Energy-Efficiency Tips for the Home
September 22, 2015
Save Energy, Save Money By Tom Matthews
More from EHT:
Save Energy, Save Money By Tom Matthews
Give your kitchen a brand new look. By Danny Lipford I often get questions from homeowners about painting cabinets. This is one of the most
Contemporary Styles and Comfort Amenities By Rob Robillard According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s (NKBA) 2015 Kitchen & Bath Design Trends report,
As the calendar turns from summer to fall, it’s a perfect time to take a look at the roof before the harsh weather of winter
What’s That Sound? By Rob Robillard
Replace an overhead door with pre-hung double panels. By Matt Weber To increase the finished living space in a split-level home, we removed a garage
By Danny Lipford Installing a new faucet in a kitchen or bathroom is an easy way to upgrade and update the space and can be
How to Install Corrugated Roofing By Matt Weber Corrugated roofing panels are made of metal, fiberglass or polycarbonate and typically install over a system of
Did you know that copper can kill bacteria? Antimicrobial copper alloys are the only solid metal “touch surface” materials registered by the U.S. Environmental
I shudder to think how much of my lifespan has been spent searching for missing tools. I try to
What do anthills and porch columns have in common? The answer should be nothing, but we know better… By Rob Robillard
Our habit of occasionally changing houses means that I have been through the ritual of finding
Metal brackets make everything square again. Wooden fence gates are notorious for getting out of whack. The wood’s inherent instability during temperature changes coupled with
Replacing an Entry Door and Transom Window By Matt Weber Our latest door-replacement project
Galvanized pipe and 2x lumber make beefy “industrial” shelves. By Matthew Weber
By Larry Walton, Photos by Mark Walton If you’ve ever seen a saloon gunfight in an old western movie, it more than likely involved a
(guest post courtesy Atlas Roofing) How Do Architectural Shingles Compare to Traditional Flat Shingles? For consumers building a new home or replacing the roof on
Up Close with Glass Shower Stall Enclosures By Rob Robillard My brother, a master plumber, always says the shower is the heart of the bathroom.
Grow Vertical with a Backyard Arbor By Clint C. Thomas, Esq.
By Tom Matthews The time-honored look of brick paver patios is as popular today as ever. For
By Larry Walton Removing the old mirror was an easy decision. However, that left us with the task of covering the same area or repairing
The Sky is the Limit By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photographs by Zoe Thomas
By Monte Burch When our deck weathered to splits and splinters we had a major problem. With more than 1,800
Solid surface material, a popular alternative to natural stone, is most commonly used for seamless countertop installations, but offers a wide array of other uses.
By Rob Robillard Building a board-and-batten door is a task that can be completed in a relatively short period of time and is a project
Clean Craftsman Trim for Stain-grade Wood Windows By Larry Walton
Hands-down the most popular project among do-it-yourselfers, painting is a fundamental way to transform the look and feel of any room or object, indoors
One of our recent EHT projects was a “roof-over” in which we covered an existing single layer of three-tab asphalt roof shingles with architectural shingles.
Setting a Medallion in a Tile Floor By Larry Walton Photos By Bruce W. Smith
By Larry Walton, Photos by Tim Walton Rapid deployment is an important characteristic of most of the professional building trades these days. Even if your
Removing Wallpaper to Create a Painted Wall Surface By Larry Walton
Build a patio with composite pavers in an interlocking grid system. Julie Quigley wanted a large backyard patio with the look of traditional pavers. Her
Modular kits make design and installation easy for the DIY’er. Adding a traditional spiral staircase can be an intimidating project for a homeowner, because the
Customized single-pieced wainscoting makes installation easy. By Matt Weber
The Big Benefits of Snow Melting Systems By Rob Robillard In the Northeast, winter means shoveling and salting your walkway and stairs to keep your
By Justin White When you face a non-working garage door, you may fear an expensive repair bill. The good
One of our recent EHT projects was a DIY “roof-over,” in which we covered an existing single layer of three-tab asphalt roof shingles with architectural
Don’t Flush your Money Away By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas
Protect and beautify your outdoor wood—fast. By Matt Weber
Learn the basics from professionals with years of experience. By Matt Weber A dock is essentially a deck built on piles in the water, and
Give your Carpentry an Edge By Rob Robillard Wouldn’t it be nice if we could apply thin layers of skin to cover our aged, wrinkled
Get the Look of Traditional Tile with the Easy Installation of Adhesive Vinyl. By Matt Weber
We love pergolas. We love designing them. We love building them. We love how they make the backyard not just a place you go to
Like Pulling Teeth By Matt Weber If you’ve ever stripped a screw or broken off the head of a bolt, you know how frustrating it
By Larry Walton Our first task for this loft project was to put in a new open rail,
Upgrading a stripped-down utility trailer to move mulch and tow your tools. By Mark Clement
Installing a clay paver patio is great DIY summertime project that enhances the look of the home’s outdoor environment. By Walt Steele
How to Install a Ceiling Fan By Matt Weber A ceiling fan can be a stylish and effective way to enhance airflow throughout a room.
Thinking Inside the Box for a Unique Patio Door and Window Combination By Larry Walton
By Matt Weber Windows take a lot of weather abuse, and their material makes a significant difference in durability and performance. Wood windows generally require
Insulating the Attic for Energy Efficiency By Clint C. Thomas As we balanced on top of ceiling rafters, my son Sterling asked me, “How does
When Replacement Windows Aren’t in the Budget By Matt Weber
The Swordsman and the Spiral Staircase … sounds like a Grimm Fairy Tale, right? Thanks to my good friend
Nothing is quite as depressing as a dark room. If you have a room in your home that lacks sufficient natural light, you can take
A “bubble” in wall-to-wall carpet is an area of the rug that lifts above the subfloor and creates unsightly hills or ridges in the finished
Give man’s best friend a way to make a grand entrance. By Rob Robillard
Wall Trim Tips from a Professional Carpenter By Robert Robillard
Enhance your outdoor living space with a durable hardscape. By Tom Matthews A hot trend among homeowners is to design an area of the
By Matt Weber Countertops made of granite, marble, travertine or other natural stone are popular for their distinct, timeless appearance and durable low-maintenance performance. Available
This rustic-style bed is a new piece of furniture I made from some very old materials. By Matt Weber My grandmother owns a house built
We show you what the pros know about four different methods of roof installation. Roofing manufacturers and industry associations are hesitant to suggest a DIY
Easy Installation makes Homeowners happy. By Matt Weber
Handy Tips for Spring Lawn Care By Mark Clement If you’re a lawn-a-holic like me and relish having a luscious and low-weed lawn throughout the
When you build a deck, build it right. this is pretty dramatic photo of a deck collapse. Notably, it’s not the ledger board that fails
Spruce it up for springtime. By Mark Clement No matter the material, all decks and porches require some maintenance. The good news is that regular
New Requirements to Resist Lateral Loads
Here’s an easy-to-make accessory shelf for a wall-mount television. By Matt Weber If you have a free afternoon, a couple of shelf brackets and some
It’s soon to be deck-building season. Here are some new product highlights to help outfit your outdoor retreat. By Matt Weber Equinox XP Louvered Roof
Preparation, coordination and communication are your keys to success. By Rob Robillard Many people do not know how to plan a bathroom remodel. As a
Siliconized caulk has long been a favorite for sealing areas exposed to moisture and the elements. By Matt Weber Applying caulk: It’s a messy job,
How to Install a Basement Bulkhead Door System By Rob Robillard I recently installed a new powder-coated Bilco basement door. I first saw this new
Discover small problems before they get big. The purpose of a home inspection is to examine the inside and outside of a home, including the
Tips for Retrieving Items Dropped in a Sink Drain By Robert Robillard
Ever heard of “alternating tread stairs”? They aren’t exactly common in the United States, probably due to the fact that they don’t meet the strict
Enhance a bedroom by creating custom built-in closets from stock cabinets. By Mark Clement and Theresa Coleman To convert this un-cared for bedroom into a
Support Solution By Rob Robillard I recently had a project where I had to cut and replace existing steel structural columns supporting a home’s main
The Basics of Installing Crown Molding By Larry Walton
Upgrading an Old Wood-Burning Stove with a Stylish, Efficient Gas Fireplace By Stuart Hanson When it comes to which type of fireplace is best, there
HVAC Systems Failure Prevention By Mark Clement How many of us really think about our HVAC system and its optimum performance? I mean really think
Checked on the condition of your asphalt roof lately? GAF sent me these tips for an early winter inspection. — M. Weber Is your roof
Organize your work space with a Sturdy Storage Rack for Sheet goods. By Matt Weber
Shake it Up By Matt Weber Weather protection starts at the top, and a roof is not only a home’s first line of defense but
Smooth Moves By Rob Robillard There is an unmistakable, unique look of quality to a solid wood countertop. It is the mix of warmth, character and performance that
Bring fresh air to the Crawl Space. By Clint C. Thomas, Esq. Photography by Zoe Thomas Homes are usually built one of three ways.
Renew the look of your home’s exterior to boost its curb appeal. By Matt Weber
How to make Floating Shelves with a Table Saw By Matt Weber
In this two-phase project old windows are upgraded with energy-efficient vinyl replacements, plus the surrounding wood trim is protected with aluminum wrap. By Matt Weber
Our friends at GAF, North America’s largest Roofing Manufacturer based in New Jersey, offers these tips for how to get your roof ready for
Storage and Organization make the garage a project-friendly workplace. By Matt Weber Is your garage a disorganized black hole where tools and supplies mysteriously disappear
By Rob Robillard This story starts off simple enough: Last winter an elderly client of mine decided to go the
Keeping water where you want it. By Rob Robillard
SPF is quickly gaining ground as a high-demand insulating material. Here’s Why. By Matt Weber
I recently spruced up a pressure-treated deck with the new Transformation Deck & Fence Stain from Sashco. This particular deck has very little shade during
By Rob Robillard A great summer or fall project to prep for the winter. Keeping firewood dry is critical to a successful fire. You don’t
Garage door backup-battery dead? Here’s how to bring it back to life By Bruce W. Smith
When it’s time to hit the hard stuff—tile—keep these tips in mind for a successful installation. By Matt Weber
Ask any seasoned contractor where a deck is most likely to fail, and odds are they’ll point to the ledger board. If it’s not properly installed and protected from moisture, this critical connection point can quickly become the weak link in an otherwise solid structure. That’s where Trex® Seal™ Ledger Tape comes in—a moisture-blocking MVP […]
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