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Textured ‘popcorn’ ceilings have long been out of style, yet many older homes still have them. Whether you’ve just moved into a home that has popcorn textured ceilings or you’re sick of looking at the one you’ve lived with for years, removing the texture is fairly easy so long as the plaster or drywall underneath is in good shape. Ceiling texture removal is messy, so be sure to assemble the right tools to keep the process as stress-free as possible....

Photos: Courtesy of Demilec Spray foam really is a magical tool for household insulation. Although fiberglass has been commonly use for insulation, spray foam can actually outperform it. Plus, with so many ways you can use expanding foam, this material certainly is handy. Now only if it could help us out with all of those concrete problems… Oh wait, it actually can! Demilec, a company located in Texas, has invented a type of insulation foam that can help all of the cracks and uneven pavement problems....

We all know lumber comes from trees, but trees were not designed for lumber. Man has to take something that naturally grows in a cylindrical shape, dry it out and make it rectangular. It’s a peculiar process that requires patience. Freshly cut trees must be properly dried. Each time the wood goes from log to lumber, outside to inside or humid to dry, care must be taken to manage that change....

It can be hard to envision a million of anything, so entomologist Doug Webb has a helpful image. Imagine a million metal BBs covering the floor of the room you’re in. You couldn’t walk around without stepping on any. Now realize a termite colony can have one or two million members, all under your house. It’s a chilling picture. “One termite can’t do significant damage,” says Webb, who works for pest-control company Terminix International....

Electric heaters offer an effective and affordable way to deliver zoned and supplemental heat. The downside? They’re usually noisy and not powerful enough to adequately heat a whole room. Some take up precious floor space. However, electric baseboard heaters don’t have any of these shortcomings. They offer a powerful heat source while operating silently and without sacrificing floor space. If those features sound appealing to you, read on to learn what you need to know about electric baseboard heaters....

I inherited a small cookbook from my mom with just zucchini squash recipes. It comes in handy on those summer days when my kitchen counter is covered with zucchini and other summer squashes I’ve picked from my garden. Why do I end up with so much summer squash? Because every spring I forget how easy it is to grow squash, and how much one plant can produce. Types of Squash There are two main types of squash you can grow in most home vegetable gardens....

Cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces in your home is something we all should do, even if we aren’t leaving the house. Whenever you bring in the mail or takeout meals, or anytime people come and go, there’s a risk of exposure to new germs. Transmission from person-to-person is a much greater possibility than transmission from surfaces, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends we clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in our homes daily to be safe....

Laying tile as a trade may be physically demanding, but it provides a satisfying career path. So says Laurent “Frenchy” Billaud, whose company operates in the greater Los Angeles area. Tile flooring installers are constantly in demand, and Billaud cites plentiful work and the opportunity to make good money as the biggest reasons for considering it as a career. Billaud should know; he’s done it for more than 20 years....

Like a new British invasion, bathroom wall panels have been steadily making inroads from the United Kingdom to the North American market. They offer a less expensive and easier-to-install alternative to tile, which has been the go-to bathroom wall covering for so long it can actually look dated. Not so with wall panels. They’re available in an array of designs and colors that can complement even the most modern and innovative bathroom furnishings....

Khomkrit Songsiriwith/Shutterstock No doubt, one of the most stressful tasks for dog owners is trying to trim their dog’s nails. So how do you make nail trimming easy and stress-free for your dog? There are a few approaches you can take to make nail clipping a breeze and keep your dog calm. How to Take the Stress Out of Nail Trimming One way to get your dog comfortable with nail clipping is to train them to get used to having someone touch their paws....

Eventually, the day will come when your trusty toilet needs an upgrade. Fortunately, DIYers with a free afternoon and a little plumbing know-how can remove a toilet and install a new one without much fuss. Taking out your old toilet can be done in less than half an hour. Here’s how to quickly and safely remove a toilet from a bathroom. Step One: Turn Off the Water Supply Make sure the water is shut off completely before doing anything else....

kali9/Getty Images According to new data from the National Association of Home Builders, lumber prices have risen to average more than $600 per thousand board feet. That marks a nearly 80 percent increase since April 2020. High lumber prices negatively impact home builders and home buyers. Expensive framing lumber increases the cost of building homes, a cost that is then passed on to the buyer. The NAHB estimates that the recent hikes in lumber prices alone will add thousands of dollars to the cost of a standard new home....

eranicle/Getty Images Home Advisor has dubbed 2020 “The Year of the Home,” and their most recent survey offers statistics to back that up. According to the survey, average household spending on home services in the U.S. rose to $13,138 in 2020, a $4,000 increase year-over-year. On average, U.S. households spent $8,305 on home improvement, $3,192 on home maintenance and $1,640 on home emergencies. Various factors spurred renewed emphasis on home improvement, chief among them increased time people spent at home due to the coronavirus pandemic....

We live in a world where instant gratification has become a way of life, and we’re repeatedly seduced by the products and services that provide it. Macaroni and cheese, instant oatmeal and pre-cooked bacon are just three examples. They’re staples for many of us impatient folks who want what we want, when we want it — as in, right now. So how do you feel about planting grass seed and waiting several weeks for your lawn to turn green?...

Looking for the best infrared sauna to relax in without leaving your house? You’re not alone. The market for saunas has been growing in recent years, with interest in infrared saunas partially driving that trend. 10 small bathroom ideas that make a big impact Add more luxury to your home with these incredible steam shower ideas. Overall Favorite: JNH Lifestyles Joyous Sauna, $1,226 via homedepot.com The JNH Lifestyles Joyous 2-Person Far Infrared Sauna is a consistent favorite among reviewers, appearing at the top of several sauna review sites’ lists....

No one likes to find mold in their house, and mold growth should never be ignored. Learn the basics of the common household mold called Trichoderma and you’ll better understand how your mold problem can be solved once and for all. What Is Trichoderma Mold? This mold was discovered in 1794 by a German scientist named Christiaan Persoon. It begins to grow with a white or off-white color, maturing into green as it releases spores....

Choosing furniture involves answering a lot of questions. How much? How big? Where does it all go? And does it even look good together? Chances are, a room you admire combines smart design decisions that account for function, size, shape and finishes. Want help making the right choices for your home? Experts cite the following as the most common missteps people make when shopping for, buying and arranging furniture. Avoid these mistakes and you have a much better chance of choosing furniture you’ll love....

Jung Getty/Getty Images According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), construction employment added 20,000 new jobs across the United States from June to July. But the employment picture was much less rosy at the state level with 26 states posting job losses, the largest in California, Texas and Florida. The coronavirus is still impacting the industry at large. Four of the five states that lost the most construction jobs in the last year are also still experiencing high levels of new coronavirus cases, according to the latest data on the pandemic from The New York Times....

It doesn’t matter if you lack the time, energy or know-how to care for plants, because fake plants can be a great alternative. Not only can fake plants bring life to a room and brighten dark corners, they’re great for those with pollen sensitivities. They require little care, won’t attract pests and never die on you. Perfect! Find the Right Fake Plants When shopping for fake plants, pay close attention to detail....

If you feel like a slave to your yard trying to keep up with all of its maintenance demands, it’s time to set yourself free. Here are some easy ways to reduce or even eliminate basic yard chores so you can free up some time to actually enjoy being outside! Build paths you can mow over Stone or paver paths that follow the topography of your yard let you mow without additional trimming....