Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
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…
Roofing
How to Tackle Ice Dams on Your Roof
Icicles on your roof may look quaint and charming, but unless your house is made out of gingerbread, they usually wind up doing a lot more harm than good. Typically, they’re a sign that your roof is forming ice dams—big, hard hunks of ice that build up over the edge of your roof. When ice…
Roofing
What You Need to Know About Flat Roof Houses and Snow
Flat roofs—known for being stylish, modern, and efficient—hit a lot of items on your home bucket list. But they also come with a reputation for leaks, cracks, and collapse. While not frequent, per se, the low slope of a flat roof does make it more prone to certain problems, particularly when it interacts with the elements.…
HVAC
How to Use Your HVAC System During a Fire Advisory
Are wildfires a threat to your home? A majority of scientists believe that climate change has increased the prevalence — and intensity — of forest fires, meaning we could see more of these hazards to come in the future, particularly in the western United States. Their reasoning? Droughts have contributed to drier than usual conditions…
Roofing
How to Prevent Problems with Flat Roofs
If you’re the owner of a home with a flat roof, you know that they can offer some pretty serious benefits in terms of aesthetics and energy efficiency. Plus, a secondary outdoor space? Count me in! While that’s all good, flat roof owners do have to be more careful to prevent roof leaks, damage, and…
Other Home Projects
What Are Your Best Eco-Friendly De-icing Options?
What’s the most eco-friendly way to deal with wintry ice on sidewalks, driveways, porches and steps? Most people stock up on bags of salty de-icer, and then start throwing handfuls of it around when snow starts falling, thinking “More is better.” There are two problems with this approach. First, many common de-icers are loaded with potent…
HVAC
Now that the long days of summer are over and the seasons are changing, it’s officially time to start thinking about getting your home ready for the fall. While we’re sure you have a mile-long list of home improvement projects that need to be finished before the weather gets cooler, there is one thing we want…
Decks
As you prepare your wardrobe for the colder months ahead, you also need to take the time to prepare your home for harsh winter weather. Extreme temperatures, ice, and snow can wreak havoc on outdoor decks and create major problems in future seasons. By properly winterizing your deck now, you can protect it from the…