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Construction Pro Tips Roofing can be hot, hard work. There’s really no getting around that. But it’s also an absolutely essential part of home building and a viable career option. We talked with Pat Overson, who has been running a roofing company in Mesa, Arizona since 1982, to find out what he wishes he had known as he began his career in the trade. Ask around One of the best resources available to people in the trades, especially for someone just starting out, is going to be the people around you....

As demand for tradespeople continues to grow, trade and vocational schools are drawing students of all ages who seek active, hands-on careers with fresh challenges and opportunities. We connected with Travis Coffey of Philadelphia, Pa., who finished Orleans Technical College’s six-month Residential and Commercial Electricity program in 2020. Here’s a look at what drew him, and many others, to trade school. Trade School Is Affordable Coffey almost finished an associate degree in business when he was younger, but it was prohibitively expensive....

In the 1970s, room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) gasket makers began replacing time-honored pre-cut gaskets in automobiles. At the time, the pros who made their living repairing cars had two thoughts on these chemical gaskets: This stuff is great, or this stuff won’t work. Both were right. Read on to see why. Traditional Gaskets Gaskets (and seals) are asked to do a lot. Under harsh conditions, they keep vapors, gases and fluids from leaking between two imperfect surfaces, while keeping out impurities....

How to Make Chalk Paint Chalk paint is so versatile it makes refinishing projects a breeze. Due to its adhesion properties, you can use it on just about any surface with little to no prep. This can be expensive, however, and it comes in limited colors. Using this DIY recipe, you can turn any shade of household latex paint into chalk paint for a fraction of the cost! Here’s how to finish and protect your chalk paint projects....

Painting your garage door significantly improves curb appeal without doing much damage to your pocketbook. The only real question is: What garage door paint should I choose? Modern garage doors primarily come in steel, aluminum, wood, wood composite, fiberglass and vinyl. Vinyl doors shouldn’t need painting, but it can be done if you want a new look. The Importance of Primer Some people worry about choosing the right topcoat paint for the composition of their garage door....

ronstick/Shutterstock Sometimes it seems like a task as simple as painting a house wouldn’t need a professional. It’s just painting, right? Paint isn’t as extensive as a plumbing job, or even working with the foundation of your house. Sure, it seems easy, but you shouldn’t consider writing it off quite yet. There’s actually quite a few scenarios to consider before nixing the idea of hiring a professional painter. The first thing to naturally consider is the pricing....

Any DIYer worth their salt accumulates old oil. Cars, lawn mowers, recreational vehicles and hydraulic systems all produce dirty, used petroleum-based lubricants that must be carefully captured and transported to an approved collection facility. Why You Must Recycle Small quantities of motor oil can do quite a bit of damage to the environment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the used oil from one oil change can contaminate one million gallons of water....

I never thought flood zones would apply to me. Turns out, my Minneapolis house is half a block away from a hazard flood zone due to a small creek, and the zone has grown larger in recent years. I haven’t had flooding and don’t have flood insurance, which wasn’t required when I took out a mortgage. When the time comes to sell my house, closing could be a mess for buyers unaware of flood zones....

If you plan on doing any kind of carpentry or woodworking, you’ll need a power sander. These small and relatively low-cost machines let you sand down wood pieces quickly. They’re exponentially more efficient than a manual sanding block. My career as a residential and commercial carpenter has given me hands-on experience with a wide range of random orbital and palm sanders — two tools that are more different than you might think....

Sphagnum peat moss is a common material used by gardeners for conditioning soil. See why it’s so popular, why many gardeners swear by it, and what its limitations are. What is Sphagnum Peat Moss, and What are Its Benefits? “Sphagnum peat moss is a partially decomposed sphagnum moss collected from bogs alive and then dried after harvesting,” according to Pol Bishop, a gardening and landscaping expert at Fantastic Gardeners. On This Page...

AppleEyesStudio/Getty Images Berber carpet is a popular flooring option worth considering. Here’s what to know about Berber carpet and whether it’s right for your home. What Is Berber Carpet? The defining feature of Berber carpet is its looped construction. Berber carpet features loops (made from fibers such as olefin, nylon and wool) that are sewn or tufted into the carpet’s backing. Unlike traditional pile carpet, the loops are usually left uncut....

The Nest Learning Thermostat was one of the first smart home devices widely accepted by homeowners. Back in 2011 when it debuted, many people didn’t even have a smartphone, let alone smart home tech. Today, Nest is a part of Google (after a merger in 2018), and their smart thermostat continues to evolve. What Is the Nest Thermostat? The Nest Thermostat works like a normal thermostat with extra features. It connects to your home’s internet network through WiFi and can be controlled by an app on your phone....

Sarycheva Olesia/Shutterstock If you’re looking for some indoor holiday color this season, your choices go beyond the standard poinsettia and Christmas cactus. You can also grow flower bulbs. Yes, flower bulbs. Most flower bulbs need a period of cold temperatures, known as chilling, before they will sprout. Amaryllis is a notable exception because it’s a warm-weather native. You can either buy amaryllis as a bulb (which will bloom 6 to 8 weeks after it is planted) or as a plant (which is already in bloom)....

The longer you garden, the more you learn how to help your plants flourish, draw in pollinators, yield a significant harvest and countless other valuable lessons. Listening to advice from the experts can give you a head start on the process. The 10 tips below from professional gardeners are just the beginning. Follow them, and before long you’ll find yourself offering your own hard-earned advice and defining gardening terms to gardening newbies....

For decades, the July/August issue of Family Handyman focused on a yard shed project. But this year, we took on a different challenge, inspired by a daydream. Have you ever gazed upon an old, neglected thing and envisioned what it could be? That’s how we felt when we first saw our camper. We swept aside the dents and the rust, the flat tires and the dull, oxidized aluminum. Instead we envisioned a mint-condition trailer rolling down the road, a sparkling traveling showpiece that would really turn heads....

Shutterstock/ iurii The construction industry in the United States has been enjoying steady, gradual growth over the last year. In October, single-family homes were being built at the highest rate since the 2007 recession. But despite this solid and seemingly unflappable upward trend, the last few months have begun to show some warning signs that things may finally be slowing down. The latest data shows that construction spending declined 0.8 percent in October from September, topping last year’s levels by just 1....

Jamie Hooper/Shutterstock The French pioneered the idea of trading doors for large, symmetrical windows to flood a room in natural light during the 1600s, long before electricity hit the mainstream. When the trend made it to America, its origin country got naming rights. French doors remain a popular design choice for the very reason they were born: They transcend function to become a source of beauty and light. But are they the right choice for your home?...

AFCI in main panel You’ll find AFCIs in the main electrical panel or a subpanel. Reset an arc fault breaker like you would a standard circuit breaker. On This Page Solve an AFCI tripping problem If you have a problem with an AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupter) shutting off in you main electrical panel, you’re not alone. Arc fault circuit interrupters are prone to “nuisance tripping,” which is probably what you’re experiencing....

For people in the U.S. southern plains states, Valentine’s Day weekend of 2021 proved memorable in an unexpected way, as a ferocious snow and ice storm coupled with sustained freezing temperatures left millions without power. Apart from rolling blackouts, the other big problem for this storm-battered region was frozen and burst water pipes. That added to the billions of dollars of damage the storm caused. When the next winter storm hits, whether in the South or elsewhere, know there are ways to protect your home....

Josh’s Toolbox Josh’s collection is huge. Here are some of his essential tools for doing drywall. Understanding Joint Compound Drying type Most folks are familiar with drying compounds. They come in a bucket or a box, and they dry as the water content evaporates. On This Page All-purpose compound The strongest type of drying compound, with the highest glue content. Use it as a first coat to embed paper tape. Dust control compound A relative newcomer, this product is aimed at the DIYer....