This is Part 2 of a two part series on patching, sanding, and sanding a wood floor. In Part 1 we began a floor repair for three boards. After the floor was stained, dents in these boards had become apparent and had to be removed. Without using any topnails or damaging any nearby boards, the offending boards were removed and replaced. Now it’s time to sand them down and stain them to blend in with the original floor. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

This is Part 1 of a two part series on patching, sanding, and sanding a wood floor. Whatever the circumstance, the time may come when you need to replace some boards in your home’s hardwood floor. Unless refinishing the entire floor is a possibility, the only option you may have is to replace the damaged board and blend the repair into the rest of the floor. Part 2 will cover sanding and staining. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Here’s a simple fix to spice-up the look of your kitchen cabinets. By adding glass to selected cabinet doors you can correct that look-alike uniformity of most kitchens. Solid wood doors on cabinets regardless of how beautiful they are can give a monotonous feel to the room. Glass doors on the other hand offer depth and can keep cabinets from closing the space. With clear glass you can showcase collectibles or fine china. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

You’re in a hurry. You need to make coffee and defrost a bagel and your breaker pops. Chances are there are more outlets and lights hooked up to a breaker that can’t handle the load. So how do you know what goes where? This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

The first wave of women entered the building trades briefly during World War II under the emblem of Rosie the Riveter; they were laid off after the “boys” returned home. Women weren’t allowed entry into the trades again until the 1970s. Today women account for less than 3% of the construction workforce. It’s still unusual to find a woman running her own construction company, but here are five women-owned businesses that prove women’s strength in the field. This is just... more

I’m a journeyman-level carpenter, a mason, and I’ve written about construction for a few years now. I was once very scared of the permit process. After years in the construction business, I cannot remember anyone ever complain about how hard it is to build a foundation the right way. But permits, bureaucracy, inspectors – these are the stuff of legendary frustration. I cannot remember any contractor I’ve worked for, any architect I’ve interviewed, nearly anyone at all... more

Fed up with that old beat-up kitchen? Tired of cooking on the only two working burners? No storage or room to maneuver? Or do you just want a kitchen that fits your lifestyle? You know what you want, but you are asking yourself, “Where do I start?” Hopefully, these few tips will help. Getting Started… This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

If lighting is music to the eyes, then lighting fixtures are the instruments playing the tune. Choosing the right ones can go a long way toward creating harmony — and avoiding “off” notes. Just like rock-n-roll calls for drums and guitars while a sonata may be played on a single violin, interiors require fixtures that accurately reflect the composer’s intentions. And you are the composer. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →