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Courtesy of Milwaukee Tool Milwaukee Tool released the second episode of their PIPELINE virtual tool showcase last week. While not quite as stuffed with new product releases and information as the first episode, there was still plenty to unpack. This episode focused on two main product categories, introducing Milwaukee’s first laser systems and showing off some innovative updates to their popular PACKOUT storage system. Here’s a rundown of everything Milwaukee Tool unveiled in the second installment of their online showcase:...

Huntstock/Getty Images The National Association of Landscaping Professionals (NALP) recently announced it will host ENGAGE, a new virtual and educational networking program for landscaping industry professionals. The inaugural ENGAGE event, to be held Feb. 18, will offer landscapers the opportunity to meet online and discuss many of the topics and issues affecting their industry. “We know that people miss connecting with industry experts and peers, so to help find solutions to business challenges, we’ve made the popular Breakfast with Champions event virtual,” said Britt Wood, NALP CEO....

In the earliest days of agriculture, farmers observed some crops grew better in a field where different crops grew the year before. They also learned that growing the same crops every year in the same spot often led to poorer harvests. They used this knowledge to develop crop rotation, which we can apply to our home vegetable gardens. What Is Crop Rotation? In the vegetable garden, practice crop rotation by changing where you plant each vegetable each season, based on the plant family they belong to....

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. From cutting bathroom trim to carving dough bowls with Norse tools, Jess Hirsch loves all things wood. “I like the intimacy of working with wood,” she says. “I just have an affinity to the material because of its organic nature, how you have to have this physical dance while shaping it, and how it’s connected to the landscape....

via Cambria About Quartz Countertops Quartz countertops, like the one shown here, are sometimes called quartzite or engineered stone. They are made by combining ground quartz with synthetic resins and colorants under heat and high pressure. Here are the pros and cons of quartz countertops. Pro = Variety Because manufacturers control the process, these countertops come in a wider variety of colors and designs than natural stone. Many people find it difficult to distinguish high-quality quartz countertops from granite, marble and other natural stone....

Natural pools are the newest home swimming pool trend. They’re a chemical-free option —­­ ideal for people with chlorine sensitivities — that blends seamlessly into your landscaping. What Is a Natural Pool? Unlike saltwater and chlorine pools which use mechanical filters and store-bought chemicals, “natural pools function off having two sources of water,” explains Dan Bailey, president of WikiLawn. “(There’s) the pool itself and a nearby regeneration zone, typically built with a gravel filter or plants....

If you’ve already tuned up your lawn equipment or are in the market for a new lawn mower, you’re probably anxious to get out and start caring for your yard. But before you do that, it’s good to know when the right time is to start mowing your lawn in the spring. It’s not as simple as “when the grass starts growing.” When Can You Start Mowing Your Lawn? While the answer depends on your region of the country and lawn type, the general indicator will be how tall your grass is....

On September 1, the Biden administration revealed its plan to increase affordable housing in the U.S. over the next three years. The plan involves boosting the housing supply by adding 100,000 affordable homes for first-time homebuyers and renters. “The large and long-standing gap between the supply and demand of affordable homes for both renters and homeowners makes it harder for families to buy their first home and drives up the cost of rent,” read the announcement from the White House....

Nothing is as disheartening as packing up after a seemingly perfect paint job only to find the walls covered with bubbles and blisters a few hours — or even a few months — later. “Paint bubbles are a common issue and are largely due to the condition of the underlying surface when the paint was applied,” says Mike Mundwiller, field implementation manager at Benjamin Moore. “It can be corrected, but the root of the problem must be addressed or it will reoccur down the line....

Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock A dishwasher can be a godsend, especially in a busy household or around the holiday season. But when it delivers cloudy, spotted glasses that need to be re-washed by hand? Well, that’s just a bummer. While the hard water that’s causing that filmy residue can be softened, we’ve discovered a much easier hack for getting your stemware to sparkle: add white vinegar to the dishwasher right before you run it....

kitzcorner/Shutterstock Cleaning and straightening up your bedroom doesn’t have to be an all-day affair. Set aside just 20 minutes and follow these 13 tips to clean your room. While you may not get everything done in this short amount of time, do this regularly and you’ll banish clutter and stay organized. Check your nightstand(s) and toss or recycle anything you don’t need, such as old receipts, used tissues and empty water bottles....

John Fedele/Getty Images The Home Improvement Research Institute recently released a study on the current skilled labor shortage in the construction industry. The study shed new light on the labor shortage’s effects on construction companies and the perception of the shortage within the industry. It surveyed 509 construction professionals, most of whom work in the remodeling industry. The Skilled Trades Shortage Perhaps most importantly, the study confirms that industry professionals see a need for more skilled labor in construction....

We knew buying our house in a competitive seller’s market meant making some compromises. So when the corner of our basement flooded after the first heavy rainfall, we weren’t caught off guard. Luckily, the solution was simple: installing a new gutter system. While certain areas are more prone to flooding than others, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states all regions in the United States are susceptible to flooding. There are many reasons why a basement may flood after heavy rainfall, and almost all are preventable with the right measures in place....

Cravings for snappy fresh beans, luscious tomatoes and brightly colored flowers hit hard as the days lengthen and winter starts to lose its grip. Perhaps it leaves you rifling through leftover seeds, wondering whether they’re still good. Seeds expire, but expiration dates are rough guidelines; experts say it depends on the kind of seeds and how they were stored. For advice we turned to two people: Randel Agrella, a senior horticulturalist at Missouri-based Baker Seeds, which sells more than 1,200 varieties; and Phil Kauth, director of preservation at Iowa-based Seed Savers Exchange, which sells about 600 varieties to the public....

Jetta Productions Inc/Getty Images After months of record high levels to cap off 2020, builder optimism in the housing market has started to decline— at least according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. The HMI— a monthly survey measuring home builders’ perception of housing market conditions— fell three points from December 2020 to January 2021, coming in at a lower-than-expected but still strong score of 83....

via amazon.com Why bring an entire toolbox to the job when just one tool can do the trick? While that might be a slight exaggeration of the adaptability and versatility of the Gerber Suspension-NXT Multi-Tool, it’s really not that far off. Calling this multi-tool a “pocket knife”, while technically accurate, seems a bit reductive. Sure, it shares a few traits with the classic red–and-white Swiss army knife, but it also offers much, much more....

As summer comes to a close and you start preparing the exterior of your house for fall, it’s also time to get the indoors ready for those colder months. As you go through your winter checklist to get your home ready for colder weather, you’ll want to also to add this fan trick to the list. Typically your ceiling fan is used to keep your room cool during the summer. But did you know that it can also help with keeping your house warm during the winter?...

Protasov AN/Shutterstock Before you reach for the chemical-laden bug spray and store-bought insect repellents, there’s a natural solution you can try—peppermint. Insects hate peppermint. In fact, the stick bug uses a milky substance it can emit from behind its head that fills the air with the scent of peppermint. The bug uses this to fight off predators, as the scent is an unbearable irritant to most insects. Using Peppermint Around the Home If you have spiders, ants, mosquitoes and other bugs around your home, try using peppermint oil....

What is a caulking gun? A caulk gun is a tool that dispenses caulk, adhesives and other sealants. The parts of a caulk gun include: (create numbered callouts for the following) Frame/Canister Tray Handle Trigger Plunger Puncture Tool (option) Hook Tip Cutter (option) (not in our photo) Caulking guns are used by siding installers, framers, plumbers, and many of the other trades. Canadian Theodore Witte of Chilliwack filed for a patent on his “Puttying-Tool” in 1894....

Heating costs are on the rise this year, so many homeowners are looking for the best way to heat their homes. One newer option on the market is an infrared space heater. What is an Infrared Space Heater? Barry Gray, an archeologist, woodworker and founder of The Tool Square, says infrared space heaters rely on infrared radiation. While they tend to distribute heat in a narrow beam, you might heat a whole room with one unit depending on the layout and size of your home....