To test your hot water heater — make sure it’s working right and replace components if it’s not (or call an professional to help you) — here is a handy primer.
Don’t Get Zapped! Key Safety Precautions When Working with Electricity
Electricity is no joke. Here are some tips to ensure you do not get zapped while working on a home project.
Wood Decking Vs. Composite Decking
Maybe you and your spouse have finally elected to tackle the “big remodeling project” you’ve had on your to-do list for who knows how long. Or maybe you’re “biting the bullet” and renovating your Bay Area condominium in preparation for selling it in a year or two. In any event, you face many aesthetic and logistical challenges and choices ahead. And it’s the “little details” that often make construction or remodeling so difficult.
If you’re working on a new deck, for instance, you have to choose a material. Should you choose wood, a wood polymer composite (synthetic decking), or some other material (e.g. plastic)?
AC Not Working? It May be Time to Call a Pro… But Try These Five Tips First!
The Bay Area fortunately does not get as hot and steamy as other, more scalding parts of California, such as Death Valley or the “Southland” of L.A. and San Diego. But it can get quite uncomfortable – particularly if your air-conditioner brakes or malfunctions during a heatwave. If you are not technically inclined, your first instinct might be to grab a phone and call a pro to service your unit. But before you hop on that line and waste time (and money) getting professional help, ask yourself the following 5 questions:
Three Helpful Home Improvement Apps
Whether you’re about to commence a complex “DIY” project that will likely take many months and potentially involve significant, elaborate planning; or you’re in the middle of a quick job that should only take another few hours, here are three cool apps to help you get your work done faster, easier, and more cost effectively.
4 Must Read Tips on Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinets When Remodeling
Whether you’re revamping a corporate kitchen, building a new mansion in the Bay Area, or simply upgrading a cramped and dysfunctional kitchen so you can actually use it (without wrenching your back or clanging around for 10 minutes to locate the sauté pan you need), review these tips on selecting the right cabinetry… before you get to work.
Is it time for a new a/c? What to consider.
As spring heats up into summer, Americans all over the country over will take to their annual pilgrimage to utility supply stores to buy new air conditioning units. When it is appropriate to get a new A/C? Should you repair or clean your old one, instead? What will the investment cost, and will it be worth it? How can you calculate the best unit for your budget? And where can you find an authorized dealer who has excellent consumer ratings and good reviews from places like the Better Business Bureau?
Crucial Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe and Up To Grade
Homeowners and property owners often only pay attention to the structural components of a building if and when they fail. Unfortunately, many — if not most — problems with structural components like doors, windows, and walls can be fixed at a fraction of the cost of replacement, if you notice them early enough. This essay will briefly explore the science of “wall maintenance” and help you nip potential structural damage in the bud.