Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Windows
Exterior Treatments to Shade Windows from the Sun
One way to use less energy and lower your utility bills is by minimizing the amount of hot sunlight that enters your home through your windows. Here are seven exterior window shades and other window treatment ideas to shade windows from the sun. 1. Awnings Awnings are probably the most common exterior window treatment to…
HVAC
Filters 101: HVAC Filtration Options
Many homeowners visit their local home improvement center to purchase a new HVAC filter and find a massive wall of filters in various sizes, types and efficiency ratings. Purchasing the right sized filter that meets your filtration requirements can be a daunting task — this post will explain the different HVAC filter options available as…
Windows
How to Reduce Heat Transfer From Windows
If you only worry about your windows during cold winter months, you’re wasting a lot of energy. That’s because windows can allow so much hot air to seep into your living space during the summer—and lose conditioned cool air as well — which makes your home uncomfortable and hikes your AC bill — yikes! But…
Other Home Projects
When you picture your dream home, you may think of an eco-friendly haven in the woods with ample natural sunlight, or an urban flat that’s always up for entertaining. But if you’re a book-lover, your coveted dream home feature is most likely a personal library—a fantastical or cultural haven where you can bury yourself in knowledge…
HVAC
Why You Should Use Ceiling and Room Fans Along With Your AC
It’s the middle of summer, so you’re probably dealing with the skyrocketing temperatures by cranking your air conditioner (AC), right? If you’re not using a ceiling or room fan in conjunction with your AC system, you’re losing money and wasting energy. Here’s why using a fan with AC is the best way to stay cool.…
Other Home Projects
Install a Window Box Planter for Instant Curbside Appeal
Affordable window updates are few and far between, but a hanging planter installed outside the kitchen or under a set of living room windows is a cheap way to add natural beauty to your home without emptying your checking account or planning out a major remodeling project. Window boxes are so simple, in fact, they…
Other Home Projects
How to Get Smooth Wall Texture With a Skim Coat
Before moving to Texas and building a house, I didn’t realize the wide variety of texture finishes that are possible on drywall. Where I grew up in Utah, walls were always smooth, and the heavy texture that seems to be the norm in Texas and many other southern states feels unfinished to me. So, I’ve…
Other Home Projects
With the western half of the US experiencing historical drought levels, it’s time to get serious about reducing our water footprint, and one very practical way to do so is through a rain catchment system. These setups can easily provide water that would be otherwise lost to landscaping, holding collected rainwater until it’s needed. Your…