Exterior Remodeling

Log cabins were once used by settlers who needed to make homes with the products they had on hand, but today these homes are becoming more popular because the wood is mass produced and easy to...

Siding can speak volumes about a house and must be chosen carefully. Fortunately for homeowners, there are multiple options available, including fiber cement siding, which is now used on about 12...

Fiber cement siding is an exterior option more homeowners are turning to, as it is now on about 12 to 15 percent of all homes, but installation problems may be a deterrent to choosing this product.

Gutters have evolved significantly over the years, as less expensive options such as steel and aluminum gutters have overtaken wood gutters in popularity. Both steel and aluminum gutters deter...

The right porch railings can complement a home's architecture, bringing unity to the overall design. Porch railings come in numerous different styles, with something to fit every taste.

Now that you have a patio, you should consider building a patio cover. Patio covers keep your house cool because it will keep the sun from hitting your windows, keep you cool on hot afternoons,...

Decks can add value to a home and provide a functional surface for outdoor activities. Typically constructed with treated lumber, they can last for years with little or no maintenance. The effects...

Building a fence is often a straightforward process, but it requires strict attention to detail and careful planning. Wood needs to be prepped and cut into pieces before it becomes a fence. Plans...

Mobile home siding protects the metal or fiberglass shell of the structure from damage caused by wind, precipitation and other elements. Choosing the right siding helps the homeowner to extend the...

Making a perfect cut on a 4-inch-square wood post, requires perfect alignment of a circular saw blade. If your cut if off slightly, the top of the wood post will have a cut mark. Other saws can...

Many people begin to take advantage of the cool Fall weather by getting their long-awaited home improvement projects started. A great DIY home improvement project to start is to install a deck...

Wood siding can be purchased in many types, such as 4-by-8 sheets, 8-inch lap siding, or even wood shingles. All of them are very effective in protecting your home from the weather, and all are...

You can repair a rotting deck around an above-ground pool by replacing the rotting sections with new wood. Replacing rotten wood with new wood is the only way to achieve a safe and structurally...

Building a fence around your yard is an excellent way to gain privacy, reduce noise and increase the enjoyment of your home. Fortunately, building a fence is well within the ability of the average...

A well-constructed fence can add beauty and security to your property. If it's a wood fence, staining it may enhance its visual appeal and increase its lifespan. Stain penetrates wood and protects...

It seems as if everyone is trying to find a way to go green through whatever measures they can think of. It's not only a way to help protect the environment and recycle materials, but going green...

Vinyl siding is one of the more popular choices for homes today. As a testament to its popularity, as many as 30 percent of homes are now covered in some type of vinyl siding.

A do-it-yourself siding job can save a significant amount of money over having a contractor apply the siding for you. If done correctly, you can have beautiful results, with a look equal to any...

Staining and sealing a deck protects it from environmental elements and improves its appearance. Stains give a polished look to the deck and come in various shades. Sealant protects the wood from...

For homeowners looking for a cheap way to create a beautiful deck, composite decking might be the answer. There are a variety of materials used in composite decking; all them having distinct features.

Siding gives a new dimension to your home's appearance. It helps to establish a unique character that suits your home's architectural structure. Siding is available in a large variety of...

A homemade outside wood boiler is an excellent way to heat water for home heating. The water can be piped through a car radiator installed in the cold-air return of a standard furnace. With the...

Deciding how to side your house is a little like deciding what clothes to put on in the morning--if you had the wear the same clothes for the next 20 or 30 years. Siding is a decision that should...

Vinyl and wood are both useful materials for house siding. And while they share the common purpose of protecting the inside of a home from the effects of weather and wind, they have separate...

Although it may seem daunting, staining your deck can be done in three easy steps. It will add years to the life of your deck and it will make it look better.

Deciding what type of exterior siding to use on your house should be determined partly by the style of the house, and partly by your own tastes. Houses in classic architectural styles sometimes...

Vinyl siding got a bad rap for years when it first came out, because it was limited in style and tended to look cheap and phony. The market has improved greatly in both variety and quality, but...

Going to the skate park every time you want to jump ramps can get expensive, and it's illegal to skate in many public areas. Build your own inexpensive ramps to try tricks at home. Use a few...

Re-siding your house is a big job, but not an impossible one for a homeowner with some carpentry skills. There are many types of siding to choose from, but for most people, it's going to fall into...

Do you have weathered, cracked or rotten wood siding on your house? Repairing or replacing damaged wood siding with new house siding prevents further weather damage and reduces your future siding...

Choosing a type of wood siding for the home can be a confusing task. Matching the style of the home to a wood siding that will fit both aesthetically and functionally is one of the most important...

Anthropologists say that human beings created the first fences long before they moved from hunting and gathering to farming. These early fences were used to control the behavior of animals, either...

Window installation is relatively the same whether the framing is of wood or steel. If you have a new window there should be some directions included. Sometimes people have picked up a beautiful...

You get a lot for your money when you add plywood or lattice skirting to a house trailer. The biggest change is in the appearance. Skirting gives the trailer a more attractive, finished look....

If you are building a deck onto your home you can either use wood or composite deck material, such as hollow composite decking. Composite deck material is less expensive than wood and actually...

Installing a new door awning protects your home's entrance from the weather. The shade produced by an awning can also reduce the heat in your home and save money on energy bills. After you have...

When you're choosing between vinyl and steel siding, you're most likely making a choice that involves cost and durability. Many older homes have either brick facing or wood planks, which aren't...

Building a deck can be done with several types of wood for the floor planks including cedar, mahogany and driftwood. Depending on the area of the deck, make sure to get the right type of wood for...

When building a deck, try to use metal galvanized brackets to lift deck supports off the ground and prevent water from being leeched by the wood. Install deck supports to withstand wood rot and...

When building a deck, have the right tools such as a flat bar to pry up slim wood, a crowbar to pull up large wood pieces and a skill saw for cutting planks. Keep the right deck building carpentry...

Look for wood rot when doing a deck assessment and place galvanized metal brackets on deck support bottoms. Extend the life of a deck by using the right wood, brackets and treatment with tips from...

Burning old wood is permissible with a fire department permit when building a new deck, but the wood has to be raw and untreated. Whether dealing with raw wood or painted and treated wood, learn...

Shutters are available in several different styles and one of the most popular styles is batten board shutters, which are sometimes referred to as board and batten shutters. Batten board shutters...

When you decide to build that ultimate deck area onto your home much love goes into the planning and building stages. This is why you should take great care to keep your deck looking new and as...

Treating a wood deck is very important to protect the wood from the harmful effects of sun and moisture. Doing so will extend the life of the deck and keep it looking clean and new. Here's how:

There are times when you may want to remove all the paint from your front porch, instead of just scraping the few loose flakes of old paint and spot priming with a sealer paint. Taking an old...

How to build a custom planter box out of scrap wood. To fit in an unused space. This can be made from purchased materials or out of scrap wood. This box can be used to plant your favorite flowers,...

Houses make a statement whether homeowners want them to or not. Included in that statement is how the exterior looks, which is greatly affected by the soffit and fascia. As a breaking point from...

A shed is an important piece for any homeowner to store outside equipment and supplies. Many sheds can be bought premade, but building one yourself allows you to set the size and extra features...

When you need a smooth finish on a wood or outdoor project, a polyurethane finish is an excellent choice. It creates a smooth, finished look and protects the wood against the elements. Applying...