Remove aggressive vines, which hold moisture against walls and wreak havoc on wood clapboards, slowing their ability to dry out after a rain and causing rot. — 12 Easy DIY Fall Fix-Ups
Tag: press-room
elevate a hot water heater
Elevate a hot-water tank on paver bricks to prevent the pilot light from going out and the tank from getting rust damage if the basement is flooded. — 10 Uses for Bricks
stack and season firewood, essential homeowner skills
Properly season firewood by stacking logs outdoors in a sunny spot, away from wood structures, to keep insects from migrating. — 56 Essential Survival Skills for Homeowners
leave cut pieces in place until your are finished carving pumpkin
Leave the cut shapes wedged in place until you are finished cutting all the lines. This will provide added support until you’re done carving
properly pitched gutters
Check your gutters: properly pitched gutters slope between 1/16 inch and ⅛ inch per foot, directing water to the leader and out the downspout. — Button Up Your House For Fall
look for the biggest bulbs to plant for the largest blooms
At the nursery, look for the biggest bulbs of your chosen variety—they’ll give you the largest blooms. — Plant Bulbs Now for Future Blooms
low-voc paints dry fast, fix mistakes quickly
Low-VOC paints dry faster than the older latex formulations, so it’s critical that you fix mistakes quickly. — Decoding the New Low-VOC Paints
open shelves and exposed beams in kitchen
Open shelves and exposed beams add a sense of loftiness in a smaller kitchen. — Inspiring Home Spruce-Ups on a Shoestring Budget
stick felt adhesive pads to upright vacuum sides reader tip
Stick adhesive felt pads to the front and sides of an upright vacuum so that it can glide against baseboards without scuffing the finish. — Reader Tips That Save Time and Money
gravel patios, use landscape fabric between base and gravel
For gravel patios, Roger Cook suggests adding landscape fabric between the packed base and gravel on top, so materials don’t intermingle. — Building Blocks for a Perfect Patio