Every year as autumn rolls in and temperatures and leaves start to fall, homeowners are left with the same question: What do I do with all of the leaves that are now spread across my lawn? Traditionally, it’s been common practice for people to rake the leaves into piles, bag them up, then take them to the local dump. But are raking leaves and taking them to a landfill actually the best thing for your yard and the environment?...
What happens when two people with different work styles suddenly find themselves working together from home? Increase your chances of a positive and productive experience by having an open conversation with your new co-worker about your unique needs and preferences (ideally before setting up your shared workspace, but better late than never). We consulted organizing and productivity expert Aby Garvey, founder of simplify 101, and lifestyle and organization expert Jen Robin, founder of Life in Jeneral, about how to preserve harmony in home and relationship....
The desire for a spa experience at home hasn’t lost any steam, and luxuriating in a beautiful bathtub is often at the center of that dream. To recreate the look of a spa, there’s nothing more elegant than an undermount tub. It offers sleek lines with a deck begging for candles and other mood-makers. Are you ready to take the plunge? Find out if an undermount tub is right for you....
With so many options for outdoor security cameras available today, here are a few things to consider before purchasing and installing your next security system. Budget Consider the number of cameras you will need for the surveillance of your property keeping in mind some cameras come with a monthly cloud storage fee. One to two camera systems can range from $40 to $250. Two to three cameras can cost $80, $290 , $500, and $700....
Because they’re underground, basement walls are technically already soundproof. If you want a truly quiet basement, you’ll need to know how to soundproof your basement ceiling. This helps dampen the sounds of footsteps and voices coming from above while preventing basement noise from disturbing those upstairs. If the basement you want to soundproof is still under construction or undergoing a major remodel, you’re in luck. That’s by far the best time to soundproof....
Vintage light fixtures add character and stunning visuals to a house. But eventually the bulbs burn out and need to be replaced. Since incandescents aren’t efficient, you might wonder if it’s possible to have beautiful vintage fixtures while still saving money and energy. Fortunately, you can. Swapping out old incandescent bulbs for energy efficient ones is one of the easiest options to preserve the beauty of your fixtures. We asked two experts how to do it safely....
What Do You Do With Old Cell Phones? Sell It Old Cell Phone: Donate It You may have a junk drawer filled up with old cell phones, but there are many people around the world who can’t even afford a phone at all. Help out by donating your old cell phone to charities that collect electronic items such as this. Some cell phone companies even have specific projects to help collect and donate cell phones to others....
via amazon.com Brake line wrenches (often called flare nut wrenches or simply line wrenches) serve a specific purpose in a mechanic’s toolbox. Several styles exist, but determining which brake line wrench is right for my vehicle isn’t really that hard. Most domestic cars use a 7/16-in. size, while imports typically use a 10 mm. Why Do I Need a Special Brake Line Wrench? Common wrenches that grip with a pinching action have the potential to crush the parts that comprise the joint in a hydraulic line....
Ever find yourself wondering who makes the tools we all spend so much money on? Perhaps you’ve wondered whether certain tools from different brands are actually the same, just with different names, prices and paint jobs. Or maybe you’ve just wanted to know where your tool was made. Turns out these can be surprisingly complex questions to answer. To help clarify, we looked at who owns and manufactures some of the most popular tool brands on the market....
As a contractor, it’s crucial to treat this situation seriously, because working alone presents safety hazards and makes some projects more difficult. Doing tasks alone, such as laying bricks, replacing windows and installing drywall require extra attentiveness and additional safety precautions. Here are some of the best practices to follow when working at a jobsite by yourself. Set Up a Check-In System At all times someone should be aware of where you are and what you’re doing, whether you’re in transit, at the jobsite or picking up supplies....
Need something to do around the house? Look no further than Wayfair’s huge home renovation sale. Wayfair.com is offering up to 70 percent off all home renovation products. Refresh your kitchen, bathroom, living room or really any space in your home with this awesome sale. Here’s what you need to know ASAP. Shop Now Not all renovations need to be huge or costly. Here are 15 home renovations, that you can complete right now, that will add value to your home....
Jessie Casson/Getty Images The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index surged to an all-time high in November, climbing five points month-to-month to a score of 90. It marked the third consecutive month the HMI, which gauges builder perceptions of the current single-family housing market, reached a record high, thanks to highly favorable conditions in market. “Historically low mortgage rates, favorable demographics and an ongoing suburban shift for home buyer preferences have spurred demand and increased new home sales by nearly 17 percent in 2020 on a year-to-date basis,” said Chuck Fowke, NAHB chairman....
Your refrigerator may be the most important appliance in the kitchen. It certainly has a critical job, keeping the food you eat fresh and bacteria-free. Regular cleanings help on both counts. Find out how to do the job right so you can go longer between deep-cleans. How To Clean Your Fridge Step One: Empty the refrigerator. Toss spoiled, smelly or expired items as you go. Have a cooler ready to hold highly perishable foods (e....
As The Dude famously declared of his prized rug in the film The Big Lebowski, “It really brings the room together.” The same can be said of your outdoor rug and your outdoor space. But you’re likely not cleaning your outdoor rug as often as you clean your indoor ones. Outdoor rugs are often the catch basins for backyard get-togethers, absorbing dollops of ketchup, iced tea spills, burger juice and anything else we eat or drink outside....
If you’re still manually adjusting your shower temperature and pressure every morning, we have good news: The future is here. It’s time to bring your showerhead into the 21st Century. The Hai Smart Showerhead remedies the problem of constantly adjusting your shower settings. It uses smart technology to give a spa-like experience and turn an ordinary bathroom into a veritable shrine to self-care, while tracking energy and water use. But is it worth the extra money?...
My front garden features a tree that blooms in early June and makes people stop and ask me what it is. They’re stumped because it’s unusual for a tree to bloom so late in the spring. And although the flowers are white, they look and smell like lilacs. That’s because it’s a Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata, one of several types of lilacs I grow in my garden. Read on to learn more about it, and the other forms lilacs take....
Recently I needed to replace a bad power window motor on a particular vehicle. A few things about the job surprised me. When I went to remove the outer door skin to reach the motor, I discovered the skin was attached to the door frame with an adhesive, not hardware. I had to use a “hot knife” to release the adhesive, then glue the skin back into place. Today, vehicle manufacturers are assembling vehicles with more adhesives than ever....
What Is Stone Veneer? Manufactured stone veneer (also known as MSV) is a man-made material made to replicate the look and feel of natural stone. There are two types of stone veneer, manufactured and natural stone. On This Page Allie Roqueta, marketing manager for Boral’s Stone Division, says a combination of Portland cement, natural aggregates and iron oxide pigments are used to create a lightweight stone replica with a robust range of styles and uses....
Buying a home may be the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. So it makes sense to do everything possible to ensure you’re making a sound investment. Unfortunately, that can be difficult when unscrupulous sellers use tricks to pass home inspections. Here are the 10 most common tricks, and how you can outsmart each one. Painting Over Problem Areas milosradinovic/Getty Images On This Page Fresh paint itself is not a sign of dishonesty, but it can be used to cover water stains, mold and more....
Jan Hakan Dahlstrom/Getty Images Many children and teens mow lawns in the summer to put a little spending money in their pocket. But for one 11-year-old boy from Missouri, his summer lawn mowing business has turned into something much bigger. Jack Powers is a sixth-grader from South County, Mo. who started mowing lawns in his neighborhood in early June. Instead of keeping the money for himself, he’s donating it all to the Black Lives Matter Foundation....
