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Overwhelmed by kitchen floor options?

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, January 9, 2009.

The floor in your kitchen has to wear a lot of hats. It has to be able to withstand the rigors of lots of foot traffic. It needs to be water-resistant and be able to stand up to repeated cleanings. It has to be able to withstand grease, spills, drips and other indignities -- and it has to look good doing it! more...

Five ways to cut heating costs

By Paul Bianchina, Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

If you're thinking it's time to do something about your cold house and your high heating bills, here are five win-win suggestions that will help you do both.

1. REPLACE YOUR FURNACE FILTER
A clogged filter makes your furnace work harder to deliver the same amount of heat, which wastes energy by keeping the furnace on for a longer period in order to bring the house up to the requested temperature. more...

Cool tools under $200

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, December 26, 2008.

The holidays are an ideal time to give the home handyman or handywoman on your list a cool new tool or two. Here, in order of price, are a few worth considering, and all are under $200 -- many of them way under! Most are available at local home centers and hardware stores, or check out their Web sites for more information. more...

When double-pane glass needs replacing

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, December 19, 2008.

Q: I am sort of handy around the house and was wondering how difficult it is to remove and replace the windows in my house. There seems to be moisture between the double-pane windows now. Any tips? --Frank C.

A: If you are seeing moisture between the panes of glass in a double-pane window, that indicates that the air-tight seal has failed, which is not unusual. What you want to do is replace the insulated glass unit, not the entire window -- the same as what would happen if you broke the window glass. more...

When it comes to routers, spare no expense

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, December 12, 2008.

For many carpenters, woodworkers and home improvement enthusiasts, a router is one of the essential tools in their collection. Routers are extremely versatile, and once you have one, you'll no doubt find any number of uses for it. more...

Everything you wanted to know about wood

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, December 5, 2008.

Wood. It's one of the single most common materials we use for home improvement projects, from rough framing to fine finish work. Take one glance through a well-stocked lumberyard and you'll quickly see that there is a huge variety of different woods available, with an equally huge collection of terminology. So to simplify things a little for your next project, here -- in alphabetical order -- is a basic look at some of the things you might want to know about wood. more...

Heavy lifting help for do-it-yourselfers

By Paul Bianchina, Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

No matter what type of home improvement project you're undertaking, one thing is pretty consistent -- building materials are heavy! From sheets of plywood to wooden beams, lifting and moving these materials can be a real backbreaker, especially when you're working alone. With that in mind, here are three great new tools that can really help you take a load off! more...

Replacing kitchen range difficult in older home

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 21, 2008.

Q: We are replacing our old electric drop-in stove with a new dual-fuel slide-in, which features a gas cooktop and an electric oven. We have had the gas installed with no problem, but now have a problem with the electrical wiring. The old stove was wired directly and the new one plugs in, so we had to purchase a plug and a receptacle. The electrical wiring in the home for the stove has three wires: white, black and copper. The electrical box purchased for the range has four ports for connection. more...

As home ages, some defects unavoidable
By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 14, 2008.

Over time, many homes develop little nonstructural problem areas that need to be dealt with, and it seems like the older the house, the more of those little problems that occur. Here's some advice on fixing a few of the more common door and trim situations you might typically encounter.

Out-of-square corners more...

Choosing the right weatherstripping
By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 7, 2008.

Air infiltration -- the movement of outside air into and out of your home -- can account for a significant amount of heat loss, and the resulting air currents can make a home feel uncomfortably drafty. When it comes to air infiltration some of the most common culprits are exterior doors, so a few weekend hours devoted to some new weatherstripping can have some pretty dramatic results.

Selecting the right weatherstripping more...

Concrete painting 101
By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, October 30, 2008.

Whether it's your garage floor, your patio or some other spot where that concrete slab could use some dressing up, a coat of paint might be just what's needed. The trick to a good-looking, long-lasting paint job on concrete is to select the right paint, and don't skimp on the prep work.

EPOXY COATINGS more...

Tool rental done right
By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, October 23, 2008.

It's a simple fact of life that every home improvement project requires tools of some sort. As a result, just about every homeowner has a toolbox -- or at least a kitchen drawer -- with a decent assortment of hand tools. But what happens when your project requires a jackhammer, an airless paint sprayer or perhaps even a tractor? more...

Fall checklist for a safer, warmer home
By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, October 16, 2008.

High energy prices are taking their toll on just about everyone this year, so it's important to do whatever you can to create and maintain an energy-efficient home. Fall is the ideal time for weatherization projects, so this year's fall checklist is centered around what you can do to create a warmer home that has less impact on your wallet. more...

Sellers wise to replace exterior door
By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, October 9, 2008.

Q: We are trying to replace a plain, solid-wood, paint-grade, 8-foot outside door on a home we are trying to sell. The old hinges are different from what's common today. I am not sure if this could be changed or not. Do you know what we should do? --Jim E. more...

Deck railings become fun and exciting
By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, October 2, 2008.

Deck railings can do a lot for the appearance and especially the safety of any outdoor deck. So when designing and building your new deck, there are a number of things to take into consideration. more...

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