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As for curb appeal, forget the plastic-looking imposters introduced a couple of decades ago. The best models feature convincingly textured fiberglass “skins,” energy-saving insulation, and a lengthy menu of finish options, as well as molding, glass, and hardware choices to match any house style. “Manufacturers have given the skins real life now,” says Tim Ellenz, president of California Window and Door, a dealer and installer in Palm Desert. Ellenz didn’t even sell fiberglass entry doors 15 years ago; last year, the category accounted for 90 percent of his door business....

So now that summer’s here, it’s time to take notice. Maybe a simple cleaning is all your gutters need, or maybe they need to be replaced altogether. What Type of Gutters Are Best? If you’re starting fresh, there is a veritable deluge of shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from. Aside from pricey, maintenance-heavy wood troughs and short-lived vinyl ones, the best option for most of us is metal—elegant copper, understated zinc, rugged steel, or affordable aluminum....

What is a Concrete Paver? Concrete pavers can mimic the look of brick but are manufactured and produced in molds, resulting in a uniform look in size and color. Steps for Installing Concrete Pavers And since each paver is the same, installation is faster—unlike bricks that can vary in length and width, requiring individual cuts or locating just the “right” brick to fill the space. Step 1: Determine the Pattern This walkway uses a “Running Bond” pattern, which means the bricks are laid, lengthwise, in the same direction, offset by 1/2 a brick....

In most cases, the beams will run across the shortest dimension of the room to mimic exposed joists above, although they can run the other way, or they can run in both directions to create a boxed look. Usually, decorative beams are spaced fairly widely, say three or more feet apart. The width and depth of decorative beams should be proportional to the size of the room. The bigger the room and the higher the ceiling, the wider and deeper the beams....

How Much Does It Cost to Change the Locks on a House? Depending on the lockset you get it can range from $40 to $400. The door knob and dead bolt lock set Tom demonstrated in this video with was a Plymouth Single Cylinder Knob Combo pack with a bright brass finish. It is manufactured by Schlage and can be found at most home centers. Changing Locks on a New House in 5 Steps Is your home protected from everyday wear and tear?...

Mauro also points out that the packaging for paint roller brushes are usually labeled with their nap length and what they’re best used for. Mauro also shares a few roller techniques for painting: a. Fully saturate the roller in the paint tray before application. b. Apply the paint to the surface starting from the bottom of the surface and at a slight diagonal. c. Each pass should cover the previous pass by about 30% d....

In the pursuit of a bumper crop of vegetables, too often an edible garden’s aesthetics fall by the wayside. For Nicole Burke, founder of Rooted Garden, a company that designs, installs, and maintains edible gardens in and around Houston, the backbone of the modern kitchen garden is a series of raised beds, fitted with trellises and gravel pathways, which add to both its beauty and utility. Inspired by the classic French potager, which weaves edibles with ornamentals in a design that complements the house, she wants her gardens to invite walking over for a better look....

1. Apply Wood Filler The first and most obvious way to cover a plywood edge is with wood filler. The key is to create a solid surface that can be sanded to hide the roughness of a typical plywood edge. The upside to this method is that it’s inexpensive and easy. The downside is that it only works for paint-grade builds and you’ll have quite a bit of sanding to do to get it looking just right....

You could take the door down to your local hardware store and have them replace the screen, but why deny yourself the pleasure of installing a new screen? Here’s how to do it. What You Need to Fix Your Screen When you go to the hardware store or home center, you’ll find an assortment of screening materials in a few different sizes, everything from 24- to 96-inches wide. You also get to choose the style of the screen to match the existing screens at home....

With the help of carpet manufacturer Shaw and rug maker and importer Nourison, we’ve provided a list of the best DIY carpet stain removers that you can make using products from around your house. Steps to Clean & Remove Carpet Stains To remove carpet stains: In addition to these methods, there are several spot removers on the market. How To Clean Red Juice & Other Water-Soluble Stains Use a simple cleaning solution made up of 1/4 teaspoon of non-bleach detergent (or white vinegar) mixed with 32 ounces of water....

Tips for Getting Your Roof Ready for the Cold Months You want to ensure you start way before the cold temperatures and the extreme elements arrive to ensure your roof can handle whatever winter throws at it. Check out these tips to protect your roof from harsh weather conditions. Check the Gutters Gutters play a critical role in protecting your roof. They collect rainwater and direct it away from your house....

Steps for installing a tub grab bar 1 Mark mounting holes on tub wall using a level; choose a location 33 to 36 inches above floor. 2 Drill pilot holes through wall with 3/16-inch-diameter carbide-tipped masonry bit. 3 Bore holes for hollow-wall fasteners with 1 ¼-inch-diameter carbide-tipped hole saw. 4 Peel off protective paper from back of fasteners to expose adhesive. 5 Press hollow-wall fasteners into holes, then turn the center screw counterclockwise to release the wall-grabbing fingers....

Steps for Installing an Entry Light: Turn off the electricity to the circuit at the main electrical panel. From inside the attic, nail a junction box to the side of a ceiling joist. Bring the existing switch cable into the junction box, then run a new cable into the box. Secure the new cable to the joist with cable staples. Use wire connectors to join together same-color wires: black to black, white to white, and bare copper to bare copper....

What Is The Easiest Way to Install Drawer Slides? The easiest way to install new drawer slides is to replace the old hardware with full ball bearing hardware. Usually, it takes too much work to modify the existing drawer boxes. Instead, you’ll want to order new drawer boxes. As shown in the video, you’ll be able to keep and re-install your original drawer fronts onto your new boxes, so that your kitchen still has a uniform look....