home improvement guy

Do you have an impressive front entry door but you prefer to enter and leave your home through the garage?

If so, you're not alone. A recent survey of 1,000 adults living in homes with remote-controlled garage doors found that more than 80 percent use their garage as the main entrance.

But the garage is usually ignored when it comes to making it an appealing spot you want to come home to.

You don't want the main entryway to ...

How can I tell if a house still has or once had asbestos?

The only reliable way to know if your home contains asbestos is to hire an environmental consulting firm or asbestos building inspector. They'll take fingernail-sized samples and test them in a laboratory.

You can't see or smell asbestos, but exposure to loose fibers can cause lung disease. The naturally occurring, flame-retardant mineral fibers are too small to identify without ...

Now that the snow and ice are melting, I have begun noticing damage to gutters and erosion to the soils below.

As the snow and ice begin to melt, the heavier accumulation can slide down the roof stopping at the gutters. The sheer weight might tear the gutters away from the fascia, leaving the gutters dangling from the roof. Subsequent melting or rains then bypass the gutters leaving a drip line in the soils below or, in some cases, actually eroding ...

Should I hire an independent home inspector to look over a newly built tract home?

What you're considering is a good idea, say experts in home inspection, real estate and home building.

Even though there should be periodic local government inspections during the construction process, and even if you have a home warranty, getting feedback from an independent and reputable home inspector is like added insurance against major costs should ...

The demand for home improvements is heating up and spring is the start of busy season. If you need to do maintenance or upgrades on your home, doing certain work now can save you a bit of cash. Some contractors may still be stuck in the post-holiday lull, which means you are more likely to get off-peak rates.

When contractors are less busy, you have more room to negotiate, so if you aren't offered a discounted rate up front, be sure to ask. Here are ...

You've noticed the grout in your new bathroom varies in color. The tile installer and you agreed on a gray tone.

But the grout in the shower and other walls is definitely black. Can this be corrected without damaging the porcelain tile?

There's a good chance the grout for your project wasn't properly mixed. Fortunately, the problem can be fixed with no damage to your tile.

Essentially, your choices are to remove the grout ...