Category: home improvement

Fall Is Around the Corner—Is Your Home Ready?

Soon, the leaves will be changing color. Shorter days, cooler weather, and the joys of the holiday season are the time to slow down and enjoy family and friends—not to be doing last-minute winterizing. Start the process now by doing a little each weekend, breaking that daunting to-do list down into manageable parts. For example,…


Matching Wood Stain

Last week, I helped Mary Ann, a 70-year-old newlywed, solve a vexing problem in a home she and her husband bought. In just 15 minutes, using my transcribed phone call service, I saved them perhaps $5,000. I shared a time-tested way they could match the stain on a wood-paneled room. Their problem was sun damage…


How Can I Goof-Proof My Home?

By Paul F. P. Pogue From Ask Angi Lots of household problems and accidents happen due to plain old goof-ups. Here’s a rundown of the most common issues or maintenance you might easily miss and a few annoyances you can take care of quickly. Follow these tips so you’re not the goof! Fixing a Clogged…


Add Indoor Louvered Window Shutters for Privacy

Dear James: My neighbor’s security lights shine in and are annoying. Would louvered shutters or miniblinds be most effective? What size and on which windows would be best? — Alan R. Dear Alan: Nighttime light pollution is definitely a problem and not just for neighbors. It has a negative effect on wildlife and their natural…


Build a Garden Arbor

A garden arbor is an inviting element in any landscape that makes a statement, whether it’s a welcoming entry to property or placed as a focal point lush with climbing clematis. It’s a popular feature in today’s well-dressed landscape that defines space and says the door is always open to visitors to enter and enjoy…


How Much Should You Spend on a Kitchen Faucet?

By Hunter Boyce From Atlanta Journal-Constitution A nice faucet doesn’t have to break the bank. Few things bring new character to a kitchen quite like a new faucet. An expensive faucet, however, can put quite a dent in your budget. It begs the question: How much should you spend on a kitchen faucet? According to…


It’s Time to Tackle Your Laundry Room Decor

Here’s the deal: Most of us spend quite a bit of time doing laundry. Whether it’s loading, folding, ironing or stain-fighting, it’s often an around-the-clock, seven-days-a-week process that leaves no rest for the weary. If you’re not one who actually enjoys the chore (which is probably the majority of us, right?), there’s hope for you…


Weatherstrip a Garage Threshold

Do you notice dirt, rain and snow creeping into your garage at the door threshold? That’s caused by the continued weight of a car driving in and out over the seal created by the threshold. The seal breaks down over time. It’s an obvious problem for any garage door, but one you can solve by…


Time-Tested Exterior Painting Secrets

Not long ago in this column, I shared why it’s so hard to preserve exterior wood using any number of products. One of them was paint. You may have been one of the many readers that reached out to me. If I had to boil down all the emails I received to just one, it…


Stock a Toolbox for Minor Electrical Tasks

Dear James: My house was built decades ago and there are some electrical issues I want to improve. Will I need special tools for common electrical projects to make them easier? — Marye R. Dear Marye: Before buying any tools, buy a book about electrical codes. Never deviate from accepted electrical codes even if you…