home improvement guy

Peeling paint is a burr under the saddle of many homeowners, I’m afraid, and the causes are numerous.

The best way to understand why paint peels is to think about all of the things you have that do hold their paint without peeling. How about your car or truck, or your aluminum siding, gutters and downspouts? Even lawn mowers, snowblowers and other outdoor tools fall into that category. So does the outside of my 20-year-old house, which has fiber cement siding. ...

So, let’s look at eight questions to ask when hiring a pro to make sure they take your home as seriously as you do.

1. What are my options?

Be sure to consider offers from multiple pros and understand what adjustments can be made to each before settling on one. Even if you’re in a hurry to finish a project, it’s worth it to take your time to do thorough research on potential pros. The cheapest option may ultimately cost more in damages or repairs, so if it sounds too good ...

Your heating and air conditioning system is one of the most vital systems of your home, delivering and removing warm or cool air from every room and maintaining humidity levels. It also includes a great many moving parts and complex elements. This means it needs to be checked regularly to avoid a small problem escalating into a big one, or a catastrophic one.

Experts agree that you should have a qualified pro check your HVAC system twice a year: in spring and fall. The change of seasons ...

When it comes to home-improvement projects on your house that’s coming of age, there’s no denying that your roof, windows, and air conditioning and heating units might be getting moody, temperamental or give you the silent treatment altogether.

As your home ages, it will require more upkeep and improvements. It’s especially important to stay on top of some of the more potentially troublesome elements of your home — ones that can cause you massive headaches and put a huge dent in your ...

Here are eight top safety tips and suggestions for performing your own furnace and fireplace inspections.

1. If the fossil-fueled furnace is more than 10 years old, the furnace needs to be inspected and serviced by a qualified (licensed where required) heating/venting/air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor. The heat exchanger should be checked for cracks, and the burners need to be cleaned and adjusted. The contractor may also check the pressure sensors and ...

Is it possible to keep costs manageable while still making impactful upgrades to my home?

Home renovations require patience, planning and more patience, but not massive amounts of money. You just have to think like a pro. Keep costs down and spirits up by taking advantage of these professionally proven tips and techniques in order to achieve the look and feel you want — minus the hassles.

Lights. Make sure your kitchen has the illumination you need and want. Any kitchen ...