Do you have a dark hallway, bathroom, kitchen, pantry, garage, walk-in closet, or other confined area that lacks windows and could benefit from natural light? VELUX’s® tubular skylight, the Sun Tunnel®, might be the easiest, most affordable way to add the necessary light while providing style and even value to your home. It is relatively easy to install (two hours) with only basic carpentry skills and tools. ... more

The most important part of any painting project is the part you do not see — the primer or sealer used under the topcoat.Painting is not rocket science but it is more than picking a color and slapping it on a wall. Ninety-percent of paint failures are the result of poor surface preparation. Neglecting to use the proper primer will result in the topcoat peeling, blistering, or cracking prematurely, often in a few months... more

Deck season is upon us and the decking manufacturers have entered the season with a collection of new products that can help make your new deck not just attractive but easy to maintain. This year’s introduction of wood-grain engineered deck materials makes having a beautiful, wood-grained deck a lot less work. Traditional decking materials require cleaning, staining, and sealing in order to maintain their... more

Thinking about turning your attic, bonus room, or loft area into a living space, but the lighting and ventilation are inadequate? Installing a roof window could be the solution. In this How-To we demonstrate how to install a VELUX® roof window. Roof window(s) can be a cost effective alternative to building a dormer (a structure projecting through a sloping roof with a window set vertically) in an existing structure. Dormers can cost thousands of dollars depending on size and needs to meet building... more

One of the inevitable and initial steps of most remodeling projects is removing unwanted materials to make way for improvements. For decades, demolition has been the conventional practice. Knock it out, toss it in a dumpster, and haul it to the landfill. Today, however, there’s a practical and beneficial alternative well worth considering — deconstruction. What Is Deconstruction? Although you won’t yet find it in the dictionary,... more

Century-old hospital transformed into state-of-the-art library, preserving heritage and period detail. Less than five years ago, the La Center, Washington hospital and residence built by pioneer doctor C.R. Zener in 1905 seemed destined to meet the fate of so many other older, treasured buildings. The property was purchased in 1999 with plans to develop it. The near-derelict building was empty and scheduled to be razed as part of a... more

Many new homeowners who are fresh to the home improvement experience don’t know where to start. They believe that hiring an architect is an unaffordable luxury that can be trimmed from the budget. But considering the financial and personal investment that is placed on one’s home, one should not compromise its future value. The goal of any home improvement project, should in addition to satisfying the functional requirements... more

Improve Interior Lighting, Ventilation, and Your Health The ancient Egyptians held many secrets, one of which was an ingenious method of bringing daylight deep into their kings’ dark burial chambers by using metal shields to reflect the sun’s rays. Throughout architectural history light has been used to great effect — particularly in sacred places to illuminate altars and stained glass. For the modern ... more