Home Tips - Home Improvement & Repair

Today’s bathrooms have become beautiful, efficient, luxurious spaces that are key to the comfort, style, and value of our homes. When it comes to identifying the areas of homes that warrant the cost of remodeling or improvement, bathrooms often top the list. Not only does a newly improved bathroom add immeasurably to the enjoyment of a home, but it offers one of the best returns on investment dollars. In this section, you will find information on improving bathrooms, installing fixtures, fixing faucets, and much more. Jump in…the water is fine.

When it comes to making a home feel warm, bright, and cheery, natural light is the Holy Grail. Skylights fill a room with brightness, and windows open the home to natural warmth, light, and views. The trick, however, is to minimize winter heat loss, summer heat gain, and glare while maximizing the benefits of natural light.

This section of HomeTips will help you make smart decisions when buying windows, skylights, and accessories related to windows such as weatherstripping, screens, and glazing. It will also give you step-by-step advice for installing these materials and making repairs. 

When you are remodeling, unfinished areas in a house frequently offer the most cost-effective opportunity for gaining usable space. If your home has a basement or attic that has enough floor area and headroom, you might be able to convert that area to usable living space relatively affordably because it has an existing floor, roof, and/or walls. Of course, significant changes may be required; for example, an attic floor may need reinforcement. Or you may need to provide access via a new staircase.

Here you can explore ideas, projects, and materials that will help you convert a basement or attic into valuable living space. 

Appliances help us with almost every type of chore, from cooking food to washing clothes, conditioning the air, and heating our water. They are essential to every house. When we remodel or improve our homes, appliances are often the big-ticket items. Considering their importance and expens–and the fact that we will be using them for many years–it only makes sense to choose appliances carefully and thoughtfully.

When it comes to the elements that make a house safe and comfortable, none are as important as air and water. Our bodies demand air that is clean and free of pollutants and allergens. And we need water that doesn’t contain lead or other toxins.

Beyond safety, quality is important. Water that is full of minerals (hard water) can cause many problems, from rashes to pipes that are crammed with deposits. Room air that is too high or low in humidity can be uncomfortable or, worse, damage your home’s structure.

Depending upon where you live and how your house was built, your home may have any of several different types of home climate systems. Houses may be cooled by central air conditioning, room air conditioners, heat pumps, or a relatively old-fashioned way–with ceiling fans. And in some areas where too much or too little humidity is a problem, the interior air is brought into balance with the help of humidifiers or dehumidifiers. A good barrier of insulation helps maintain your home’s energy.

Two important facts about heat movement: First, heat seeks a balance. Warm air always moves from a warm place to a colder one and vice versa; the greater the difference, the faster the flow of heat. Second, heated air rises. Unless it’s stirred up, the air in a room tends to stratify–warm air gathers near the ceiling and cool air moves toward the floor. helps to keep hard-won heated or cooled air inside your home, where it belongs.