Home Improvement Tips & Ideas
Find out how to make your home weatherproof with a roof & gutters that deliver style and durability including tips on shakes, shingles, and metal roofs
Learn about maintaining your gutters. Find out how to take care of your gutters, including using gutter guards.
I think – no I am sure I have been ripped off by my roofer. I had a lot of dry rot and 30 sheets of plywood had to be replaced. He charged me for 30 hours of labor to do it. He said it takes about an hour to replace a 4 by 8 …
We recently bought a stick home(built in the 70’s). The home inspection before purchase showed no issues with the home. Since moving in, the house “creaks” very loudly from the ceiling. It is not located in just one area, the sounds are prevalent throughout. It’s almost as if the house is settling. I have owned many …
My hip roof has a short ridge vent due to the hip design. My soffit vents are adequately open. Will I get enough natural ventilation without a powered roof ventilator fan?
Tom Kraeutler, host of the Money Pit home improvement radio show, shares his favorite products for a green lifestyle. This segment features synthetic roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes, made of 100% virgin resins.
DaVinci Roofscapes Makes Sustainable, Long-Lasting Roof TilesWatch Now
Learn how to choose a roof color. Find out about today's creative color blends for roofing materials. Roofing material colors extend far beyond the somber hues we’re used to, allowing for freedom to draw from different shades from other areas of the home, like siding, shutters and trim.
Tips to help homeowners avoid ice damage and protect their homes this winter and prevent minor trouble spots from becoming major repairs.
If your roof is prone to shingles, ice dams and weather-related leak damage, before you lay down a new roof, think about laying down an ice and water shield first.
Weather-related Roof Leaks? Use an Ice and Water ShieldRead More
I’ve had a persistent leak for two years and can’t find the source. It comes in where the wall meets the ceiling. I’ve caulked all around, had the flashing around all the penetrations inspected, and recently had siding and gutters replaced, during which we inspected the flashing and added a better drip edge, all to …
Filed under: Exteriors & Facades, Essential Skills, Know-How, Outdoors Photo: David Grudzinski of Advantage Home Inspections in Cranston, RI (via The Money Pit). Used with permission of the ASHI Reporter. Here’s a drainage design that stopped short of an actual downspout. Sure, water is being drained from the roof and upper levels of this home, …
Learn about roof replacement and Get tips on looking for missing granules, splitting, curling, rotting and other symptoms that you might need to replace the roof.
Learn out how to select the best roof materials for a new roof or roof shingles replacement project, including the difference between asphalt, synthetic, metal and wood roofs.
Our roof is about 15 years old and we have asphalt shingles. We are noticing deterioration on a lot of the shingles and it seems like it might be time to replace it. What are some new roofing options that we might not be aware of? Should we consider a metal roof? Â
Metal Roofing: New metal roofs provide great looks with energy savingsRead More
I was told by my insurance company that they don’t cover a roof that has three layers of roof shingles on it, so I’ve gone to another carrier for an estimate. This other carrier would charge me quite a bit because I’d only have homeowners insurance with them and they’re supposedly the only ones who …
Roof Layers: Three layers of roof shingles too many for an insurance companyRead More
Find out is If your roof needs repair or replacement. Learn how to know if you can add another roof layer.
Wood gutters are rare, and require extra attention. Wood gutters need to be resealed every two years, in the dry season. Wood gutters need to be sanded, then have a wood preservative applied to them. Wood gutters can then be finished with asphalt-aluminum roof paint.
Replacing skylights can be a hassle, but with these tips you’ll be able to easily replace the skylights in your home without having to worry about leaks.
Did you ever think of using infrared technology on your roof? Professionals are now using non-invasive infrared cameras to perform roof inspections. Different roofing materials have different thermal masses, so an infrared inspection exposes possible trouble spots by capturing the amount of heat detected. These highly accurate inspections can pinpoint small leaks before they become …
Learn how ice dams can be a danger to your home and how to prevent any unwanted rooftop damage.
Fixing leaky roof flashing can help you avoid more expensive roof repairs. First check chimneys, vent pipes or other openings for loose or deteriorated leaky flashing. To fix the leaky flashing, seal it with roof cement.
Satellite dishes provide access to a wide range of programming, but maintaining these sensitive instruments requires some fine tuning. If you have a satellite dish or are thinking about installing one, there are a few channels of maintenance to watch for. Strong winds may move a dish out of alignment, and over time, lines can …
Dryrot can be big trouble. It is sneaky, and makes itself at home in a structure long before you can visually detect it. For dryrot to thrive, it needs a combination of moisture, heat, and air. These amenities are in generous supply under kitchen sinks and in bathrooms, as well as in attics with poor …
When searching for the perfect site to build your new home, there are four things to consider location, location, location and drainage. Proper drainage is critical, but it is a point that is easy to forget when you can’t instantly see the effects of weather and subsurface groundwater. It is important to build your home …
 While getting a home inspection done for a potential purchase, the inspector pointed out a light blue-gray mold throughout the attic roof sheathing, but he refused to extrapolate on the problem. If we’ve indeed uncovered mold, could this be an expensive problem to fix? Â
