Metal roofs are costly, so are they worth the investment? Learn the pros and cons of these investment-grade roofs.Â
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Installing New Shower Base: How to Prevent Leaks
Get installation tips that will help keep moisture from penetrating and leaking into a shower base for years to come.Â
Adding a Combustion Air Intake to a Wood Stove
Find out how the addition of an outdoor air intake can avoid draft problems and optimize a wood stove's effectiveness.Â
Preventing Calcium Deposits in Sinks
Discover the most common cause of calcium deposits in sinks, on hoses, and on hot water heater parts – and what to do about them.
Moss in Yard: Killing It
Discover the the pros and cons of various weed and moss killers. Also, learn how to protect other nearby vegetation when attempting to kill backyard moss.Â
Installing a DIY Curtain Drain Alongside Driveway
Determine whether a curtain drain is the best solution for your wet driveway – and get step-by-step instructions for building it yourself.Â
Swamp Coolers: In the Sun, or In the Shade?
Swamp coolers – or evaporative coolers – work best in hot, dry climates, but that doesn't necessarily mean they should be placed in the sun. Discover optimal placement for this evaporative cooling product.
Installing a Heat Pump Thermostat
Learn which questions to ask before installing a new thermostat, and the ins and outs of often-confusing heat pump operation.Â
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Repair Scratched Composite Marble Countertop
Unlike pure marble, composite marble surfaces can't be restored by polish. Discover cleaning tips for keeping composite surface glazes scratch-free, as well as whether restoration options exist for your weathered composite countertops.
Cleaning New Hardwood Floors
Determine the best method for cleaning hardwood floors in a new construction. Also, considerations to keep in mind before using steam mops.
How to Clean Steel Siding
Easy spray cleaners can rid steel siding of mold, mildew, moss, and algae. Find out whether similar options exist for cleaning good, old fashioned dirt off your steel exterior.Â
Rerouting an Exterior Dryer Vent: Pros and Cons
An exterior dryer vent that opens to a deck isn't ideal, but find out whether any of the alterate options – and their trade-offs – make redirecting worthwhile. Also, learn more about little-known punch-out holes on the sides of some dryers, which provide alternatives to running ducts out of the back of the appliance.Â
Waiting for Hardwood Floor to Dry Before Applying Polyurethane: How Long?
A dry floor is crucial to polyurethane application. Learn to determine whether recently dampened hardwood is ready for its next coat, and get tips on polyurethane selection and application.Â
Waiting for Hardwood Floor to Dry Before Applying Polyurethane: How Long?Listen Now
Which Direction Should I Lay Hardwood Floors?
Learn a rule-of-thumb for choosing which direction to lay hardwood. Also, measuring tips for making sure floor planks are evenly distributed.
Leaky Wood Stove Chimney
When a wood stove chimney causes leaking, consider how often it's used before choosing a plan of action.Â
How Much Water Can Concrete Hold?
Get an easy rule of thumb for determing whether concrete will crack under the weight of contained water – in this case, an aquaponic garden.Â
Getting Rid of Termites: DIY or Not?
Find out whether over-the-counter pesticides can help a termite infestation, or if calling an exterminator is always necessary.Â
Cracks in Concrete Foundation: Assessing and Containing
Hairline cracks in concrete foundations can indicate slight structural shifting. Learn easy ways to prevent further shifting by improving drainage and grading around your home.Â
Cracks in Concrete Foundation: Assessing and ContainingListen Now
Can I Install Metal Roofing Over Shingles?
Find out whether installing metal roofing over twenty-year-old shingles – rather than removing them – is worth the time and money saved.Â
Chemical-Free Ways to Get Rid of Carpenter Bees
Discover a few organic chemical-free options for keeping carpenter bees away, and find out whether repainting or refinishing natural wood will do the trick.Â
Oil-Fired Hot Water Heater or Electric Water Heater: Pros and Cons
Electric hot water heaters are cheaper than oil heaters to buy and install – but have a shorter lifespan, and are pricier to run. Weigh the pros and cons of replacing an oil tank heater with an electric one.
Oil-Fired Hot Water Heater or Electric Water Heater: Pros and ConsListen Now
Avoid Mold in Kitchen Cabinets
Find out how to avoid mold from forming in kitchen cabinets. Learn how to remove mold safely and stop it from coming back.
Stop Hardwood Floors from Expanding and Contracting
Get a crucial, rule-of-thump tip for preventing flooring problems caused by temperature-induced expansion and contraction.Â
Stop Hardwood Floors from Expanding and ContractingListen Now
Water Heater Efficiency: Oil Fired Boiler Versus Electric Water Heater
Learn the most energy- and cost-efficient way to convert an oil-fired boiler to an electric water heater. Some pressurized storage tanks fired by oil can also be replaced with either traditional or heat pump electric water heaters – the latter of which requires a fraction of the electricity needed for traditional models.Â
Water Heater Efficiency: Oil Fired Boiler Versus Electric Water HeaterListen Now