Q I’m planning to replace my asphalt shingle roof. How should I roof around the skylight so it won’t leak?A Most residential skylights sit on a raised curb made wat...Full Article
Look up at your chimney. If you notice a white crystalline substance on the face of the bricks, you’re seeing a chemical residue called efflorescence. Calcium carbonate, a soluble salt, is leach...Full Article
Q. On our newly built house, some of the white painted trim and doors are beginning to yellow. The builder used an oil-based paint. What do we do to stop this?A. I’m afra...Full Article
In the summer, good attic ventilationreduces heat buildup. That cuts cooling costs and prolongs shingle life. In thewinter, warm, moist air seeps into the attic from the living space below. Goodventil...Full Article
Preparation and Safety Building a dormer is an ambitious and challenging project. But the payoff is big too. The extra headroom adds valuable li...Full Article
Q I’m going to strip my roof and reroof with new three-tab asphalt shingles, but I’m not sure how to start applying them. A Good question, but before you attach you...Full Article
Click image to enlarge.Q I’m going to shingle my new garage myself and I have a question. The directions on the shingle wrapper tell me to lay the shingles in a stairstep pattern. I&#...Full Article
Q What’s the best type of glue to use for outdoor projects? Specifically, I’m repairing my deck rail post that has a piece broken off it. Can I get away with yellow woodworking ...Full Article
When the fates dealt me a one-two punch one afternoon, aladder stabilizer saved my life. I was rebuilding soffits and fascias threestories up on my 40-ft., fully extended ladder. As I juggled tools an...Full Article
Replace Broken Deck Boards You don’t have to let a split, rotted or otherwise ugly deck board ruin the appearance of your deck. Simply replace it and in a year or so the replacement will blend ...Full Article
Whenever we travel to other areas of the country, we makeit a point to talk to carpenters, electricians, masons and other constructionpros to learn their favorite techniques. Sometimes their methods d...Full Article
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Getting Started If the night is callingyou, pull up a lounge chair and enjoy it from your backyard. Your deck can bethe setting for many relaxi...Full Article
Honing your circular saw skills will paybig dividends when you’re building decks and fences. Good techniques willspeed up your work, create stronger joints and show off your craft, since allthe ...Full Article
Concrete BlocksModern concrete block walls are fairly sophisticated systems designed for strength as well as for fast, easy assembly. You simply stack the blocks on top of one another and secure them ...Full Article
If you’re planning a project that requires lotsof postholes, trust me—a power auger will speed up the process. I’ve dughundreds of auger-generated postholes. My personal best is thir...Full Article
Find problems earlyEvery two or three years, have your house examined by a certified home inspector (see ashi.org or nahi.org), says Steve Berges, a builder and author of 101 Cost-Effective Ways to I...Full Article
The next time you readjust the screens and glass storm panels in your self-storing combo storm door, don’t forget to change the location of the long pin connecting the door bracket with the door...Full Article
Cracks and gaps in concrete are more than just an eyesore. Water can get into the joints, freeze and then expand, making the cracks even larger. Gaps against a house can direct water against the found...Full Article
Q The paint on the siding outside my bathroom keeps peeling. I’ve scraped, primed and repainted, but within a year it’s peeling again. What can I do?A If the peeling...Full Article
