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.

When a generator starts and idles just fine, but then dies under load, it usually indicates a fuel delivery issue. My neighbor ran into this issue recently. Let’s make sure that you know what to do if it happens to you. If your generator is continuously dying under load, it’s likely due to a clogged …

Having lived through multiple hurricanes, I realize how critical it is to have a reliable generator. Without proper maintenance, you may find your generator starts but won’t idle or carry a load without dying. Here’s what I’ve found from my experience. If your generator starts but won’t keep running, here are two likely issues to …

Homeownership comes with a bevy of questions, repairs, renovations, and decisions to make. One of the questions you may have when you have stucco walls is whether or not you can put vinyl siding over it. The answer is not simple, though. It is possible to install vinyl siding over stucco. However, the vinyl siding …

Whether you’re hanging drywall in new construction or remodeling it’s important to know how far apart you should place the screws. This will ensure proper and sustained bracing for the sheetrock. Drywall screws should typically be placed about 12 to 16 inches apart. However, the spacing changes when hanging drywall edges and ceilings. The truth …

Family photos, shelving units, and home décor items are just a few of the many things you might want to hang on your walls to give your home a certain look. But how much is too much when it comes to hanging things from the drywall? Thin drywall will hold 1.2 to 1.6 pounds per …

Paneling over wallpaper is a relatively simple DIY project that almost any homeowner can do. Whether your wallpaper is peeling on its own or it’s just time for a change, fully taking it down is quite the chore. Yes, wallpaper can be paneled over. It is often used as a time-saving method when compared to …

Pony walls were famous back in the 1960s, so some people may think they’ve gone out of style by now. But believe it or not, these short, usually non-weight-bearing walls may have lots of useful and aesthetic purposes around your house. Pony walls are actually coming back in style in some home designs. Whether used …

A generator that is blowing fuses indicates an underlying issue and should not be ignored. You need to understand the primary reasons this happens and how to troubleshoot it. Likely causes of a generator repeatedly blowing a fuse include: An electric current overload Short circuit in the system Ground fault. Incorrect fuse size installed Any …

I have always had the most difficult time understanding why I need both a neutral and ground wire when they ultimately both connect to the same bar in a breaker box. And I’m not alone. A lot of people struggle with this distinction. I’m hopeful that this guide, courtesy of research, will help to clarify …

If you take a drive through just about any part of Florida, you’re bound to see many stucco homes. And if you come from outside of the Southernmost parts of the United States, you’ll probably be surprised by just how much stucco you see. Houses in Florida are made of stucco because stucco is fairly …