Product Benefits That Benefit Pros || James Hardie’s Contractor Alliance Program
By offering pro siding installers marketing assistance, sales support, product education, and lead generation, James Hardie's Contractor Alliance Program is simply one of the most comprehensive of its kind.
LENOX® Tools || The Science of Cutting: Making and Saving Tradesmen Money (Hole Saws)
A few years ago LENOX Tools revolutionized hole saws when they introduced their SPEED SLOT. The newest generation of hole saws, however, continues to build on the lessons learned in the study...
How to Install a Nest Cam IQ Outdoor Camera || Placement, Tips for Pros & More
The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is easy to install, but it requires some forethought. Plan ahead, and see these tips for the smoothest possible installation. Includes bonus coverage on the Works with...
OSHA’s Updated Silica Dust Standard and Tips for Managing Masonry Dust
What is Silica Dust? Why Does Your Contractor Care? OSHA's new Respiration Requirements based on Common Tools and Tasks. Plus Tips for managing dust in Masonry (Brick, Stone, Concrete, etc.) Projects. Read...
Hanging Wallpaper on a Feature Wall :: A Fix for a Cracked Plaster Wall
Creating a feature wall is a great way to add a little extra zing to a room. With wallpaper, you'll also find an easy way to hide minor imperfections in plaster walls....
Refinishing & Hanging Functional Exterior Wood Window Shutters
Exterior Wood Shutters have a long and storied history. Here is the story of Refinishing and Rehanging Functional Wood Shutters on a Victorian Farmhouse. From stripping and re-applying paint, to mortising for...
Painting a Basketball Court :: Concrete Gym Floor Redo
The budget for this particular project - $0. Well, to be more accurate, the actual cost and the amount of equivalent gym time we had received totaled about $1000. For the base...
The Skinny on Screws :: Our Guide to Common Screws
Now that does not mean that every screw is the same. For example, you are not going to (or you shouldn't) take drywall screws and mount decking boards to a deck frame...
Installing In Patio Lighting :: Patio Progress
I ultimately chose a system from Malibu , which is sold as far as I can tell exclusively at the Home Depot. Now, I know what you are thinking – while my...
RePointing Brick || A Porch Foundation Repair
Much of the mortar, likely of an inferior grade, had popped out and consequently some of the bricks themselves had compressed. Repairing a small section of a porch foundation, led to repointing...
Pressure Washing Basics :: Like Sweeping with Water
First, let me say that using a pressure washer (kinda like painting) is something everyone seems to think they can do. That is - until a job turns horribly wrong. Ha! Be...
How to Grow a Healthy Lawn :: 5 Secrets to a Beautiful Lawn
How you seed can be broken into one of three areas, and which circumstance you encounter often dictates what type of product you need. We’ll call these areas: new seeding, re-seeding (or...
Tips for Designing a Backyard Pond :: Building a Luxury Landscape
When designing a backyard pond your goal should be to create a pond that looks like it has always existed in the landscape; incorporating natural, flowing lines with a variety of rock...
Helpful Hints for Choosing the Best Exterior Paint Colors
One difficult exterior renovation decision that many homeowners face is what color to paint the outside of the house. After all, it’s not something you do very often, and no one wants...
Inside the Trend :: The Pros and Cons of Reclaimed Wood
The use of reclaimed wood isn’t a new concept, but it’s seen a surge in popularity especially with the green building and remodeling boom. Reclaimed lumber is simply wood with a past...
Selecting Roof Colors to Complement Brick or Stone Exteriors :: The Top Down Approach
Understanding the different color pigments of brick and stone features are paramount to selecting the right roofing colors. According to color expert Kate Smith, a “top down” approach is needed to select...
Contractor’s Notebook: Spring Cleaning, 40 Foot Ladders & In Remodeling, Close is Close Enough
As common with installing recessed lighting, sometimes framing hinders the ability to place things exactly perfect, so sometimes -- close is close enough. + Organizing the Van & What it's like working...
Grow Grass Without Weeds :: Soil Types, Aerating, Watering & More
Unfortunately, everybody's yard is different, there's no silver bullet and lawn care techniques are confusing. Will my yard benefit from aerating? How do I get rid of crabgrass? What is runoff? These...
Tips for Cleaning a Wood Deck :: Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Decking
I hate the words “spring cleaning.” I hate long checklists that remind me of all the things I don’t feel like doing. I hate the hours of dirty, sweaty work required to...
LENOX® Tools || The Science of Cutting: Making and Saving Tradesmen Money (Reciprocating Saw Blades)
Building on roots in industrial tooling, LENOX reciprocating saw blades are infused with 100+ years of learning. The newest generation of recip blades, even more than before, checks the boxes - Faster...
Smart Home Security with Nest Pro || Outdoor Cams, Nest Secure & More
Smart Home Security products just got a little, well, smarter and more connected with new offerings from Nest Labs. A look at the new Nest Secure alarm system, their outdoor security cameras...
Building a Trash Can Pad :: Another Landscape Challenge Solved
Building a Trash Can Pad or Stand, is much like installing a paver patio - just on a smaller scale. Both why and how I built this stand using scrap 4 x...
What to Know About Exterior Functional Wood Window Shutters :: History, Styles & Curb Appeal
Exterior Wood Shutters as a basic element of Curb Appeal. From the story of Refinishing and Rehanging Functional Wood Shutters, a little on the History of Shutters and Various Styles. Plus info...
Restoring a Concrete Pond :: Repairing Cracks, Parging and Sealing with Epoxy
A look at paint-on pond liner - Pond Shield. Included are all steps required in repairing an old concrete pond that no longer held water. I discuss all options including possibly installing...
Tips and Lessons Learned with Repairing Dutch Lap Wood Siding
Wood siding is subject to the elements, and some damage over time is, well, almost expected. For any number of smaller repairs - a hole, a gouge, etc, an epoxy-based wood filler...
