Build It Yourself: Sign Table

We're always looking for interesting ways to repurpose common goods into everyday items and this sign table certainly fits the bill. The sign was salvaged from a junkyard and the remaining structure is mostly plywood.

  July 18, 2008 | Comments ()

Are Shingle Warranties Relevant?

Earlier this week we discovered a homeowner who was going through the process of selecting cedar siding for his home. One of his considerations for selecting siding was durability and the same can be said for roofing shingles many of which are sold with warranties that may sound great but in reality shouldn't be factored into your selection decision.

  July 11, 2008 | Comments ()

Cedar Siding Shingles

The Times Union out of Albany, NY, has a great home improvement blog on their website that is edited by Joe Keegan who chronicles the home improvement of his 1883 Shingle-Style home.

Recently Joe tackled the task of replacing his wood shingles with new cedar shingles. He shares the cedar shingle selection process as well as house prep for installing the shingles.

  July 9, 2008 | Comments ()

Green Siding Options

Calfinder brings us some green siding options any of which are a great alternative to vinyl but they all have drawbacks as well as positives. I think our favorite of the bunch is fiber cement siding that looks like wood and costs just a bit more than vinyl but less than wood and is resistant to weather, rot, and termites.

  July 3, 2008 | Comments ()

Build It Yourself: Garden Arbor

Need a bit of shade that still provides great ventilation and indirect sunlight? Consider building a garden arbor. Calfinder lays out the materials needed and step-by-step instructions that will have you sitting in the shade in no time.

  June 30, 2008 | Comments ()

Fly Your Flag the Right Way this 4th of July

If you choose to display your American spirit by flying the U.S. flag this 4th of July, please make sure you do it properly. Yes, there is more to it than just unfurling the flag and running it up a pole. Follow these tips to ensure your flag is treated with respect and displayed properly.

  June 30, 2008 | Comments ()

Drywell Rebuild with the Help of Oakum

The folks at Chicago 2-Flat tore up a concrete slab in their backyard to discover a 100-year old drywell located just next to the house. They considered setting up rain barrels as the only gutter drained into this drywell but decided against this due to the weather and limited space in their yard.

  May 28, 2008 | Comments ()

Efflorescence: The Chalky Stuff on your Concrete

Efflorescence is a very common and somewhat mysterious ailment effecting masonry construction including brick, concrete, and mortars. It occurs when water moving through a sidewalk or other structure brings salts to the surface that are not commonly bound as part of the cement stone. As the water evaporates, it leaves the salt behind, which forms a white, fluffy deposit, that can normally be brushed off but sometimes create more lasting stains.

  May 27, 2008 | Comments ()

Laying a Flagstone Walkway

So many of the beautiful homes in the magazines we read have gorgeous flagstone walkways or patios but it's been tough finding the proper instructions for installing flagstones ourselves.

  May 20, 2008 | Comments ()

Build It Yourself: Outdoor Shower

Here’s a project that might make your life easier during the summer, especially if you’ve got kids that tend to get dirty while they play. An outdoor shower can complement a pool, of course, or just be used as a way to rinse off so as not to track any dirt into the house after a day in the garden. Plus, in the summer heat it can be fun to shower outside!

  May 20, 2008 | Comments ()