Clean and Seal Your Deck So It Survives Another Summer
I ignored my deck for four years. Not proud of it. By year four, it had gone from “warm cedar” […]
Install a Smart Thermostat and Actually Save Money
I put off installing a smart thermostat for two years because I thought I would electrocute myself. When I finally […]
Install a Ceiling Fan Where a Light Used to Be
My bedroom had a single bare bulb on the ceiling when I moved in. In summer it was unbearable. I […]
Fix a Leaning Fence Post Without Digging It Out
The fence post by my driveway leaned at about a 15-degree angle for eight months. Every time I pulled into […]
Patch Cracks in Plaster Walls Like an Old House Pro
My apartment was built in 1947. The walls are plaster over lath — not drywall. When a crack appeared above […]
Painting Rooms Like a Pro: My Weekend Transformation
The first time I painted a room, I made every mistake you can possibly make. I did not use drop […]
How I Fixed a Leaky Faucet Without Calling a Plumber
The dripping started on a Tuesday night. It was one of those sounds that, once you hear it, you cannot […]
The Wall Patch Method I Discovered After Three Failed Attempts
The hole in my hallway wall was the size of a doorknob. My son had been practicing his “karate moves” […]
Installing a Ceiling Fan: My First-Time Experience
The guest bedroom in my house had the most pathetic light fixture I have ever seen — a single bare […]
How I Built a Raised Garden Bed from Scrap Wood
Behind my garage, there was a pile of lumber that the previous homeowners had left behind. It was a mix […]