Expert Advice on Home Improvement

With the rising cost of gas and electricity, finding ways to cut back on your energy consumption is more important than ever. To help you cope, we’re taking a look at four great ways to make your home more energy efficient that are also eligible for the Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit: upgrading your heating and cooling system, water heater, windows, and attic insulation. Read in full.

Mary asks, “ We live in an older home that is raised off the ground with a crawlspace. In the past few years, the hardwood flooring in several rooms has started to warp and cup. What could be the problem?”

It sounds like you may have excessive moisture and humidity in the crawlspace under your home. Read on to find out how to correct the problem. Read in full.

This small bedroom received a big makeover to take advantage of every inch of the limited space. The newly renovated child’s room features a fold-down Murphy bed, built-in cabinets, a window seat complete with drawers, new closet shelving, a wall mounted TV, and an eye-catching paint job. Read in full.

Bill asks, “My ceiling fan vibrates and wobbles when turned on high speed. How can I fix it?”

There are several possible problems that could cause your paddle fan to wobble. Read on to find out how to go about repairing it. Read in full.

This ’70s kitchen was in need of a major facelift. In addition to installing new cabinets, appliances, and flooring; a wall was removed to open up the living space and make the kitchen an integral part of the house. Read more to find out how it was done. Read in full.

Gary asks, “The outer pane of glass on my French doors is broken, but the inner one is fine. Do I have to buy both panes, or can I just fix the one that is broken?”

When one pane of insulated glass breaks, you have to replace the entire piece, since the space between the panes is filled with an inert gas then sealed to keep moisture from forming between the panes. Read on to find out more. Read in full.

Rod asks, “I recently added an additional layer of faced fiberglass insulation to my attic. Since then I noted you stipulated unfaced insulation for the attic if you already have a layer of insulation. What should I do?”

Since you already had insulation in your attic, the new insulation you added should have been unfaced to prevent moisture from becoming trapped between the layers. But don’t panic, the solution to your problem isn’t that difficult. Read on to find out how. Read in full.

Danny demonstrates a simple method of determining how far to pull your car into the garage so the door will close by suspending a plastic golf ball from the ceiling with a string. Watch this video.

With the feel of fall in the air, it’s time to think about getting your home ready for colder weather. Much of the routine maintenance that needs to be done this time of year will not only help keep you cozy this winter, it will also save money on your heating bill and protect your biggest investment—your home. Read in full.

Walk down the hardware aisle of any home center, and you’ll find an overpowering array of wall anchors and picture hangers. While it’s easy enough to drive a nail or screw into a stud, you may not know how to secure items to the wall between studs or in hard surfaces like brick or concrete. Read on to find out about using wall anchors and picture hangers in your home. Read in full.