Home Improvement

Stucco is one of those building materials that acts as a cornerstone of the “Southwestern” look. It’s a gorgeous, sturdy material that is made primarily of an aggregate of materials similar to plaster and sand. With its gritty, sandy texture, power washing it seems to be risky. Should you try to power wash your stucco?

A brick wall is usually known for its structural integrity. If you’ve noticed one of your brick walls has shifted, this can be a cause for concern. It is vital to fix the brick wall as soon as possible. Except, how exactly do you do that?

Home remodeling or renovation can be an expensive endeavor. You could end up spending somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 to have your home remodeled. Saving money whenever possible would be ideal.

Driveways are supposed to be a place where your car can feel at home…and where your car’s wheels won’t get too banged up. When you first kick off your driveway’s life, the asphalt is smooth and accommodating. Unfortunately, wear and tear can happen. If left for too long, asphalt cracks turn into crumbles, and then you’ve got a mess to deal with. So, how do you fix this problem?

A septic tank needs ample space to drain. And without knowing precisely how big your field should be, it can lead to ground contamination at worst and a nasty cleanup effort at best. Taking the proper precautions beforehand will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Sliding glass doors are preferred by homeowners who enjoy picturesque views. They’re great for many more reasons, but a downside is that they can sometimes have water intrusion problems.

When you are working on installing your bathroom sink’s plumbing, a lot of things can go wrong. Like, a lot, a lot. One of the most aggravating issues that many people have when they are trying to DIY a sink setup is having a sink drain pipe that doesn’t line up or meet the P-trap. Obviously, this renders the sink pretty useless until you can get this fixed. But, what exactly is the fix for this problem?

Removing a Kohler shower handle can be difficult, especially considering that there are several different Kohler shower handle types. However, you will be able to remove your Kohler shower handle in no time using the images and three steps below.

You may not know the term ‘recessed lighting,’ but you’re guaranteed to have seen it somewhere. These ceiling fixtures, which create nice ambient lighting, are a worthy addition to any home. But it can be tough to know which kind of recessed lighting to buy, and if a pro should install them for you. Let’s discuss the question, can a handyman install recessed lighting? 

A crawl space is one of the coolest parts of a home if you’re a kid, but also if you’re a fan of efficient storage. Unfortunately, they also can be a pretty dangerous part of your home, especially if not well-maintained. If you’ve been thinking about crawl space encapsulation, there are a lot of pros and cons to consider before you call a construction crew.

Painting the outside of your home is quite an undertaking, even if you live in a modest single-story dwelling. There is preparation work, setup, and all sorts of supplies necessary. You also need to find time in your schedule since this is often a project that can span many days. As you start looking at your calendar you should also look at the weather calendar as well in order to choose the best time to paint your house.

Whether you’re in the midst of a new construction project or rewiring a house, purchasing electrical wire is a must. The overall price of wires varies based on material and square footage, but there’s more to the story, too.

You have your new shop or utility shed built and ready to go. Part of the plan is to run electrical service to the new structure from your home. However, the question of what size wire is required to get electricity to your new utility shed. What kinds of distance can you get if you use 10-gauge wire?

It is difficult to design and install a shower when you consider how crucial every step is. Everything from the drainage and slope to the showerhead and tiles affect your shower’s performance. With that said, how high should tile go in your shower?

Do the pictures hanging on your wall make you do a double-take when you pass by them? Do you find yourself wondering if it’s you or the picture that’s not quite level? If this sounds familiar, it’s time to learn how to stop pictures from tilting on the wall.

Is your toilet running all the time? Perhaps you have heard the “phantom flushing” in the middle of the night and wondered if you are going crazy. It turns out that this is a fairly common problem and one that can be fixed in a number of ways. More often than not, the flapper is the culprit.

You may be remodeling an existing bathroom in your home or prepping a bathroom for an investment house. In either case, when it comes to deciding on a bathtub, there are several choices. Often the choice boils down to bathtubs made of Vikrell or an Americast bathtub.

Paper towels are just like toilet paper, right? Wrong. Though the two products seem similar at a glance, the composition of each is completely different, which means they react in water differently, too.

If you recently purchased a home and have fallen in love with the DIY world, you probably have tools on your mind. There is a tool for pretty much everything you can think of, and even for things you don’t even know exist. 

There are many things to take care of on your property before winter hits, and it can be stressful. It can be intimidating if you have never winterized a pond with fish, but it’s necessary. Whether you’re new to ponds or have years of experience, you may still struggle with how to winterize a pond with fish.

Moen is a very popular appliance brand. In fact, if you have multiple bathrooms, the odds are pretty high you have some sort of Moen appliance in there. The company is known for its variety, especially when it comes to its faucets. And while these faucets usually function properly, you may need to tighten them from time to time. But what size Allen wrench do you need for a Moen faucet?

Some people call it paradise. Others see it as Eden in the Pacific. Whatever your views, you will probably admit that Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Many people dream of living in Hawaii but wonder how much it costs to build a home in Hawaii?

The smell of a clean home after the floors are freshly mopped is the smell of a job well done. Cleaning your laminate floors is a task best done on a regular basis. This helps keep your home clean and also preserves the quality of the laminate floors themselves.

Whether you’re building a new house on an empty lot or you’re setting up camp in a rural area, you can expect to face more challenges than you would if you were to build in a subdivision. Depending on where you live and the land that you purchase, site development costs can vary considerably. If there’s one thing that land developers know to be true, it’s that you should always budget more for developmental costs and fees than for buying the actual land itself.

A water hammer occurs when there is a sudden increase in a pipe’s water pressure when the water is suddenly forced to stop. This occurrence often creates a loud banging sound. Water hammers do more than create an annoying level of noise. These abrupt changes can severely damage a piping system.

Sump pumps are a fixture in houses with basements. They help to get rid of, or pump out, excess water, and protect your basement and the rest of your home from flooding. Your sump pump is only supposed to run when water causes the float switch to trip. If your sump pump is running every 30 seconds, that could indicate that something is wrong.

When you’re building your home, you are in control of everything, including the orientation of your house. That small detail is something most people don’t think about but can make a huge impact on how you experience your home. After all, the direction your house faces will impact your heating, parking, as well as the amount of sunlight you get. So, what is the best direction for a backyard to face?

The main purpose of a bathroom fan is to remove moisture from your bathroom and reduce mold. A nice secondary feature of your fan’s negative pressure system is that it also reduces unpleasant odors. So, you may be surprised when you turn on your bathroom fan and notice that the fan seems to be filling the bathroom with an unpleasant odor instead of removing it.

It can happen when you least expect it. You come into your basement only to find that the drain has overflowed, leaving raw sewage piping into your basement. The first thing you need to figure out is why. If the answer is the basement floor drain backs up when the toilet is flushed, you’re in the right place to deal with the problem.

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?

Idaho runs neck and neck with Texas as the current most popular state for relocation. Low population densities, low costs of living, beautiful landscapes, and many other positives make Idaho a haven for many people. In addition, the cost of building a home in Idaho is a favorable factor.

Buying land is the American Dream. Who hasn’t had the idea of purchasing a plot of land and building the perfect home right on top of that plot? Unfortunately, there is far more to the dream than most of us realize. Like setting up utilities on that land.

The shock of a massive electric bill is enough to make any homeowner want to curb their energy consumption. Whether it be in the dead heat of summer or the harsh cold of winter, you can’t simply go without heating or cooling. Luckily, there are some great ways to reduce your electric bill and save energy.

There’s something undeniably heavenly about soaking in a warm bath after a long day. But, a relaxing bath becomes anything but when the water won’t drain properly (or won’t stay in the tub).

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?

Exterior paint is known to be both strong and durable. But, is it appropriate for indoor use? It may seem like a great idea to use exterior paint on interior walls; however, this option has serious downfalls. One has to beware of the dangers of exterior paint when it’s used indoors.

Is there anything more annoying than quietly tip-toeing through your home and the floor beneath your carpet starts making loud squeaking sounds? The floors in your home can alter and shift a bit over time. In many cases, this causes no issues. But sometimes you are left with floors that squeak underneath your carpet.

SIP panels are modern, eco-friendly building panels that are quickly becoming popular with home builders. SIPs, or Structurally Insulated Panels, are load-bearing panels that can be used to efficiently build a home. They can be used instead of a traditional house framing. 

There are so many factors that go into choosing your type of home construction. Whether you’re shopping around or looking to build your house from the ground up, it can be overwhelming. You know about the all-to-common wood frame homes, but another type of house keeps popping up: CBS homes. So, what is a CBS home, and why is it growing in popularity?

Cabinets can be a centerpiece and eye-catcher of your kitchen, so finding a floor that complements it is key. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for which color hardwood floors go with maple cabinets. Whether you prefer dark or light flooring, you can find something that matches.  

Sprinkler systems make our lives easier in many ways. They water our lawn, do so at the proper time, and allow us to go about our daily lives without concerning ourselves with watering our lawn. The issue comes when you have a sprinkler system, and you find that it won’t turn on. Especially if you have a Rainbird sprinkler system, these are expensive systems, and you need it to work as it should! So what do you do when your Rain Bird sprinkler system doesn’t turn on?

Textured walls had a moment of popularity not too long ago. The method of swirling highly textured paint onto the drywall was an alternative to wallpaper and a departure from the smooth wall. It is, after all, a great way to hide imperfections in the wall.

A leaking shower is never good news. More often than not, a leaking shower is a dead giveaway that you are about to have to spend a lot of money on your home. That is, if fixing your leaking shower entails removing tiles.

Upon seeing yellow water in your toilet, your first instinct will probably be to flush (and be mildly annoyed at whoever forgot to flush). So, imagine your surprise when the toilet bowl fills back up and it’s still yellow! The good news is you don’t have to panic. The real reason behind your yellow toilet water is actually a lot less gross

The question is less about pivot vs. hinged shower doors and more about the preference of each type of shower door hinge. Those preferences are also going to be determined by considerations such as the shower layout, the shower design, and other practical and aesthetic aspects.

Bathrooms need to be vented properly, and it’s this fact which led to the bathroom exhaust fan being created. A bathroom exhaust fan is attached to a building’s exterior, and it’s connected to the bathroom by ductwork.

Unless you’re in a rustic cabin in the woods or similar setup, your residence no doubt has a bathroom. In fact, more than likely, you have at least two bathrooms if you’re in a typical home. Some homes have three, four, or more bathrooms, but there’s usually a mix of half-baths, full-baths, and those in between. 

Having your own wine cellar is the dream of many wine lovers and collectors alike. Detailed plans and budgets can help make this dream a reality. Below we will break down the cost to build a wine cellar.

Investing in an apartment building is one fantastic way to build up your financial portfolio.  You can live in one of the units, manage the property yourself, and collect rent to pay off the mortgage.  Depending on your resources, you could decide to invest in a duplex, a triplex, or even a 6-unit building.

Arizona is a popular retirement destination for many people. In many instances, starting with a new residence involves adding or remodeling a new home. Anyone anticipating a room addition to a home in Arizona can expect to spend an average of $57,461. Location in the state, labor costs, material costs, and the type of addition can affect this average cost.

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?

The last thing you want to deal with when you have to use the bathroom is a wobbly toilet. You end up feeling like you’re doing some strange balancing act, hoping you don’t go tumbling to the ground. You certainly don’t want to hurt yourself in a fall, taking the toilet down with you.

If you have gas-fired appliances such as a water heater, space heater, or cookstove, these appliances may have one or more thermocouples.  If you begin to experience problems with the pilot lights on these appliances staying lit, you probably have a bad thermocouple.  But, how do you know if you have a bad thermocouple?

When maintaining a home shower, we tend to focus on the showerhead, its fixtures, and the walls. Don’t forget about the shower pan though because it’s an important element of the entire setup. Neglect that part of your shower and it could start presenting serious issues and leaking is among the possibilities.

Installing flooring is hard work! Many people don’t have the time to take to do the job. Therefore, they look for someone to hire. Lowes has flooring materials as well as professionals so that you can get both in one place. But how much does it cost for Lowes to install your flooring?

No fixture is more synonymous with the modern bathroom than the toilet. When this essential fixture is working properly, it provides a much-needed function. When a toilet malfunctions, however, the problem is either major or minor.

Are you planning to renovate your home sometime soon? If so, the time may be right for you to consider removing some old or outdated fixtures. The placement of your chimney and fireplace, in particular, may require some further consideration.

Over the years, fences have come in many styles, ranging from simple chain link to classic wooden boards to elaborate, ironwork masterpieces. These styles are good options, but over time metal rusts and wood can rot. A Trex fence features a composite material that is attractive and long-lasting.

When removing tile underlayment, it can be a pretty extensive process. It goes double for tile underlayment connected to concrete, which we will address with this guide. So, how do you remove tile underlayment?

Microwave ovens are a modern luxury we often take for granted. You can easily heat leftover meals without creating a pile of dishes. They are also amazing at heating and cooking meals, making a dinner that is hot and ready in five minutes. While microwave ovens are amazing, sometimes the sounds they make are anything but. If you have a particularly loud microwave oven that is prone to constant beeping, you have probably wondered if there is a way to silence it.