Expert Advice on Home Improvement

The Heat Seeker Infrared Thermometer from General Tools is perfect way to conduct a do-it-yourself inspection of your heating/cooling system for leaks in the ductwork, or a general home energy audit. To use, simply train the laser pointer on the object and read the remote temperature reading on the LCD screen. The Heat Seeker is available at The Home Depot. Watch this video.

High winds from hurricanes and severe storms can cause broken windows, allowing extensive damage to the interior of your home. While covering windows with plywood is the least expensive option, polypropylene plastic storm panels weigh much less and allow light into the home. Watch this video to learn more about how plastic storm panels can protect your home. Watch this video.

Watch this video to find out how to protect your windows from high winds and flying debris during storms and hurricanes by covering them with special fabric storm panels or plywood panels. Watch this video.

If you live in a two-story house, it’s important to keep an escape ladder handy in case of a fire or other emergencies. Watch this video to see a demonstration of how easy it is to set up and use an escape ladder in your home. Watch this video.

One of the best ways to save energy in your home is by caulking any cracks around windows and doors. While caulk alone can be applied to narrow cracks, gaps wider than ¼” should be filled with foam backer rod first. These flexible foam tubes are available at building supply stores in several diameters. Simply push the rod into the gap with a putty knife or painter’s tool until it is just below the surface then caulk over it. Watch this video.

When installing arched door units, extend the plywood sheathing over the rough opening. Position the door unit against the wall, mark the opening around it, and cut the curved opening to size using a sabre saw. Watch this video.

Custom Carved Interior Doors from JELD-WEN Windows and Doors can be ordered with various designs and lettering carved into them, including your child’s name. Constructed from medium density fiberboard (MDF) with a separate core to make them lighter and reduce noise, custom carved doors come primed and ready for painting. Watch this video.

Window film blocks up to 99% of UV rays and reflects solar heat to save energy and reduces fading of furniture and rugs. Window film is easy to install and available at home centers. Watch this video.

When trimming a hollow core door, take off less than an inch off each side to avoid cutting into the void beyond the frame. Score the cut line with a utility knife to prevent splintering, then trim the door using a circular saw and guide board. Watch the video to see how it’s done. Watch this video.

Windows are a great way to let light into a room, but they can also bring in unwanted heat and harmful UV rays from the sun. Gila Window Film is DIY friendly product that blocks UV rays and reduces solar heat gain. It comes in several tints and is available at The Home Depot stores. Watch this video.

This café style curtain rod from Levolor attaches to metal doors with magnets. This not only simplifies installation by eliminating the need for drilling holes in the door, but it allows you to remove the rod anytime you like in a matter of minutes without leaving unsightly holes. Watch this video.

Basement renovations are very popular since many of the necessary elements—including the floor, ceiling, and walls—are already in place. The most important concern that needs to be addressed in a basement renovation is moisture. Adding windows can help with light and ventilation, as well as providing an exit in case of fire or other emergencies. Watch this video.

Your choice in windows is one of the most important elements in defining the overall style of your home. If you have older single pane windows, you might want to consider replacing them with more energy efficient double pane windows. Replacement windows are not hard to install and can be custom made to fit any window opening. Watch this video.

A fabric covered cornice over a window can really dress up a room. Since this window was almost 10’ long, the cornice was made from two pieces of ½” plywood 24” wide joined together with metal mending plates. The arch in the middle of the cornice was cutout with a jigsaw then sides and a top were applied to give it depth. Watch this video.

Enclosed blinds from ODL are easy to install and can be retrofitted to existing glass entry doors. They are low maintenance, energy efficient, and reduce harmful UV rays while providing privacy for your home. Watch this video.

To cut door jambs so flooring will fit under them, turn a piece of flooring over to use as a guide. Lay a handsaw flat on top of the flooring and saw through the jamb. Watch this video.

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. Watch this video.

Scrub brushes screwed to your steps are perfect for cleaning shoes and boots to keep from tracking dirt in the house. Scrub brushes with a plastic body won’t rot and last longer than wooden brushes. Start by drilling two 3/16” holes in each scrub brush. Watch this video.

While skylights are a great way to bring more natural light into your home, they can be hard to install, result in unwanted heat buildup, and are prone to leaking. ODL Tubular Skylights solve these problems by using a small diameter round lens on the roof to gather sunlight and shine it down a reflective metal tube to an diffuser mounted on the ceiling. Watch this video.

Windows and doors are an important part of any addition. With Today’s Addition, it was important to match the existing vinyl windows on the outside and the new trim and warm-stained wood recently added in the inside of the addition. Energy efficient JELD-WEN Premium Clad Wood Windows provided the solution. These windows featured a low maintenance aluminum exterior and clear pine wood on the interior. Watch this video.

The elderly often require modifications to their existing homes in order to make them safer and easier to use. Danny explores some innovative ideas to make homes more accessible, such as hinges that provide additional clearance for wheelchairs and the removal of thresholds from exterior doors. In the bathroom he examines the importance of ADA compliant faucets, as well as grab bars and adjustable shower heads. The need for increased lighting is addressed by the installation of remote controlled skylights. Watch this video.

Danny demonstrates a video door answering system from Nutone that has a simple install and is packed with features. The Nutone device will let you see the person who rings your doorbell and talk back with them. The unit will also let you watch TV, listen to the AM/FM radio, and place phone calls. Watch this video.

Danny demonstrates how to repair an interior door that keeps swinging open or closed. By putting pressure on the hinge pin and bending it slightly, the problem is solved. Watch this video.

From high-tech gadgets to simple changes, Danny takes a look at some new ways to make your home green whether during new construction or a remodel. Automated irrigation systems, solar paneled roofs, and programmable thermostats are just a few of the green additions seen here. Watch this video.

Homeowners are always looking for easy, economical ways to reduce their monthly heating and cooling costs. If your home heats up in the summertime the solution may be as simple as a little shade. Rooms with windows that get direct sunlight will heat up quickly in warm weather putting a strain on your cooling system but there are some things you can do to help ease that load. Watch this video.

To strip paint from door hardware without the time consuming use of paint thinner, heat 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water in a pot on the stove and then pour it into an old cake pan. Let it set about 5 minutes. It’s a good idea to use pliers to take the hardware out of the pan because it may still be a little warm. Using a soft bristled brass brush, so as not to scratch the surface of the hardware, dip it in the water/vinegar solution and then scrub the hardware. This is a great alternative to purchasing new hardware. Watch this video.

Window shades can be great for providing privacy and blocking out sunlight, but one of the biggest problems with a roller shade is that they have a tendency to pop out of their brackets. Over time, the pin at the end of supporting rod becomes sheared down from spinning in the bracket. Watch this video.

Sagging doors are often the result of loose hinges caused by hinge screws that don’t bite into the door jamb. A quick fix for this problem is to fill in the door jamb’s so the screw will remain secure. To do that, we used a wooden golf tee. Watch this video.

Torn or punctured window screens are not only unattractive, they defeat their intended purpose by allowing insects into your home. For larger tears you’ll most likely have to replace the whole screen but for smaller holes there are other options. Watch this video.

Painting around windows has to be one of the most frustrating chores known to man. How do you paint the wood without painting the glass? The answer is, you don’t. You simply find an efficient way to clean the glass off afterward. Watch this video.

Almost everyone has a door in their house that won’t stay where it’s put. It always wants to swing closed. A wedge doorstop is one solution, but they invariably get lost. Sometimes removing and slightly bending the door’s hinge pin will create enough friction to make the door stay put, but another option is to create a magnetic door catch. Watch this video.

Painting six panel doors with a brush is a chore, but it can be made easier by removing them from their hinges and laying them horizontally. This can be time consuming though if you have to wait for one side to dry before flipping the door over to paint the other side. Watch this video.

If you have ever cleaned lots of windows, you probably have discovered how well a squeegee works. Now, with this simple solution, you can handle 2nd story windows, without a ladder. Take a 8′ or 10′ piece of PVC pipe (available at Home Depot for $3 or $4) and slip it over the handle or your squeegee. Watch this video.

Welcome mats often retain water creating problems with porch decking and keeping them from being useful to clean shoes. Use an old plastic grid diffuser from a fluorescent light fixture and place it beneath the mat to allow water to drain out. Use a jig saw to cut the grid to fit. You may also want to use screws in the corners of the grid to keep it in place and prevent slips and falls. Watch this video.