Many of us who live in wildfire country have had a close call, or maybe even lost our homes to a blaze. According to Verisk Analytics research, 4.5 million homes in the U.S. are at high or extreme risk of wildfire. In the last 16 years, wildfires have burned close to 100,000 structures. This year’s Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe destroyed more than 1,000 buildings, including cabins, vacation homes and part of a ski area....
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the popularity of propane outdoor patio heaters has seen a similar surge. Because indoor gatherings remain restricted in most areas, many homeowners are buying patio heaters to bring warmth to outdoor social gatherings during the cold winter months. If you’ve recently acquired one of these heaters and want to know how to keep it functioning at its best, read on to learn basic usage and maintenance best practices....
Stacie Rogers Like proverbs, they can be true or not at all, and if they roll off the tongue favorably, they might just stick around for a while. Add a rhyme element and the chance of a saying surviving the ages goes up. And despite the sleuthing efforts of many, the source can be a mystery. They’re adages. We rely on them as constants in our complex world. We crave their simplicity....
So you’ve decided to take the plunge and install a swimming pool. Congratulations! Now it’s time to decide which of the three main types of in-ground pools is best for you. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of concrete, fiberglass and vinyl-lined pools. Concrete Pools Concrete or cement pools are built from a reinforced concrete, wood or steel shell that’s poured or sprayed with cement, which is then plastered and painted....
I pruned my own trees as long as I could until I realized that, even on a ladder, I couldn’t quite reach the one branch I really wanted to cut off. Following the age-old wisdom of better safe than sorry, I hired an arborist the next time my trees needed to be pruned. At his suggestion, we waited until winter to do most of it. Why Trim Bare Trees in Winter?...
Just how popular is carpet? It accounts for 48 percent of the flooring market in the U.S., according to the Carpet and Rug Institute. And in 2020, residential carpet sales were up 10 percent. While carpet may be popular and features many positive qualities, it’s not a work-free choice. Carpet requires regular maintenance (vacuuming and stain treatment) and the occasional tune-up (carpet cleaning). You can clean your carpet without a machine....
Most homeowners assume that at the end of the summer, their grass care duties are over. Nothing could be more wrong. The truth is, fall is the time when your lawn needs you the most. That’s the best time to get it ready for spring. Follow these five steps to fall prep your lawn and you’ll have the healthiest blooms in sight you’ve ever had next spring when things start greening up again....
Mama Belle Love kids/Shutterstock The word “worm” might not dig up the most pleasant image or feeling, but not all worms are created equal, and gardeners should take note. Never started a garden before? Here’s what you need to know. Different types of worms live in soil, with various effects. Corn earworms, tomato hornworms, cutworms and cabbage loopers are a part of the dirty dozen of bad bugs that eat or suck the juices out of your backyard plants, and because they go from plant to plant, they can also spread diseases....
Last week the National Association of Home Builders revealed the winners of the 2021 “Best of IBSx Awards,” recognizing the most innovative and game-changing homebuilding products showcased at this year’s virtual International Builders’ Show. The winners were chosen by a panel of 18 industry and media judges from more than two hundred products in six categories. Here is a rundown of the award-winning products. Courtesy of Pella Best In Show/Best Window and Door Product: Easy Slide Operator by Pella Windows The biggest award of the show went to the Easy Slide Operator by Pella Windows, an unconventional mechanism for window operation....
This FH series introduces readers to a few of the women who make up 11 percent of the construction workforce in the U.S., spotlighting stories of their careers in the field. Know someone we should feature? Email us here. Brenda Hay worked hard and tried a lot of careers before she finally found her calling. Her first job was bussing tables when she was 13. Then, after having a son, she worked in electron microscopy before going to law school....
Fairy rings are abnormal areas of growth in lawns that come in several forms. All have two things in common. They appear circular or arched. And that no one wants them in their yard. What Do Fairy Rings Look Like? Folklore says fairy rings appear where leprechauns or fairies roamed or danced, hence the name. Chris Lemcke, national technical director at Weed Man, says mushrooms make up the most common form....
arda savasciogullari/Shutterstock Sometimes cars shake when you brake. And while pulsating while braking is usually an easy fix, any issue with a vehicle’s braking system is a safety concern. One possible cause of shaking when you apply the brakes, especially at high speeds on the highway or when going downhill, is your tires. This is the first thing you should investigate if you experience shaking while braking. Your wheels may be out of alignment, or you may have a bad tire that is unbalanced....
Jim Jacobs started woodturning more than 40 years ago in high school, but quit in short order. “I wasn’t having fun,” says Jacobs, from Hastings, Minnesota. “My teacher, lathe and tools were not that great, and guess what? My turnings were not that great.” Bob Puetz started woodturning when he was 10. He stood on a peach crate in his dad’s shop to reach a good quality lathe. He learned from his dad, a farmer known for having lots of quality tools....
: Andrii A/shutterstock The curved blade of a traditional butcher knife provides the cutting power to easily slice around bones and through big hunks of meat, making it a great tool for hunters, butchers and home cooks who prepare lots of meat. Here are our three top picks for butcher knives, based on professional and customer reviews. When your knives need sharpening, use these 13 expert tips. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links....
Spring is finally here. That means it’s time to prepare and upgrade your patio, garden and garage with everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors straight through Labor Day. The Home Depot launched its Spring Savings Event just in time for you to get outside and soak up the sunshine. Bring on spring (and savings)! Don’t Miss Out on The Home Depot’s Lowest Spring Prices The Home Depot launched its mega spring sale April 8 to celebrate the best DIY season and their new partnership with Habitat for Humanity International....
If you’ve shopped for a mattress lately, you know the game has changed. Gone are the days of showrooms and pushy salesman. Now a few clicks delivers a mattress right to your door, conveniently packed in an easy-to-move box. Ready for more good news? You now can get your sofa delivered in a box, too. Sofa manufacturers are taking a page from the boxed mattress world, which means buying a couch just got a whole lot easier....
Family Handyman While working on a project alongside master furniture maker Bruce Keifer, we were puzzled by the little belted-together blocks that were stuck between pieces of plywood alongside Bruce’s lumber rack. So, being naturally curious, we asked about them and received some eye-opening instruction. “Plywood or other sheet stock can warp, especially if it’s stored surface to surface,” Bruce said. “The blocks separate the sheets so air can circulate on both sides....
The undermount bathroom sink came to North America as part of the Euro fashion trend of the mid 20th century, which stressed minimalist design elements like monochromatic wall panels and sleek stone or solid-surface countertops. Undermount sinks fit this motif because, unlike their top-mount counterparts, they hide unassumingly under the sink opening, leaving a vast expanse of countertop space unsullied by a dirt-catching rim. Because the countertop edge is exposed around the sink opening, undermount sinks don’t work with all countertop materials, says Massachusetts contractor Paul Conway....
No matter your home’s size or location, who wouldn’t love to sit in a cozy little room, placed right off the kitchen, illuminated by a crackling fireplace and welcomed by a petite sofa with plush pillows for extra comfort? There’s a name for such a room, if you can believe it. They’re called keeping rooms, and they’re making a modern-day comeback recently. What Is a Keeping Room? A keeping room is a small room, generally adjacent to the kitchen, where folks can gather while the host prepares a meal....
Whether caused by changes in climate, solar activity or natural cycles, wildfires have become increasingly more frequent and devastating, requiring people living in forested areas to take precautions. Homeowners who need to clear a 100-foot radius around their homes, as many fire authorities and insurers now require, could benefit from a woodchipper. The property I share in Santa Cruz, California was right in the middle of the CZU lightning complex fire of 2020, and it miraculously survived....
