Home Improvement, Remodeling

The period following Earth Day is a great time to think about the impact our homes have on the environment. But beyond lowering your environmental impact, increasing your home’s efficiency will also increase your comfort, lower energy bills and improve your home’s value— all at once! Here are five quick tips to make your home a model of efficiency.

Protect south-facing windows

The biggest impact on your home’s heat level in the summer comes from the south, where sunlight ...

Summer is getting closer and that means preparing your garage for it should be one of your top priorities when it comes to house maintenance. You don’t want fixing up your garage in the middle of July, as you will almost certainly give up due to the heat that is almost always present in garages at that time of the year. For that reason, here are a couple of tips you can follow in order to prepare your garage for summer successfully, so you don’t have to hassle with anything unnecessary when the ...

With the advent of spring and the rainy season, many parts of the country are heading into the wettest part of the year. Water damage — whether from rain, flooding or a plumbing leak — can be swiftly damaging and quite expensive. The average water damage restoration job costs about $3,100. Two efforts can save serious amounts of money: preventative maintenance and fast cleanup. Here’s a rundown of how to protect yourself.

Prevent the leaks

Your most effective tool against ...

Do you hear that? It's the sweet sound of birds chirping in the morning and leaves gently rustling in the breeze because, at long last, spring is slowly settling itself in for the long haul. You can gradually begin to take the layers of coats, scarfs, sweaters, and hats off and open up a window or two. You can finally let some fresh air inside your home without risking a deep freeze in the living room.

It’s been a long winter — one that has been darker and lonelier than most. Now that ...

Peeling paint is a burr under the saddle of many homeowners, I’m afraid, and the causes are numerous.

The best way to understand why paint peels is to think about all of the things you have that do hold their paint without peeling. How about your car or truck, or your aluminum siding, gutters and downspouts? Even lawn mowers, snowblowers and other outdoor tools fall into that category. So does the outside of my 20-year-old house, which has fiber cement siding. ...

So, let’s look at eight questions to ask when hiring a pro to make sure they take your home as seriously as you do.

1. What are my options?

Be sure to consider offers from multiple pros and understand what adjustments can be made to each before settling on one. Even if you’re in a hurry to finish a project, it’s worth it to take your time to do thorough research on potential pros. The cheapest option may ultimately cost more in damages or repairs, so if it sounds too good ...