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.

Furnaces require regular attention to keep running properly. If you have ever awoken to a cold house because the furnace stopped working, you realize quickly just how essential they are. Why does my furnace flame go out when the blower comes on? The most common causes for a furnace flame going out include: A dirty …

Sliding glass doors are a popular feature in many homes, allowing light and fresh air into the home while not taking up precious space as French doors do. However, they are prone to some annoying little malfunctions. One of the common problems is sliding doors often rattle in the wind. Sliding doors rattle in the …

Perhaps you have noticed a strange phenomenon when doors close in your home. Instead of closing with a gentle, quiet click, they cause the whole wall to shake and vibrate, maybe even involuntarily slamming the door in the process. It can be disconcerting to have the wall shake and can even cause damage to property, …

A refrigerator will lose power from a tripped breaker, sometimes for hours before you realize it. Obviously, a reoccurring problem like this needs attention. Why a refrigerator keeps tripping a breaker? The primary causes of a refrigerator repeatedly tripping a breaker are: an overloaded circuit a short circuit a ground fault surge All of these …

Bathroom remodels are a common do-it-yourself project. Replacing fixtures, flooring, cabinetry, and other finishes are fairly simple undertakings. But what about the bathtub itself? You may feel that old, worn, and cracked bathtubs and shower surrounds can spoil all the other efforts. Can I install a bathtub myself? You can install a bathtub yourself if …

If you have a bathtub faucet making loud noises, it can get really annoying, really quick. Let’s have a look at what is causing that tub faucet to make such a racket and what you can do to quieten it. Why is my bathtub faucet so loud? The two most common reasons for a loud …

Rough-in plumbing for a bathtub can be tricky. You may have heard that installing a P-Trap is not really necessary. Let’s look at the facts. Does a bathtub need a P-Trap? Yes, you should always install a P-Trap as part of the plumbing of a bathtub or any other wastewater drain system. Failure to include …

Bathtubs are usually installed before tiling. However, if you are looking to add a bathtub to an otherwise finished space, or at least already tiled space, you may want to know if any issues will arise from placing the tub on top of the floor tile. Can you install a bathtub over tile? Yes, depending …

Controlling roaches is hard enough. Controlling them in an apartment can be even harder. But when you add pets into the mix, things can get really complicated. Get Rid Of Roaches An An Apartment With Pets – The best approach to controlling roaches in an apartment with pets is to follow clean home practices and …

If you are considering using spray foam under a shower pan, there are few important points that you need to consider. Using spray foam under a shower pan: Spray foam has become popular in recent years as a solution to reducing flexing of a shower pan. But the following guidelines should be followed: Ensure proper …