Expert Advice on Home Improvement TV Host of Emmy®-Nominated Today's Homeowner® and home expert for The Weather Channel

Since basements are partially or completely underground, they often have inadequate windows. Adding more or larger windows to a basement can make it feel less claustrophobic and provide a welcome source of natural light. Installing an egress window will also allow the opening to serve as an exit in the case of an emergency.

When finishing a basement, be sure the stairs leading to it from the main floor meet building codes and do not pose a safety hazard. Possible areas of concern include the width of the stairs, the height to width ratio of the treads, and clearance at the bottom of the stairs.

Finishing a basement can pose unique design challenges, but if done right, a remodeled basement will enhance the value of a home and provide much needed additional space. One of the biggest potential problems that needs to be addressed early on when finishing a basement is the presence of moisture. This is often best handled by removing the soil around the basement.

Finding room in the kitchen to store the various bins needed for recycling can take up a lot of valuable cabinet space. Here Danny comes up with an innovative solution to the problem by installing chutes made from standard 4” dryer vent pipe that send cans and plastic bottles to bins located on a lower floor of the home.

When dryer lint builds up in the dryer vent pipe, it can drastically slow down the time it takes to dry clothes. Danny demonstrates how a dryer vent booster fan can help solve the problem.

Homeowners ask me all the time how they can control their monthly utility bills. Many have resigned themselves to paying high bills because they think that’s just the price you have to pay to be comfortable and that’s certainly a factor.

Adding fiberglass insulation to your attic is a great idea to improve energy efficiency but the process can be very uncomfortable due to the small glass fibers in the insulation. In addition to a long sleeved shirt, long pants, gloves, dust mask and eye goggles rub your hands and arms with baby powder or corn starch before working with fiberglass insulation.

Attics are all about storage, but rarely is the storage organized. Here’s a simple solution to take advantage of the open framing found in most attics. Create shelves for attic storage by building an “L” shaped support from 1×4s. One end of the “L” runs vertically attaching to the side of the roof rafter. The other end, running horizontally, attaches to the same rafter further down.

To cut insulation squarely and accurately use a utility knife with snap off blade. Extend the blade all the way out and lock it. The resulting 3″-4″ blade will make it easier to cut through thick batts of insulation. Use the straight edge of a piece of wood, lay it across the insulation, then kneel on one end of the insulation to compress it and run the blade down the edge of the wood for a nice square cut. Remember, to keep the fibers from irritating your skin wear a long sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, dust mask and safety glasses.

Exposed drain lines in an attic are often a trip hazard and can easily become damaged. To reduce this risk and prevent an accident build a bridge to cover the drain lines.