If you’ve had the unfortunate task of calling for a bedbug exterminator, the guy or gal that shows up at your door could be the next Jake Gyllenhaal or Anne Hathaway. An odd article from the Wall Street Journal…
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Timothy Dahl
DIY home security the way to go if you are traveling next week for Thanksgiving, take the time this weekend to make sure your house is in order so you aren’t scrambling last minute to secure your home. Follow…
There is no doubt that gaining LEED certification can play a major impact on the value of a property and there is one guy who doesn’t think this is fair. In fact he is so adamant that LEED certification…
Interior painters are not on most peoples speed dial as the process of painting a room is one of the most basic do-it-yourself jobs a homeowner can tackle and often times the most rewarding. From selecting the paint colors…
Greenbuild is really buzzing today. The energy is as high as the attendance seems to be and the Expo has filled the McCormick place to the brim. We’ve already had great chats with folks from Glidden, Kohler, Certainteed, Sylvania,…
The green building industry is at the cutting-edge of the construction trade and is no stranger to early adoption. Sustainable manufacturers and retailers were some of the first companies to share their message via social media and the online…
Outstanding candidates for Home Depot jobs are always in demand and as one of the largest retailers, the Home Depot must fill a variety of full and part-time positions in stores across the country. They are hiring for in-store…
Greenbuild 2010 takes over Chicago this week and we’ll be on the ground covering it from top to bottom. Colin Powell kicks off the conference and tradeshow as the featured keynote speaker and there will be over 1,000 manufacturers…
The Japanese are known for creating tiny efficient electronics and now they’ve refined the small home with the ultra-small home. Forget the fact that Fuyuhito Moriya is 39 and still lives with his mother. He’s taken small space living…
We’ve got news from Viola Park which is now offering countertop packages designed to work in tandem with its base units, that they hope helps simplify the process of buying a kitchen. This eliminates the need for templating or…
Kitchen and bath company Native Trails has a new line of hand crafted, artisan products made with FSC certified wood and recycled copper. Sustainability is a large part of the Native Trails philosophy and products are made with LEED…
Hoping to start a revolution in drywall, the Certainteed AirRenew gypsum board cleans the air by capturing indoor formaldehydes and other aldehydes and converts them into inert compounds that remain within the board. The drywall also includes M2Tech, a…
Weekend projects from DIY bloggers around the web. Install a Moen Envi watersense showerhead Sort out your power plugs for safety Setup your urban garden Mastering caulk gun skills Install free-standing kitchen cabinets…
The Telegraph raises an interesting point that we continue to hear whispers of each year. Are current 20-30 year olds less capable as do-it-yourselfers than their fathers? One could argue the modern man has many more resources to turn…
You know the ubiquitous pink fiberglass insulation? That’s Owens Corning and although everyone continues to seek out a better and more green insulation, fiberglass insulation isn’t going away anytime soon. Owens Corning isn’t sitting on their laurels as they…
Home Depot is offering free shipping on Christmas and holiday decor so load up your (online) shopping carts and save some money while getting everything you need to decorate this Christmas delivered right to your doorstep. Free Shipping on…
Last year, we featured some nice photos from one of the winners of the myMarvin Architect’s Challenge. This year’s crop of winners is equally as impressive. Ten outstanding architects from across the United States had their work honored as…
The most underrated tool in the DeWALT 12V MAX cordless lineup is the DeWALT DCL510 12V MAX LED Worklight. We’ve been using it for about 3 months now and here’s why we love it. Hits: lightweight, free-standing, 12V MAX…
HUD recently contacted us and wanted to share some videos they produced that they feel will help prospective home buyers with their home shopping experience. The videos are a bit dry but informative and get to the point. Watch…
It’s an obscure tool that really deserves some time in the limelight. A wet tile saw has a unique purpose that is incredibly valuable when working with ceramic tiles. Whether it’s a back splash, flooring, wall tiles or counter…
What’s the hardest part of a project? For some the toughest obstacle can be just getting started. We want to know where you seek DIY inspiration and in what form? Magazines? Books? Websites? Blogs? Stores? Please share with us…
It probably doesn’t need to be said but without proper illumination you’re basically in the dark. And all portable lights aren’t ideal for all jobs. So if you need to cast a quite a bit of light consider blasting…
If you’re serious about conserving energy and making sure your home is performing as well as it can, then consider a home energy audit. A few of our blogger friends are going through the home energy audit process and…
Are you looking to give your shutters, doors or wooden furniture a timeworn, antique look? Pass over those “crackle” paints that promise fancy results and give off chemicals with even fancier names. Try milk paint for a green alternative…
ReadyMade Magazine recently announced a big contest called the ReadyMade 100. This ambitious contest is seeking to celebrate the best 100 projects from around the world of DIY. They’re calling on the DIY community to submit their most “functional,…
Designing your kitchen space can seem overwhelming at times, especially in the beginning stages. You can save A LOT of time, stress and angst if you hire a kitchen professional that works in this field of design. Once you…
Bosch has introduced an update to their venerable break hammers with the new Brute Breaker Hammer. It promises to provide up to 60 percent more impact energy than the the previous model, while reducing vibration levels by up to…
Temperatures are falling quickly and before you blink the first winter storm will hit your home. Before that happens you need to take steps to ensure your home is properly winterized and that starts with making your home energy…
This week’s Giveaway is only for our Facebook friends so head over to our Facebook page and look for the Home Depot Gift Card photo and “Comment” and “Like” the photo for a chance to win the $100 Gift…
KILZ has introduced a zero-voc interior/exterior primer, sealer and stainblocker called KILZ Clean Start. It’s also low odor and and water based and cleans easily with soap and water. If you plan on re-painting a wall you should definitely…
Water on the outside of your pipes is always a bad sign. But before you dread a sizable plumbing bill or dig out your soldering kit, think about this – you may have sweating pipes instead of leaking pipes.…
We’ve discovered a brilliant concept in the decor world called MyKEA. The beauty of IKEA furniture is in their simplicity, value and modern design, but at times the design itself can be so drab that we often wish the…
If you are serious about cooking and need industrial grade appliances, you’ve probably considered a Viking range. Now might be the best time to pull the trigger on a purchase as they wanted us to share some rebates from…
Envy. Awe. Uncontrollable desire. Warning – you may experience all of these things when you get a load of these tools. New to the market or just improvements to tried and true favorites, these tools are true must-haves. OK,…
Visit any big box retailer and you’re likely to see no shortage of blow up monsters, ghosts, goblins and other creepy creatures for Halloween. But we were impressed by this massive-sized homemade monster of the eight-legged variety. Whether it…
New from Dyson this year is the DC26 Multi floor or better known as the “Dyson City”. As with all Dyson vacuums the Dyson City uses Root Cyclone technology which means Dyson vacuums don’t lose suction power as you…
We’re looking for a motivated, blog-savvy, college student who enjoys all things DIY and has a strong interest in remodeling, green building, tools or home design. Internship responsibilities may include but not be limited to research, blog management, outreach,…
Beautiful hardwood floors, check. New sheetrock walls, check. Baseboard molding, around a corner; not as hard as it seems. Molding and a quarter round will hide the fact that the floor and wall don’t quite meet up. Here’s a…
Driving the I-10 corridor from Tucson to Phoenix isn’t where you’d expect to find an amazing organic farm and pumpkin patch but if you ask anyone in Arizona, Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek is the place to be in…
As we mentioned in our fall maintenance checklist, cleaning gutters is very important to the overall health of your home as gutters blocked by debris such as leaves and branches will cause water to buildup on your roof as…
You know the spot. That small gap between the tub and bathroom tile is where grime and other unmentionables collect. Hard to clean and at times downright ugly, this spot screams to be filled with a water resistant sealer.…
We heard a few months back that This Old House was searching for a project in the Los Angeles area. They’ve finally found one and have wasted little time in getting work started. For this project, This Old House…
Have you checked out our DIY City Guides? We’ve gone coast to coast and pulled some great resources for do-it-yourself types in the following cities. Seattle Portland Oakland/East Bay Los Angeles Tucson Chicago…
At least one Chinese producer of drywall has agree to fund home repairs in response to the lawsuit of toxic drywall poisoning people and their homes. From CNN: A company that imported Chinese-made drywall that American homeowners complained made…
An excellent choice for alternative heating, a pellet stove is just like any other household appliance. It requires maintenance. Since you can’t hide and hope the fireplace fairy takes care of things, it’s best to know exactly what sort…
Think about how warm and cozy that wool sweater keeps you in the middle of winter. Now imagine how comfortable you would be if your home had a layer of wool to protect it. With sheep wool insulation –…
Home Depot invited us to check out their lineup of LED light bulbs which we’ve been wanting to investigate since watching an episode of This New house that profiled some offerings from Philips Lighting. Blake who has been a…
We’ve got word from the DIY Network that they are casting for another show called Ultimate Home Builders and they are seeking contractors, builders and homeowners. Details below: Ultimate Home Builders DIY Network is searching for homeowners, builders and…
It happens every time. Your garage door springs decides that the chilly nights of fall are the perfect time to break. Figures. The question is – are you able to tackle the garage door spring repair? Replacing torsion springs…
We’ve listed our favorite virtual room design tools and near the top of the list is the AutoCAD Freestyle. This software lets homeowners create accurate, professional-looking drawings that can be shared with contractors and even input into professional CAD…
Denim insulation has people excited about an alternative to cellulose insulation and in simple terms anyone can understand the construction of denim insulation. Typically the materials for most natural cotton fiber insulation types are sourced from scraps at the…
Cellulose insulation is made from recycled newspaper that has been treated with either sodium borate, boric acid, or ammonium sulfate. These chemicals are required to make the cellulose insulation fire resistant and also to repel rodents, mold and insects.…
As a former skater and current snowboarder/surfer/paddle boarder, FUEL TV was made for me and has been a guilty pleasure of mine since it debuted. I’ve still got stacks of snowboarding and skate videos on VHS and would watch…
That’s one of the joys of home ownership – constant maintenance. Don’t look so glum. These small projects that will prolong the life and beauty of your home can be fun. At the very least they can be rewarding,…
Building a home and community as an art project is now happening at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA. This is a very unique project that we had to share with you. Not sure we quite get…
Salvaged building materials are a booming business. And sometimes the price of those “antique” or “professionally finished” pieces can make you choke. Why not refinish your own salvaged pieces. With a little elbow grease and a sharp eye for…
We have a tool racing competition here in America but across the pond the Brits have taken tool racing one step further by creating actual tool powered vehicles that can reach speeds of up to 75 mph! These vehicles…
Doesn’t look like Peter Wong will wear the All American Handyman crown for long as HGTV is already putting out a casting call for the second production of All American Handyman. Do you have what it takes to become…
Congratulations to Peter Wong who has won the title of All American Handyman on HGTV. We’ve been watching this show closely and although we may be critical at times we feel it’s going to catch on and each episode…
Home Depot shared a one-day fall sale with us and we’re passing along the news to you. They’ve got tools, lighting, tile, paint, stoves and more all from 20-50% off. Today only. Huge Autumn Savings. Online only – while…
Sure, you can pick up some low-VOC, environmentally friendly paint. But have you ever thought about your painting tools and supplies? Those brushes, rollers, tarps and cleaning solutions can add to some real mess for the planet if you…
The cooler weather of fall is the perfect time to stain your deck. There may not be the same motivation without the sunny summer days to look forward to, but without that scorching heat a staining project can actually…
We tend to use the term barbecuing and grilling and interchangeably but the Economist sets us straight. In reality, most people these days grill rather than barbecue–and the difference between the two could not be greater. Grilling takes minutes…
One of best events we’ve attended in Los Angeles was produced by Blog Out Loud. We had an opportunity to hear from a number of prominent bloggers, most notably Gregory Han of Apartment Therapy & Unplggd. We also met…
We’ve rounded up the best new products and materials from the 2010 Remodeling Show. Some are available now but many will be hitting shelves in 2011 so ask for them by name. You can also check out our list…
You can go behind the scenes on the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway on HGTV Pro. Check out photos and video of the home that is currently being built near Stowe, Vermont. They are calling it “rustic meets modern”. They’ve…
Talk about painting with a purpose. The Colour Project is beginning a color movement across the world. Their site states that “Grey is out. Gloom is gone. It’s time to live our life in colour.” This amazing project is…
This New House on the DIY Network could be called This Green House as they are showing a ton of green building materials and product. We finally caught up with about 3 episodes that had been sitting on our…
If your kitchen is the heart of the home, your pantry is like the main valve that keeps it all flowing smoothly. Does that thing have a name? (Can’t you tell that science was never my strong suit?) What…
One of the great things about the International Builders Show and the Remodeling Show are the small guys who have an opportunity to share their inventions with the world and hopefully get picked up for distribution. Marvin Windows shared…
For me, painting is hard. The prep work is a pain and by the time I’m done, my arms ache and all I can see are the spots I need to fix. I think a solution to this problem…
Solar landscape lighting is convenient and beautiful when it works. When the lights don’t work, it can be maddening. Fortunately these systems are fairly simple and generally easy to fix. With a little know-how and some quick tests, you…
Not all of us are brave enough to do it, but many people are tackling DIY plumbing jobs in their home. Somewhat complicated and sometimes involving high-pressure situations (like get that leak fixed NOW), plumbing projects are a challenge.…
HGTV’s All American Handyman made three cuts last week and now have their top five competitors, one of which will wear the crown of All-American Handyman. We caught up with the last Handyman voted off the show, Andrew Kowalyshyn.…
Oh, the white kitchen! How it seems to just lift the room and allow a homeowner to take a breathe of calmness when entering it’s calm surround. White is, to date, one of the most popular choices in cabinetry…
We love treehouses at C&H: in fact, the more luxurious or exotic, the better! So when I first spotted these new designs on Casa Sugar about German company Baumraum, I was excited. Craftsmen at the company include architects to…
The 2010 Remodeling Show is kicking off today in Baltimore and if you can’t be there in person you can follow these exhibitors on Twitter. We’ve also listed a few of our friends who will be there to share…
Black paint isn’t only limited to gothic-inspired decor or teens that need to rebel (though if you do have a rebellious decorative teen, here’s some good advice.) In fact, black walls done right can add high drama and elegance…
Are you looking for a product that’s recycled with a capital “R?” The recycled paper countertops from ShetkaStone will deliver. For the kitchen, bath, laundry room and even in the boardroom, this counter (or tabletop) is impressive. Similar to…
Living in New York City is amazing but unless you’ve got the big bucks you’re typically relegated to less than desirable apartments. But if you win this Urban Oasis from HGTV you can live like a King or Queen.…