Goodbye, rainy spring; the long, sunny days of summer are here and it’s time to move things outdoors. But what if your backyard furniture isn’t ready? Don’t throw away that weathered wood bench or distressed patio set—revive it! Sometimes the simplest solution is best, and all you need to do is spring clean your summer…
Flat Roof Leaks Are Tricky to Find and Fix
Dear James: Our five-year-old room addition to our house has a flat roof that has started to leak. What is the best method to find the leak and fix it ourselves if possible? — Wendy L. Dear Wendy: Flat roofs do not typically have as long a leak-free life as pitched shingle roofs for obvious…
Do I Need Foundation Repair?
By Paul F. P. Pogue From Ask Angi Here’s a couple of words you never want to hear as a homeowner: “foundation repair.” The foundation literally holds up your house, and it’s under constant pressure from earth beneath it, the house above it and water pressure from all sides. Even the strongest foundation can crack…
Design Recipes: Keep Your Summer Projects Checklist on Track With These Tasks
By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Now that summer is approaching, for many, it signals lazy days and longer nights. The season may also be a wonderful time to catch up on maintenance projects and complete all of your to-do projects around the house. In general, a number of maintenance tasks can be done…
How to Diagnose a Water Leak in Your Home—and Why You Should Do It Before You Call the Plumber
Leaky pipes increase your water bill, may cause structural damage, and can lead to mold and its ensuing Pandora’s box of complications. The good news is that suspecting you have a leak means you’re already on your way to fixing the problem. There are two types of leaks: visible—such as water puddling beneath a sink,…
‘Should I Call a Plumber?’ How to Diagnose—and Fix—a Plumbing Clog
The Romans are often credited with inventing plumbing, but it was the Minoans, Mesopotamians, and Indus Valley civilizations who, about 4,000 years ago, engineered the world’s first sewer systems, complete with flushing toilets. In 1652, Boston was the first U.S. city with a water system; it used hollowed-out tree trunks. In 1804, Philadelphia introduced cast…
Summer Smarts: Prepare Your Home to Help Beat the Heat
Getting your home ready for summer is about much more than reinstalling the window screens and putting out the patio furniture. Happily, it doesn’t take all that much effort or skill to get your house ready for the coming 90-plus-degree days. If you haven’t done so already, turn on your air conditioning system. If there’s…
The Basic Tools Every Homeowner Should Have
Homeownership gives us a great sense of pride, joy, satisfaction—and stress. The right tools will help lower your blood pressure. And best of all, they’ll do it without breaking the bank. Consider that the average cost of an electrician is $40 to $100 per hour plus a $75 call-out fee, while a plumber will cost…
Lori Borgman: One Small Leak, Seven Giant Fans
By Lori Borgman From Tribune News Service Tom Hanks made a movie titled “The Terminal” about a man stuck in an airport indefinitely. We are going to make a movie titled “Jet Engines” about a couple stuck in a house with seven giant fans that sound like jet engines. If you have ever had water…
Plan and Install Gutters Properly
Dear James: Whenever we have anything more than a moderate rain, the gutters overflow. When we build our new house, what design aspects should we consider in order to avoid this problem? — Gary L. Dear Gary: It is important to plan properly initially because gutter problems can take a while to show up. Several…
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