Posts

Skylights do more than brighten a room. They let in not only light, but heat, which means less hard-earned money spent on heating fuel in the winter. Some types of skylights also allow in fresh air in the summer and reduce cooling expenses. Skylights can have such a positive impact on energy consumption that, through the end of 2022, they qualify for a 26 percent federal tax credit. Perhaps you’re considering installing skylights for the first time, or maybe you need to replace your existing skylights....

Rodents aren’t the only pests homeowners are looking to get rid of. Here’s an easy way to get rid of annoying flies around your home. Reuse a plastic bottle. Wash it and cut off the top. Stick the cutoff top upside down in the bottle’s bottom. Mark a line slightly below the bottle’s spout. This will serve as a “fill to” line. Fill with apple chunks, the riper the better, and 2 cups of white vinegar to deter bees from the trap....

Peter Cade/Getty Images According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, new home sales across the country increased 13.9 percent from June to July 2020, hitting a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 901,000 units. That is the highest recorded pace since 2006 and a 36.3 percent increase since July 2019. “This is exactly what NAHB’s builder confidence survey has been indicating in recent months,” said Chuck Fowke, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)....

I’m not normally a violent person. And working in my garden usually helps me achieve an even more Zen-like state. But three summers ago when I discovered Japanese beetles feasting on my Frau Dagmar Hafstrup roses, I became an unrepentant murderer. The Beetles — not music to my ears! Japanese beetles have been spreading from the Eastern U.S. to the South and parts of the Midwest for the last 30 years....

One common pest homeowners might encounter is the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), a fast and flying insect that can quickly and efficiently infest an area, becoming difficult to remove and get rid of. What are American Cockroaches? American cockroaches are one of the biggest species of roaches common to the household. Coming from Africa and the Middle East, the American cockroach can be found all over the United States. In southern states they are commonly found outdoors, while in the northern states they more frequently take shelter in drains and sewers....

There is something innately comforting about sitting around the glow of a campfire, telling stories and sharing food with friends and family. But what isn’t comforting is catching a face full of smoke. Chances are, you’ve experienced the constant shifting in campfire seating as everyone circles the fire pit trying to find a spot that’s not plagued by a stream of smoke. If you’re tired of all that moving around, then you’re going to love smokeless fire pits....

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. Though Jessie Cannizzaro grew up helping her dad with the family plumbing business, she had no intention of following in his footsteps. Instead, she set her sights on college. After initially studying to be a veterinarian, she shifted into business....

Even if you’re a diligent cleaner, small messes like crumbs, eraser bits, pet hair and craft glitter find their way onto table, counter and desktops. Wiping with a damp cloth or hand-sweeping the mess into your other hand are less-than-perfect solutions. If you find yourself wiping or hand-sweeping multiple times each day, it may be time to consider a table vacuum. If you’re already entrenched in the TikTok cleaning universe, you’re probably already familiar with these tiny gadgets and their alleged ability to quickly and easily suck up small counter and desktop messes....

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are fumes released into the air (AKA off-gassing) by thousands of everyday products like paint, cleaning supplies, building materials, furniture and even cosmetics. Many of these can be harmful to human health, especially when they accumulate in a closed space, like your house or office. “When you consider all of the materials that go into building out an interior space, the opportunity for a truly toxic soup exists if every material is off-gassing something harmful,” says Karen Righthand, vice president of corporate sales and marketing at SCS Global Services, which provides third-party environmental certifications....

Family Handyman Small security measures are a huge deterrent. Most home break-ins aren’t the work of criminal masterminds; burglars just want to steal stuff with minimal time, effort and risk. Unfortunately, there are lots of easy targets in any neighborhood. But that’s good news for you. If you make your home just a little harder to get into, you greatly increase the odds that crooks will bypass your house and look for an easier job....

Xinzheng/Getty Images The Occupational Safety and Healthy Administration (OSHA) has a few key changes coming in the new year. Late last week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) announced that civil penalty amounts for OSHA violations have been increased based on cost-of-living adjustments in 2021. “OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $13,494 per violation to $13,653 per violation,” the DoL said in a statement. “The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $134,937 per violation to $136,532 per violation....

According to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau, new home sales fell 5.9 percent from March to April 2021. Despite that dropoff, demand for housing remains high, with new home sales nearly 50 percent higher than they were at this time last year. Market experts note that this month-to-month decline in sales is likely a sign that builders are being more cautious in response to the rising costs of building materials....

Sponsored by Quikrete This backyard bench is nearly indestructible. Once it’s cast, assembled and sealed, you can enjoy it all year long and never have to worry about taking it in for the winter or protecting it from the elements. I’ll guide you through the process of how I built my bench so you can use it as a guide to experiment with your own design ideas and personal touches to create your own garden bench....

Like most of us, you probably have some heated family arguments over the thermostat in the wintertime. But if you’re ready to settle the issue once and for all, you’ll be glad to know that there are actually official recommendations for the most comfortable, energy-efficient winter thermostat settings. And turning your thermostat down by seven to 10 degrees when the house is empty can save you as much as 10 percent on your annual heating bill....

via TileBar It may be one of the hottest tile trends of the year, but before you add any 3D tile to your home improvement plans, there are some things to consider. Textured patterns, such as those on 3D tile, not only add depth and interest, the finished space can truly be a work of art. Combinations using 3D tiles are almost endless, and this tile isn’t restricted to just square and rectangular shapes....

As everyone spends more time at home, the desire to temporarily walk away from everyday life is growing. In the past, some have called these safe havens man caves or she sheds. But whatever you call it, that room to hang out in feels like more of a necessity than a luxury. The good news is, you don’t need to add on to your home. “People are even turning formal living rooms into more casual rooms where the whole family can just chill,” says Cindy Gelormini, a professional decorating and color consultant....

Garden cultivators and tillers are often thought of as interchangeable because both have motor-driven rotating metal blades that break up soil. But they’re designed for different situations. To help you choose the right tool for your garden, here’s a rundown of differences between a cultivator and tiller. What’s a Cultivator? Julia Klueva/Getty Images On This Page A cultivator looks like a lawn seed spreader with big blades at the base. It typically features a two-cycle engine that runs on a mixture of gasoline and oil, though some four-cycle, gas-only engines are available....

Buying a house can be an exciting process—but also pretty draining, particularly when it comes to figuring out the financial cost of it all. And while it is still viably possible to buy a property that you love, the timing may take a bit longer than you think, according to a recent startling report. Using 1.8 million for-sale listings gathered between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2022, RealtyHop reported how long it would take to buy a house in 150 major cities across the United States....

Cockroaches are notorious for being hard to track down and remove permanently. However, they have a weakness — they only linger in areas rich in resources. Here’s how to get rid of cockroaches and shut down their food supplies so they stay gone for good. Be sure you know the subtle signs your house could be infested with cockroaches. How to Get Rid of Cockroaches Permanently Remove Hiding Places Don’t give cockroaches any hiding places to run to when discovered....

The National Garden Bureau, a non-profit organization promoting gardening in North America, announced 2023 will be the Year of the Celosia. That should will make this fun group of plants even more popular, introducing them to many new gardeners. What Is Celosia? Celosia is both the scientific and common name for several flowering annual plants related to the ancient grain, Amaranth. Celosia comes from an ancient Greek word for “burning” or “flame....