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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, Friday, October 31, 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, Friday, October 24, 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, Friday, October 17, 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, Friday, October 10, 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, Friday, October 3, 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...

Top ways to boost curb appeal

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, September 26, 2008.

You've no doubt heard the term "curb appeal," which is the first impression that your home makes when a visitor arrives. Whether you have your home up for sale or just want things to look a little nicer when you or someone else pulls up out in front, the best place to start is by giving the front of your home a critical examination.

Driveway: A driveway, by necessity, tends to be a fairly dominant feature, and it is often one of the first things that a person sees when they arrive at your home. more...

Miter saw great for DIY projects

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, September 19, 2008.

If you're framing a new deck one weekend and then installing some intricate stain-grade crown molding the next, you might be wishing for one saw that could handle both those tasks -- and everything in-between. If so, then you don't need to look any further than one of the big and versatile 12-inch compound or sliding compound miter saws that are now on the market. Tough and powerful yet remarkably accurate, these saws can power through wet framing lumber or handle delicate cuts on fine trim. more...

Buying remodeled home can be hassle

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, September 12, 2008.

Q: I'm currently in the process of buying a house. The home inspection revealed problems, and then it was discovered that many electrical and plumbing "improvements" were made without permits. The town refuses to issue permits retroactively, because most of the improvements were made by a previous owner and a plan of the actual improvements is not available. So, basically, there will be no official permit or approval of these projects from the town, so this is very bad for the purpose of homeowners insurance. Would you avoid buying this home? more...

Staging home for sale worth the cost

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, September 5, 2008.

If you're selling your home, you obviously want to get it sold quickly and for the highest amount possible. One very important strategy to keep in mind is staging, which is simply the process of arranging the inside of your home so that it shows off to its full potential. more...

Don't let home inspector out of your sight

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, August 29, 2008.

Q: In as much as there are a great number of current issues regarding disclosure to the purchaser of real property, when, if ever, is it going to be the responsibility of the purchaser to investigate particular items of relevance to them? --George D. more...

Power tools make house painting a cinch

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, August 21, 2008.

A sure-fire way to make your home look better, prolong the life of your siding and add resale value all at once is to give the exterior a fresh coat of paint. But with a contractor paint job running in the thousands of dollars, you may be considering undertaking the task on your own this summer. If so, here are some tips and a couple of new tools from Wagner that will help you get the job done quickly with professional results.

Proper Preparation more...

Composite decking not infallible

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, August 15, 2008.

Check over the results of virtually any home improvement survey, and you will see that adding a deck consistently ranks at or near the top of the list in terms of both desirability and payback on investment. If a deck is high on your wish list, one of the primary decisions you are no doubt struggling with is what type of decking material to use -- natural wood, or one of the new plastic composite materials that have been getting so much attention lately. more...

Want a fancier-looking room? Try wainscoting

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, August 8, 2008.

One way to really dress up a room and try your hand at some different decorating techniques is to consider wainscoting. There are a number of ways to combine materials to create some very attractive wainscoting effects, and the cost doesn't need to be prohibitive. more...

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