Once, not too long ago, I saw something a little strange happen to a friend’s house. The lights started to dim. Getting any type of electrical equipment seemed to be a big issue. The entire house seemed to be suffering from low voltage, despite the electrical wires outside being totally intact. One of my friends suggested that a bad breaker could be the cause, but is this really a possibility?

Toilet clogs are a nuisance, especially when you only have one toilet in your home! You use Drano on your sinks and bathtubs, so you should be able to use it in your toilet, right? After all, it’s designed to eat through clogs. Or, are we wrong?

When buying a home, many homeowners long for a three to four-bedroom with a few full bathrooms. However, it is common to see homes sell with half baths or ¾-bathrooms. But what is a ¼-bath, and what exactly does it contribute to your home?

It’s true that your toilet is designed to handle liquid waste, but that doesn’t mean urine won’t affect it over time. It’s no secret that you should be cleaning your toilet often to keep bacteria at bay and ensure your space looks and smells good, too. Everyone urinates, but what does that really mean for your toilet over time? The main impact comes in the form of urine scale.

Vinyl plank flooring has been all the rage in the home improvement industry for a while now. It’s gorgeous, cost-effective, durable, and comes in a huge variety of designs. But what many people want to know about vinyl plank flooring is whether or not it is waterproof.

A home is only as comfortable as its tub and shower. For many prospective homeowners, a comfortable tub is a major selling point of a house. Standard tubs are comfortable, but for some people, they leave plenty to be desired when compared to walk-in tubs. So, what are the pros and cons of walk-in tubs?

Many people use the words “basement” and “cellar” interchangeably, but do they really mean the same thing? By definition, basements and cellars have contrasting purposes and varying legal uses. But what is the difference between the two?

Whether you’re in the midst of a new construction project or rewiring a house, purchasing electrical wire is a must. The overall price of wires varies based on material and square footage, but there’s more to the story, too.

Choosing a new breaker is an important decision. Your home’s electrical system is comprised of several fail-safes meant to keep both you and the breaker safe. Homeline and QO breakers are among the most popular and effective on the market, so how are they different?

Mahogany is one of those woods that oozes class, sophistication, and old-world British flair. Having cabinetry that’s done up in a rich mahogany stain doesn’t just add a beautiful touch of burgundy red to your home. It also is a subtle way of saying, “I’m totally loaded, dude.” But, what kind of flooring works with mahogany cabinets?

Is there anything more annoying than quietly tip-toeing through your home and the floor beneath your carpet starts making loud squeaking sounds? The floors in your home can alter and shift a bit over time. In many cases, this causes no issues. But sometimes you are left with floors that squeak underneath your carpet.

Leaking is not a strange phenomenon in any home. Faucets, pipes, and water tanks are among the household fixtures that are prone to leaking.

There are times where “do-it-yourself” takes on just that mean: all you have is yourself. While it may be nice to have a helping hand, especially on big projects, that helping hand isn’t always available. That is why it is important to know how to handle the larger items you may come across.

The only time having a mouse in your house is okay is in a Dr. Seuss book (unless you keep one as a pet). Otherwise, it’s safe to say you don’t want mice in your home. But what if you start to see some of the little critters hanging around your abode? Certain smells repel mice; for example, mice hate lavender.

Rainshower heads transform an ordinary bathroom into an extraordinary spa experience. The fixtures have an aesthetic and functional appeal that is hard to resist.

Windows are a massive accent to any room, and can change the ambiance of a home’s look in ways that lighting alone cannot. Adding, upgrading, or replacing a window is something that most homeowners want to do eventually. It adds value to a home and also can help lower energy bills if you’re lucky.

If the exterior of your home is making you feel less than excited, it might be time for a change. Painting the exterior is a way to change the look of your home without a complete renovation. This includes painting the chimney, too, which can be a task in itself, but what’s the best color for an exterior chimney?

Crown molding is a decorative trim that can be applied in many different ways. The most common way is in the space where the ceilings and walls join, creating a visual separation. Trim can be as simple or decorative as you want it to be to match your aesthetic.

Damage to the foundation or rim joist of a house can be potentially dangerous for structural integrity reasons. Generally speaking, the rim joist will be located under an exterior wall and will more often than not be load bearing.

Kitchen countertops provide homeowners with a way to integrate more functional design into their décor. By choosing the right material for your countertops, you can make cleaning easier while simultaneously improving your kitchen’s overall appearance. Homeowners can select different materials for their kitchen countertops, with Silestone being one of their options.

Almost everyone dreams of a custom-built home. Getting exactly the amenities you want, on the location you want, with the finishes and colors you want is the goal. Many factors influence the overall price of a custom-built home in South Carolina.

As outdoor electrical outlets are subjected to different weather patterns, installing them falls under strict building codes. 

If you have never stopped to think about it, there is a reason behind the specific use of toilet paper. Manufacturers make this toilet paper in a specific manner so that it can break up and dissolve easily in water.

If you want to add more circuits to your home but don’t have room in your pane box, a subpanel makes expansion possible. It’s a common problem, especially in older houses, not to have enough spaces in your breaker box. If you choose to add a subpanel to your home, it’s important to know your limitations.

Home is where the heart is and that’s a statement that resonates with just about everyone. There is simply no substitute for your home because that’s the place where you can feel most comfortable. To create that comfortable home environment, you need to insulate it properly.

Disposing of old insulation can be pretty tricky and is often beyond the scope of many homeowners. While insulation is much easier to install, you must understand the proper method of disposal before going through it. Otherwise, you may end up with a liability on your hands that you can’t handle.

A brick wall is usually known for its structural integrity. If you’ve noticed one of your brick walls has shifted, this can be a cause for concern. It is vital to fix the brick wall as soon as possible. Except, how exactly do you do that?

If you need to have wood waterproofed, then chances are you’ve applied Thompson’s Water Seal to it. This waterproofing stain is known for being one of the best in the home improvement world when it comes to keeping your materials looking great. Of course, many of us want to make our projects look even better with a fresh coat of paint. But, is this actually doable?

When it comes to a home, there is no one-size-fits-all. Homes come in different shapes and sizes, specifically townhomes. When you’re ready to purchase a three-story townhouse, use this as a guide to choose the best floor plan for you.

There may come a time where your existing driveway can become worn, cracked, and chipped. While there are some fixes that can be implemented, this generally means that you need to have it replaced at some point, the sooner the better.

Handrails are a necessary part of building concrete steps. Some handrails work better than others, especially when fastening them to concrete. There are many styles, colors, and designs when it comes to handrails. We are going to go over what makes the best handrails for concrete steps.

Countless homeowners take pride in their gardens up until the day they sell their houses and beyond. A nice landscape and garden are something to be proud of as a homeowner. So, does a garden increase home value?

Microwave ovens are a modern luxury we often take for granted. You can easily heat leftover meals without creating a pile of dishes. They are also amazing at heating and cooking meals, making a dinner that is hot and ready in five minutes. While microwave ovens are amazing, sometimes the sounds they make are anything but. If you have a particularly loud microwave oven that is prone to constant beeping, you have probably wondered if there is a way to silence it.

Whether you’re installing a ceiling fan to cool you down in the summer or help circulate heat in the winter, there are countless benefits to adding one to your home. Increase comfortability and save money on your energy bills by installing a ceiling fan. However, what happens if you want to install one in a room that does not have an already existing fixture? Although the project is much simpler with the existence of a fixture, it can still be done without the necessary wiring in place.

The plumbing system of your home relies mainly on gravity to get the job done correctly. However, the sewage ejector pump must be installed in homes with finished basements so that waste can be moved “up” through the drainage system’s discharge pipe. Choosing the right pump for your basement remodel or any other space where you can’t use gravity to flush waste is very important.

There are several popular home additions homeowners perform, making a home more livable and adding value to their home. Older homes with only one bath or no bath on the ground floor level beg for this kind of addition. One concern is how much does it cost to add a half bathroom to your home

The rest of your house smells perfectly fine. Yet, you can’t get your bathroom to stop smelling like pee. You’ve washed and scrubbed every surface, so what’s the deal? Why does your bathroom still reek of urine?

Texas is growing faster than almost any other state in the Union. In Texas, Houston is experiencing an economic and population boom as businesses relocate and their employees follow. The lower cost of living and the relatively modest cost of homes than other states make Houston particularly attractive. Many people are surprised at how much it costs to build a house in Houston.

A recliner can be the ultimate relaxation destination within one’s own home. Unlike a couch or a standard chair, which remains stationary, a recliner does just that: reclines. From time to time, however, the recliner footrest may stop working. Instead of tossing it away when it stops working, there is a fix that can be implemented. 

For many years, laminate flooring has been one of the most popular alternatives for hardwood used by homeowners. It is designed to mimic real wood, but is more affordable, DIY friendly, relatively easy to clean and maintain, and scratch-resistant than traditional hardwood.

Chimneys offer curb appeal, functionality, and a classic vibe that appeals to countless homeowners. They are easy to spot from the street, but their primary benefit is that chimney caps protect your roof and fireplace. With all of the benefits that chimney caps have to offer; how many types are there?

With the new focus on water conservation sweeping the nation, people are trying to find new ways to make sure that they enjoy a nice bath while keeping water bills low. Steam showers are becoming popular among elite designers. Touted as one of the new solutions to conservation, steam showers are hot-button items in brand new luxury homes. But, are they really worth that #hype?

Working with toilets and other plumbing fixtures can be intimidating, difficult, and messy. This is especially true when it comes time to remove the lid from your toilet tank remove any component. With that said, how do you remove the plastic nut from a toilet tank?

For smaller homes, space can come at a premium. While the simple solution may be to just get a bigger home, it also isn’t necessarily financially viable for some. That is why making the most out of the current space is sometimes the more optimal route.

You come home at the end of a long, tough day, looking forward to taking a hot shower. You climb in and find out that your shower has either stopped distributing water completely or with the painstakingly low-pressured flow.

Circuit breakers protect your electrical system and home. If a circuit is overloaded, the breaker is tripped to cut off the flow of electricity. Normally each breaker has only one wire, but double tapped breakers are common. The problem may be identified by an electrician or home inspector.

It can be pretty annoying when you take a shower and the water starts puddling around your feet. If it won’t go down, you probably thought it was clogged with hair or something. But after cleaning it and finding nothing, you probably realized that it is just that the drain stopper is stuck in the closed position.

From time to time, you may notice that your toilet’s flush game is not looking as strong as it once did. While a weak flush may not seem like a big deal, it can definitely be an issue. Weaker flushes mean more flushes and also a greater likelihood of stains sticking to the bowl, creating more work when it comes time to clean.

Have you lost your keys before? We all know we need to be careful with our house and car keys, but it’s so easy to lose them. You may not even be aware that you’ve lost your keys until the time comes for you to unlock your front door.

The last thing you want to do is run up massive energy bills all winter. It’s tempting to turn up the furnace every time it gets cold, but that will quickly become quite expensive. So, what are the cheapest ways to heat your house in the winter?

When you think of a 15-ft wide house, you might picture a shotgun house or single-wide mobile home. These style homes are typically long and narrow,  making them a good fit for narrow lots. You could also find multi-level 15-ft wide homes in many cities, where space is limited, but housing needs are high.

Modern homes are filled with all sorts of electronic conveniences. Many homes come with switches that can turn on a light or device from multiple locations. These switches, called 3-way switches, are a very common convenience in many homes today. But What do you do when the switch is only working when both switches are turned on?

Tamper-resistant outlets are the new standard when it comes to outlet safety in homes and businesses. Modern building codes require that you install tamper-resistant outlets because of how much safer they are than standard outlets. With that said, it can be difficult to plug an electrical device into a tamper-resistant outlet, and that can be frustrating.

It’s stressful when a strong storm carrying heavy rains and flash flooding passes through, especially when you are a homeowner. The significant wind and rainfall has a tendency of highlighting all the vulnerabilities of your home’s exterior.

When you first have kids or get a new pet, one of the things that you need to do is consider baby-proofing your home. There are a lot of hazards in and around your home that you may need to watch out for. For example, almost everything electronic can be hazardous to young kids. That’s why people are told to get tamper-resistant receptacles. But, what on earth is a tamper-resistant receptacle supposed to be?

Stucco is one of those building materials that acts as a cornerstone of the “Southwestern” look. It’s a gorgeous, sturdy material that is made primarily of an aggregate of materials similar to plaster and sand. With its gritty, sandy texture, power washing it seems to be risky. Should you try to power wash your stucco?

Recently, I typed up an entire article about the way that dimmer switches run hot. As someone who grew up in a home where dimmers were a thing, I was pretty shocked to hear how hot they get. Dimmer switches apparently have a reputation for that. Unsurprisingly, some people believe they’re unsafe. I can’t blame them, if they never experienced it. It’s a debate worth discussing. Are dimmer switches safe?

Back in the 1940s and 1950s, vinyl was not really used as a type of siding. It was just beginning to gain a following in home improvement. During this time, aluminum was the number one modern siding type. The thing is, aluminum can rust. It’s also kind of hard to deal with when compared to vinyl siding. People began to make the switch. This led to a major question: can you put vinyl siding over aluminum siding?

Painting your home yourself is a great DIY project to help you save some money. But even when you take all the precautions, it is still possible to get paint on places where you don’t want it. In many cases, paint is easy to wipe up without leaving a trace. But when you notice paint on your laminate floor that won’t come out, you will want to find an easy way to make the paint disappear.

When people first walk into your home, one of the first things they’ll notice is your flooring and your trim. However, if there’s a gap between the trim and the floor, it’s going to stand out like a sore thumb. If this happens, you likely didn’t use shoe molding or quarter round to finish your trim or flooring project.