Home Maintenance

If you have heard strange rustlings in the attic or even seen signs of squirrels residing in your attic, you need to take action. Cute or not these rodents chew everything in sight and can do...

Because mold grows in damp (or humid) areas that receive little light, a basement can be the perfect place for it to thrive. To get rid of mold from a basement, the first thing you must do is...

Leaves color your lawn and the thermostat dips toward the freezing point---winter approaches. You prepare yourself for spending the season in warmer enclaves, but it is also time to winterize...

Cleaning concrete with a pressure washer is one of the easiest types of work you can do with a pressures washer. Almost invariably the work is below you at your feet, which is much easier than...

Do you have unwelcome guests that leave you itchy? Do you have fleas in your carpet and on your furniture? Are looking for a natural way to get rid of them? Read on to find out how you can!

Refinishing wooden stairs seems like a a difficult endeavor for many homeowners. However, refinishing wooden stairs is not that daunting of a task. The name of the game is patience, as refinishing...

A shaky ceiling fan is bothersome because it often makes noise. However, when a ceiling fan shakes it adds stress to the fan's bearings and the screws holding the fan's parts in place: a shaking...

Mold has the potential to damage wood. Mold is also an eyesore when it attaches itself to any surface. Mold requires "food,'' or organic materials, in order to grow. Wood is just such a material....

Motion sensor-activated lights are just one more thing that can give you peace of mind and are a relatively easy addition to your home. With them, there is no more need to worry about those...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Throughout the years, cement stairs can become worn and old looking. Weather, daily walking and use, and the presence of potted plants on the stairs can cause unsightly stains. Resurfacing the...

White mold, which is caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is most known for attacking plants. White mold can grow on just about anything provided it's in the proper environment and has a...

Mold is a fungus that attaches itself to buildings. Mold thrives on buildings that are exposed to moisture and receive limited sunlight. The way one cleans mold from a building can depend on what...

Black mold is a term used to describe a type of fungus that grows in damp, shaded areas. Black mold has a slimy appearance that is usually black or green in color. Black mold can make a porch...

At times cement stairs need slight repairs. For minor repairs, the following instructions can be used. For major repairs, it may be better to call in a professional.

Moisture is the main reason mold grows in a basement. Mold thrives best in humid (or damp) areas that receive limited sunlight. A basement can be an ideal place for mold to grow. It is important...

Trapped moisture in a home can rapidly result in the growth of harmful mold and mildew. The crawl space of your home usually is located either above or below the living spaces, and is a prime...

While bats are typically useful mammals, when they take up residence inside your shingles, there are several reasons to send them packing. Not only are they noisy, but according to the Wildlife...

Mold thrives in areas that have undergone water intrusion. When mold grows in a basement, it is imperative to treat it aggressively for two reasons. First, it can cause damage to the walls and...

Throughout the years, cement stairs can become worn and old looking. With some patience, you can give your cement stairs an updated look.

Mold can grow on virtually any surface, including concrete walls. Concrete can be particularly vulnerable because its surface acts like a sponge, trapping water inside. Mold grows best in damp and...

Over time, tile will require maintenance. Whether tiles are loose, broken or chipped, not repairing the tile can result in a safety hazard. Luckily repair is not difficult or time consuming, but...

Home inspections are necessary to ensure that a given property meets state safety standards and to assess the value of a home for both buyers and sellers. Manufactured homes, also known as "mobile...

When you are cleaning the exterior of your home, it can be difficult to focus on just one area. For instance, if you are cleaning the aluminum siding on the side of your house, you may begin to...

If you need extra room or storage space in your home, you may be thinking of converting your crawl space into a finished basement. Depending on your construction expertise, you may want to hire a...

Mold is a form of fungi that thrives best in damp, humid areas that receive little sunlight. A basement can be an ideal place for mold to grow, especially if there has been a leak or water has...

Black ants are more than just a nuisance. They can burrow unsightly holes into your door jams, window sills, foundation and flooring. If they are allowed to propagate freely, they can even...

Whether you want to protect your house from insects and rodents, or you want to keep it extra insulated and prevent heat from escaping in the winter, sealing a crawlspace can be extremely...

In most older homes or homes subject to heavy rainfall, gutters may often overflow and splatter the sides of the home. If this happens with your home, you can direct the flow of water evenly by...

Dry rot can cause severe damage to your home. Unlike wet rot, which occurs when wood is very wet, dry rot can occur in minimally wet conditions such as high humidity. Stopping dry rot is a...

When you remove ivy that has grown up your siding, you're usually left with dark stains and tiny suckers all over the wall. Ivy holds itself in place with these suckers, casting tendrils that grab...

Moving is never an easy task. The thought of moving a child's outdoor wooden play set may leave you with thoughts of leaving it behind. You don't need to. While it is possible to move a smaller...

There are many different types -- and colors -- of mold. Attention is often focused on black mold because there is one variety that produces mycotoxins, a poisonous type of fungus. Like most...

A wood stove can be an inexpensive and efficient alternative for heating your home. One of the most important steps you can take to ensure your wood stove's safety and efficiency is to keep the...

Saving the environment is something that needs to be taken a lot more serious than it is currently for the sake of our planet. Follow these steps at home to do your part.

Tiny, grain-sized droppings in the cupboard under the sink may be the first sign of a coming mouse infestation in your home. If you have kids or pets, or just don't want to use rodent poison,...

The soot buildup on the face of your stone fireplace detracts from its beauty and poses a fire hazard. You can restore the masonry by cleaning it with acid wash. The process involves a moderate...

Over the years tension springs on a garage door can stretch out of place. If you have an automatic garage door opener, this can throw off the sensors at the bottom of the door frame and cause the...

Every once in a while the switch breaks in your favorite table lamp. There’s no need to throw out the lamp, all you need to do is put in a new socket. Here’s how:

Over time you may notice that certain floors in your home starting to sag or creak. In order to remedy this problem you must level the floor from beneath. Basement floor jacks, or brace poles, are...

You can cement over a brick chimney easily. The hard part is getting the cement to stick. Most skim coats of concrete will crack and peel off within a few months if you do not know how to properly...

Underground or subterranean termites are the most common type of termites in the United States. They are notorious for invading homes and for being hard to kill. In fact, going on the offensive...

If a woodpecker is pecking on your home's walls, roof, windows or siding, the problem is more than just a noisy annoyance--your home is under attack! The damage caused by constant pecking can not...

Cleaning mold from a bathroom ceiling is complicated by the nature of mold. Rubbing mold transfers it to other proximate surfaces, where it will grow. A dime-sized section of mold contains...

Rats are dirty creatures that carry diseases and parasites. They leave droppings, get into food, and even eat through pieces of your home. Rats will continue to breed in a nest and the infestation...

Some of the unfortunate Americans have came across the hidden enemy, called termites. You normally cant see them and can't hear them intill you are walking across the floor one day and fall...

Seamless gutters can help protect your house from damage caused by excess rainwater near the foundation of the house. Installing seamless gutters requires only basic carpentry skills and can be...