When painting anything on the interior of your home, you need to use primer as an undercoat. The number of coats of primer you need can vary, depending on your desired end result.

So you own a home, and you’ve noticed a few differences around the house. Maybe it’s a lasting scent of musk. Or, perhaps you’ve seen the floor gives away in certain areas. These are the telltale signs of subfloor damage. Furthermore, the damage to your subfloor can extend to under your wall. What do you do then?

For the do-it-yourselfers out there, building a new roof can be a way to save thousands upon thousands of dollars. Whether it is for your home or a new structure going up, a roof can be an expensive proposition.

When I most recently went to parts of the Jersey Shore that were seriously ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, I noticed that something was a little different from how things used to be. The homes started to look a bit…different? Yeah, that’s the word. Apparently, island basements became part of the building code in many towns. But, what did that even mean?!

If you’ve ever been to a home that’s looked a little worse for the wear, chances are the first thing you noticed was that the house’s fence gate was a little droopy. Maybe it sagged so much, you actually had to lift the gate up in order to open or close it. It’s a common problem, but thankfully, it’s one that can be easily avoided if you know how to properly build a gate.

What could be more luxurious than soaking in a copper bathtub? It seems like the height of sophistication. And because of the amazing properties of copper, the material makes for a tub that’s both unique in style and durability.

Built-in lighting is excellent; it typically can provide an entire room with light, but what if it’s not enough? You could add plugin lamps, or you could add more built-ins.

Kitchen countertops provide homeowners with a way to integrate more functional design into their décor. By choosing the right material for your countertops, you can make cleaning easier while simultaneously improving your kitchen’s overall appearance. Homeowners can select different materials for their kitchen countertops, with Silestone being one of their options.

Vinyl plank flooring is an excellent way to get the look of hardwood floors at an affordable price. They’re also durable, many types of vinyl floors are waterproof, and they’re easy to maintain. But if you don’t take care of them, they can get dull over time. Luckily, it’s easy to make vinyl plank floors shine like new.

Perhaps the best way to tie a design together is with the flooring. Distressed hardwood flooring is the perfect complement to the ever-popular country-chic aesthetic. For a rustic and authentically antique look, distressed floors are a must.

A recliner can be the ultimate relaxation destination within one’s own home. Unlike a couch or a standard chair, which remains stationary, a recliner does just that: reclines. From time to time, however, the recliner footrest may stop working. Instead of tossing it away when it stops working, there is a fix that can be implemented. 

Knowing when your siding is ready for an upgrade is simple. Choosing the right type of replacement siding is not quite as easy. After all, when it comes to ensuring that your home is durable and possesses curb appeal to impress, your siding should be one of your first considerations.

Rainshower heads transform an ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary spa experience. The fixtures have an aesthetic and functional appeal that is hard to resist.

There can come a time where your shower or bathroom starts to look outdated. It can really drag the overall appeal and aesthetic of the home down. When that happens, it can require a change or an update to the bathroom. So, how do you retile a shower floor?

A neighbor who has experience with chainsaws borrowed yours a couple of weeks ago for some yard work. When he returned the chainsaw, he put it back up on the shelf for you. Now, you plan to do some trimming in the yard, so you haul down the chainsaw. But wait a minute.

In most modern buildings, trusses are used for the roofs. This in place of the rafters that would have been common in roofing technology of the past. The biggest reason for this is cost since you can use smaller lumber components than you would need for rafters.

Circuit breakers protect your electrical system and home. If a circuit is overloaded, the breaker is tripped to cut off the flow of electricity. Normally each breaker has only one wire, but double tapped breakers are common. The problem may be identified by an electrician or home inspector.

It seems like life keeps getting busier and busier, with growing to-do lists and neverending responsibilities. With so much stress, it’s more important than ever to find ways to relax and unwind after a busy day. Make every day a spa day by creating a calm, peaceful bathroom to ease tension and help you recharge.

Having a home with a backyard is a blessing. It allows you the opportunity to enjoy nature, peace, and tranquility, especially in the summer months. There are all sorts of leisure activities perfect for the backyard, including grilling, sunbathing, and reading. But if your backyard is near a busy street, your backyard tranquility might be stifled by irritating noises. While it is easy to block the sight of traffic, is it possible to reduce the traffic noise in your backyard?

Mobile homes offer the chance to reduce costs and move in quickly. Land preparation is much easier and cheaper than building a traditional brick-and-mortar home, and that makes mobile homes quite enticing. So, how much does it cost to hook up electricity to a mobile home?

Nails and screws are a mainstay in many construction projects. You would be hard-pressed to tackle any home improvement task that doesn’t call for one or the other. But how do you know when to use nails or screws for your project?

The rest of your house smells perfectly fine. Yet, you can’t get your bathroom to stop smelling like pee. You’ve washed and scrubbed every surface, so what’s the deal? Why does your bathroom still reek of urine?

Challenger circuit breakers and service panels were popular during the 1980s and 1990s. Thousands of these Challenger electrical systems were installed in homes built during this period. Unfortunately, experience showed that certain Challenger circuit breakers overheated during normal use. If you have Challenger components in your home, it is critical to replace those breakers. Replacement breakers for Challenger products are available.

One of the most important aspects of a well-built home is excellent insulation. If you mess up the insulation, it can cause significant spikes in heating or cooling bills and potential fires. You need to know how to staple insulation to your studs.

A swimming pool could turn out to be a fantastic addition to your property. In the short term, you can use your new swimming pool for having fun or even working out. Long term, potential buyers may find your property may attractive thanks to the presence of the swimming pool.

By now, you’ve probably noticed that we’re big fans of recessed lighting. Recessed lighting never goes out of style, even if it can’t be used in vaulted ceilings. It’s reliable. It’s versatile. And while it may be a splurge compared to other forms of lighting, most people agree that it’s an investment worth every penny. The problem is trying to figure out what size lights you need, isn’t it?

If you choose a mobile home for your dwelling, you have a few different options for your foundation type. These usually fall into two main categories, permanent foundations, and non-permanent foundations. One type of permanent foundation that offers you flexibility and extra storage space is a basement. However, is this type of foundation possible with a mobile home?

Painting your house is a huge undertaking. And you probably don’t want to do it twice. So, choose the best color for your foundation the first time. Then, update the style every few years.

Recently, I typed up an entire article about the way that dimmer switches run hot. As someone who grew up in a home where dimmers were a thing, I was pretty shocked to hear how hot they get. Dimmer switches apparently have a reputation for that. Unsurprisingly, some people believe they’re unsafe. I can’t blame them, if they never experienced it. It’s a debate worth discussing. Are dimmer switches safe?

Painting the outside of your home is a crucial and sizable undertaking for any homeowner. The job is likely to leave you spent between all the exterior prepping, paint selection, and the labor of several coats it takes to do the job right. 

There are two primary options when it comes to shower flooring,  shower pan versus tile floor. The question, or more appropriately, the questions about which is best may not be as clear-cut.

You finally have the time to fix your driveway. Concrete is the ideal material, but it’s also expensive. As you look for ways to stretch your budget, bagged concrete may come to mind. Will it work?

Nothing is nicer than having a hot, steamy shower that hits you in a powerful, massaging way. Unfortunately, today, your shower decided not to give you that. Rather than give you the usual high pressure that you’re used to, your shower just puts out a little trickle of water. After annoyedly trying to huddle under the showerhead, you give up. What’s going on with this crazy thing?

When designing or renovating a dream home, many builder-owners choose stamped concrete for their driveways, patios, and more. Stamped concrete is so popular because it enriches your poolside, driveway, or patio with its patterns and designs. Despite being so common and popular, not everyone knows the full extent of the costs associated with choosing stamped concrete for their home.

Accidents happen, and your bathroom suffers some damage. Or you notice the bathroom sink looks old and dated. The next step is to find a new bathroom sink and have it installed. Finding and purchasing a sink is only half the job. Installing the sink is the other half. How much does it cost to install a bathroom sink?

There are a lot of reasons why you may want to sink a post into the ground. Most importantly, that post can be made of different materials. Wood is a very common, cheaply acquiring material for putting posts in the ground.

Installing a new light fixture looks to be a simple operation. Two wires to connect and hang the new light fixture. Then you take down the old light fixture and find a mass of white, black, and red wires. There is an instant flash of panic as you try and figure out how to wire the new light fixture. Which of the black, white, and red wires do you use?

If you’re a new pool owner, you might be wondering how to properly maintain your pool while keeping your family safe. When you fill up your pool for the first time, there are specific steps you have to take to make sure the water is ready for recreational use. So, what exactly do you do right after you fill your pool with water?

Trough sinks in bathrooms have come into their own in recent times. The popularity of trough-style bathroom sinks has grown. In many new homes, a trough sink has replaced the double sink installation in master bathrooms. What is the best option for a trough sink in your home?

If you’re familiar with framing, then you’ve probably worked with birdsmouth cuts. These styles of cuts allow roof joists to connect to the wall plate of a structure. Other than asking a store to cut your wood, there are some other alternatives! What are some other options for the birdsmouth cut?

If you have a pedestal sink that needs to be removed, you may be wondering where to even start. Pedestal sinks are not so different from regular sinks, but there are some key differences that you will need to know. With more advanced knowledge of pedestal sinks and their inner workings, you can ensure your objective is met. 

Typically the place where you live, shop, and work are all separate locations. However, mixed-use buildings are becoming more popular in which everything you need is under one roof. These buildings have started a catalyst into creating neighborhoods and town centers that create more efficiency for everyday living. 

If it’s time to update the switches and sockets in your home, you may be considering a range of options. Additionally, you are probably considering what kind of finish you want; nowadays brushed chrome, nickel, and brass are popular options.

When you first have kids or get a new pet, one of the things that you need to do is consider baby-proofing your home. There are a lot of hazards in and around your home that you may need to watch out for. For example, almost everything electronic can be hazardous to young kids. That’s why people are told to get tamper-resistant receptacles. But, what on earth is a tamper-resistant receptacle supposed to be?

Leaks are never fun. However, it’s important that you deal with them quickly. Fail to do so and you could end up with costly repairs, skyrocketing water bills, and other negative consequences of your inaction.

When you purchase a new home you don’t expect to have any fundamental problems with it for many years. Cracked and sinking basement floors is often an image you associate with an old unkempt home. Sinking basement floors can actually occur at the inception of a house’s lifespan. It is important to know how much sinking is normal, and what is not.

The foundation of a building is important for a lot of reasons. Without it, the house cannot safely remain upright, especially in the face of severe weather or slight shifts in the ground. That is why having a solid foundation in place is so imperative.

Tamper-resistant outlets are the new standard when it comes to outlet safety in homes and businesses. Modern building codes require that you install tamper-resistant outlets because of how much safer they are than standard outlets. With that said, it can be difficult to plug an electrical device into a tamper-resistant outlet, and that can be frustrating.