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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...
If you spend any time gardening or landscaping, you’ve got to have a good wheelbarrow. While these lowly vehicles may...
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.
While your yard may take its fair share of work to maintain and manicure, it can actually be pretty easy to keep it f...
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’...
During the summer months, many homeowners use a fan to assist in circulating indoor air and increasing the comfort le...
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...
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...
Americans who camp three or more times annually has increased by 72 percent in the last five years, according to the ...
Just as cellular technology freed the telephone, the advent of lithium-ion batteries forever altered the landscape of...
Bring out your home’s best features—and hide its flaws—with these trendy trim colors.
If you’re ready to upgrade to a new lawn mower but aren’t sure you want a traditional gas-powered model, consider goi...
I absolutely love tech gadgets for our home. Most recently, I set up a super simple security/notification system, the...
As daylight hours increase, so does the need for drapes that can darken a room in the early hours. In fact, for overa...
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 ...
Warmer weather is finally here and you’re ready to laze on a lounge chair, tend your flower garden, and enjoy BBQs wi...
The best kitchen trash cans not only hold garbage, they do so in a sanitary, unobtrusive manner. If you have a too-sm...
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 ...
When it comes to keeping your home cool and your utility bills low, you can’t beat a window fan. These devices, which...
All caulking guns have a single purpose: deliver a continuous bead of caulk in order to seal joints between two surfa...
Q: My husband and I are designing our kitchen remodel ourselves. We definitely want a multi-purpose kitchen island, b...
When summer temps soar and AC costs skyrocket, ceiling fans offer an affordable way to stay comfortable. While they d...
Choose one of these lighting options for a safer and more striking backyard.
Harsh UV rays, battering rain, and temperature extremes can take a toll on your wood deck, leaving it faded and dull....
Bathroom floor tile is available in a surprising number of materials. Ceramic, porcelain, and vinyl tiles are what co...
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 ...
Hardwood floors are hailed for their natural beauty, but they require varying degrees of attention to maintain these ...
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...
Smart thermostats go far beyond their programmable predecessors to offer a whole new level of residential climate con...
Ever-rising utility costs can make it difficult to heat an entire house during the coldest months of the year. To kee...
Window treatments let you control light, privacy, and indoor temperature while complementing your décor. While you’ve...
Outdoor decks are all-time-favorite spots for entertaining and relaxing, but like all exterior structures, decks even...
The shape and tidiness of your shrubs is a crucial component of curb appeal. Whether you’ve got a densely landscaped ...
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...
For a pro-quality paint job, you’ve got to focus on the areas you don’t want to receive paint as well as the ones you...
Increase curb appeal and backyard beauty with any of these hardy, easy-to-grow ornamental grasses.
Behind every gorgeous, bountiful garden is a great deal of dirty work! Fortunately, a pair of rugged, reliable gloves...
If your lawn features a lot of “interruptions”—trees, shrubbery, pavers, and pathways—odds are that you struggle with...
Manual reel lawn mowers may invoke nostalgia for the good old days before powerful riding versions arrived to wake th...
Keeping your garden and landscape in top shape requires care and maintenance, including regular pruning. Whether you ...
Give your kitchen an exciting new look with one of these cool, clean paint shades, perfect for cabinets.
Yes, we’re going there. The humble toilet bowl must be cleaned and disinfected conscientiously. While there are great...
Enhance the area around large trees with color, texture, and design elements—while keeping those big guys healthy and strong.
You can’t beat a handheld vacuum when you need to quickly clean up common messes like broken glass, pet hair, and coo...
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...
Shower curtains are the unsung heroes of traditional showers and tubs. In addition to providing privacy, they bring y...
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...
While DIYers can obsess about caulking technique, the truth is that laying down the perfect bead will do little good ...
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...
Heating and air conditioning strip your home’s air of its natural humidity. The result: An uncomfortable dryness that...
Q: My kitchen doesn’t get much natural light. What kitchen lighting design would you recommend?A: A well-lit kitchen ...
As the temperatures drop, we crave warmth and coziness—but before you turn up the heat, consider an electric blanket....
Choosing colors for your next paint project can really occupy your time, as you pore over a spectrum of shade swatche...
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...
Some people have piles of cash, rare jewels, and irreplaceable collectibles stashed in bank safe-deposit boxes. The a...
Going “all natural” to protect your family from unhealthy fumes and chemicals is a noble goal—and one that's not as e...
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 you’re putting together the tools for your workshop, you’ll inevitably purchase such basics as saws, drills, and...
Major storms in recent years have spurred many homeowners to consider whether it might be wise to purchase a generato...
If you’re an avid DIYer, you know how miserable it can be to work on a project, or even perform routine car maintenan...
When it comes to home security, doorbell cameras have definitely arrived. They clearly show “who’s there?” and most c...
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...
The “measure twice, cut once” adage is key to the success of all kinds of craft and construction projects. To follow ...
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...
One of the best ways to save money and protect the environment is to buy reusable products—and batteries are one of t...
The “do” is the fun part of doing it yourself. The time spent searching for the right hand tools, tape, and fasteners...
It might not be a fancy or complex tool, but the humble utility knife—basically a razor blade tucked into a sturdy ha...
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...
With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it can be easy to forget one of the most crucial elements of a safe, ...
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...
Drywall—comprised of compressed gypsum (a soft sulfite mineral)—creates wonderfully smooth walls. Yet insert a nail o...
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...
Who hasn’t slowed down to marvel at a house with an especially elaborate display of colorful holiday lights? Or, for ...
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...
If replacing a kitchen sink, you’ll think about style, size, and—perhaps most importantly—material. Some materials ar...
Wood is one of the most beautiful building materials, with its unique grain patterns and natural tones. Its soft, por...
Every day, 365 days a year, I’m thinking about building products. With decades in the home building and remodeling in...
There are many do-it-yourself projects that allow for scrimping on costs without any negative effects on your results...
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...
The more you tackle fix-it projects yourself, the more your toolbox burgeons—not to mention your workshop shelves. Bu...
You finally decided on the perfect hardwood for your floors—whether that's a deep, rich walnut, a warm cherry wood, o...
Q: I’m redoing my master bath and am overwhelmed by illumination options. How do I decide on the best bathroom lighti...
Choosing a high-quality, long-lasting grout sealer is one of the best ways to protect your tile from water, dirt, oil...
Sometimes life can be unpredictable. You might start one task, such as a paint job, and you find yourself with a few ...
Whether your closet is cramped but navigable or in such disarray that you waste precious time rummaging through it ju...
Though small in size, mice can be big trouble when they invade your home’s garbage cans, cabinets, crawlspaces, and o...
Nothing feels quite as nice as the cozy glow of a warm fire on a blustery winter’s day. While wood-burning models are...
Your bathroom is the wettest room in your home. Steamy showers, flushing toilets, running sinks, and occasional drips...
Of all the considerations that go into a bathroom remodel, perhaps none will impact the overall look and layout—not t...
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...
Tired of making a mess and breaking your back manually cleaning floors with a conventional mop and a bucket of soapy ...
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 ...
Q: I just moved into a two-story home, and the floors need some TLC. The stairs are carpeted, but the pile is worn do...
If a bathroom makeover is at the top of your bucket list, and you’ve been poring over design websites for inspiration...
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 ultimate summer must-have when outdoor living calls you but you need a reprieve from the sun’s beating rays? A pa...
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 ...
Perhaps unsurprisingly, basements are more likely to take on water than any other part of your home because they’re b...
If you’ve ever had to install shelving or hang a heavy mirror on a wall, you've probably already gone looking for wal...
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...
Some paint prep is easier than others. On a piece of furniture with only a few isolated peeling patches, you can sim...
Strong outdoor illumination is an excellent deterrent to nocturnal crime, but leaving lights on all night is a costly...
They’re one of the handiest kitchen helpers, grinding food waste into tiny bits so it can drain away with sink water....
A garage floor sees a lot of wear and tear between the traffic in and out—people, cars, bicycles, even push mowers wh...
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...
If you're looking for a way to speed up a paint job, look no further than your choice of an applicator. Indeed, there...
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...
In order to stay healthy and look their best, trees need occasional pruning to remove broken branches and thin out de...
Sheds perform a number of functions, from storing tools and lawn equipment to serving as a child's playhouse. Whateve...
Wear. Wash. Dry. Repeat. As long as you and your family want fresh, clean clothes, somebody’s got to do laundry. Fort...
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...
Whether you’re repairing a roof, redoing your wood floors, or starting another major do-it-yourself project, chances ...
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...
Q: My 15-year-old air conditioning unit finally gave up, so I’m in the process of shopping for a new one. I’ve heard ...
Homeowners who are considering replacement windows have more choices in materials, finishes, and styles today than ev...
Replacing a burned-out light bulb in your foyer, hanging a family portrait, cleaning the gutters—there are just some ...
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 ...
It happens to all of us at some point or another. A shower drain backs up and refuses to empty out the tub, a sink fi...
No longer strictly for the workshop, wet/dry vacuums have become a necessary convenience all around the house. A wet/...
You might have found the perfect color, but what about the right consistency? Paint's thickness—or, rather, thinness—...
If you’ve ever lost power during a storm or your cell phone went dead on a remote hike, you probably wished for a way...
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...
Q: A few wooden surfaces in my home interior could use painting. What’s the best paint for wood—water- or oil-based? ...
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...
Interested in keeping your investment countertops in tip-top shape? Cutting boards are key accessories for any kitche...
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...
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...
Nowadays, many homeowners choose light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs) over the classic incandescent, fluorescent, or hal...
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...
While turning leaves are lovely, once they start to drop, the task of clearing walkways and readying your yard for wi...
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 ...
Good home security starts at your front door. A home burglary occurs approximately once every 18 seconds in the Unite...
In the ambient heat of summer, nothing beats walking inside to a blast of chilled air. But while air conditioning pro...
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...
Many homeowners like to enjoy the warmer months by entertaining in the backyard, dining on the patio, and playing law...
Homeowners who host frequent outdoor gatherings tend to have strict opinions about what kind of backyard grill keeps ...
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...
Nothing beats a hot shower at the end of a long day. But while the steamy water works wonders on your nerves, it has ...
Removing old wallpaper, filling nail holes, and prying off hardened putty all rely on one simple and supremely handy ...
A space-smart decision for dorm rooms and tiny spaces alike, the mini fridge keeps food and beverage close at hand wi...
Though they’re not much to look at, screws hold a place of honor in the construction, hobby, and furniture-making ind...
Nobody enjoys dragging a heavy vacuum across all carpeted floors of the house and repeating the job only a week later...
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...
We’ve all got friends and relatives, but we don’t all have a guest room for their overnight visits. On that safe assu...
A hardware store’s paint department presents an overwhelming number of options to any homeowner looking for a color r...
Nobody wants to breathe in dust, dander, pollen, and mold. Unfortunately, though, the air in our homes is loaded with...
Sitting at a desk all day had long been associated with “secretary’s spread,” but doctors at the Mayo Clinic point ou...
When Old Man Winter blows into town, home improvement stores roll out their snow blower displays—rows of shiny red, b...
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...
Whether your yard is large or small, minimally landscaped or filled with flower beds, one of the easiest ways to keep...
Nothing says “clean” like a great pressure washing! Everything from decks and driveways to patio furniture and window...
There’s nothing quite like the sense of clean and calm that comes with a great shower after a long day’s work. One of...
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...
Whatever your home's style may be, flooring is quite literally its foundation—and often the first design element visi...
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 two main types of stoves—gas and electric. Each type has its devotees, and its detractors. Which stove you ...
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...
As much as chainsaws hold appeal for tool geeks and aspiring lumberjacks, they are also quite handy for the average h...
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...
The storm hits. Power lines topple. And your home loses electricity for an hour, a day, or even a week. These inconve...
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 ...
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...
Now that it's fall, chilly weather chases you indoors after dinner al fresco, and low temperatures in the morning kee...
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...
I’ve looked at flooring from both sides now. . . and it’s the horrors of applying polyurethane I recall. Apologies to...
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...
Drill bits are designed to do one thing: make holes in stuff. That is, except when they are intended to drive hardwar...
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...
