Attics

Subzero temperatures can mean three-digit utility bills and a huge waste of energy if your home isn’t insulated properly. Adding insulation to your walls and attic isn’t hard and it can pay off immediately...Read more»

In this article, we'll show you how to avoid common sanding mistakes and offer several tips for getting the best results from your drywall sanding job. Sanding drywall is tedious, dusty work. But if you do it right, you'll be...Read more»

Looking for a simple expansion that’ll give you more space in your home? A new dormer in a cramped, underused attic might just be the ticket. It'll create the additional headroom you need to make a comfortable living space--an extra...Read more»

Adequate roof ventilation reduces cooling bills, extends shingle life, and prevents roof rot and ice dams in winter. Both roof and soffit vents are easy to install in just a few hours. They'll protect your house from expensive...Read more»

Roof and soffit vents reduce cooling costs in summer, prevents ice dams in the winter, extend the life of your shingles and prevent mildew and rot by reducing moisture buildup. Learn how to install them in this article....Read more»

Houses stay plumb and level not because of all the studs and joists, but because of the diagonal bracing—the triangles—incorporated into every part of the structure. Learn more about how this powerful structural tool works,...Read more»

If you have a loose stair rail, a weak stair rail or no rail at all, fix the problem by installing a solidly anchored railing like we show here. Would your stair rail hold up to three energetic youngsters hanging on it like this? If...Read more»

Carpeted stairs that squeak can be repaired from above in several easy steps—without destroying the ceiling below the steps.

Recurring cracks in a ceiling with full-span trusses may be caused by various types of moisture problems— sometimes in foundations, but more often in the attic.

Tired of groping for pull chains in the dark? Wireless, piezoelectric switches allow you to control lights using nothing more than the energy generated by a fingertip push.