straight with a handy carpenter pencil designed for the workshop.

Find out what sets these two classic fixture finishes apart to help you choose the best look and feel for your kitchen or bath.

First-time home ownership ushers in an era of new responsibilities. Here’s how to make wise decisions and avoid common structural, financial, and legal mistakes.

It’s a law of nature and of home-owning: whatever can go wrong, eventually will. With a bit of preparedness and forethought, though, damage from household mishaps needn’t be disastrous. Here are 10 crises that commonly arise, and a few thoughts on how to handle them.

Has an “oops” moment with a can of gasoline left you—and your garage floor, car interior, or clothes—fuming? Banish the odor with one or more of these fast-acting fixes!

Buff out blemishes from clear plastic surfaces with these tried-and-true methods.

One out-of-the-shell nut is all it takes to fill in and erase light scratches on your wooden furniture or hardwood floors. Read on to learn how to try this easy trick at home!

Create wow-worthy walls with cool cover-ups you might never have considered.

There’s no need to break your budget when buying building materials, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for ugly. These 8 reasonably priced materials look good and are easy on your wallet.

You can breathe a sigh of relief the next time you lock yourself out of your home. With a key lock box, you can be back inside in no time without calling for reinforcements.

First impressions are important when it comes to selling your home. Consider how your property’s landscape might affect your selling potential.

Get a square deal on these multi-purpose, flexible marking tools from some of the most respected manufacturers.

To get a smooth, paint-worthy surface without the dust of dry sanding, follow these pro-tested tips.

Instead of cranking up the AC, let indoor plants offer an environmentally friendly alternative for beating the heat. Adding a touch of green to your decor may help combat warm, stuffy air so you can stay cooler all summer long.

From koi ponds to waterfalls, birdbaths to garden streams, we've gathered together our favorite backyard bubblers, gurglers, and soothers.

One man's weed is another man's best friend. That's certainly true for many of the weeds that are found in backyards around the country. While some gardeners labor to rid their patches of earth of any stray stem or sprout, they might do well to live and let live. At least, that's the case for a handful of weeds that boast a bevy of benefits, from attracting pollinators to repelling pests, and from fertilizing soil to filling a salad plate (although you should take care not to consume any weeds that have been treated with chemicals). Read on to discover the hidden benefits these misunderstood plants can offer.

We asked design pros to give us the scoop on their favorite kinds of vanilla.

Conquer your fear of working with concrete! The bulky DIY material may look intimidating, but Bob Vila Academy professor Pete Sveen shares his secrets for making it one of the easiest to manipulate.

So filling to eat, so versatile to cook with, and so satisfying to plant, the lowly potato is a rewarding crop for any backyard or container gardener—even a beginner!

Take your hobby to the next level: Build a greenhouse and give your green thumb a year-round outlet.