Home Improvement Articles

Home Maintenance Checklist for Spring Most homeowners know seasonal maintenance is a must. Spring is the perfect time for routine maintenance checks on many areas of your home. But how do you decide what needs to be done, and in what priority? Avoiding Slips and Falls 'Tis the season . . . for family visits and festive gatherings.  It's also the time of year for Mother Nature's worst.  Rain, sleet and ice coupled with less sunlight may have you worried about company - or yourself - slipping on sidewalks or driveways.  But did you know there's another area of your home that poses a greater risk for falls and accidents than anywhere else?  And it's the one place you and your visitors can't avoid - the bathroom. Get Sunglasses For Your Home -- Why Shade is So Important We've been hearing this advice since we were kids.  Before you go outside on a warm, sunny day put on sunscreen to protect your skin, a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes. And while you're outside, drink plenty of fluids and seek out the shade.  If you don't, before you know it, you could be dealing with heat exhaustion and a pretty bad sunburn. New Generation of Track Lighting Blends Beauty and Versatility Jewel-toned glass pendants, suspended by a slender, graceful cable from a sinuous silver track - clearly, this is "not your father's" track lighting. The new generation of track lighting brings design-friendly beauty to what has always been one of the most versatile lighting styles available. The Glamour of Gutters Unless you built your home in the desert, chances are you need to think about your rain gutters. Ignore them for long, and you'll get a reminder of why water is considered the most powerful element on Earth. What's Hot in Home Decor for 2006 For months, industry experts have kept a close barometer on the fashion world, trade shows and other key indicators to help forecast home decor trends for the coming year.  And the weather report is in.  Within a prevailing climate of personalization, the outlook is both spirited and sassy, serene and stylish. Building an In-Ground Pool is Easier than You Might Think In-ground backyard pools are a great addition to any home. They not only add a focal point to your yard, and increase your resale value, they also keep the entire family entertained. What better way to spend a leisurely weekend afternoon than lounging by the pool with the kids? Treat Your Deck Right Chances are you'd rather sit on your deck and drink an iced tea instead of spending a weekend refinishing it. But the fact is that regular maintenance of your deck will help it last longer and look better. To get the best results, make sure you choose the right products. Wide Plank Floors and Radiant Heat - a Great Combination Wide plank floors are prized for their weathered patina and the sense of history and character that they add to a room. Among the many attributes of wide plank floors is the fact that they can be used with radiant heat.   New Paint or New Siding? There once was a time when homeowners would venture outside every few years to repaint the exterior of their home. Time after time they noticed that the new paint just wasn't lasting as long as they had hoped. What could save these poor homeowners' time and hard earned money? If you find yourself feeling like one of these homeowners, then home siding installation might be the answer for you.