Wallpaper that looks like beadboard paneling is a clever way to add charm and texture to an ordinary room. This lookalike wallcovering is a less expensive upgrade and easier to install than beadboard paneling, a pricey improvement that requires carpentry tools, not to mention carpentry skills. The beadboard wall covering makes any room more appealing…
DIY-Friendly Water Lines in Your Home
I’m blessed to be able to use this column to share my knowledge. It allows me to empower you to do many jobs you might never think of doing yourself. In the past, working with water lines required a decent amount of experience. You had to know how to solder copper tubing. I recorded a…
Use Backer Board Under Bath Tile Walls
Dear James: I pulled off my shower tiles and found moisture had damaged the backer board. When I rebuild the wall, what should I do differently this time?—Mimi H. Dear Mimi: Over time, the grout can begin to break down and allow some moisture to pass through it. The grout may still appear to be…
Lay Sod
A new spread of sod is eye candy for a newly built home; it creates an instant makeover and can transform property. It’s especially effective when a home changes its shape with a room addition, because it brings the property and landscape together. While seeding is a less expensive choice, sod is the chosen alternative…
Vinyl Fencing Requires No Maintenance
Dear James: We would like a white post and rail fence. A neighbor has one, but he is always painting it. Will a vinyl fence be durable and require less work?—Kayrn F. Dear Kayrn: Post and rail fencing, especially white, can make an aesthetic improvement to the character of any home. Moisture and water do…
Replace a Tub With a Shower
If you have a bathroom with a seldom-used bathtub and prefer a shower instead, you can convert the old tub to a new stand-alone unit. A shower enclosure designed to fit in a standard 5-foot step-over tub alcove that measures 32 inches by 60 inches by 74 inches makes it possible. Look for a unit…
Avoid These Mistakes in Residential Home Building
Each week, I have the good fortune to speak on the phone with homeowners all across the USA who ask me to solve problems at their homes. Many of these homeowners are facing expensive repairs because of mistakes made by the home builder. Each error is avoidable. The link to arrange a coaching phone call…
For More Attic Space, Build With Special Trusses
Dear James: I want to use my attic area for storage and a new room addition I am planning. My contractor says the trusses will block the space. Is he correct?—Jason U. Dear Jason: Look for a new contractor. Special designs of roof trusses are available, some not priced much higher than standard trusses, specifically…
Install an Ironing Center
An ironing center is convenient, even if you don’t like to iron. When it’s located in a laundry area with a clothes washer and dryer it’s easy to remove a special care shirt from the dryer and give it a quick hit so it’s ready to wear. A built-in, recessed ironing center can be installed…
Ask the Builder: Uncovering—and Hiding—Treasure at Your Home
I took over weekly grocery shopping duties to give my lovely wife a break after more than 40 years. I continue to be astonished at the prices of ordinary food staples like bacon, eggs, bread, and milk. Do you suffer from the same sticker shock? Do you have dusty cartons of egg money hidden in…
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