The average home size in America is about 1,600 square feet. Of course, this takes into account older and existing homes. The average size of new construction is around 2,500 square feet–a big difference.

Electrical wiring is not only for the main areas of the house anymore. Modern homes may see electrical wiring throughout the property, running into sheds, garages, and even patios or decks. It only makes sense with the prevalence of flat-screen televisions as they can be placed just about anywhere with a simple electrical connection.

It isn’t everyday that you run into an issue with your toilet. Unless objects get accidently flushed, or there is an issue with your water supply, most toilets are generally very low maintenance. Occasionally, however, your toilet may malfunction, leaving you with concern and no idea of how to fix the problem– or what the problem even is. One of the most common problems with toilets is that, after flushing, they don’t stop. That is, the water continues to swirl for a prolonged period of time.

Impact drivers are one of the most common tools in the DIYer’s toolbox. Impact drivers are useful, multifunctional, and designed to produce maximum torque. If you have ever installed a second layer of subfloor you will be thankful for them.

In the never-ending quest for more living space, a walkout basement might be your solution. It can either be built as part of new construction or as an addition to an established home. Bear in mind the latter will be quite costly.

Propane is a versatile fuel that can be used to power numerous appliances in and around the home. You can use propane for cooking, heating water, and it can also help provide some warmth.  Many homeowners even purchase propane tanks so they can store that fuel and use it on-demand.

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.

When you installed that countertop, you expected it to be there forever. And, so far, it was. Formica countertops are a remarkably sturdy type of countertop. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, you need to trim it down. The problem is that Formica countertops are hard to slice through once they’re added to your kitchen. So, how do you cut your Formica countertop if it’s already installed?

When you decide what type of flooring to put on top of concrete slab in your home you are essentially working with a blank slate. There are several types of material you can choose from. All of them have pros and cons, but some types are definitely more appealing to most homeowners than others.

You may find a situation where you need an electrical outlet under the sink cabinet in your kitchen. The most obvious reason would be the installation of garbage disposal in a sink that was not previously equipped. If a dishwasher is installed, you may also need an outlet under the sink to provide power to the dishwasher. From the standpoint of electrical codes, is it legal to put an electrical outlet under a sink?

Nothing screams 1960s design quite like linoleum floors — and not in a good way. Adding new floors is likely on your list of top to-dos if you’re updating your home. And luckily for you, you might be able to install vinyl plank flooring over linoleum without a lot of hassle.

Until the 1980s, popcorn ceilings were quite popular. Popcorn ceilings are made of a spray-on stucco material, and many contain asbestos. The material asbestos can lead to serious problems such as cancer and asbestosis, so homeowners often remove popcorn ceilings.

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?

When planning your bathroom remodel, you must decide what type of shower, tub surround, and sink fits your needs best. Many homeowners narrow the choices down to two types, Vikrell or acrylic. To make the best choice, you must understand the differences between Vikrell and acrylic.

Everyone wants a home that gives them a quiet place to relax and unwind. But if your house isn’t quite the peaceful retreat of your dreams, what can you do? Whether you’re dealing with a small space, a busy street, or a house that echoes like the Grand Canyon, you can make your house quieter.

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).

Le Creuset cookware is not only one of the best performing brands on the market, but it also looks amazing. Even if you aren’t known to cook gourmet meals in dutch ovens all that often, you might still want to own a Le Creuset simply for its shiny and colorful enamel.

Concrete is the most commonly used material on earth for building and other projects. It is made of three things: cement, water, and aggregates. Whether you are building a structure, a driveway, or filling in a hole, concrete works for all these things. But did you know there are different methods of using concrete depending on when the water is introduced to the mix?

People often tend to forget about things they grow used to in a home. A water heater is one of those appliances that are well hidden we tend to forget. The only time we know, it is there is when the hot water is not working.

So you’ve decided to use asphalt millings for your next DIY paving project. Great choice! Asphalt millings are an environment-friendly, relatively cheap, and effective solution for your paving needs. If you’re reading this guide, you’ve probably done your research and have decided to use asphalt millings, but now you may be wondering how to harden the asphalt millings after spreading them properly. The good news is it is simple.

If you are currently looking to move into a new home, you are all too aware of the competitive and unpredictable state of today’s housing market. Buying a home in 2023 is incredibly expensive, stressful and can be difficult. Buyers are often outbid, and find themselves searching a real estate market with limited inventory. Naturally, it makes sense to consider building your own home rather than continuing in the housing market rat race. But when it comes to building versus buying a home, which is cheaper?

Home enthusiasts (and self-proclaimed designers) alike are constantly looking for new ways to spruce up both the interiors and exteriors of their homes. If your house is suffering from old, worn-looking brick, can you put siding over the top to give it a refresh?

Whether in the mountains, on a picturesque lake, or in the woods, there’s something undeniably magical about a cabin. It offers you a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life and a place to make lasting memories. The best thing about a cabin is it can be as simple or grand as you want to make it. 

Colorado is one of the premier vacation destinations in the United States. As people visit, many are deciding that Colorado is the place to live as well. Colorado is rapidly becoming a favored relocation area for many families. Learn about building in Colorado and how much your new home may cost in this article.

Finding the right material for your shower walls can be tricky. Remodeling a shower can cost thousands of dollars, and it’s hard to commit to a material when you aren’t even sure what you want. Because of that, many homeowners will look for any alternative that gets the job done without breaking the bank. So, can you use peel-and-stick tile in a shower?

The crawlspace often winds up as an underutilized part of the home mainly because it isn’t comfortable. If you want to make that crawlspace more functional, you should consider converting it into a basement. Before embarking on this big project, you should know the cost to convert a crawlspace to a basement is very expensive.

Choosing between wood finishing products is not as easy as it seems. It doesn’t help the matter that there are so many great options out there to choose from. Between Varathane and Minwax alone, there are countless options to choose from to stain just about any kind of wood style or color in your home. But, which one is best for wood finishing? 

If you own a grandfather clock, it’s likely something that has been passed down in your family through the generations. To ensure that the clock stays in good working order, it should be cleaned and serviced regularly. Oftentimes, some form of clock repair work may be required for a number of reasons.

Doing a bathroom remodel project can be satisfying. However, some decisions can get confusing for homeowners, such as toilets. There are so many variations, brands, styles and sizes that it is easy to get confused. One of the most confusing is the difference between chair height and comfort height toilets.

Whether you’re installing a ceiling fan to cool you down in the summer or help circulate heat in the winter, there are countless benefits to adding one to your home. Increase comfortability and save money on your energy bills by installing a ceiling fan. However, what happens if you want to install one in a room that does not have an already existing fixture? Although the project is much simpler with the existence of a fixture, it can still be done without the necessary wiring in place.

Planning a major home improvement project is exciting, but it is also stressful and expensive. There are lots of moving parts to consider, which is why it is so important to hire a great and trustworthy contractor. Once you find a good contractor, you are hopefully a little less stressed. But when this contractor asks you for a whopping 30% up front, you might start second-guessing your decision.

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?

Slowly and quietly, a new trend in smart homes is starting to take root among the ultra-techy. People are now making their own open-source programs for their smart home hubs. But when comparing the OpenHAB vs Home Assistant programs, which is better for your home?

If you’re a handy homeowner, your garage probably isn’t just a place that you park your car. It’s actually a place where you park everything from seasonal storage, gardening gear, tools, kids’ toys, and wood saws. Without space-saving shelves to help contain all of these supplies and tools, your beautiful garage can end up looking like a disorganized mess.

Curbless showers are a lavish home improvement that many people can acquire within their homes. But with every luxury come a few drawbacks. Showering is something that we all have to do, but enjoying it is often the goal. Fortunately, there are great alternatives to the traditional bathing style, which enhances experience and comfort.

Keeping your shower working properly is an important part of ensuring that you and your family get the most out of your home. Doing so will ensure that your family is able to look after their hygiene without having to worry about pesky plumbing issues.

The garage door is tasked with consistently keeping your cars and that part of your home shielded from the elements. If your garage door is damaged, you will see it right away as debris and moisture will infiltrate that space. Hopefully, you aren’t keeping any of your expensive power tools in your garage because they will likely end up damaged as well.

When deciding on paint colors, one of the most common questions posed by homeowners is: “Will the paint color I choose dry to be darker or lighter than the color swatch?” The short answer is neither. So, when you’re choosing some paint, don’t worry about whether it dries to a specific shade. What should matter is the color itself.

Have you noticed that the water in your toilet takes a while to fill after you’ve flushed? You’re not alone. In fact, this is a common issue among homeowners and there are several reasons why this problem can occur. The time that it takes for a toilet tank to fill will vary based on the design and size of the tank, which may be from 1.6 to over 7 gallons.

One way to create an oasis in one’s home is a bathroom that evokes peace and tranquillity. This could simply be from the choice of paint color to keeping the space neat and tidy. An essential factor is also ensuring that everything works and is in tiptop shape. 

Many different companies have manufactured electrical panels over the past 50 years. Some of them are notorious for the poor performance of their products and the problems these products have caused. One of the least known of these companies is Zinsco. Many homeowners wonder if their Zinsco electrical panels are safe?

For eco-conscious buyers, bamboo toilet paper is a fantastic alternative to normal toilet paper. It’s made from a renewable material that is still soft and strong, making it virtually the same as regular toilet paper but with even more benefits! This begs the question: can bamboo toilet paper block drains?

No matter how hectic and stressful life gets, you should always be able to count on your home to offer some peace. But if your house adds to your stress instead of taking it away, then it’s time to reassess your home, not-so-sweet home.

From record sales and rapid price increases to historic supply chain issues and steady interest rate hikes, things are without a doubt wild and constantly evolving in today’s construction world. But even with these major shifts and hurdles, buildings are still going up and new construction is soldiering on.

Proper ventilation is important not just for your HVAC system. It also matters for all the exhaust fans you have installed that take moist air from one place to the next. For instance, the air coming from your bathroom exhaust fan needs to come out somewhere.

Cracked walls, peeling paint, and mold are all signs of water damage often seen in basements. If there’s water damage in your basement, then the clear solution is to waterproof it. But what is basement waterproofing, exactly, and what waterproofing methods can you choose between?

It is easy to understand why electrical wiring needs to be protected from damage or exposure to the elements. Your local electrical code will often require that electrical wiring be run through a conduit of some kind. There are a variety of different conduits available. EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing) and rigid conduit are two of the most common. It is important to understand the difference between these two products.

If you’ve ever taken a trip to New York City, the chances are high that you’ve seen scaffolding in action. It’s advantageous when it comes to building a second story or just keeping a home’s structure up during construction. Unfortunately, most of us do not live near the Big Apple, and even if we do, we don’t know where to get new or used scaffolding for sale in our area.

In the not too distant past, satellite dishes were incredibly large. If you happen to have a large old satellite dish still, you are probably wondering what you can do with it. With this guide, we hope to answer that question.

The main job of your siding is to protect your home from the elements – particularly precipitation and the negative effects of excess moisture. However, in addition to practicality, your siding also serves an aesthetic purpose and can drastically impact the value of your home. With this in mind, your choice in siding should be based on aesthetics, maintenance needs, durability, environmental impact, installation, composition, and overall costs.

With the stress and pressures that come with daily life, many Americans are transforming their bathrooms into spa-like retreat as a way to relax and de-stress in the comfort of their own home. In recent years, modern technologies such as radiant heat flooring, steam showers, towel warmers, and hydro-massage showerheads have emerged to help turn a simple bathroom into relaxing sanctuary.

Laminate flooring is composed of particleboard, resin, and a print on top that mimics wood. It’s popular among homeowners for its ability to resist scratches, fading, stains, and other cosmetic imperfections.

Most new electrical boxes and configurations will come with the needed electrical screws in the package. If you are simply replacing an electrical box or have lost the original screws, you may need to purchase new screws to attach your electrical box safely. Determining the correct size and type of electrical screw can be difficult, though, especially with so many screw options available on the market.

When a building is being constructed, it goes through many phases before the finished product is reached. Also, of utmost importance, is using the appropriate materials to ensure a strong build. The first phase is constructing the frame, but should you use 12d or 16d nails for framing?

When a contractor comes into your home you trust them to construct, install, work on, or repair whatever you have hired them to come and do. Unfortunately, sometimes they are not as careful as you would like, and they can leave scratches on what they are working on. 

When you think of a 15-ft wide house, you might picture a shotgun house or single-wide mobile home. These style homes are typically long and narrow,  making them a good fit for narrow lots. You could also find multi-level 15-ft wide homes in many cities, where space is limited, but housing needs are high.

Preparations need to be made before the start of winter each year. The winter season can be harsh in certain parts of the country and your household must be ready to handle it. As part of your preparations, you may need to get some firewood, and buying by the cord is commonplace.

Choosing the right flooring material is tough when there are so many impressive options. One flooring material that will never go out of style is bamboo, and it’s as popular as ever. Bamboo flooring affords homeowners gorgeous floors at a low cost, but just how low?

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. 

Are you looking for a creative and affordable way to revamp your wood floors? Painting is always an option! But before you dive into the renovation process, there are plenty of pros and cons to consider.