Paul

As a homeowner, I am constantly experimenting with making the structure of my house more energy-efficient, eliminating pests, and taking on DIY home improvement projects. Over the past two decades, my family has rehabbed houses and contracted new home builds and I've learned a lot along the way. I share my hard-learned lessons so that you can save time and money by not repeating my mistakes.

Garage doors rattle when they open and close. That’s understandable. But when they rattle from the wind blowing outside it can get a little annoying. Why do some garage doors rattle in the wind? A garage door rattles in the wind if there’s a gap between the door and the door frames or if it …

Although Oriented Strand Boards, or OSB, have become a popular building material, it remains poorly understood. While some builders swear by OSB, others remain wary and critical of it as is a top-shelf building material. It’s commonly used as an exterior sheathing and also offers benefits in a garage but can you actually use OSB …

Take caution when installing fiberglass insulation near stove vents. Yes, you want to ensure an energy-efficient home but this is a special circumstance. Can fiberglass insulation touch stove vents? Fiberglass insulation can’t and should not touch your stove’s vent pipe. While fiberglass is not flammable, it can melt, causing fire risks. To get around this …

You have finally decided to commit to that home remodel or new construction project. Now it is time to decide who will help you along the way. You have probably heard that you should hire a general contractor, but what do they do, and are they really necessary? General contractors oversee and execute your new …

Choosing new items for your home is exciting, but it can also be challenging. There are so many different types to choose from, and some things, like ceiling fans, come with many technical factors. However, installing the correct ceiling fan for your room is essential as anything too big or too small will cause problems. …

You’ve just started running a hot bath when the doorbell rings. Ten minutes later, you rush back upstairs to find water lapping at the overflow drain. The good news is, that’s as far as the water can go, thanks to that little drain below the taps. A bathtub does not have to have an overflow …

Choosing the right size of a roofing nail is important to ensure that a roof stays intact for a long time. Roofing jobs need to be done with proper planning to avoid nails coming off or extracting on their own over time. Roofing nails should be 1-1/4 to 2 inches long to ensure that it …

If you are doing a full bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room renovation, you may have heard the term “green board” thrown around while discussing plans with a contractor; sometimes, they’re referred to as “water-resistant gypsum drywall.” But are they necessary? Green boards are often required by local building codes to be used as a backing …

Whether you’re building a home from scratch or installing a standalone shower in your master bathroom, you will soon find that shower curbs are more important than you thought. While some homeowners are free to do as they please, some counties and circumstances require that shower curbs meet certain building requirements. Building codes in most …

So you’re building a pole barn, and you’re wondering how far apart you should set the posts. Whether you’re using a manufactured pole barn or building one from scratch, properly setting the posts is crucial for smooth building experience, and a quality finished product. Pole barn posts should be set up either 8 or 12 …