Architecture

Installing Half Round Gutters :: trim build up at fascia board

Installing Half Round Gutters :: History, Planning and Prep

Remodeling

Essentially there are two types of gutters you’ll find in residential installations today … half-round and the more common k-style – each taking their name, likely, from their cross section shape. K-style,...

by jb bartkowiak

security system keypad ready to be armed

Connecting and Troubleshooting a Hard Wired Security System

Make-Maintain-Fix

My security system - I did finally get it hooked up, but not without its fair share of difficulties … and perhaps, if I want to share now - it is best...

by jb bartkowiak

The Pros and Cons of Reclaimed Wood :: What to Know

The use of reclaimed wood isn’t a new concept, but it’s seen a surge in popularity especially with the green building and remodeling boom. Reclaimed lumber is simply wood with a past...

by Katherine Morrison

electricians fish tapes for electrical work

An Iterative Approach to Electrical Work :: Zoned Remodeling Be Damned

Remodeling

Together we (okay maybe a little more he): Hooked up a 60amp sub-panel (in my attic); Ran a new 20amp dedicated circuit to my youngest daughter’s bedroom; Installed two exterior outlets; &...

by jb bartkowiak

winter remodeling post and beam via Brad Scott Construction

The Benefits of Winter Remodeling :: Take Advantage of Pros’ Slow Season

Spring and summer are the rush hour traffic of home remodeling. It’s impossible to speed up the time it takes to get to the end result because there are so many people...

by Lauren Beerling

Listening to the Past :: How Architectural Details Inform Our Work

If you have an old house to work on, do some homework before you start your project. It can be as simple as looking the house over for details that give the...

by Brian Campbell

The Skinny on Energy Star Certified Homes :: A Guide for Home Improvements?

The federal government's Energy Star program offers certification to green home builders, giving homeowners the reassurance that they are purchasing a home designed to conform to strict energy-efficiency guidelines. Energy Star-certified homes...

by Justin Krutz

Mold Prevention Tips :: Mold Under a Magnifying Glass

Building for the Fungus Among Us :: Mold Prevention Tips

Prevention of mold outbreaks begins by starting home improvement projects or additions with a mold prevention planning adequately in place. Here I provide mold prevention tips, ways to plan projects and, in...

by Carl Bennett

Types of Windows :: example - Bow Window

Types of Windows :: 10 Types of Replacement Windows Explained

Windows serve as the elemental source of ventilation and passage of light for any room or building. When choosing the right kind of window, you should take into account both the style...

by Althea Crowe

Project: A 1978 Contemporary Gets New Pella Windows and Sliding Doors! Part 2

Remodeling

When I left you, I was extolling the virtues of the Pella sliding doors and replacement windows I had just had installed. Pella sliders are a no-brainer. They open and close nicely;...

by Lisa Smith

Project: A 1978 Contemporary Gets New Pella Windows and Sliding Doors! Part 1

Remodeling

As a designer, I often counsel people, "You can't do it all at once." Okay some can, but most of us can not. And we did replace the majority of the windows...

by Lisa Smith

New Craftsman Style Home HousePlan.co 1170 The Meriwether

Craftsman House Plans: Key Features that Everyone Loves

There are two primary things today’s homebuyers want: less square footage and more character. It’s no surprise, then, that about a century after the Arts & Crafts movement became a hallmark of...

by Jasmine Paul