Electricity is a mysterious, complicated force. We depend on it, but we don’t really “get” it. And if we don’t understand electricity, a child must think it’s magic. That’s why it’s so critical to watch for and mitigate electrical hazards in your home, and to teach kids electrical safety from an early age. Kids account for 20 percent of all electrical injuries, with most happening at home. Toddlers and adolescents are at higher risk....
What’s the most common cleaning challenge with glass shower doors? Minerals in hard water, which build up over time to create a milky-white film that’s difficult to remove. Another major build-up challenge: Soap scum, the result of hard water mixing with dirt, body oils and soap residues. Read on to find out how to tackle both top problems and make your glass shower doors sparkle again. What You Need to Clean Shower Doors Gather these tools and materials to get your glass shower door sparkling clean every time....
All walk-behind, gasoline-powered lawn mowers need maintenance twice a year, and the procedures that make sense are different in fall and spring. Begin by reading your owner’s manual for tips on required mower maintenance, then follow the list here to get your lawn mower ready for spring. Spring Mower Maintenance Replace the Blade and Belt Install the new or sharpened blade if you didn’t do that in the fall. Use a socket wrench to tighten the single mounting bolt or bolts....
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has announced that it will be hosting two webinars in May that will seek to educate home builders on the potential ways they can build homes without relying as heavily on lumber products. The NAHB estimates that the currently inflated price of lumber now adds up to $36,000 to the price of a new home build. With market experts predicting that the lumber price problem will get worse before it gets better, exploring alternatives to lumber may be one of the best ways for home builders to continue building at a sustainable level....
Did you know that most Americans opt for artificial Christmas trees? We can understand why. Faux trees last for years, are less costly in the long run—and best of all, are entirely mess-free. Plus, getting that familiar pine scent to fill your home is as simple as lighting your favorite holiday candle. So what’s not to love? One of the most common complaints about artificial trees, however, is that they aren’t as full as their real Christmas tree counterparts....
The Home Depot recently announced a partnership with Buildertrend, a popular construction management software firm, to better serve its pro customers. The deal allows The Home Depot to integrate its Pro Xtra loyalty program into Buildertrend software, giving construction pros greater convenience when shopping for materials for their projects. The integration brings a few new features to the Buildertrend software. Buildertrend users who are part of The Home Depot’s Pro Xtra program can make purchases within the Buildertrend software based on real-time stock levels at local Home Depot locations....
Claus Leisenberg / EyeEm/Getty Images In early December the U.S. Commerce Department reduced tariffs on Canadian lumber coming into the United States by more than half, from 20 percent to nine percent. This decision came late in a year that featured massive volatility in lumber prices in the U.S., slowing an otherwise booming period for the homebuilding industry. The reduction is good news for home builders who have been struggling with skyrocketing lumber prices, making construction more expensive and homes less affordable....
kaiooooooooooooo/Getty Images Consider embracing a new way to reduce waste, help the environment and boost your gardening success by transforming your kitchen scraps into a rich superfood. The secret ingredient? Worms. Rhonda Sherman, founder and director of North Carolina State University’s two-acre Compost Learning Lab (complete with a dedicated worm barn!) says, “Food waste is the number one segment of the waste stream that’s going in the landfills. Keeping your food waste out of the landfill is so easy to do with composting and vermicomposting....
Hiring a contractor to work on your home is an extremely personal decision. The contractor you pick will be a regular fixture in your life until your project is finished. If you’re planning a particularly complex build, that time period could extend for months or even more than a year. And if you’re hiring a contractor to work on your home, you’re likely also giving them at least some level of access to your place of living....
runna10/Getty Images If you have a small bedroom and you’ve run out of ideas to keep it tidy and organized, don’t worry, we’re here to help! We’ve consulted organizing experts to get some great tips for how to organize a small bedroom and create the serene space you need to recharge. Here are smart ways to fit more storage in your bedroom without making it feel too cramped. Step One: Declutter According to professional organizer and owner of Time to Organize Sara Pedersen, the first step to organizing a small bedroom is decluttering....
philmillster/Shutterstock If you’re working to create a lush lawn, aerating can help. Aerating helps pave the way to a lawn that not only looks great, but can stand up to disease, drought and normal wear and tear. Aerating is a process in which you make holes in the lawn, along with the soil underneath. It helps by allowing oxygen to reach turf roots, helping water soak into the soil more efficiently, loosening compacted soil and helping fertilizers come in contact with grass roots....
via Metal Building Homes If you’re looking for a home with plenty of room, space to work and get dirty, perhaps it’s time to consider a barndominium, or barndo. A barndo is just what it sounds like—a barn that has been converted into a living space. Barndos have risen in popularity over the last couple years, especially since the concept was featured on an episode of the HGTV show, Fixer Upper....
Modern finishes on cars need regular attention to look their best. Regular washing, waxing and polishing not only keeps your car looking new, but also enhances its value when you eventually sell it. How often you do it depends on where it is parked, how much and where you drive, and weather conditions. But in general, you should wash your car every one to two weeks, clean the inside once a month and apply wax at three-month intervals....
Ivanko80/Shutterstock It makes your hair sleek and shiny, but did you know it makes your car gleam too? Yes, ordinary hair conditioner works just as well as car polish on your car. Here’s the lowdown on why it works and how to use it. Why use hair conditioner? Many hair conditioners contain lanolin and silicone to add extra shine to your hair, and these ingredients will make your car shiny and resistant to watermarks as well....
Just like curious kids, puppies have a tendency to get into things that can be unsafe or unhealthy for them, whether it’s chewing on your shoes or getting tangled up in electrical cords. Before you bring a new puppy home, it’s important to “puppy proof” the areas of your house where the puppy will spend their time. This will ensure your new dog is safe and happy, even when you’re not around to supervise....
According to a 2013 article from the University of South Florida, rodents cause a jaw-dropping $19 BILLION in damage each year. That’s a lot of mice and rats and other furry fiends chewing through wires causing fires, not to mention structural damage from nests and incessant chewing of wood, drywall and plaster. Rodents Carry Disease Besides grossing you out, mice and other rodents can make you sick. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rodents can carry diseases such as as hantavirus, leptospirosis, listeria, rat-bite fever (you don’t need to get bitten to contract this) and the plague....
It’s easy to forget about your car’s fuel filters, but you may regret it if you do. Here’s what you need to know to protect your fuel supply system and maintain a smooth ride. Most vehicles have two fuel filters. There’s one in the fuel tank, often called a strainer (which costs $25 to $100) and one in the main fuel line (usually less than $20). The filter material is made from plastic or specially coated pleated paper....
Window tinting has been around almost as long as radial tires. The 1958 Chevrolet Impala was one of the first cars with factory installed tinted windows. 3M introduced window tinting as we know it in 1966, but it wasn’t very good. Instead of reflecting light, it trapped heat in vehicles, bubbled and turned purple. Second-generation window tinting films, introduced in the early 1990s, absorbed heat better and reflected more harmful UV and IR, making it far superior to the original versions....
UPDATE (June 2nd, 2021)— U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with senior officials from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) last week to address the negative impact that issues within the supply chain are having on home building in the U.S. In the meeting, Secretary Raimondo reaffirmed her and her staff’s commitment to finding a solution to the rising cost of building materials and pledged to work with the NAHB to take concrete action on the biggest problem currently facing the housing industry....
via The Home Depot There’s a time and place for hinges that all but disappear from view. But sometimes you want a hinge that begs to be seen. The strap hinge is one of those. This loud-and-proud hinge makes a visual statement like no other. But it works hard, too, creating an easy swing to gates and doors that other hinges couldn’t manage. What is a Strap Hinge? A strap hinge is distinguished by one or both of its leaves being long and narrow....
