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6 Ways to Heat the Home
Natural Gas Natural gas, like oil and coal, is a fossil fuel. It is formed when organic matter (like the remains of plants and animals) gets compressed under the earth over a long period of time. Homes that are heated with natural gas are connected to a "main," a...
Choosing a Sprinkler System for Your Lawn
If you think you’ve had it with hauling hoses to cope with drought, maybe you think it’s time to consider a sprinkler system.
Continuous Bloom of Perennials
The secret is they don’t. There is this myth about perennials returning each year and producing a sequence of bloom that continues all season long. Well, it’s just not so.
Countertop Options
With hundreds of options for countertops and kitchen surfaces, it’s best to narrow the scope by deciding how long the counter should last, how durable it will be, the difficulty of installation and how much you want to spend.
De-Icing Salts for Slippery Walks
When traveling down an icy path, it helps to know all the alternatives to prevent slipping, sliding, and accidents.
Dividing Perennials in Late Summer
If you’re tired of paying big bucks for small pots of perennials of dubious hardiness, look around your garden (while you’re lying in the summer hammock) and choose the flowers that perform best for you.
Encapsulating Lead-Based Paint
Lead-based paint is a serious health risk in older homes. Today, new products are available that may save the time and expense of lead removal procedures.
Energy-Efficient Windbreaks
Smart landscaping that saves energy and dollars.
EnergyWise House: Elements of an Energy-Efficient House
Designing and building an energy-efficient home that conforms to the many considerations faced by home builders can be a challenge. However, any house style can be made to require relatively minimal amounts of energy to heat and cool and be comfortable and healthy.
EnergyWise House: Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning
Many people buy or use air conditioners without understanding their designs, components, and operating principles. Proper sizing, selection, installation, maintenance, and correct use are keys to cost-effective operation and lower overall costs.
EnergyWise House: Energy-Efficient Appliances
Appliances account for about 20 percent of your household’s energy consumption, with refrigerators and clothes dryers at the top of the consumption list.
EnergyWise House: Maintaining Existing Air Conditioners
Older air conditioners may still be able to offer years of relatively efficient use. However, making your older air conditioner last requires you to perform proper operation and maintenance.
EnergyWise House: Using Plants for Sun Control
Landscaping is a critical element in building an energy efficient home. A few simple strategies can add up to big savings on your monthly electric bill.
EPA Pressures the Wood-Preservative Industry to Change
With an EPA ban on CCA-treated wood going into effect, are decks going to crumble, picnic tables disintegrate, and play sets collapse? Not likely. Learn what will replace it and how to deal with existing structures made from pressure-treated lumber.
Oriental Carpet Maintenance
Just as there is much confusion about the different categories of oriental carpets, there is also much confusion about the type of maintenance these rugs require.
Bringing Outdoor Plants inside for Winter
As the glorious palette of fall unfolds and fades in the northern parts of the country, can Jack Frost be far behind?
Beware of Invasive Vines
If you have bare ground but don’t want more lawn, evergreen ground covers are very good.
A Panelized Home: All Decked Out
With beautiful ocean views to enjoy year-round, creating outdoor living spaces was part of the plan from day one.
A Panelized Home: Beginning the Finish
Throughout this project one recurring theme constantly re-emerges—hire the right people and take the time to do it right.
A Panelized Home: Closing the Envelope
With the foundation in place, the trucks bring in the house sections for assembly.
A Panelized Home: Creating the Lighting Plan
The proper lighting and the ability to control each layer of light is the key to composing a stunning visual environment.
A Panelized Home: Preparing the Foundation
A solid foundation is more than a footprint. That’s why the Hammonds took the time to work through the design details before deciding on a shallow basement for their seashore home.
A Panelized Home: Securing Permits
Oceanfront property, while desirable, creates many hurdles before groundbreaking can begin.
A Panelized Home: Tips for a Deck Project
Building a deck can add beauty and value to any home. Here, some advice before you get started.
A Panelized Home: When Weather Strikes
Foul weather hits the site before the roof is finished, forcing some fast-paced work to seal out the elements so interior work can continue.
Adding Tile Accents
Preparation, planning and a few tricks of the trade make easy work of installing decorative tiles.
An Illusion of Neatness: Garden Cleanliness
Some people’s gardens always look as though they were momentarily expecting Architectural Digest’s photographer. Others look as though they’ve been stirred up with a giant spoon and never tidied up.
Backup Power
Brownouts and blackouts cut your home’s crucial electrical supply. Backup power systems keep the furnace warm, the refrigerator cool, and your home’s security system online.
Beware of Birdseed
Birdseed carries the eggs of meal moths. In hot weather these varmints hatch, eat starch, then pupate and turn into small tan moths with black markings.
Evergreen Groundcovers
These useful plants can cover a bare spot and save you some raking.
