Home Improvement

Take a look at these articles for helpful hints and advice on caring for and improving your home. With tips on everything from fixing drywall to repairing rotted wood and replacing your toilet, you'll become addicted to doing it yourself in no time!

The Basics of Home Improvement Your home is your greatest investment -- learn what resources and tools you need to care for it yourself. Getting Oriented to Home Improvement Must-Have Tools for Homeowners Setting Up Your Workshop How to Spot an "Underground" Contractor Working with Contractors All About Homeowner's Insurance Buying the Right Homeowner's Policy Home Maintenance Checklist Top 10 Home Maintenance Projects for Spring Home Maintenance Schedule Mending the Roof Has your roof sprung a leak? Get help here. Plugging a Roof Leak Diagnosing a Roof Problem Fixing a Roof Problem Improving Your Walls Here are some tips for fixing and altering the walls of your house. Drywall an Existing Wall Build an Archway Build a Stud Wall and Fasten Drywall Wainscot a Wall Window and Door Improvements Learn how to hang new doors, fix damaged windows, and repair rotting trim. Install a Prehung Door Install a New Combination Storm-Screen Door Install a Tilt-In Window in the Old Jambs Repairing Wood Damage Repair rotting and termite-infested wood -- and prevent these problems from happening in the future -- with these articles. Diagnosing Wood Rot Rooting Out Wood Rot Repairing Wood Rot The Trouble with Termites Taking on Termites Foundation and Siding If there's a crack in your foundation, or your siding is falling apart, here are some repair suggestions that can help. Foundation Faults Patching Cracks in the Foundation Maintaining a Good Grade Around Your House How Brick Crumbles Fixing Brick Siding Types of Siding New Floors Install laminate, tile, or vinyl flooring. Install Wood Strip or Laminate Flooring Lay a Ceramic Tile Floor Lay a Vinyl Floor Creating Storage Make extra storage by building bookshelves or cabinets, or free up space with a loft bed. Build and Install Built-In Bookshelves Build a Front for an Existing Cabinet Frame and Finish a Sleeping Loft In the Kitchen If your kitchen hasn't been updated since the house was built, you might consider these improvements. Replace a Kitchen Sink and/or Fixture Build and Install Drawers in Your Kitchen Cabinet In the Bathroom To make your morning and bedtime routines more enjoyable, update your bathroom! Build and Install a Medicine Cabinet Trouble with Toilets How to Replace a Toilet Install a Ceiling Light and Switch Install a Pedestal Sink Household Pests Even the cleanest of homes can fall victim to insect and rodent infestations. Rid of the pests with help from these articles. Mice and Rats in the Home Recognizing Rodent Infestations Sanitizing Your Home to Keep Rodents Away Reducing Rodent Numbers Animals in the Home Spiders in the House Ant Infestations in the Home Getting Rid of Bedbugs Cockroaches in the Home Flies in the Home Dealing with Fleas in Your Home Battling Bats in Your Home Preventing Fires The damage a fire can cause to your home can be extensive. Learn the basics for preventing fires and how to repair your house if a fire occurs. Preventing Kitchen Fires Preventing Chimney Fires How to Build a Fire Keep Your Chimney Clean Electrical Fires Household Fire Hazards Clearing the Smoke After a Fire More on Fire Safety and Prevention Preventing Floods If broken pipes or excessive rain has caused a flood in your house, here are tips on how to salvage as much of your property as you can. Then learn to prevent future problems. Bailing Things Out After a Flood Cleaning Up After a Flood Repairing Water-Damaged Interiors Dealing with Mold Cleaning Possessions and Valuables After a Flood Frozen Pipes Preventing Sewer Problems All About Septic Systems Causes of Septic Problems Keeping Your Septic System Happy Sump Pumps Just for Looks Sometimes you just want to make your home look better! These are easy improvements, and they're a great idea if you're planning on selling your house. Paint a Room, Painlessly Install Crown Molding Run TV Cable Through Walls More on Buying and Selling a Home