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Straw houses gaining acceptance despite concerns

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, May 9, 2008.

When you're ready to go shopping for building materials for your next home, you may not need to go any further than the nearest hay field. Straw-bale houses are becoming increasing popular and accepted in many areas of the West and Southwest, and this method of construction can offer an interesting alternative to conventional building. more...

When replacing door, go with prehung unit

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, May 2, 2008.

When it's time to replace an ailing door or perhaps upgrade to something new, for most applications your best bet is going to be a prehung door unit. A prehung door simply means that the door is already mounted onto the frame, which saves you all the work of mortising the frame and the door to receive the hinges. The door and the frame are also predrilled and mortised to receive the knob and strike, and exterior prehung doors also have the weatherstripping and sill attached. more...

Building permits are nothing to fear

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, April 25, 2008.

"Do I really need a building permit?"

It's one of the most common questions that a homeowner will ask when contemplating a construction project, typically hoping that the answer they'll get back is "no." People seem to have an unreasonable fear of building permits and the entire inspection process, and since many of your projects actually will require a permit, it might be helpful to look at some common questions that often arise. more...

New home technology wows builders

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, April 18, 2008.

Each year, the National Association of Home Builders holds its International Builders Show, the granddaddy of all home shows. The IBS is traditionally the launch site for a variety of new or redesigned building and home-improvement-related products, and this year was certainly no different.

Here's a roundup of some interesting products that you might find useful, along with Internet links if you want to find out more. Please note that all the information is based on the manufacturer's own product research and claims. more...

How to pick the right furnace for your home

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, April 11, 2008.

Q: How do you make a good choice on the type and brand of new furnace with so many options available today? --Michael W.

A: It's similar in many ways to evaluating and deciding on any major purchase, which is a combination of a reputable manufacturer and reputable dealer. I would begin by asking around among friends, coworkers and even your utility company, and get a list of two (or three if desired, but no more than that) reputable heating contractors in your area. Ideally, these contractors will represent at least two different lines of furnaces. more...

Remodel dilemma: Paint or replace doorknobs?

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, April 4, 2008.

Q: To get the particular look I want in my home, I have used Rustoleum to paint the brass on the fireplace. I also used copper and black to give the bathroom light fixtures and towel racks a bronze look. Can you explain how to paint the door levers since they will be touched daily? Can the bathroom faucets be painted from "gold" look to "bronze" look? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. --Della W. more...

Painting tips from the pros

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, March 28, 2008.

If you're an avid do-it-yourselfer, you know the value of a simple can of paint for sprucing up walls and revamping tired rooms. But you've probably also experienced the love/hate relationship that seems to be a part of painting, so here are a handful of tips that should make your next paint project a little easier and more enjoyable. more...

What's causing drafty kitchen cabinet?

By Paul Bianchina, Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

Q: We're trying to deal with a couple of drafts in the home we're updating. We have a microwave over the stove with a metal exhaust pipe that runs through the upper cabinet. It's on an interior wall, but we get a terrible draft through that cabinet. How do I cut down on the cold air? Is it safe to wrap the metal vent with insulation? --Erin K. more...

Faulty dip tube linked to cold showers

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, March 21, 2008.

The dip tube -- it has an odd sounding name, and many people aren't aware of its existence in their water heater. But if you've been getting less hot water than you'd like, this little guy could possibly be the culprit. more...

Cost to remove backyard oil tank soars to $11K

By Paul Bianchina, Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

Q: I had a contractor give me a quote of $2,850 to remove an old oil tank. When they were done, they had ruined my backyard, and their bill was more than $11,000. I feel victimized, but don't know where to turn. Thanks. --Roger A.

A: Without knowing the specifics of your agreement with the contractor, it's difficult to imagine how they got from $2,800 to $11,000. However, generically here are my suggestions: more...

Air compressors improved for do-it-yourselfers

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, March 14, 2008.

For everything from painting to installing trim, and framing to inflating tires, an air compressor can be one of the handiest pieces of equipment to have around the house. Cost, size and complexity once limited air compressors to professional uses only, but today's compressors are affordable, easy to use, and offer plenty of power to handle any task you're likely to encounter. more...

Two-day, $2,000 room makeover not reality

By Paul Bianchina, Tuesday, March 11, 2008.

Q: When I watch those TV reality shows about room makeovers, I wonder if there is anything "real" about them. Can you really do a complete makeover in two days with $2,000? --Gayle K.

A: Yes and no -- and therein lies the problem of the contradictions and false expectations of some of these phenomenally popular reality home-improvement shows. more...

Periodic flush does a water heater good

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, March 7, 2008.

You may have gotten some advice at one time or another about draining your water heater periodically. Your neighbor might have mentioned it, or you may have even seen it recommended by the manufacturer of the water heater. But why do you need to do this, and how is it done? more...

Don't clean deck with pressure washer

By Paul Bianchina, Tuesday, March 4, 2008.

Q: We just cleaned our cedar deck with a product that smells like bleach. We also used a pressure washer (before reading in your column that we probably shouldn't) and now the deck is gray and fuzzy. We also put on a coating of Thompson's Water Seal, but it didn't help. Is there anything we can do now to make the deck look better? --Gary B. more...

Get rid of 'popcorn' ceilings all at once

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, February 29, 2008.

Q: I own a 40-plus-year-old house that has been remodeled from time to time and looks modern and is well-kept. Presently, I need to remove the "cottage cheese" ceiling from one large room. Is it in my best interest to remove this from all the rooms in the house? --Lorna K. more...

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