Exterior Home Repair

A small gap underneath a door can siphon hundreds of dollars out of your home. If you don't have the time or the means to upgrade your entire door, try this efficient alternative. Note: A metal...

Pigeons roosting on your roof or fence can make more than just a mess; they can pose a health threat. The accumulation of droppings can grow a fungus, that when breathed in, may cause some...

A home's exterior makes a big impression on visitors and those passing by your home. An update to a brick home exterior instantly increases its curb appeal. Many update options exist to give the...

Hardiplank is a very durable siding that is manufactured using compressed cement fibers. According to the James Hardie website, it has a 30-year warranty and is fire and rot resistant. Despite...

Staining new concrete is just like staining any other type of concrete except that you must be sure to remove any curing agents before you start staining. Otherwise, the concrete may not absorb...

Skylights are horizontal windows or domes placed on the roof of homes and recreational vehicles, often used for brightening up a room. Skylights let more light in than windows and distributes it...

Staining a metal door is a great way to give this type of entryway some class and character. With the right types of stains, you can even make that metal door look like wood. Gel stains are the...

Over time, wooden decking can become weak or damaged from general weathering or wear and tear. It is necessary to replace or reinforce damaged decking material as soon as possible, particularly...

Vinyl siding is a plastic exterior installed on buildings and homes for weatherproofing and add style. Applying caulk to the seams of vinyl siding helps maintain the weatherproofing, especially...

The home construction industry has come a long way in upgrading materials throughout the years. From logs to bricks to aluminum siding to vinyl siding, the faces of homes have changed considerably...

Birds are enchanting creatures and capable of some fanciful antics. Some even build their nests in mailboxes, of all places. But not everyone appreciates them moving in. This is especially true if...

Air leaking into your pool is cause for concern. Air leaks can reduce your pool's filtration efficiency, and they may also render your pool's pump unable to move water. Unlike water leaks---where...

Erosion caused by plant roots or water drainage from the roof or the surrounding soil will often attack the corner of a structure's foundation. Sometimes the adjoining vertical walls of the home...

A stanchion is often referred to as a column; however it is a post. Stanchions can be used for several different purposes, such as the two poles in a headrest, supporting soccer goal nets, and...

Exterior stucco can be installed on a variety of wall structures. Most building walls won't need anything more than a clean surface in order to receive the stucco. However, if you are covering a...

Hardieplank siding is manufactured from compressed concrete. According to the Hardieplank website, it is highly durable product that can stand up to fires, hurricane-force winds and other harmful...

If you're fortunate enough to love where you live; but yet have the great awareness that your sewer is on a septic tank system, there are steps you can take to eliminate costly repairs. It is...

Purchasing homeowners insurance can be very complicated. It is hard to determine what type of insurance policy is sufficient to cover our home in the event of a loss. Homeowners insurance is...

Painting your home exterior may sound like a job only a professional can do. Well... you're wrong! All professionals had to start somewhere, and so do you. Follow these simple instructions and you...

Tree roots will search as far as they can for water, and the only way you can certainly protect your foundation with trees nearby is to install a tree root barrier. These usually consist of an...

Exterior plywood is similar to any other plywood. The sizes and thicknesses are much the same; however, exterior plywood is different in a few ways. It is manufactured to withstand the...

A common cause of water in the basement is improper grading around the exterior perimeter of the home. Water becomes trapped against the foundation and slowly seeps into the basement. The most...

Corroseal Rust Converter is a one-step treatment that paints, primes and restores rusted metal surfaces. It converts rust into magnetite, which is a non-rusting substance, and simultaneously...

Butyl caulk is one of the most durable sealants on the market. It is intended for filling spaces larger than typical household joints, such as those found in bathrooms and kitchens. Butyl caulk is...

Halloween is a great time for treats and for tricks, but cleaning up after Halloween pranks can be a real pain. The easiest way to clean egg off painted wood is with a pressure washer, but it...

Vinyl siding is a relatively low-maintenance plastic siding used for weatherproofing a house. Sometimes, however, on shaded northern facing sections of a house, algae may grow on the siding. This...

Wood decks are a good investment for the resale value of your home. They add extra living area as well as curb appeal, and are a beautiful addition to your backyard space. Over time, however, the...

Iron fences represent some of the most beautiful and ornate fences in the world. They come in a variety of colors and style, but they all have one thing in common, and that is their need for...

There are a lot of different shutters that you can choose from for your house. One specific shutter that many people enjoy is called the plantation shutter. Through wear and tear, though,...

The doorknob is an important safety feature as most doorknobs have the ability to lock. To repair a broken doorknob fixture or give your door an updated look, you may need to remove your current...

If you've never operated a Troy-Bilt pressure washer, you're going to need to know how to get the clear hose to draw cleaning mixture. The clear hose is the semi-soft pliable pvc (plastic) tubing...

Caulk is applied around a Jacuzzi tub in order to seal the seams surrounding it. The adhesive compound is an effective sealant that prevents leaks and water damage by filling in the gaps between...

Water damage through excessive rain and flooding can create cracks in housing foundation and surrounding sidewalks. These cracks are created through drying shrinkage and usually widen over time...

When a foundation starts to develop cracks, it is important to take care of this problem right away because it can lead to problems such as water seepage. The mortar that has been holding the...

Rubber sleeve pipe flashing is used to create a seal for the pipes that go through the roof for venting rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens. Caulking the pipe flashing provides a barrier that...

Brick pavers are an excellent building material for walkways, patios or driveways. Moisture that seeps into the pavers, however, can damage them over time. You can extend the life of your pavers...

If you have ever had a mouse or mice in your house, you may be left wondering, where did they come from? No matter how clean and clutter free the inside of your house is, mice will seek out the...

Aluminum siding is a good choice for homes or exterior buildings due to its durability and low maintenance requirements. If aluminum siding is not properly maintained, it can grow dull and dirty...

CAT PUMPS is one of the most well known pump manufacturers in the world, supplying pumps for industrial grade use, heavy duty construction equipment, and smaller commercial home maintenance tools....

Few people panic when faced with the prospect of patching a pair of jeans or throwing some joint compound on a dry-wall dent. Chipped bricks, however, seem more worrisome. How will you match the...

Potholes and cracks in driveways are not only unpleasant in appearance, they can make you trip or fall. A small crack accumulates water, and in the winter, the freeze and thawing cycles cause...

Brick is durable and long lasting, but should have care given to maintain its weatherproofing. Make sure you have adequate drainage. The links in resources will give your places to check for...

Rubber roof shingles are made of recycled materials and designed to look like regular shingles. Shingles are made of asphalt in a variety of styles and colors; they are easy to install and repair.

Carpenter bees or wood-boring bees tunnel into the unpainted wood that is found around the eaves of log homes. They overwinter in tunnels created during the summer and then tunnel further into the...

Despite painting and other routine maintenance, a home's wood siding takes a significant beating from the elements. Exposure to the elements can cause cracks in caulking, which can lead to water...

Owning a pool provides a luxury that many people enjoy; unfortunately, pool owners do not enjoy that ugly white ring that tends to form on the pool tile. This white ring can cause the pool to...

The type of finish or treatment that is used on cedar siding depends upon the grade of cedar that is used. If the cedar siding is smooth, a semi-transparent stain is the best choice for a...

Poor yard drainage usually becomes noticeable after a large rainstorm and you realize you have a lake in your backyard or water pooling near the foundation of your house. Water pooling around the...

Rain gutters' primary function is to move water away from structures. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in its summary of recommendations for constructing moisture...

Traditionally, a stucco building requires three layers of stucco. The first layer is the scratch coat. The brown coat layer is next. The final top layer is the stucco coat which can be colored...