Home Maintenance

Do you want to create a home that is environment friendly and a great healthy living space for you and your family? Do you want to do this without breaking your bank? If yes, then please...

The winter months can prove to be a rather chilling event in most places. And with energy prices on the rise, it is always good to know there are alternatives to warming up the house without...

Saving money can easily be accomplished by saving energy using these simple tips in your household.

From time to time snakes my find their way into your attic or basement. Physical removal is the simplest method, however there are various snake traps available.

On more than a few occasions, I wanted to measure the temperature of something, but I could not reach it or I could not put a thermometer onto it. The solution that I found is a non-contact...

Marble surfaces and floors are beautiful additions to any home. Unfortunately, marble can be a sensitive material and can lose its luster and shine over time. One of the most common problems...

Fiberglass tub surrounds can become dull or stained after years of use. To bring the surround back to life, replace it or repaint it. Replacing a tub surround can be expensive and labor-intensive....

Discovering leaks in your crawl space is disheartening. You start to worry about the integrity of your foundation, the safety of your home, and the expense that is going to be involved in the...

With bed bug infestations on the rise, the saying "Don't let the bed bugs bite" takes on a whole new meaning. While the idea of bunking with the pests may not be the ideal roommate situation since...

Shutting off a hot water valve at the sink is easy, and everyone should be familiar with how to turn off the water supply lines in your home. The purpose of a supply valve is to divide the sink's...

One of the most common ways a house loses heat is by having an attic pull-down ladder that is either not insulated properly or not insulated at all. With just a short trip to the local hardware...

Your house's guttering system and downspouts consist of the first line of protection against water seeping back into your home's foundation. Without a proper drainage system, water from your...

Carpet glue is used primarily for flooring purposes but can sometimes be difficult to manage during projects and repairs. When excess carpet glue has stained drywall, it is important to use the...

Termites survive by eating wood. Trailers are generally not wood frame construction but trailer residents often have wooden furnishings that termites can destroy. In general termites are so...

Keeping tabs on the amount of oil in your oil tank is essential, especially during the fall and winter months when the weather gets colder. One thing that everyone wants to avoid is ending up with...

Homeowners often select vinyl window trim and siding due to its durability and low maintenance. Vinyl window trim can be cleaned with a power washer, but failure to properly use the power-washing...

Mold and mildew will not only physically damage the areas where they grow but will also affect the respiration of people who come into contact with it. Mold and mildew grows on organic materials...

Rubberized floor tiles are used for a variety of purposes including kid's play areas, yoga, martial arts and gym floors. Rubberized tile is lightweight, waterproof and shock-absorbing, making it...

An overly humid garage can lead to the growth of mold and other damage to items stored inside. It's incredibly easy for a garage to grow humid, especially in hot and rainy weather, so it's ideal...

For those who depend on rainwater catchment tanks for their water supply, sanitation and contamination are constant concerns. A number of factors affect the cleanliness of your catchment tank and...

Carpet mats can save your carpet from wear and tear as well as protect it from staining. But if the carpet mats do not stay in one place, it can be hazardous. Carpet mats that slip when you step...

Ladders are a necessary tool for professional building jobs as well as many basic home repairs. Ladders come in a variety of types and materials---such as extension, step, wood and aluminum---to...

Pest control dust is superior to other pest control products because its active life is much longer than sprays and baits and it can often reach into areas that other products can't. Use it to...

Ants enter homes looking for resources; food, water, or shelter. In most cases spraying and will not get rid of them because the queen must be killed in order to kill the colony. Sprays kill the...

Carpet Cleaning How often do you get your carpets cleaned, either by DIY or by a professional carpet cleaner depends on your living habits and the environment. Whatever the method you use or the...

Steam cleaning is an effective way to clean a dirty sidewalk. It removes all traces of even the toughest dirt and stains on the sidewalk's surface. A clean sidewalk in front of your home or...

Cleaning gutters is a difficult and time-consuming task for most home owners. Since it typically requires climbing on a ladder, it can also be dangerous. Fortunately, there are ways you can clean...

Soil settling is a primary cause of cracks in a concrete slab. Soil compaction increases the density of the soil, making it less prone to moisture and settling. To compact soil correctly for a...

Removing a damaged (or stripped) screw is often a trying experience because it can slow down an entire project. The frustration is compounded when the screw becomes even more damaged as you try to...

Roof shingles become dirty over time. They are exposed to wind, rain and other weather elements that not only cause dirt to form on the shingles, but also mold and mildew. Stained shingles take...

When removing carpeting and the carpet backing from a floor, often what is left behind is carpet glue residue. The glue is used to keep the padding in place, which it does really well. Removing...

Termites are notoriously difficult to kill. Once they detect a poison in the midst, they will dig new tunnels around it and continue to eat any cellulose fibers they can find. Since 1999 a termite...

Smoke detectors are also referred to as smoke alarms. They're used in homes and businesses to warn occupants of a fire. This gives the occupants enough time to get themselves and their pets out of...

Saving energy is on everyone's mind these days for a variety of reasons, and saving electricity at home is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to start. Using less electricity, which will...

Mildew is a problem on the inside of most homes, but when it appears on the outside, it can be even more difficult to maintain. One of the more common ways of mold and mildew control is air...

The cooler weather of fall makes home improvement projects more tolerable. Many fall home improvement projects focus on preparing the home for winter weather. This includes sealing, protecting and...

Termites are a socially advanced insect that live in colonies, have a division of labor between genders, take care of their offspring and possess an organized system of activity. These...

Homes that use boilers depend on them for a number of important tasks, mostly air and water heating. Boilers can suffer from a number of mechanical problems, and while some are simple to diagnose...

Cleaning can be a tedious chore; however, it is necessary to maintain your home as a peaceful, serene, sanctuary. A messy room, in particular, promotes additional stress that can be prevented by...

Polished marble is a luxurious material that can look stunning for a very long time. Modern homes are using marble in every room, including showers. Many homeowners wonder how often marble needs...

Defining pine tar, and what it actually is, can be an important step in removing it from stone. Most people refer to pine tar or pine pitch as the sap from pine trees that drips from the trunks...

In this article we will cover the steps needed to repair most cracks in concrete walls. It is very important to repair cracks in basements. If you are selling your house cracks can scare potential...

Rats have plagued mankind for centuries. In fact, the rat is the most successful mammal after humans. They are one of the hardest pests to get rid of because of their intelligence, agility and...

For most at-home welding projects, a flux-core welder is the best choice. As opposed to GMAW (gas metal arc welders), which need a large tank of shielding gas to accompany the welding machine...

Standard toilets often leak when a component becomes worn out, including toilet "flappers." New toilet designs use the "tipping bucket" concept instead of flappers.

Concrete surfaces are very durable if they are protected properly. Concrete is a porous material, which allows moisture and other substances to penetrate deep into it if it is not sealed. Sealing...

Marble is a popular choice for homeowners who are going for the aesthetic beauty the natural stone has to offer. It does have a few drawbacks. Marble can require extra care to maintain it, because...

Milwaukee Tools manufacturers heavy-duty flashlights. The flashlights use rechargeable lithium-ion or NiCd battery backs to provide long-lasting power. Milwaukee flashlights come with replacement...

Using boric acid is a great way to naturally prevent odor or help keep things clean. This non-toxic substance can be used on household products, sheets and even on a human being to keep odors at...

It's important to monitor the humidity in your home throughout the year, especially during the winter and summer months. Harmful bacteria, mold and water damage are more likely if your humidity...