Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Windows
Windows With Built in Blinds—Worth It or Not?
For all their convenience, window blinds can be kind of a pain sometimes. Who hasn’t pulled too hard on one side of the cord, ending up with a lopsided effect? Or maybe you’ve wondered how to clean dusty blinds without taking it slat by slat? Or worse, worried that an adventurous child or pet might…
Roofing
4 Best Roof Shingles for Heat and Hot Climates
Last year’s hot weather season stayed temperate across much of the U.S. until June. But now, many areas are seeing triple-digit days. If you are in one of those areas, it is important to consider the best roof for hot climate types. The shingles on your roof play a pivotal role in the longevity of…
Roofing
6 Tips for Saving Energy at Home: Roofing
Unless your home is located in a shaded area, your roof is exposed to direct sunlight for hours each day, which raises the indoor temperature on summer days. This results in your HVAC system working harder just to keep up. If you have high summer cooling bills and a traditional asphalt roofing, you have options…
Solar
How Many Watts Do You Need to Run the Average Home and Appliances?
Whether you’re thinking of going off grid, or just want to get a sense of your energy use before purchasing a grid-connected solar energy system, learning about the energy consumption of various appliances and features in your home is not a bad idea. Knowing your numbers helps you evaluate your home’s actual energy profile —…
Solar
Average Solar Panel Dimensions and Sizes
As solar panels continue to rise in popularity for homeowners, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with information. A common question homeowners face: what dimension of solar panel do you need? Are there standard solar panel dimensions? Residential solar panels generally do come in standard sizes. But there are caveats. For example, if your roof is…
Solar
Solar Energy Bills: Understanding the Impact and Savings
Most home improvement projects, including solar panel installations, are started and completed during the spring or fall seasons—when the weather is more comfortable and predictable. As homeowners watch their utility bills steadily rise as the winter months give way to spring, lower solar energy bills become especially enticing. In a March 2021 Modernize survey, 40…
Windows
Reducing the amount of air leakage in your home is a cost-effective way to decrease heating and cooling costs, improve durability, increase comfort, and create a healthier indoor environment. To prevent air leakage, homeowners can explore window caulking. Use caulk to seal, or reseal, windows from the outside elements. Caulk is an affordable, flexible substance…
HVAC
How to Save on Your Electric Bill
When the temperature rises, utility bills tend to do the same. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple changes you can make that will reduce your monthly bills without sacrificing comfort. Here are our top energy-efficient tips for how to save on your electric bill and other utility bills this summer. 1. Use a Programmable Thermostat…