Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Solar
Do Solar Panels Work in the Shade? What to Ask Your Contractor
Assessing contractor quotes is an important step in the journey to increase the value of your home with solar panels. Evaluating multiple solar panel quotes helps homeowners scope their budget and encourages contractors to be competitive with their pricing, which is especially significant in today’s solar energy market. It’s important to understand your project’s unique parameters…
Windows
5 Tips To Hire the Best Window Replacement Contractor
Replacing windows in your home is a worthwhile but costly investment. Because your windows keep you safe from the outside elements, they are one of the most important features of your home — not to mention an indicator of upkeep and maintenance to anyone considering whether to buy it. A trustworthy window replacement contractor is…
Roofing
Metal roofing was once heavily associated with warehouses, barns, and storage facilities— but no longer. Twenty years ago, the metal roofing market share was just 3.7 percent, but a recent independent study conducted by Dodge Data and Analytics found the 2016 market share for residential metal re-roofing is now 14 percent. This is up from…
Roofing
For the past 20 years, Pantone‘s color experts have released their “Color of the Year,” which influences industries across the globe— including fashion, home furnishings, and graphic design. Similarly, Owens Corning shares their “Shingle Color of the Year” for contractors and homeowners. For 2019, Owens Corning selected Black Sable, a shade described as a “timeless,”…
Other Home Projects
Primer: The Go-Between for Paint and Concrete
You’ve got your painter’s tape, roller brushes, plenty of tarp, and a gallon or two of your meticulously chosen new concrete paint color—it’s the one, and you can’t wait to see how vibrant it looks overtop of that dull concrete wall or floor. But wait just a minute there, antsy homeowner—you’re forgetting something. If you…
Roofing
The Costs and Benefits of Different Roof Materials
Homeowners in need of a roof replacement have multiple roofing materials available to them today with varying lifespans. Aside from their longevity, the different roofing materials each have their own characteristics—both positive and negative — that can have a significant impact on your investment. We explore the advantages and disadvantages of some of the most…
Siding
Should You Install a Housewrap Under Siding?
Housewrap stirs up a lot of confusion. Does it prevent moisture? Inhibit mold? Help prevent drafts? It does all three. Depending on how it’s hung, housewrap can either act as a moisture or wind barrier. So, should you install housewrap under the siding? Read on to find out. When used to slow winds, its job…
HVAC
How To Find A Quiet HVAC System For Your Home
Based on the location of your system, as well as its size and features, the sound of your HVAC unit can impact on your quality of life at home. Homeowners want their house to be comfortable but not at the expense of peace and quiet. The right HVAC unit for your home should not drown…