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When you take your kids to the local amusement park, a bouncy floor can be loads of fun. A bouncy floor in your own home … not so much. In the dwelling that you (well, you and the bank) actually own, you want everything to be shipshape. To most homeowners, a bouncy floor — whether hardwood, tile, laminate, or vinyl — seems to threaten an expensive repair in our future. But is that really true? Find out the facts about wiggly, jiggly flooring.When a bouncy floor is [...]

When you take your kids to the local amusement park, a bouncy floor can be loads of fun. A bouncy floor in your own home … not so much. In the dwelling that you (well, you and the bank) actually own, you want everything to be shipshape. To most homeowners, a bouncy floor — whether hardwood, tile, laminate, or vinyl — seems to threaten an expensive repair in our future. But is that really true? Find out the facts about wiggly, jiggly flooring.When a bouncy floor is [...]

Stucco homes stand out. Whether you’re just looking around the neighborhood or seriously shopping for a new home, you’ll notice these houses, with their attractively seamless walls and subtle colors. As one of the oldest building materials around, stucco gets plenty of attention, both good and bad. What’s it really all about?What is stucco?Stucco is a wall coating similar to plaster. In fact “plaster siding” is another name for stucco. Although [...]

Stucco homes stand out. Whether you’re just looking around the neighborhood or seriously shopping for a new home, you’ll notice these houses, with their attractively seamless walls and subtle colors. As one of the oldest building materials around, stucco gets plenty of attention, both good and bad. What’s it really all about?What is stucco?Stucco is a wall coating similar to plaster. In fact “plaster siding” is another name for stucco. Although [...]

There’s just one problem with plaster (which was the wall finish of choice before drywall rose to popularity in the 60s). If you have a home with plastered walls, it’s so darn easy for a nice smooth surface to turn into chipped plaster. Whether you’re moving in, rearranging furniture, roughhousing with your kids, or just living life on life’s terms, make one false move and whoops. A dinged wall.But here’s your daily dose of good news: Patching plaster is [...]

There’s just one problem with plaster (which was the wall finish of choice before drywall rose to popularity in the 60s). If you have a home with plastered walls, it’s so darn easy for a nice smooth surface to turn into chipped plaster. Whether you’re moving in, rearranging furniture, roughhousing with your kids, or just living life on life’s terms, make one false move and whoops. A dinged wall.But here’s your daily dose of good news: Patching plaster is [...]

A hole in your roof can be truly bad news unless you get prompt repair. To detect any possible holes, keep your eyes open for the following signs of damage to your roofing, particularly after a heavy rain or snowstorm.Common reasons for a hole in the roof1. Tree damage. Powerful winds can knock a branch or even an entire tree onto your roof, gouging a hole. Check the roof in the aftermath of an especially severe storm. 2. Nail hole . An empty nail hole or an incorrectly placed [...]

One of life’s little annoyances is when you find an electrical outlet not working. But annoying as it may be, a non-functioning electrical outlet is actually fairly simple to deal with. Troubleshoot your electrical receptacle with the help of our handy list. Ah, if only all of life’s annoyances were so easily taken care of.FOR YOUR SAFETY: Do-it-yourself electrical repair is extremely hazardous and can cause shock, fire, or electrocution, not to mention possibly voiding your [...]

My next-door neighbor and I had our first disagreement last night. The subject: “Kitchen Remodel: To Do or Not to Do?” We live side by side, each in a condo with an identical very, very 90s kitchen design. I would love to upgrade mine; he firmly believes that acquiring a taste for renovation is dangerous, making you crave a new kitchen remodel every five years. This got me thinking. Seems homeowners believe a lot of “kitchen remodel myths,” ideas about kitchen [...]

My next-door neighbor and I had our first disagreement last night. The subject: “Kitchen Remodel: To Do or Not to Do?” We live side by side, each in a condo with an identical very, very 90s kitchen design. I would love to upgrade mine; he firmly believes that acquiring a taste for renovation is dangerous, making you crave a new kitchen remodel every five years. This got me thinking. Seems homeowners believe a lot of “kitchen remodel myths,” ideas about kitchen [...]