Building & Remodeling

Polyurethane foam is widely used to insulate homes and buildings. Despite the many benefits of polyurethane foam, consumers should be aware of several problems associated with the material. Wear...

Heating duct insulation reduces the amount of heat lost by the air as it travels through the duct system. Insulation breaks down over time and loses its ability to contain heat. Replacing old...

Insulation is a key component in the thermal protection of a home. While fiberglass is the most prevalent variety of insulation, you now have the option to exchange the standard barrier for a new,...

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with an innate resistance to chemical damage and open flames. Asbestos once was prized for these qualities and was incorporated into a variety of building...

No matter what season it is, a house that seals out the drafts saves a lot of money in energy cost. The best examples are in the summer and winter if you live in climates with extreme...

Closed-cell insulation is one of the best types of insulation because it has a high R value per inch and helps to seal air leaks. Other types of insulation can leave gaps that allow drafts that...

During these hard economic times everyone needs to find a way to save every little bit they can. The electric bill is an easy way to reduce the amount of money spent if done right.

A crawl space is an area underneath the house in which a person cannot stand to full height. Sometimes the crawl space can be only about a foot high. They usually have dirt floors, exposed pipes...

Spray foam insulation is a very efficient method of insulating your home or office. It is possible for anyone to use spray foam insulation by renting equipment or by buying a disposable kit....

When I built my last house my sons were eight and ten respectively and just on the verge of teendom, I knew the combo of their loud music and my night shift schedule would make it hard on all...

A carport is a simple open structure design to protect a car from the elements, but it can be converted into a full fledge garage and office in a short time. The roof of a carport structure is...

An inefficient roof can raise your utility bill in a couple of ways. Whether you are heating or cooling your house, heat will be transferred in during the summer and out during the winter from...

Home insulation maintains temperature by reducing the flow of heat. In the summer, insulation keeps the house cool. In the winter, insulation keeps the house warm. The degree to which insulation...

People decide to buy and live in an old farmhouse for various reasons including charm, nostalgia, and distinction. These historic buildings often require work before moving into them. To remodel...

More than half of a home's energy use comes from cooling and heating, making insulation an important consideration. But insulating with materials that keep your utility bill low without harming...

A house addition is not a one-man job and should not be attempted by a do-it-yourself beginner. Adding a room to a home requires extensive knowledge of electrical wiring, plumbing and, of course,...

Adding insulation to your attic is a great way to save energy, but there are a number of choices that you need to sort through. What is the best type for your situation? What is the best...

So, you have weatherized and insulated your house. You have switched all of, OK most of your light bulbs to CFL’s and installed a low flow showerhead. Your programmable thermostat is set for...

Cinder blocks can be used for exterior structures or even basement or foundation walls. These types of walls may need to be insulated to retain heat during the winter. Insulating a cinder block...

There are two types of can lights, those that can come into direct contact with insulation and those that can't. If a can light can directly contact insulation, it will be marked with an IC on the...

DIY pour-in foam insulation is not only a way of improving your home's comfort level, but it is also quick and relatively easy. The material can be applied in just about any location, including...

Living in a rental place has many positives and negatives. And while everyone is talking about saving money on energy during the winter, some of these advices are a little bit harder to be...

Adding insulation to walls is one of the most difficult home improvements you can do, unless you are already putting up new siding. Although most heat loss occurs through other places in the...

When an older home is restored and becomes more energy efficient, or 'green', it creates environmental and health benefits. Green homes conserve energy and save money as well as reduce indoor air...

When converting part of a garage into an office, there are several considerations. If you are using the partial space to receive visitors to your home business, you will need to assure there is a...

In the past decade or so, the use of Styrofoam for house insulation has become more apparent and visible to the consumer. Much of this is attributed to the housing construction boom in the same...

An attic bedroom offers a great way to add additional square footage and another bedroom to your house. However, because heat rises in your home, sometimes this space's height prevents it from...

Bare concrete walls are usually an unpleasant thing to have in any home or building; they are bad at retaining heat and thus usually require some type of insulation to keep the rooms they surround...

If one room of your house seems to be chillier than the rest, it is most likely an insulation issue. There may be leaks and cracks in the walls, floors, windows or near doors that need to be...

Installing a flush mount ceiling light with a screw-on glass cover is not as difficult as it may seem. These fixtures can be very inexpensive and are available in a wide variety of styles, from...

Homes can lose heat through the sides of windows or doors, through attics and through walls. Applying spray foam insulation can prevent heat leaks virtually anywhere in a home because as it is...

Wood floors in unheated spaces--such as basements, garages and crawl spaces that are not insulated--contribute to heat loss. Leaving these areas devoid of insulation not only affects your comfort...

To insulate your home properly is a good move to make for a variety of reasons. First, it will keep the heat and the cool in at various times of the year. This will keep down the costs of energy...

The ceiling is the most important area of your home to insulate. Insulating your ceiling will reduce the heat flow and make your home weather-tight. This is the most cost efficient way to put less...

Every homeowner should concern herself with properly insulating the house. Optimal levels of insulation reduce heating bills and pollution. Federal guidelines recommend that homeowners base their...

If you would like to keep your home warmer and drier, insulating the concrete walls of your basement is a good place to start. Insulating concrete walls can be a special challenge though, since...

Steel and vinyl are popular materials used in the manufacturing of doors and garage doors. There are several differences between steel and vinyl doors. They both come with their advantages and...

Concrete walls, such as those found in a basement, may need to have insulation added if you plan to finish the basement and cover the walls. Adding insulation to concrete walls will help to...

Insulating your crawl space can help prevent the loss of heat and cold through the floor of the house, thus saving you money on energy costs. Install insulation in a sealed crawl space since a...

Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation is a solidifying spray-applied dense liquid plastic. Use it anywhere insulation is needed--attics, walls and ceilings. It's particularly useful for filling...

Stripping the plastic insulation off a piece of copper wire can be useful in a number of situations. Besides exposing the end of a wire to connect it to an electrical device, stripping wire can...

Insulation board, also known as fiberboard sheathing panel, helps to insulate your home and make it air tight. Before installation, you must measure the amount of footage required for your...

The main water line coming into your mobile home is the lifeline that feeds all of your faucets and plumbing fixtures. If this link to the water supply freezes it can burst and drive your water...

A high-quality entrance door can significantly improve the appearance, energy-efficiency and security of your home. If your exterior doors are broken, outdated or no longer operating smoothly, you...

Insulation is imperative to keep homes at comfortable temperatures without wasting money on heating and air conditioning and wasting non-renewable energy sources. Like many other home improvement...

You want to remodel your basement, but you want to use materials that are safe for the environment and that are recycled. Your basement may have out-of-date fixtures, carpets and other furnishings...

Maybe your family has expanded, or maybe you want to take on a renter to aid your family's financial woes through hard economic times. Regardless of your desire to turn an attic into a bedroom,...

Picking the right insulation contractor to insulate your home can be a daunting experience. From knowing which product is right for you to picking a contractor you can trust to perform the work...

Recessed lighting fixtures are an useful choice of lighting in the home when standard hanging fixtures are not desired. Recessed lighting extends into the attic area, where the lighting and wiring...

Finished basements typically have walls made of sheetrock, also known as drywall. Sheetrock can be painted or paneling can be installed over it. Exterior walls that will be covered with sheetrock...