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.

While new home buying can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience, it can also bring a lot of stress and confusion. This is especially true of moving into a property that isn’t as nice and problem-free as you first imagined. For example, if you move in and find “new tenants” in your insulation, it …

There are few things less annoying than walking across a damp floor. This is especially true when you weren’t expecting it. There can be a few reasons why your floor might feel damp even though it shouldn’t. Here are four likely reasons why your floors feel damp: It’s covered in condensation from temperature changes. There’s …

Having problems with your lighting when you turn on your air conditioning unit is annoying, yet it’s a common issue in many households. While there are many reasons as to why this is happening, it’s usually an easy fix. Here’s how you can stop lights from dimming when the AC comes on: Check the capacitor. …

When it comes to soffit vents, removing insulation can be a little more difficult due to the placement of the vents. So, how do you remove the insulation from soffit vents? Here are the steps to take to adequately and safely remove insulation from soffit vents: Use a ladder to check inside the soffit vents. …

If you’re remodeling your kitchen, there must be a thousand questions on your mind. One of those is probably whether or not your dishwasher needs its own electrical circuit. According to the electrical code, the dishwasher should be on its own circuit. The dedicated dishwasher circuit can’t supply any other appliances, lights, fixtures, or outlets. …

A range hood is an essential part of any kitchen, and how they are powered matters, especially when installing. So, how exactly are they powered? Range hoods can be both hardwired and plugin. If your hood came with a plug, it doesn’t require hardwiring. If there’s no plug, it is meant to be hardwired. Depending …

I’ve never framed an entire house myself but I have certainly framed my share of garages, walls, and add-ons. I’ve also rehabbed houses and contracted out new homes. So let’s get to it. Framing a house requires a lot of planning and hard labor, but it can be made easier by doing your research and …

Whether you’re wondering if you should insulate the old house you’ve owned for years or thinking of buying a fixer-upper, you’ll come across insulation problems. Is it necessary to pay the upfront cost of insulation, even if it’s for an older or historic home? It’s worth insulating an old house because it’ll help you save …

Storms, weather disturbances, and accidents can and often do lead to blackouts. The most important thing you can do in that situation is not to panic and stay calm and collected. What you need is the presence of mind to take some precautionary measures. You should turn off the AC and other electrical appliances when …

Water pipe insulations bring efficiency to your piping system and delays damage in the long run. Plus, their sound dampening feature also blocks preventable noise from bothering people at home or the workplace. But does pipe insulation absorb water? Fiberglass pipe insulation does absorb water, which, unfortunately, reduces the insulating capacity and puts pipes at …