Social Media Links

facebook

Skip Navigation

scroll to top of page

Recent Blog Posts

Showing 51 - 65 of 65
1
2
3

Know Where Your Lumber Comes From

If you want to know more about the lumber that you purchase, your search doesn’t have to stop with the lumber store. Did you ever wonder what that stamp on the side of your lumber stood for? That tiny stamp holds a wealth of information. Every piece of lumber sold in the United States, whether it’s...

Which Home Improvements Pay Off?

To answer this question correctly, first you must decide what the “payoff” means. If a home improvement is meant to improve your life or that of your family, then you can’t discount the value there. By simply living in your home and enjoying what you’ve done, you’re essentially getting your...

Do's and Don'ts for Managing Subcontractor Installers

Subcontractor installers can be your best friend or your most recent nightmare. It’s all in the expectations set and the manner in which you follow through. Some do’s and don’ts from company owners and industry experts: DO check out an installer’s work before hiring them for a job. Jeff Head, owner...

The Solar-Ready Rooftop

There are two components to the net-zero house energy equation. On the one hand, there’s conservation: The house needs to be designed and built to require minimal inputs of energy for heating, cooling, lighting, and plug loads. On the other hand, there’s on-site power generation: No house uses zero...

Contractor Hiring Tips for Homeowners

The idea behind a home improvement is to make your home a better place to live in. Nearly just as important is the improvement made to your home’s value. Such a large financial asset deserves special consideration when deciding on a contractor to perform the work on your home. Below are some things...

Nine Kitchen Design Trends Homeowners Crave in 2019

This article originally appeared on the BUILDER website. Whether for cooking or entertaining, kitchens serve an important role in today’s households. To see what cabinets, counters, appliances, and overall trends homeowners are looking for right now, BUILDER staff sat in on Metrostudy and Meyers...

General Woodworking Knowledge

Woodworking encompasses an incredibly wide spectrum. This includes anything from making knickknacks and birdhouses, to building heirloom furniture and ornate mouldings. The one thing that is a constant across all of it is a basic knowledge of the materials. Almost everybody is familiar with naming...

Fixing the Garage Door Yourself

The tools required for fixing a garage door are usually those that the average homeowner already possesses. Basically, if you have a screwdriver (phillips and flathead), pliers, adjustable wrench, and a couple of C-clamps, you should be all set. The most common problems with garage doors usually...

Hardwood Moulding Installation

Architectural details done with hardwood mouldings are the perfect finishing touches to your workmanship. Chair rails, crown mouldings and other decorative enhancements in oak, poplar, cherry, maple, ash, walnut and beautiful North American hardwoods go a long way toward making your work into a...

Guide to Paint Finishes

Whether you own your home or rent, chances are you will eventually spend a little time with the paintbrush and roller. One of the first things you need to do before painting is make a decision: what kind of finish do I want? First off, exactly what is a finish? In terms of paint, finish refers to...

How to Install Hardwood Flooring

The good news is that most will consider installing hardwood floors easier than installing carpet because the pieces are easier to assemble than cutting carpet and making the seams fit. While installing hardwood floors can appear easier, it’s still very important to do it right to avoid flooring...

Where to Start When Restoring a Deck

If you made the decision to restore your deck rather than replace it, then the first thing you want to do is make sure it is structurally sound. If possible, take a look below and ensure that the framing is in good condition. This could mean anything from physical damage to rot. Additionally, make...

Managing Interior Painting Projects: A Top 10 List of Best Practices

If you are a remodeler or builder, and include painting in the scope of your work, use these considerations from a painting contractor to help make this phase of work successful and relatively painless. 1. Avoid trade sequencing conflicts. Hand off finished spaces to your painting sub. Once the sub...

Renovations that Blend Past and Present

If you plan on renovating an old home, you may be tempted to completely tear things out and go contemporary. In doing so, you will most likely lose a lot of that old world character. The truth is, in order to have an effective blend of past and present in your home, a practical approach is needed....

Design Trends in Bathroom Tile

When taking into account the long-lasting durability that tile can bring to the bathroom, it makes sense that the choices of color and design should be as timeless as possible. In doing so, professionally installed, quality tile can withstand a number of subsequent minor bathroom makeovers. Current...