home improvement guy

There are certain issues that appear more often on almost all homes that the average buyer can look for:

1. Grading and drainage: When you first look at the property, check to see if stormwater will drain toward or away from the home. It's easy to see if the yard slopes, but you also need to check the concrete next to the home to make sure it drains as well. Driveways, sidewalks and patios often settle, and the runoff from the concrete drains toward ...

What should you do if a general contractor asks you to handle receiving bids and working with subcontractors, such as plumbers and electricians?

Top-rated general contractors say a good general contractor takes care of all workers and trades involved on a project. The contractor knows the ins and outs of the job in ways you can't and has a much clearer idea of what each trade must bring to the task. You're hiring the general contractor to oversee the ...

January, traditionally, is the month when winter comes knocking at the door. Sometimes (like this year) he just kicks the door in and sets up housekeeping. Still, it's not too late to marshal every resource your home has to help the cold and dark months pass more smoothly.

One such resource? The garage. Unlike most of the year when the garage is your friend - a repository for "stuff," a place to work on small projects - in the winter months ...

Do handymen bring their own tools?

Yes, and they prefer it that way. Part of their job is making sure they have all the tools necessary to complete their work.

While some homeowners want to be helpful by providing certain heavy-duty tools, such as an extension ladder or miter saw, a reliable handyman or woman will have his or her own tools, and they'd rather use their own.

Why? Pros typically buy professional-grade tools. ...

There are many things you can do to boost home security, such as adding an alarm system or getting a guard dog, but unless you have working deadbolt locks and actually use them, your home isn't secure, locksmiths say.

Intruders use force to gain entry in a majority of home burglaries. Because the locks or deadbolts are not functioning properly or they are inadequate, the intruder is able to kick the door in.

A deadbolt is a type of lock ...

Figuring the right furnace fit comes down to what's known as a Manual J load calculation. This gives heating and cooling professionals the exact furnace size in British thermal units (BTU) per hour.

A Manual J calculation takes into account the size of your home and its ductwork, as well as overall energy efficiency. That's why an energy audit is a good idea. Audits start at about $250 and are available through many HVAC companies as well as companies ...