Randy

A Simple Wainscoting DIY Project: How To Build And Install Picture Frame Molding On Walls

Installing picture frame moulding or shadow box molding is easier than you might think. I did it myself… and you can too! Here are my step-by-step instructions for this simple wainscotting DIY project. It’s is a cheap project with big results.

Jack And Jill Bathroom Doors Require Space

A word of advice to all DIY home builders, contractors, and home architects… be sure to make enough room so both of the Jack and Jill bathroom doors can be opened at the same time without banging into one another.

10 Reasons You’ll Probably Want To Get A Central Vacuum System

Portable vacuum cleaners are better than ever these days, but a central vacuum system has the winning edge! See why… Here’s what I’ve learned about central vacs, including the cost and DIY installation info too.

Derek Jeter’s Tampa Mansion: Home Run or Foul Ball?

The Derek Jeter mansion in Tampa, Florida has 32,000 sq. ft. of living space. The master suite alone covers over 2,500 sq.ft.. The sprawling, eclectic English manor on the waterfront is the largest house in Tampa, by far! Here are photos and videos of Derek Jeter’s Tampa home, what it’s worth today, and a little about what the retired New York Yankees shortstop is doing today.

Thinking Of Putting A Hot Tub Inside Your House? Pros & Cons Of Indoor Hot Tub Installation

Thinking of installing an indoor hot tub? At the very least, don’t do it yourself! Although an indoor hot tub gives you more privacy and fewer maintenance issues, you have to think about mold inside, weight capacities on your flooring, and the multitude of electrical and plumbing issues that could arise. Here are the pros and cons of indoor hot tub installation.

Pros and Cons of Ceramic Coatings (Paint) For Your Home

Is there such thing as an ecofriendly permanent exterior paint? Maybe. But if you’re thinking of adding a ceramic coating to your home or using a ceramic house paint, here’s what I now know about ceramic paint that I wish I’d known sooner!

Sealing Granite Countertops 101: How To Tell If Granite Has Been Sealed, How To Remove Granite Stains, And How To Seal Granite

Wondering if you should use a granite sealer on your countertops? The short answer is: Yes! I’ll help you determine if your countertops need sealed right now or if you can wait awhile, whether to use a topical sealer or an impregnator sealer, how to seal granite countertops yourself, and how to remove stains from granite.

Where Do Granite Slabs For Countertops Come From? How Is Granite Made? I’ve Seen The Process Firsthand!

Where does granite come from? How is granite made? The process of bringing Mother Nature’s art to market is complex — and I’ve seen it firsthand. Here’s what I’ve learned about the process of mining granite slabs and preparing granite slabs for sale in stores. You’ll never look at granite kitchen countertops the same way again!

Choosing The Best Driveway Gate + Tips For Installing Driveway Gates Yourself

Considering automatic driveway gates? Here are the different types of driveway gates, materials that you can choose from, maintenance issues for each type of entry gate, and how to ultimately choose the best driveway gate for your residence.

Toilet Flush Ratings: Making Sense Of Maximum Performance (MaP) Toilet Ratings

Toilet flush ratings are no laughing matter. They really are important when choosing the best toilet that is energy-efficient and flushes (your business) like nobody’s business! Here’s what to look for in Maximum Performance (MaP) toilet flush ratings. I’ll explain how a MaP rating is verified and how they put toilets to the test.

RV Communities: These Neighborhoods Have RV Garage Home Plans For RVers Who Want A Nice Home Too

Want to see what it’s like living in a house with RV garage? Browse through the RV garage homes in these RV communities! RV retirement communities that have homes with RV garage plans are popular among those who want to incorporate their lifelong dreams of being a road warrior while still having a permanent home base.

Choosing A Farmhouse Sink: 5 Important Things To Think About Before You Buy An Apron Front Sink

Buying a new kitchen sink? If you have a little bit of flexibility in the dimensions, capacity, and cost, then you might want to consider a farmhouse sink (aka an apron front sink). But before you do, here are the 5 most important things to think about when choosing a farmhouse kitchen sink.

How To Keep Your Condensate Line Flowing Freely: Easy Steps To Clean & Clear A Clogged Condensate Drain Line

Save money by reading this before you call an HVAC professional — because keeping your condensate drain line clean and clog-free is easier than you think! Follow these simple steps to maintain your HVAC system’s condensate line — whether you have a gravity flow line (like most people do – including myself) or an a/c condensate pump (like I recently installed).

Eze-Breeze Vinyl Screened Porch Windows: A Clear Alternative To Glass Porch Windows

When it comes to choosing screened in porch windows for screen porch enclosures, there are many options. My parents proved that Eze Breeze windows are a smart alternative to plastic sheeting for screened porches — theirs even survived a tornado! Here are some reasons to choose vinyl glazing over glass windows — plus photos.

What You Need To Know About Impact Resistant Windows Before Buying Hurricane Windows For Your House

Impact resistant windows are a coastal homeowner’s best friend — especially during hurricane season! If you’re thinking of retrofitting your home with hurricane windows, here’s what you need to know before you begin the process of replacing your regular windows with impact resistant glass.

Installing A Gas Range Where An Electric Range Once Stood Can Be Challenging! (Trust Me… I Did It)

Converting a 220V hardwired connection into a 110V standard plug when you install a gas stove is best left to a trained professional, but you can see here how it’s done first. Here’s my gas stove installation story — including 3 setbacks that I encountered while installing a gas range in my kitchen.

Using A Sanding Sponge For DIY Home Projects – Here’s How & When To Use A Sandpaper Sponge

If you typically tackle DIY projects around the house such as painting and woodwork, I’ll show you why you should make a (really) small investment in a sanding sponge. It’s an invaluable little tool that lives up to its reputation as a “can’t do without” item that a DIY homeowner shouldn’t be without. See how to use a sandpaper sponge for sanding wood, paint, metal, and drywall.

How To Choose The Right Deck Stains For Your Home And Stain Your Deck Yourself

Knowing which deck stain to choose is only half the battle. I recently refinished my 21 year old deck and I want to share the tips and tricks I’ve learned about finding the best deck stain and how to clean and stain a deck. It’s a great diy project that can be done in one weekend.

How To Find Appliance Rebates & Home Energy Tax Incentives In Your Area

Finding out if a new appliance has a rebate from a government source is easier than ever. An Energy Star rating doesn’t mean it’s eligible for a rebate, but there is no sense in leaving money on the table, now is there?

How To Give Your Old Appliances A Sharp, New Look Using Stainless Steel Paint

You can use stainless steel paint to update an old appliance and make it look like a brand new (stainless steel) model! We tried it. Here’s our review of the process and how it turned out. It was actually fun and easy to do and I’ve shared a ton of pics, tips, and tricks to make your experience even easier.

How To Spackle And Sand Walls For A Smooth Finish: DIY Drywall Repair

Ready for some DIY drywall repair? Drywall spackle and sanding tools are important to get the job done and I’ve included my best tips to do it yourself!

How To Remove Paint From Windows Quick And Easy: 3 DIY Steps To Remove Paint From Glass

DIY paint project leave you wanting to know how to remove paint from glass windows? 3 easy-to-follow and fast ways for stripping paint from your windows. Quick and easy instructions to remove paint from windows yourself.

How To Repair Screeching Faucet Problems: My DIY Kitchen Faucet Repair Tips

Got screeching faucet problems? Here are the 5 main causes of faucet problems, plus photos and the steps I used to do my own kitchen faucet repair. You can too – It’s DIY time! Still think you need a plumber? I’ve got tips before you hire a plumber for more serious issues as well.

How To Install A Natural Gas Range And How To Add A Gas Supply Line Yourself

I needed to install a gas range myself. I’ve provided a detailed step-by-step account of how I did it — so that you can install a gas range yourself too!

Great Gift Ideas For DIY Dads And Weekend Warriors

I’m a dad. I’ve got some fun gift ideas for the man of the house for Father’s Day, Christmas, or Birthdays. If he’s a handyman, he’ll appreciate these gifts that will make his life easier

How Much Does It Cost To Drill A Water Well?

Want to know how much it costs to drill a water well? You’re not alone. I’m sharing all the best tips from a custom homebuilder – to help you dig own well.

A Preventative Home Maintenance Checklist For Fall

Here is a preventative maintenance checklist (for inside your home AND outside your home) for the Fall season. Tips for saving money on your home heating bills, too!

Halloween Prop Building Resources For The DIY Home Handyman And Beginners Alike

DIY Halloween prop builders paradise awaits! Tricks and tips to scare the wits out of trick-or-treaters. If they survive the trick, they get the treat!

Charleston Style Homes Exude Southern Luxury

The Grove at Cooper’s Point offers very luxurious Charleston-style homes in the outskirts of Atlanta in the eclectic Smyrna/Vinings area. These homes offer some of the finest materials and craftsmanship in the area in a great location.

Home Air Filters: How To Choose The Best Air Filter For Your House

Buying the best air filter for your money is pretty simple once you understand what MERV ratings mean and how they relate to your HVAC system’s performance.

Modular Green Homes: GreenPods Designed By Ann Raab

Green homes have been around for awhile, and they’re getting greener all of the time. GreenPod Intelligent Environments. GreenPods are designed by Ann Raab and can be used in a number of different ways.

Awesome Custom Garages: 7 One-Of-A-Kind Garages In The U.S.

Here is a look at 7 unique custom garages located in the U.S. All of these homes are on the market so if you’ve outgrown your garage at your current home…

7 Reasons To Install Radiant Barrier Roof Sheathing

Radiant barrier roof sheathing has a highly reflective material facing the interior of your attic. It will seriously reduce your home’s energy consumption. If you like saving money and helping the environment you should really look into radiant barrier roof decking. Trust me you’ll be happy you did.

Swap Out Your Boring Doorbell Buttons For Some With Style And A Little Personality

A cool doorbell button makes a nice first impression whenever visitors come to your door. Show a little personality and style w/these fun door bell designs.

Want To Reduce Your Home’s Energy Consumption? See If Radiant Barriers Are Right For Your House

Radiant barriers are an effective way to reduce your home energy consumption. Here’s how to choose the right type of radiant barrier for your home.

Home Energy Audit vs. Home Energy Review: What You Can Expect + How To Do It Yourself!

A home energy audit can save you thousands of dollars in energy costs. Here’s the difference between a home energy audit and a home energy review.

Choosing The Best Types Of Insulation For Your Home

Wondering about the best insulation material for your home? See which residential insulating products can be added to your attic. Attic insulation 101!

Window Cleaning Tips: The Easiest & Best Way To Clean Windows

Want to know how to get the best results when washing windows? I’ve got a solution that will minimize the time you spend and give you the best results ever!

Buying New Windows For Your House? Here’s How To Read Window Labels & Make Sense Of All Those Numbers

Window labels make it easier to comparison shop for new home windows. Before you go window shopping, here’s what you need to know about replacement windows.

How To Increase Home Energy Savings: 4 Simple Things You Can Do

One of the best ways to save money is to look into home energy savings. Here are 4 things you can do to save money month in and month out.

5 Essential Tree Pruning Tools Every Homeowner Should Have (…To Avoid Dumb Landscape Ideas Like This One)

Keep up with your tree pruning or you may find your home’s landscape in dire need of trimming like this one! Here are the 5 tree pruning tools you need.

4 Cool Home Products I Found At The Atlanta Home Show

I searched high and low at the 2011 Fall Atlanta Home Show for cool homebuilding products and I found a few that I think you’re going to like. Solar thermal water heaters, attic access insulation covers and tubular sun skylights were among my favorites.

Storm Shelters & Safe Rooms: What To Expect In Terms Of Construction And Cost

Safe rooms can be used for more than just storm shelters. Some ideas, plus safe room construction details and costs, if you’re in the market for a safe room

HGTV Architect John Gidding’s Tips For Planning & Completing House Projects

John Gidding, from HGTV’s Curb Appeal and Designed To Sell, spoke at the Atlanta Home Show. See John’s tips for taking a project from conception to reality.

Our Samsung Washing Machine Reviews

In the market for a new washing machine? There are a few good models out there, but the Samsung WA5451ANW/XAA stood out to us for several reasons. See why.

Energy Efficient Washers: How To Choose The Best Washing Machine

These days energy efficient washing machines are very popular. You can save some money and be mindful of the environment as well. Here’s what I’ve found out about my energy efficient washer — some have Energy Star-ratings and others have CEE Tier ratings. I’ve provided full explanations of these rating systems and simplified the info for you.

I’m Fed Up With My Kenmore Elite He3t Washing Machine Problems!

If you have a Kenmore Elite H3 Washer that sounds like rocks rolling around in the spin cycle, you need to read this. It’s a difficult & expensive repair! Mine also consistently had problems with the door lock. I will outline the repairs for these issues and share a lot of reviews of this particular Kenmore washing machine so if you’re making a buying decision, read this first!

Randy

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