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Sponges are an ancient solution to everyday cleaning and hygiene needs. The Greeks and Romans used sea sponges—real l...
Durability, versatility, and low maintenance—these are the calling cards of cast-iron pans. As the longest-lasting of...
A culinary newbie might see knives as mere kitchenware, but a chef recognizes them as essential tools—tools that need...
The safety of your home and its occupants should not be taken lightly. A security system is often the first line of d...
A dish-drying rack simplifies your kitchen clean-up routine by giving you a place to set clean dishes and utensils to...
When life gets busy, lawn maintenance is just one more thing on the laundry list of to-dos we often struggle to squee...
Seasons come and go, with some signaling a return to the backyard barbecue and others forcing you back into the kitch...
Sometimes a nail gun just doesn't hit the spot. Nail guns exert large amounts of force to drive nails deep into frami...
No home safety plan is complete if it doesn't include carbon monoxide detectors. When they detect the presence of car...
Almost any home DIY project is made easier by having a clean, flat surface to work on. If this surface sits at the pe...
There tends to be a bit of mystery surrounding plaster walls. As a less popular material today, the act of plastering...
Keeping your lawn looking lush and green means that you need to weed frequently and apply fertilizer at the right tim...
An eminently versatile and often overlooked tool, hot glue guns are handy for everything from kids' crafts to fabric-...
Stain removers and laundry detergent aren’t the same thing, although they work hand in hand. The best laundry deterg...
Natural light is coveted indoors, especially as it filters through the windows on a cool spring or fall day and warms...
Use less toilet paper and change up your hygiene routine by adding a bidet to your bathroom. This simple fixture atta...
Wood furniture polishes are substances you apply to add luster to everything from tables and chairs to dressers and a...
Over the years, rotary tools have become one of the most indispensable tools used by both DIYers and pros. No workben...
Beyond merely benefiting your property's curb appeal, a wood fence adds privacy to your yard while keeping your child...
Whether we like it or not, weeds are part of every landscape, competing with our trees, shrubs, and flowers for vital...
Your flooring is the largest surface area in your home and, not least because it gets walked on every day, it's a sur...
The words “versatile” and “tool” are used together so often these days, it’s hard to tell whether it’s the truth or j...
It seems like you can practically buy anything online for your home nowadays. Traditionally paint shopping has always...
A can opener isn't one of the most exciting kitchen gadgets, but it’s certainly one of the most necessary. Unfortunat...
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the selection of products claiming stain-removing, odor-busting, laundry-cleaning powe...
Your deck functions almost as the living room of your outdoor space. This is where, for many homeowners, memories are...
Smoke detectors are a lot like income taxes: You need to deal with them once a year, not a whole lot of people unders...
Nothing tastes better than freshly picked herbs, vegetables, and fruit, but you don’t need a large yard or the perfec...
Putting the right finishing touches on a woodworking project can transform decent work into stunning craftsmanship. F...
A dark carpet stain can ruin an otherwise beautiful living space. At the very least, an obvious stain can be an eyeso...
Labels are confusing. Consider, for example, organic, non-GMO, and cage free. They all have one thing in common—they ...
Today’s miter saws are a big improvement over the manual miter boxes of the 1960s. Mitering is the process of fitting...
Table saws cut with more accuracy than circular saws, and they can cut large pieces of material—whether wood, plastic...
Stuff happens—and alas, so do stuffed-up toilets. Excessive amounts of toilet paper, waste, hygiene products, and eve...
Garden plants need nutrients to grow well and stay healthy. Adequate soil fertility is as important to plants as a he...
Reduce, reuse, recycle. That's the mantra we were taught in school, and they are still words to live by. Cutting down...
Backyard cookouts can leave your grill gunked up with grease, fat, and sauce, giving food an unappealing taste. Worse...
Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer, hobbyist, or professional tradesman, your work may require you to wear safety glas...
Whether you’re painting a room or the siding on your house, you have quite a few decisions to make. Color choices, ty...
When your next cookout is calling, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your grill is clean enough to us...
Whether you cut yourself while opening the mail at home or while scrambling over rocks on a forest hike, you’ll want ...
One of the easiest ways to save energy (and money) is to air-dry your clothes. After all, clothes dryers are one of t...
Raised bed gardening is hugely popular, in part because this mode of gardening enables you to grow decorative and edi...
One sure sign of a new homeowner and rookie DIYer? Only having one screwdriver in his or her tool kit!Screwdrivers ar...
The wrong alarm clock can be jarring at best, ineffective at worst. The right alarm clock, however, can help you rise...
An office isn't complete without a comfortable chair to support you during long days of conference calls and report w...
One of the first tools many homeowners purchase is a spirit or bubble level. Spirit levels use a small bubble in a tu...
One of the most essential household cleaning tools is also one of the simplest and least sophisticated. Traditionally...
Q: The grass in my yard—which is in partial shade since the trees around it have grown up, and on a slight slope—has ...
There’s no better time than spring to clean a house from top to bottom. Clearing away the dust, dirt, and crumbs that...
With cleaning an ever-pressing priority for us all, how can we better protect ourselves from germs, pollen, dander, d...
Herbicides are common in weed control, but they pose serious risks. These chemicals can leach from the soil and find ...
It’s quite difficult to get anything accomplished in a cluttered garage or workshop where supplies, tools, and other ...
For your "green thumb" endeavors indoors and out—tasks as varied as houseplant watering, seed starting, and container...
The bulk of a kitchen’s essentials—pots and pans, dishware and utensils, canned and dry goods—is stored in its cabine...
Most avid DIYers and industry pros know their way around a power drill. A hammer drill, however, is a less familiar s...
Unless you have a greenhouse or an unlimited number of south-facing windows, grow lights are your best option for rel...
Harmful bacteria can multiply in the home at an alarming rate, which may place family members at a higher risk of ill...
String lights make those nights spent outdoors so much more relaxing and festive. Even one simple strand can magicall...
A handy tube of super glue can quickly turn complicated home repairs into quick fixes—if you have the right product. ...
An extension cord—insulated wire with a plug at one end and a socket at the other—comes in handy whenever you need to...
The smell of freshly turned earth. A sturdy shovel in your hand. A flat of green and healthy bedding plants beside yo...
Grout isn’t something we usually notice until it becomes grimy, dark, and dingy. Fortunately, with the right cleaner,...
Using your thumb to adjust water flow on your garden hose is annoying, not to mention uncomfortable (and it's hard to...
If you’re planning a new garden, you should start with good soil. After all, soil is the medium of life for plants, p...
Beautiful landscapes and pruning go hand in hand. Thinning out rose bushes and trimming hedges might not be your favo...
Whether they crop up on your lawn, in a flower bed, or along the perimeter of a fence, weeds are the gardener’s age-o...
Once you start building up a tool collection, you quickly start running into storage issues. You might have a tool bo...
One of the first rules of woodworking is to sand in the direction of the woodgrain to avoid creating cross-grain mark...
For years, sharpening a chainsaw meant having to sharpen the individual cutters on the chain by hand. Today’s sharpen...
No one enjoys vacuuming back and forth across the floor of each room, only to have to repeat the chore just a week or...
If you’ve heard the expression “like water off a duck’s back,” you may be surprised to learn that it was the original...
The bushes are pruned, the lawn is mowed, and the planting beds are weeded. Your yard and garden are looking great—ex...
Compost is like a multivitamin for your soil. Made of thoroughly decayed organic material, it works like a fertilizer...
Several decades ago, you had two options when it came to mowing your lawn: a manual reel-type mower that took major m...
It’s a maddeningly common scenario: You’re running late, so you hop into the shower—only to be met by a cold blast or...
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as the feeling you get after conquering a home project with your own two hands. W...
No matter what the architectural style, a house is only as good as its foundation, the lowest load-bearing aspect of ...
From testing batteries to determining the amount of voltage in an electrical circuit, the multimeter is a standard di...
A kitchen renovation ranks as the most popular home improvement project Americans hope to take on—and it's also the m...
Q: In six weeks, our new-construction house will be complete and ready for us to move in, so we’re in the market for ...
If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies, you may choose to stay inside when the outdoor pollen count ...
Potato peels down the kitchen sink. Loose hair swirling through the tub drain. The little plastic soldier your toddle...
Adding a sink to the laundry room opens up a whole new dimension in cleaning convenience, letting you easily presoak ...
Many homeowners strive to enjoy their outdoor space as much as possible, whether that means reading on the porch late...
Today’s snow removal machines make quick work of clearing the white stuff from driveways and sidewalks—saving your ba...
When assembling a tool kit for home improvement, maintenance, and construction projects, one of the first items purch...
There’s nothing quite like the sense of clean and calm you get from a great shower at the end of a long day. One of t...
If you’re lucky enough to have access to a stand of oak, maple, or ash trees, you can harvest your own firewood, and ...
Transform your bath into a personal haven with these designer ideas for sublime self-indulgence. This content is paid advertising created in partnership with...
What sets apart the best kitchen trash cans? They hold garbage, of course, but they also do it in a sanitary, unobtru...
Vinyl often trumps siding types like aluminum or fiber cement for its ruggedness, color retention, and overall attrac...
Q: I’m getting ready to start a full bathroom remodel, and I’m wondering how to choose the right bathtub for the spac...
When you wake up, look out your window, and see a snow-covered vista, your thoughts first turn to clearing the drivew...
The to-do lists are long in a home renovation—and that's before you account for unexpected tasks like running to the ...
Layering on sweaters is one way to stay warm in a poorly insulated house, but while you’re bundling up, your furnace ...
Removing snow from your driveway the old-fashioned way might not be fun, but it's a good-for-the-earth way to clean u...
Revamp your floors with new carpet colors that are both timeless and on trend.
Sitting at a desk all day has long been associated with “secretary’s spread”—the phenomenon of sedentary office worke...
Every homeowner should have a tool kit, and every tool kit should have the essentials. Don’t start the New Year without having these tools and supplies at the ready.
What’s black and cool and red hot all over—in appliance showrooms and up-to-the-minute kitchens and laundry rooms? It...
Maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature is a priority for homeowners all year round, but in winter you’re bound ...
There are many do-it-yourself projects that allow for scrimping on costs without any negative effects on your results...
Once the holidays are over, it’s time to rev up and start fresh. Why make sticking to your resolutions a chore? Here are a few stellar products that will super-ch...
Removing frost and ice from your windshield is a straightforward task—just grab an ice scraper and get to work. But n...
Sometimes life can be unpredictable. You might set out to do one task only to find yourself with more chores on your ...
Who hasn’t slowed down to marvel at a house with an especially elaborate display of colorful holiday lights? Or for t...
If you’ve checked out the faucet and fixture aisle at your home improvement center recently, you’ve undoubtedly seen ...
Nobody wants to breathe in dust, dander, pollen, and mold. Unfortunately, though, the air in our homes is loaded with...
Split level homes, with their three staggered floors, began appearing in American suburbs in the 1950s and reached pe...
With all the hustle and bustle at the end of a year, it can be easy to forget one of the most crucial elements of enj...
You've scoured and scrubbed to remove the ugly orange rust from your garden tools or your favorite white shirt, but t...
Nothing beats a hot shower at the end of a long day. But while steamy water may work wonders on your nerves, it has t...
Though small in size, mice can be big trouble when they invade your home’s garbage cans, cabinets, crawlspaces, and o...
You’ve made the commitment to avoid wasting good food, but part of that promise requires storing it in a healthy way ...
The popcorn is popped, the beverages are chilled, and you’re ready to binge-watch your favorite show. Except as you s...
Smart thermostats go far beyond their programmable predecessors to offer a whole new level of residential climate con...
Hardwood floors add natural warmth to any room, but the traditional method of putting in hardwood is time consuming, ...
Chilly weather will chase you indoors after dinner al fresco, and low temperatures in the morning keep you from readi...
Wood stain is a paint-like product comprised of colorant dissolved or suspended in a solvent or other medium. It’s us...
Interested in keeping your investment countertops in tip-top shape? Cutting boards are key accessories for any kitche...
Grow your workshop (and your skill set) with these 15 handy power tools, accessories, and more. This content is paid advertising created in partnership with ...
If you’re a fan of modern farmhouse style, or simply watch a lot of decorating shows on TV, you’re undoubtedly famili...
Rain gutters, which run along the base of a roof, do more than keep downpours from drenching people as they come and ...
If you long for the glowing warmth of a crackling fire but installing a gas or wood-burning fireplace would be imprac...
Not everyone chooses to spend time in the garage. For DIYers and hobbyists, however, the garage often the serves the ...
Cleaning your home’s gutters is a messy chore, but it’s vital to keep your home's stormwater drainage system free of ...
Plumbing has come a long way from the clay pipes used in ancient Greece to supply water and carry sewage away. Today,...
Window AC units and full-blown central air conditioning systems aren’t a viable option in many homes and buildings. F...
Just as cellular technology freed the telephone, the advent of lithium-ion batteries forever altered the landscape of...
Q: We just purchased a home that was built in the 1960s and will be remodeling to bring it up to date. Our plans incl...
They may not gallop, but a good set of sawhorses is key to getting your construction, woodworking, or DIY project acr...
Outdoor illumination is an excellent deterrent to nocturnal crime, but leaving the lights on all night is a costly wa...
With falling temperatures comes falling leaves. Fortunately, one of the most pleasurable outdoor chores is gathering ...
Since the technology arrived in the 1930s, installing recessed lighting has become de rigueur in new construction and...
It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it! And if you’re the one on laundry duty, you’ll want some serious deterg...
Homeowners who host frequent backyard cook-outs tend to have firm opinions about what kind of grill keeps mouths wate...
Though broadly related to leaf blowers, leaf vacuums operate in quite the opposite way. While leaf blowers disperse l...
Getting rid of household dust—those pesky fine particles composed of plant pollen, human and animal dander, environme...
Amazon is known for its competitive prices, but there are even more hidden deals on its website that you might not be aware of. The online store has a vast select...
Power saws have changed the woodworking industry, giving DIYers the muscle they need to create large projects in a sh...
Travertine—a variety of limestone formed from calcium carbonate deposits in or near hot springs or limestone caves—is...
Q: My husband and I just moved from Reno, Nevada, to Baytown, Texas, and the humidity here is high, even indoors. We’...
Serving to extend your home’s living area for personal downtime and festive gatherings, the deck sees a ton of traffi...
Stroll down the power tool aisle at the hardware store and you’ll see a variety of drills and drivers that look fairl...
For a pro-quality paint job, you’ve got to focus on the areas you don’t want to paint as well as the ones you do. Tha...
Ahead, learn how a climate-control system can deliver not only uniform comfort throughout the home but also real savings over time.</p> This content is paid...
Traditionally, most homeowners have two choices for the stove: gas and electric. More often than not, the type of sto...
If you’ve ever had to install shelving or hang a mirror, you've more than likely looked for wall studs before. That's...
The ultimate summer must-have when outdoor living calls you but you need a reprieve from the sun’s beating rays? A pa...
Ever-rising utility costs can make it difficult to heat an entire house. To save money but still keep occupied areas ...
If there’s one room in the house you can’t “forget” to clean, it’s the bathroom. Showers, tubs, and countertops colle...
If you have any experience with home improvement, you need no convincing about the strengths of concrete as a buildin...
Purchasing a duplex—also known as a two-family house—or a multi-family property can be a smart money-making move as a...
Nothing says “clean” like a great pressure washing! Decks and driveways, patio furniture and window shutters—they all...
Q: My metal patio chairs are starting to look a bit scuffed and rusty. Can I get good results painting them with some...
Good home security starts at the front door. A home burglary occurs approximately once every 18 seconds in the United...
The popularity of camping has surged in recent years, according to industry studies. One reason more folks are headin...
Want to speed up your paint job? Put thought into your choice of applicator. Where speed is concerned, there's one cl...
Hardwood flooring gets acclaim for its natural beauty, but it requires varying degrees of attention to maintain its g...
Unlike a conventional gas or electric stove, an induction cooktop doesn’t produce thermal heat. Instead, electromagne...
Ceiling fans are a beloved feature of many homes, as they provide an affordable and often stylish way to make living ...
The unsung heroes of construction and carpentry, nails and screws are used to hold together everything from wooden ho...
Find the right pro for every household chore—big, small, majorly messy, or just plain pesky! This content is paid advertising created in partnership with Thu...
Whether you’re painting the living room or a patio table, applying a prep coat of primer to the surface will improve ...
Planning on painting a room or sprucing up a piece of furniture? In addition to picking a color, base (water or oil),...
If you’re like many homeowners, when the sweltering heat of summer gives way to the golden glow of autumn, you long t...
Outsmart biting bugs while bringing new beauty to your garden with these superhero plant species.
A cracked or stained driveway can not only detract from curb appeal, but it can also make your entire house look date...
Even if you have your heart set on a real wood floor, it's worth considering options that look, feel, and even outperform hardwood. The following content is ...
Many homeowners use an electric fan to assist in circulating indoor air and increasing the comfort level of a too-war...
Learn all about the most popular ceiling styles to decide what’s right for you, whether you are house hunting, remodeling, or having a new home built.
As cars have grown more important to our lives, they have gained equal prominence in residential floor plans. You’d p...
The shape and tidiness of your shrubs is a crucial component of curb appeal. Whether you’ve got a densely landscaped ...
All caulking guns have a single purpose: deliver a continuous bead of caulk in order to seal joints between two surfa...
Summertime is the perfect time to shoot the breeze in the backyard with your family and friends. Whether your soirée of choice is a barbecue or a pool party, ente...
Q: I plan on installing tile on my entryway floor and kitchen backsplash. How much tile do I need to buy in each case...
While your lawn may take its fair share of work to maintain and manicure, it can actually be pretty easy to keep it f...
You're all set to laze on a lounge chair, tend to your flower garden, and enjoy a backyard cookout with your friends....
Stock tanks—large containers traditionally used on farms to water livestock—are getting recreationally repurposed as ...
If you’ve ever lost power during a storm or lost cell phone reception while on a hike, you've likely felt the frustra...
Add privacy, security, and even beauty to your front or backyard on with these cheap fence ideas.
Whether your yard is large or small, minimally landscaped or filled with flower beds, one of the easiest ways to keep...
If you spend any time gardening or landscaping, you’ve got to have a good wheelbarrow. While these lowly vehicles may...
Once the top choice for all water supply pipes, copper has been nudged a bit to the side by flexible pipes made from ...
While DIYers can obsess about caulking technique, the truth is that laying down the perfect bead will do little good...
Q: We recently bought a house and its roof is 15 years old. While the home inspector didn’t find any specific problem...
Replacing a light bulb in your foyer, hanging a family portrait, cleaning the gutters—there are some tasks that are j...
Half the battle of common home repairs is picking the correct product to use. And when two products have some overlap...
As daylight hours increase, so does the need for drapes that can darken a room in the early hours. In fact, for overa...
Dependable air conditioning is essential for keeping comfortable during the sweltering days of summer, so homeowners ...
Q: I want to renew a recently purchased thrift store chair with paint. What’s the best paint to use on furniture?A: A...
Your home gets one chance to make a good first impression—and it does so largely with its garage door. In fact, resea...
Bring beautiful color and texture to stubborn areas of your yard by strategically selecting and then properly planting the right ground cover.
Wholesale superstores like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s can save you up to 55 percent on some items. If you aren’t careful, though, you can find yourself consider...
Q: I want to reseed my lawn with a grass that can tolerate the scarce rainfall my region has been getting in recent s...
As one of the largest retailers in the United States, there’s not much that Walmart doesn’t offer. From the fun to the functional, the budget-friendly store has y...
Some people love garage sales; others pass by without a second thought, writing them off as a jumble of other people's trash. If you’re in that second group, you’...
It can be tough to find attractive, functional, and economical bedroom furniture, and picking the just-right bed frame can be especially challenging. We've made t...
If you’re ready to upgrade to a new lawn mower but aren’t sure you want a traditional gas-powered model, consider goi...
Get the most bang for your buck with a rug that is suited for both indoors and out. Whether subjected to the outdoor elements or the daily wear and tear of indoor...
To become the kind of grill master who wows crowds at family cookouts, you need the right equipment. The two most pop...
Heating and air conditioning strip your home’s air of its natural humidity. The result: An uncomfortable dryness that...
Bring out your home’s best features—and hide its flaws—with these trendy trim colors.
If your lawn features a lot of “interruptions”—trees, shrubbery, pavers, and pathways—odds are that you struggle with...
No longer strictly for the workshop, wet/dry vacuums are now a convenience for all around the house. How did this hap...
I absolutely love tech gadgets for our home. Most recently, I set up a super simple security/notification system, the...
Choosing the right wood for a home improvement project can be tricky for experienced woodworkers and novice DIYers alike. Luckily, knowing a few key lumber facts ...
Outdoor decks are all-time-favorite spots for entertaining and relaxing, but like all exterior structures, decks even...
Shower curtains are the unsung heroes of traditional showers and tubs. In addition to providing privacy, they bring y...
When it comes to keeping your home cool and your utility bills low, you can’t beat a window fan. These devices mount ...
Going “all natural” to protect your family is a noble goal—and one that's not always easy to achieve. Many products c...
Upholding basic sanitary practices to ensure the health of your home calls for regular toilet bowl cleaning. While th...
Keeping your garden and landscape in top shape requires care and maintenance, including regular pruning. Whether you ...
Q: I host game nights in my media room and need a coffee table to lay out board games and snacks. How tall should my ...
Drywall—comprised of compressed gypsum (a soft sulfite mineral)—creates wonderfully smooth walls. Yet insert a nail o...
Q: My husband and I are designing our kitchen remodel ourselves. We definitely want a multi-purpose kitchen island, b...
You can’t beat a handheld vacuum when you need to quickly clean up common messes like broken glass, pet hair, and coo...
Harsh UV rays, battering rain, and temperature extremes can take a toll on your wood deck, leaving it faded and dull....
Choose one of these lighting options for a safer and more striking backyard.
They’re one of the handiest kitchen helpers, grinding food waste into tiny bits so it can drain away with sink water....
Bathroom floor tile is available in a surprising number of materials. Ceramic, porcelain, and vinyl tiles are what co...
As much as chainsaws hold appeal for tool geeks and aspiring lumberjacks, they are also quite handy for average homeo...
Losing electricity at home for an hour, a day, or even a week. These inconvenient grid failures are a real nuisance a...
When you’re putting together the tools for your workshop, you’ll inevitably purchase such basics as saws, drills, and...
With a pinch of effort and almost no upkeep, you can have the lush, beautiful garden of your dreams. The secret is to choose plant varieties that enjoy a little h...
Painting the outside of your house probably isn’t your idea of a good time. But if you use the right paint, you can e...
Whether replacements for existing windows or part of new construction, your home’s “eyes” to the outside world involv...
Like any other holiday, Earth Day is part celebration, part appreciation: We rejoice in the beauty and bounty of our ...
Tile floors are beautiful, durable, and a fairly DIY friendly option, but for tile’s good looks to really last, it’s ...
Bad-tasting drinking water and dingy clothes are just two indications that your home could benefit from a water filtration system. Here are some other signs to lo...
We’ve all got friends and relatives. But we don’t all have the benefit of a guest room for when they visit. Thus, the...
Behind every gorgeous, bountiful garden is a great deal of dirty work! Fortunately, a pair of rugged, reliable gloves...
Window treatments let you control light, privacy, and indoor temperature while complementing your décor. While you’ve...
Manual reel lawn mowers may invoke nostalgia for the good old days before powerful riding versions arrived to wake th...
Q: I want to reseed some bare patches on my lawn—and don’t want to wait too long to see results. What are the fastest...
Increase curb appeal and backyard beauty with any of these hardy, easy-to-grow ornamental grasses.
Whether you’re repairing a roof, redoing your wood floors, or starting any other type of major do-it-yourself project...
We all crave warmth and coziness—but before you turn up the heat, consider the humble electric blanket. About twice a...
Give your kitchen an exciting new look with one of these cool, clean paint shades, perfect for cabinets.
Enhance the area around large trees with color, texture, and design elements—while keeping those big guys healthy and strong.
Q: We’d like to refresh our landscape but our yard doesn’t get much direct sunlight. What’s the best grass to plant i...
Vinyl is the most popular form of resilient flooring (a category that also includes linoleum and cork) because it’s l...
Novice DIYers eager to get started repairing, replacing, or installing new tile may wonder about the differences betw...
Choosing colors for your next paint project can really occupy your time, as you pore over a spectrum of shade swatche...
The "measure twice, cut once" adage is key to the success of all kinds of craft and construction projects. To follow ...
Nothing slows you down like a clogged, slow-draining sink, shower, tub, or toilet. Your first step should always be p...
Q: I want to repaint my front door to cover up some old water stains. What is the best paint for front doors?A: A fre...
In a era where convenience is king, it's no wonder that smart thermostats have been integrated into so many homes. Th...
Some people have piles of cash, rare jewels, and irreplaceable collectibles stashed in safe-deposit boxes at the bank...
Cleaning glass is an easy housekeeping chore to skip—until suddenly all you see are streaks of grime, islands of dust...
Q: My kitchen doesn’t get much natural light. What kitchen lighting design would you recommend?A: A well-lit kitchen ...
Q: Our water heater is on its last legs. I’ve increased the temperature on the tank to its highest setting, but the w...
Replacing old windows with new energy-efficient ones is a great way to weatherproof your home and boost its resale va...
Whether you use it for parking your car, as a workshop, a storage hub, or all of the above, you need good lighting in...
When Old Man Winter blows into town, home improvement stores roll out their snow blower displays—rows of shiny red, b...
One of the best ways to save money and protect the environment is to buy reusable products—and batteries are one of t...
Doorbell cameras have definitely arrived. They clearly show “who’s there?” and most can be conveniently configured wi...
Major storms in recent years have spurred many homeowners to consider whether it might be wise to purchase a generato...
Some paint prep is easier than others. On a piece of furniture with only a few isolated peeling patches, you can sim...
Whether you plan on painting walls, furnishings, cabinets, or trim, you’ll need a quality interior paint to achieve g...
It's hard to beat the natural beauty of wood flooring, but it’s not a traditional choice for a kitchen, due to the gr...
It might not be a fancy or complex tool, but the humble utility knife—basically a razor blade tucked into a sturdy ha...
Q: I want to replace a few aging appliances without paying an arm and a leg. What’s the best time of year to buy appl...
The “do” is the fun part of doing it yourself. The time spent searching for the right hand tools, tape, and fasteners...
Shoveling snow is a pesky chore that can literally be a pain in the back, but, for many folks, it’s necessary just to...
Porcelain tiles are an all-time favorite for beautiful, durable floors, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens. But u...
Asphalt shingles have long been known for their cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance. But now there’s a variety...
From time to time, homeowners forget to shut off the water supply to an outdoor faucet when they're winter-proofing t...
Q: Every year, I look forward to picking out the Christmas tree with my family. In years past when we lived in New Yo...
First introduced in the 1970s, laminate flooring is comprised of layers of synthetic material engineered to look like...
Beautiful marble flooring started its journey into our homes as limestone. Millions of years of metamorphosis—intense...
Don’t let their names confuse you: Though polycrylic and polyurethane may sit on the same shelf at the store, they ar...
A cutting board acts at any given moment as a chopping block, food preparation surface, or serving station—sometimes ...
If you’ve ever worked with wood, you’re likely familiar with instructions to sand all edges after cutting, before app...
The more you tackle fix-it projects yourself, the more crowded your toolbox becomes. But at the end of the day, there...
If replacing a kitchen sink, you’ll think about style, size, and—perhaps most importantly—material. Some materials ar...
With its unique grain patterns and natural tones, wood earns praise for being a beautiful building material. And also...
Every day, 365 days a year, I’m thinking about building products. With decades in the home building and remodeling in...
Choosing a high-quality, long-lasting grout sealer is one of the best ways to protect your tile from water, dirt, oil...
Back in the 9-to-5 world, when people got up, went to work, and returned home at the same time every weekday, nobody ...
Q: My wife and I just bought our first home, complete with wood-burning fireplace. We’re excited—but unsure exactly w...
Over time, walls throughout the home accumulate dings, nail holes, even random spots where some not-so-temporary tape...
Whether it's water rising dangerously high in a toilet bowl or a child’s pronouncement that the bathtub water just wo...
You finally decided on the perfect hardwood for your floors—whether that's a deep, rich walnut, a warm cherry wood, o...
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Whether your closet is cramped but navigable or in such disarray that you waste precious time rummaging through it ju...
Nothing feels quite as nice as the cozy glow of a warm fire on a blustery winter’s day. While wood-burning models are...
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Tired of making a mess and breaking your back cleaning floors with a conventional mop and a bucket of soapy water? Co...
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Unobtrusive illumination installed flush with the ceiling, recessed lighting can be found in virtually all types of h...
Cracks, divots, holes, or rot can crop up on wooden surfaces due to ordinary wear-and-tear, accidents, and during do-...
Has your old kitchen faucet seen better days? Whether yours is leaking water or is simply outdated, replacing a kitch...
Q: I’d like to repaint the gray drywall ceiling in my study a fresh white to brighten up the room. Are the pricier pr...
If it’s time to install a new roof, the variety of options available can floor you. Asphalt shingles have long been k...
Even if you pride yourself on your well-equipped workshop with every state-of-the-art tool you need for construction ...
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At war with home windows that are energy-inefficient, weak, or dated? Tinting home windows from the inside with an af...
What if you could simply roll a layer of paint onto your walls and increase the thermal insulating property (R-value)...
It’s hard to beat the natural beauty of wood; it has a depth, glow, and interest that few manmade materials can match...
Does your bread seem to go stale after a day or two? Do your crackers and cookies lose their crispness soon after you...
Subscription services promise to simplify your life, but there are so many out there that it can be hard to figure out which are worth their cost. Before you know...
The seemingly endless cycle of summer yard maintenance often motivates homeowners to think about buying a new lawn mo...
Laundry day probably isn’t the highlight of your week, but a reliable, effective washing machine makes the chore far ...
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Sanding certainly isn’t the most fun part of a furniture or room makeover. Still, it's a vital step in the prep work ...
The kitchen has become the hub of the modern home, not just a cook space but a gathering place for family and friends...
A garage floor sees a lot of wear and tear between the traffic in and out—people, cars, bicycles, even push mowers wh...
In order to stay healthy and look their best, trees need occasional pruning to remove broken branches and thin out de...
Q: I’m about to start a painting project and have noticed that paints labeled for use on trim seem to be pricier than...
Visiting the local nursery is an annual rite of passage for avid gardeners and plant lovers who bask in the rows of s...
Setting up a shed in your backyard can feel like a tall order when you consider the variables involved. Here, we've d...
If you’ve had the same hot water heater for longer than 10 years—the standard lifespan—it's smart to consider replaci...
If you’ve ever spotted flickering lights, tripped circuits, or prolonged overheating of certain electronics in your h...
Q: I love the warm look of wood for outdoor furniture, but I’m not sure which of the many species will look and perfo...
Replacing torn, worn, or outmoded flooring is a surefire way to lend a fresh look to your laundry room. But this part...
Unlike natural stone, laminate, or solid surface (made of mineral dust and resins), tile offers endless creative poss...
The iconic white picket fence symbolic of the American dream? It was surely made of wood. Yet wood fences also come i...
The line between indoors and out continues to blur as Americans take full advantage of longer days and warmer tempera...
Q: I haven't changed my lawn mower's oil since last season, so I'm feeling rusty. Remind me: What type of oil can I u...
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Wear. Wash. Dry. Repeat. As long as you and your family want fresh, clean clothes, somebody’s got to do laundry. Fort...
It happens to all of us at one point or another. A shower drain backs up and refuses to empty out the tub, a sink fil...
Q: We recently bought a beautiful old house, but the former owners never installed a vent fan in the bathroom. After ...
Finishing a newly installed wooden deck or refinishing an older one will protect it from moisture- and weather-relate...
Because they’re located below ground level, basements tend to absorb moisture from surrounding soil, making them damp...
While it’s hard to match the natural beauty of solid wood, it’s an undeniably pricey option. Fortunately, for many pr...
If you’ve had enough of the ruts, cracks, and stains of your current driveway and are considering installing a new on...
Looking at replacing your roof sometime soon? One of the first decisions you'll need to reach is choice in design. In...
Quartz and quartzite, two high-end countertop materials derived from quartz, are so often confused that even retailer...
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Homeowners who are considering replacement windows have more choices in materials, finishes, and styles today than ev...
Located on the sloped side of a roof, a dormer window brings natural light into an attic, loft, or any room with a va...
Drywall and plaster both have their advantages and disadvantages. Here are some points to keep in mind when deciding ...
You might have found the perfect color, but what about the right consistency? Paint's thickness—or, rather, thinness—...
An exotic sense of romance is associated with tile roofs, which commonly appear on Southwest-style and Mediterranean-...
Thanks to its smaller motor, a stick vacuum is thinner and far more lightweight than its upright and canister cousins...
Everyone knows the traditional handsaw, with its long, wide blade and sturdy handle. But not everyone knows there's m...
Converting an old bathtub to a walk-in shower—be it a prefab unit or custom job—is high on many a homeowner’s remodel...
When you’re choosing fresh paint for your walls or wooden furniture, after color, the next big decision to be made is...
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When it comes to elaborate flooring, parquet reigns supreme. Constructed from small pieces of hardwood fitted togethe...
If you’re looking to remodel your kitchen with new countertops—either to boost the beauty of the space or the resale ...
As you no doubt know, dryers operate by either electricity or gas. An electric dryer (which has a lifespan of about 1...
Often, trees are selected and grown for their foliage, fruit, or flowers—seasonal features that blossom and fade over...
If you’ve ever worked with wood, you’re likely familiar with instructions to sand all edges after cutting: before app...
Q: I’m dreading the coming winter months because my yard always looks so bare and brown when all the summer blooming ...
Whether you have a large family to feed, do a lot of hunting or fishing, or simply tend to grocery-shop in bulk, a ch...
If you’re thinking of taking on a wall construction project in your home, you’ll likely hear of two options: drywall ...
Any homeowner undertaking a DIY tiling project will work with grout, a putty-like mixture that fills the space betwee...
Nowadays, many renters and homeowners choose light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) over the classic incandescent, fluores...
Trying to decide which polyurethane is right for your DIY project? Here are some points to consider. CM_BVNOTES-1744-...
Practical nonstick cookware is popular with kitchen newbies and experienced chefs alike. After all, cooking with coat...
Butcher block, consisting of individual wooden strips fused together into a sleek slab, is a timeless and trendy mate...
When it comes to choosing wood flooring, you’ve got loads of options. One of the decisions you’ll be making is whethe...
Rain on a tin roof proves so soothing that it can be found on white noise machines and meditation apps alike, but tha...
Brick, the hard-working earthen blocks basic to so many structures, is becoming a trendy flooring option for high-tra...
Buying hand tools can be a confusing—and at times a losing—proposition. When faced with aisles full of putty knives, hammers, utility knives, and other toolbox mu...
Amazon is loved for its great deals and quick shipping. Some prices from this virtual retailer, you just can't beat. Here's a roundup of the best household buys y...
There's no shortage of wood fence options. Which is the right type for your property? In the end, it really comes dow...
While the average mattress has a life span of seven to 10 years, most homeowners don't consider replacing the sleepin...
Plank flooring has come a long way from the frontier days when rough-hewn boards were nailed to floor joists, resulti...
Grilled food fans, rejoice! The industry has been busy perfecting electric grills, filling a need for folks who want ...
Your lawn and garden need a variety of nutrients to grow and stay healthy. Soil is an important source of key nutrien...
One of the oldest flooring materials is still among the most desirable. Whether your style is classic, contemporary, ...
Q: Our kitchen is ready for a refresh, starting with a new color for the cabinets. What’s the best paint for kitchen ...
We’re all prone to occasional impulse purchases, but a shed should not be one of them. While more and more folks are ...
Do you find yourself raising your eyebrows at higher-than-normal energy bills? If your old air-conditioning system se...
Q: I’m putting a new deck on my house and I want to make sure it is constructed properly. What is the best decking ma...
When considering a tile refresh for any floor, wall, or countertop, keep porcelain and ceramic tiles top of mind for ...
During the summer months, nothing beats kicking back in a hammock and swaying gently on a warm breeze with a paperbac...
Whoever said, “The grass is always greener on the other side” probably wasn’t using the right stuff. When it comes to...
Whether you want to build a rustic bench, install trim molding, or plumb a new sink, odds are that you’ll need to cut...
Removing old wallpaper, filling nail holes, and prying off hardened putty all rely on one simple and supremely handy ...
A space-smart decision for guest houses, offices, dorm rooms, cabins and many other settings, the mini fridge preserv...
Though they’re not much to look at, screws hold a place of honor in the construction, hobby, and furniture-making ind...
If you’ve ever tried to remove a stuck nut with a pair of pliers in a pinch, you know how easy it is to scrape and da...
A hardware store’s paint department presents an overwhelming number of options to any homeowner looking for a color r...
No kitchen stove is perfect. Both gas and electric models offer advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few consider...
Among the many advantages of high-tech home accessories is their ability to let us untangle ourselves from old-fashio...
Breezes in, bugs out—functionally speaking, the screen door hasn’t changed much in the past hundred years or so. Diff...
From the zigzag post-and-rail of the Colonial era to the elaborate molded vinyl styles of today, fences have always b...
Fancy yourself an at-home chef with serious skills? Then you may be interested in upgrading your cooking space to one...
If you’re confused by the wide array of options in the adhesives aisle at your local hardware store, you’re not alone...
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A coat of durable wood finish on your hardwood floors, fine furniture, and outdoor decking can mean the difference be...
It’s not how you start, but how you finish, as the adage goes. But when it comes to painting, the materials you choos...
With a single tiny change to the faucets in your kitchen and bathrooms, you can achieve significant savings on your w...
Picture the average lightbulb. Now picture sunlight streaming into a room in your home. There's no comparison, right?...
Decisions, decisions: Buying a new vacuum cleaner used to be a fairly straightforward and simple process, but today’s proliferation of purchasing options may leav...
You put a great deal of trust in your front door, counting on it to form a good first impression of your home for any...
There are many questions to grapple with before settling on any particular rug: How big should it be? Is it durable enough? What do I need to know to clean it? Fo...
The kitchen plays host to more appliances than any other room in the house, and the king of them all is the refrigera...
Air quality can suffer in myriad ways. Excess humidity ranks among the least desirable effects. Left unchecked, moist...
If you've gone out to buy a light bulb recently, chances are you've hesitated over the unfamiliar selection. Traditio...
January 2014 signaled the final stage in the phaseout of standard incandescent light bulbs in the United States. As of January 1, traditional incandescents are no...
When you're planning a dinner party, it's not long before you start picturing the pile of plates that will await you ...
Whether you’re a veteran weekend warrior or a newcomer to home improvement, you’ll get nothing done without reliable tools you can wield with confidence. But rath...
These days, we're increasingly sharing our homes with electronic devices. Many of them are pretty pricey, and that in...
Whereas other home upgrades are purely elective, roof repairs aren't a choice; they're essential. Besides being crit...
Every homeowner knows that a sound roof is an absolute must to protect your investment. That's why routine roof maint...
Homeowners evaluating new flooring owe it to themselves to consider the benefits and beauty of wood. Wood floors are ...
A new sofa is an investment—not just of your hard-earned dollars, but of your time. You hope to spend many years with your sofa, so it's worth your while to seek ...
Gutters are a critical component of a home’s drainage system, and like many exterior features, they're subject to wea...
"With subtle style differences and various makes and models available, a toilet is a pretty simple machine designed t...
Equal parts meditative and functional, today’s bathroom has been transformed into a spa, a place to unwind and refres...
Feel that chill in the air? Winter is coming. Now is the time to assess your heating system and replace any aging or ...
It's an old cliché of the Mafia: A fellow gets on the wrong side of La Cosa Nostra only to wind up wearing cement sho...
Nothing can draw the elements of a room together quite like a rug. It can make a cold room cozy and inviting, define ...
It's difficult to overstate the importance of windows in home design, not least because they have an impact on both t...
Surprise! It's all right to install virtually any type of flooring in your basement. Although hardwood should be avoi...
When choosing wallboard, remember the difference between drywall and blueboard. Drywall panels are covered with pape...
Kitchen makeovers are among the most popular of home improvements. They can be costly—a mid-range minor kitchen remod...
Whether you are building a new house or renovating your current home, the roof will be one of the most important choi...
The exterior of your home faces a ceaseless barrage of threats from the hot sun, strong winds, precipitation in all i...
Gone are the days of the utilitarian shower head. Today's spigots are anything but standard. From sleek handheld unit...
Not all paintbrushes are created equal, nor are they all the right fit for every job. Use this guide to determine the best brush for your project.
Countertops pull double duty as a visual design element and a hardworking surface. Cost depends on materials, with pr...
In her new book, Black & White (and a Bit in Between), designer Celerie Kemble reviews the classic appeal of blac...
Muscles or electricity are required to power a saw, but the sawteeth really do the cutting, reducing the fibers of th...
1. Less is more: While having the 628-piece tool set is an impressive thing to tell all of your home-improvement bu...
Choosing major kitchen appliances can be fun, but homeowners should think of family and lifestyle first. If hiring a ...
Whether you like charcoal or gas, a single grill or a cooking station, how and where you use a grill will help you de...
There are growing number of businesses in coastal areas selling and installing storm shutters. As all shutters are no...
The most personal decision involved in any interior or exterior painting project is color choice. If green is your fa...
In most areas of the U. S. , housing costs are rising faster than wages. To meet the federal government’s definition ...
Molding profiles tend to represent eras in building design. As architectural details, they often serve to pinpoint a ...
There is more to replacing windows than choosing the glass and the frame. Existing openings may need to be changed to...
Floors must withstand your lifestyle. They get nicked by high heels, crusted by muddy boots and crushed by furniture ...
The green movement is in full swing: from organic foods to energy-efficient appliances to greener cleaning products, ...
A piece of handcrafted furniture is at once a practical and aesthetic purchase. It graces your home, reflects who you...
Whole-home audio, or distributed audio, is an increasingly popular way for homeowners in new and existing houses to e...
If you’re considering a new system for your home, talk first to your architect or designer. Conversations with HVAC c...
If your designer has specified all the fixtures, appliances, and home building materials needed for the job, you may ...
Whether you are building from scratch or choosing a new roof for your existing home, a wide range of materials are re...
Let's talk garden hoses. Every home needs at least one, whether to water the lawn, wash the car, or run the Slip 'n S...
Looking for a small home improvement that yields big results? A programmable thermostat, properly installed and confi...
Choosing a ceiling fan is enough to make any homeowner’s head hurt. With so many variables and options, what should y...
In the overall scheme of a bathroom, the sink faucet might seem like an incidental detail, but its design can set the...
Whether you’re remodeling the whole house or freshening up only a few rooms, new floor coverings can revive spaces th...
With planting season around the corner, it’s time to hit the garage and take inventory: what have you got, and what d...
If your current lawn mower was built to last, it's probably been a while since you've shopped for a new one! When you...
Indoor air quality can be problematic at any time of year, but it is especially a concern during the winter months wh...
One of the most exciting things about building a new house was seeing how much natural light we were going to get wit...
Aside from the price of your own renewable energy, the cost of anything used to heat or cool the home is largely non-...
Winter’s chill is in the air, and that means it may be time to shop for a snow blower. There are a number of factors ...
Did you know that each holiday season 2,600 people are injured in fires in the US?Listen to BOB VILA ON PICKING A CHR...
Choosing your tile is not as easy as walking into a showroom and picking a color or pattern. You have to consider how...
What a difference the right tool or appliance can make! For instance, we were late arrivals to the pressure-washer pa...
So you repainted the living room and now you can’t stand your old furniture. Before you shop 'til you drop, do some ...
Autumn leaves are falling, which means pumpkin donuts and lattes are available at your favorite morning pit stop. And...
Almost no other part of your home gets as much exposure as the front door. It’s where you greet friends and family, s...
One thing we miss about living in New York is the awesome city playgrounds. You could walk to a different one every d...
The Bidding Process Is Telling By now, most homeowners know that you need to get quotes from several contractors befo...
Important Safety Tool If you’re a parent, one of your many important jobs is making your home safe for your child. As...
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
The first things we chose during our eight-hour selections appointment for our new construction home were our kitchen...
Give Fluorescent Lighting Another Chance We all know that switching to fluorescent lighting saves energy and money. B...
There are a lot of decisions to make when constructing a new home. Having a large production builder as our contracto...
As far as home improvement gear goes, furnace filters are admittedly among the least, um. . . exciting. There's none ...
Evaluate Your NeedsChoosing tile is not as easy as walking into a showroom and picking the right color or pattern. Fi...
I hate my shower! Well, actually, it’s my shower head that I don’t like. Granted, it's better than the standard fixtu...
Drywall History Before drywall, builders nailed lengths of wood, called lath, to the studs and then applied several c...
What to Look for Room air conditioners are rated by the number of BTUs, or British thermal units, of heat that they c...
