Read the latest articles from Bob Vila (Page 365)

How To Attract Birds - Bird Feeder
Lawn & Garden

Pro Tips: 5 Ways to Bring Songbirds to Your Backyard

With a steady stream of feathered friends visiting your backyard, every breakfast can become a bird-watching bonanza—from the comfort of your own home! Here, an avian conservationist offers 5 smart ideas for encouraging birds to hang out at your place this season.

Paint Can Brush
DIY

The Right Way to Handle a Paintbrush

A little know-how goes a long way when it comes to painting. These simple tips will save you headaches and help you achieve professional results.

How Long Do Fire Extinguishers Last? Solved!
Interior

Solved! How Long Do Fire Extinguishers Last?

Rely on this info to keep your home safe from flames and your defenses up to date.

Tiny Home Living - Wind River Tiny Homes
Exterior

Pro Tips: A Tiny House Dweller Shares 7 Lessons Learned

Extra-small abodes—which can be had for a song—are becoming a big deal all across America. A builder and his wife who have embraced the movement offer advice on downsizing your load and designing your miniature dream house.

Before and After: 9 Totally Amazing Mobile Home Makeovers
Exterior

Before and After: 9 Totally Amazing Mobile Home Makeovers

Manufactured housing has always been an affordable alternative to site-built homes. Older models especially can be scooped up at a reasonable price, providing prospective buyers a relatively low-stress pathway to homeownership. Some lucky, resourceful owners of modestly priced manufactured homes opt for remodeling their new-to-them residences on their own. They rebuild and restyle their factory-assembled interiors from the chassis up, often chronicling their remodeling recipes—a blend of aesthetics, power tool prowess, ingenuity, and secondhand shopping savvy—on their blogs, while loyal readers eagerly await each new reveal. Crystal Adkins, editor at Mobile Home Living, covers lots of DIY mobile home remodeling projects on her site. She often concludes that had she not told her readers that these are manufactured homes, they never would have known. Is she right? Take a look at a few choice mobile home makeovers and judge for yourself.

5 Reasons Homeowners Don't Need to Replace Their Windows
Exterior

5 Reasons Not to Buy Replacement Windows (…and Go with Window Inserts Instead)

Learn about a faster, easier, and more flexible solution for old, poorly performing windows.

9 Smart Uses for Dusty Old Books
DIY

9 Smart Uses for Dusty Old Books

While the thought of destroying a hardcover tome might make some book lovers squirm, there does come a time when an old, musty, or damaged book may have outlived its usefulness. While there's no sense in destroying truly rare and valuable books, for the run-of-the-mill old book, there are many ways to repurpose it. Here are just a handful of ideas.

How To: Solder Copper Pipe Fittings
DIY

How To: Solder Copper Pipe Fittings

Learn how to join copper pipe with a soldered sweat fitting.

How To: Replace Damaged Tile
Interior

How To: Replace Damaged Tile

Without disturbing the surrounding wall or floor installation, you can easily replace one or a few tiles that have chipped, cracked, or broken.

How To: Install a Wood Block Floor
Interior

How To: Install a Wood Block Floor

If you've ever worked with ceramic tile, you would find it easy to install a wood block floor, achieving a look seldom seen in homes today.

Clever Ideas for Removable Backsplashes
Interior

14 Brilliant Ideas for Removable Backsplashes

Saying “goodbye” to your old backsplash won’t be difficult if you install one of these temporary yet timeless wall treatments in your kitchen.

11 Things Your Contractor Won’t Tell You for Free
DIY

11 Things Your Contractor Won’t Tell You for Free

While some home improvement and maintenance projects require professional help, others are easy enough to do yourself. But most homeowners can’t get through a DIY job without some advice and guidance—which, unfortunately, a contractor won’t give you for free. Don't worry; we’ve got you covered. Here are 11 common home improvement questions, with answers that you typically would have to pay for.

21 Home Hacks That Are Just Crazy Enough to Work
DIY

21 Home Hacks That Are Just Crazy Enough to Work

From smartphone movie projectors to toothbrush power sanders, these 21 artful, ambitious, and affordable DIYs can only be called sheer genius! Read on to catch a glimpse of their crafty construction and unleash your own inner inventor!

All You Need to Know About Brick Homes
Exterior

All You Need to Know About Brick Homes

Get the 411 on this sturdy, stately siding to decide if it’s right for your home-to-be or exterior remodel.

19 Cool Projects You Can Do with Leftover Paint
DIY

19 Cool Projects You Can Do with Leftover Paint

A gallon of gas? It won't get you too far. A gallon of milk? If you have a big family, it can be gone in a day. But a gallon of paint? It can go a long way, meaning leftover paint is a common occurrence. If you share our quest to make everything old new again, consider using the leftover paint to renew or revamp your home. Here are 19 cool projects you can do with 128 ounces or less.

11 Weird Ways to Use a Bobby Pin
DIY

11 Weird Ways to Use a Bobby Pin

Bobby pins are the unsung heroes of beauty tools. The tiny clips can hold braids, pin back bangs, and give extra lift to a ponytail, but did you know that they have many practical household uses as well? From keeping food fresh to solving wardrobe woes, here are 11 unusual ways to use a bobby pin around the house.

7 Ways You’re Ruining Your Car
Exterior

7 Ways You’re Ruining Your Car

Preventive maintenance is key to keeping your car working well, but it's important to do it right. Here are 7 common car care mistakes you’re probably making and some tips on correcting them to help your vehicle last longer.

9 Extraordinary Uses for Bubble Wrap
DIY

9 Extraordinary Uses for Bubble Wrap

Bubble wrap is a great material for packing, but it has a lot of other, very practical uses. When you get a box with bubble wrap in it, resist the urge to pop it all for stress relief! Instead, stash it away to use in one of the following genius ways.

10 Things Your Local Fire Department Wishes You Knew
Interior

10 Things Your Local Fire Department Wishes You Knew

When it comes to fire safety, who is more qualified to offer up tips and reminders than firefighters themselves? Stay safe this season (and every season) by adhering to these best practices, provided by fire departments around the country.

How to Make a DIY Christmas Tree Stand
Design

This DIY Christmas Tree Stand Makes Your Fake Fir Look Real (and Taller!)

An exposed tree base is a dead giveaway that your fir is fake. Upgrade yours with a wooden stand that hides its metal legs and even makes your tree appear taller!