Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Velux has developed a No Leak Skylight which offers three layers of protection that comes with a 10-year installation warranty and a 20-year guarantee on the glass. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Door Saver II from Perfect Products is a bumperless door stop that replaces the hinge pin in your door. Installation is easy, and the rotating cam allows you to fine-tune how wide the door will open. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Acrylic window blocks, like those from US Block Windows, resemble traditional glass blocks with the advantages of being lighter in weight, providing better insulation, and offering increased impact resistance. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

It takes only a few years of exposure to the sun, rain, and other elements to degrade the finish on an exterior wood entry door. Fiberglass doors, such as those made by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, have an attractive, natural look—compete with simulated wood grain—but hold up much better to harsh conditions than real wood. Watch this video.

From roofing and siding to windows and doors, more and more of the products used in your home are not what they appear, and that may be a good thing. We examine a number of products made from synthetic materials that often perform better and cost less than the natural materials they replace. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

To stop a door from rattling when it’s closed, remove the strike plate and bend the metal tab forward slightly using pliers so the latch fits securely in the strike plate. Screw the strike plate back in place, check the door, and readjust if needed. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

To fix a door lock that doesn’t turn easily, squirt a little powdered graphite in the keyhole of the lock. Insert the key in the lock and turn it several times to distribute the graphite. In a pinch you can rub lead from a soft pencil on the key, then work it back and forth in the lock. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

Air conditioning your home can be expensive and use a lot of energy. Watch this video for some simple tips on ways to reduce your energy bills such as installing tinted film, adding awnings to sunny windows, or planting shade trees on the sunny side of your house. Watch this video.

The hardest part of replacing screen on a screen door is making sure it’s tight and wrinkle free. An easy way to accomplish this is by laying two 8’ long 2×4s on top of sawhorses and placing the screen door on top with 2” thick pieces of wood supporting it at each end, clamping the door onto the wood, and stretching the screen over the door. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

A simple test for finding air leaks in your home is to pass a butane lighter slowly around the edges of doors and windows. If the flame bends or flickers, it indicates that an air leak is present, and you should repair or replace the weather stripping. Be sure to keep the flame away from curtains or other flammable materials. Watch this video.